Lesbians in the net
In public, gay women are still barely noticeable; It is rare to see lesbian couples, even in German cities, showing themselves as lovers outside of their scene.
Even in the media, lesbian topics are clearly underrepresented. The Internet is an ideal niche medium: It is used extensively by the lesbian community to make contacts or to exchange ideas.
Many of the lesbian sites, like Sappholina by Rosy Rosen and Chris Urban (above), are not only interesting for homosexual women. They provide a good overview of feminist, cultural and of course (homo) sexual issues.
ChroniquesDuVasteMonde.com asked in an interview with Chris Urban what is special about lesbian sites - and what lesbians are still struggling with. On the following pages you will also find thematically arranged links to selected lesbian sites, from webzines with different topics to service pages especially for lesbians to regional and national networks.
Interview: "Intensive and anonymous"
ChroniquesDuVasteMonde.com spoke with Munich-born Chris Urban (53), one of the founders and guardians of the lesbian Webzine Sappholina, about the benefits of lesbian web networks and the feeling that she still can not feel 'normal' as a lesbian.
ChroniquesDuVasteMonde.com: In your opinion, what characterizes the numerous offers for lesbians on the net?
Chris Urban: I find the offers less commercialized and made very personal. Lesbians always benefit from the possibilities of the Internet, especially because of the contacts. Because it is still not easy to find like-minded people. Very important is also the individual exchange. Brisant topics such as lesbian stereotypes can be negotiated very intensively on the internet and still anonymously.
What is the idea behind your lesbian web-magazine Sappholina, how did you and your webdesigner Rosy Rosen come together?
We live and work together for a long time. We just wanted to make an offer for lesbians, with whom we could realize our own needs. This means that we have concentrated on the southern German area, as you are also looking for contacts via the internet, especially in your own area. And we built the site on the principle of 'quality over quantity'. Rosy Rosen does the design, and I take care of the lyrics. The site went online in August 2000 and we still have a lot to do with it; Among other things, we would like to offer a virtual city map for lesbians. Networking is extremely important for lesbian women. It's up to women to do more with the opportunities offered by the Internet.
Lesbian issues are under-represented in public, and many lesbians do not openly reveal that they love women. Why are lesbians still hiding?
Many hide in the job for fear of discrimination. By the way, the coming out is still a difficult process. As a lesbian you have the feeling that you are against something instead of yourself. This corresponds to the external, but internalized feeling of not conforming to the standard, not being 'normal'.
A 1998 survey found that 98 percent of lesbians surveyed experienced verbal devaluations and one out of every four physical attacks. How do you explain the seemingly low threshold for violence towards homosexual women?
In my experience, especially very young lesbians are verbally attacked. The violent men perceive the idea "I do not care" as a provocation. Many lesbians therefore try not to give any kind of partnership signals in public.
Speaking of partnership: What about homosexual marriage?
I think the public discussion is great. However, the real goal of equal treatment is not achieved - only the name "gay marriage" is again a discrimination, and civil marriage may not be married. After all, something is moving. I know many lesbians who want to marry. Because the day has something uniquely emotional.
Lesbian webzines
Not all lesbian webzines are original internet titles; many act as online presences of their print editions. Most are characterized by ambitious design and content that is not only interesting and amusing for lesbians.
- Nice, cool and informative: Her2Her, a site whose motto is "the
- somewhat different pages for the woman "interpreted in an original way.
- www.her2her.com
- Not interesting for people from Munich: Sappholina is Chris Urbans and
- Rosy Rose's blue-haired web witch, the business, lesbian news and community all to one
- entertaining and informative
- Potpourri mixes.
- www.sappholina.de Beautifully made and with comprehensive information, the website of
- Lespress, the (according to own information) "pages with meaning".
- www.lespress.deThe site of the magazine lust Although not visually excessive
- sophisticated, but offers about in the area "News from the
- lesbian-gay world "gives a good overview of target group specific news.
- www.lust-zeitschrift.deKinonews for lesbians in two languages (engl./dt.) offers Qeeer View.
- www.frauenliebe.deHere it is (not only) about contacts: At lesarion are over 15,000 lesbians seeking contact
- registered.
- www.lesarion.deThe Site Mysterious Women lures with the following claim:
- "The magazine from Hamburg to the coast for tough women who dare something".
- www.mysterious-women.deA worth seeing classic is Dykes vision, a site that
- deals with the portrayal of lesbians on TV.
- Dykes VisionThe focus of the Swiss Lesbianmag Lesbian.ch lies on news
- around homosexual topics.
- lesbian.ch
Service and advice for lesbians
Whether it's going on vacation, getting kids or simply sending funny postcards: there is a suitable website for many human (lesbian) needs. Also in terms of advice, the network has many addresses and contact points to offer. We have put together a small selection.
- in the Lesbian department store Can posters and books, as well
- Jewelery and erotic toys
- be purchased.
- www.lesbenkaufhaus.de Alone travel is boring. That's why there's that Woman this pagewhere women,
- Lesbians and girls
- Travel partners can find.
- www.frauenurlaub.de can be with children Queer and kids inform a site that
- as a "placement agency for people,
- who want to father their own children ".
- www.queerandkids.deSchickes Design, great selection: The Lesbian postcard site has funny, erotic,
- romantic and kitschy motifs 'for her' in stock.
- Postcards Special Web tours for lesbians offers gaypilot.de.
- www.gaypiloten.de/politik/lesben/Die Women's Carpool offers driving opportunities for women by women
- in Germany and throughout Europe.
- www.she-drives.deThe lesbian consultation Schibsel offers under the motto "Advice of Lesbians for
- People "do not just offer their help to lesbians.
- Schibsel e.V.Bundesweit and free: The Lesbenberatung belongs to the SVLS network.
- www.lesbenberatung.deThe consulting center Fetz is aimed at women and wants a "holistic
- Consideration of mental and psychosomatic difficulties ".
- Fetz
Supra-regional networks
The Internet is the ideal playground for all more or less ambitious, contentwise very differently oriented lesbian networks. Here is a small selection of the most interesting and z. T. secondary sites.
- Shoe is an international lesbian network that is aware of
- would like to set aside time-honored, feminist-oriented organizations.
- "We no longer burn our bras, but wear ours
- Wonderbras with pride ;-) "
- de.shoe.orgDer LSVD is Germany's largest lesbian and gay association.
- www.lsvd.deIm Gayweb are over 40 regional gay and lesbian information offers
- listed listing non-commercial offers.
- gay-web.deThe autonomous lesbian network Schmacht offers information on the subject of SM.
- SchMachtComplex and aesthetically unambitious, but unbeaten in content
- are Konny's lesbian sites, Comprehensive information on all topics relevant to lesbians
- can be researched through this site.
- www.lesben.orgNomen est omen: The Site Women clink sees itself as a site for women,
- who want to help each other with a network, especially in
- in terms of professional success.
- www.frauen-kluengeln.deThe club business women is explicitly aimed at lesbians,
- the "in all areas and in the
- various positions of the free market economy
- are".
- www.wirtschaftsweiber.de
Regional information and networks
Smaller, regionally oriented sites can best be researched via supraregional networks. Here is a selection.
- The Frankfurter Beratungsstelle LIBS (Lesbian information and advice center
- e.V.) offers events and seminars around the topic of homosexuality.
- libs.w4w.netBei S-hip There are lesbian and gay offers for the Stuttgart region.
- www.s-hip.deThe Site Gay Thuringia informs about everything the scene of the region
- has to offer.
- www.gay-thueringen.de Coming from Regensburg Resi, the website of the nonprofit
- schwullesbischen center with (according to information) "bistro atmosphere".
- www.resi-online.deNochmal Bayern: Lesbians too Nuremberg have their side.
- www.youngles.deThe website of the Cologne Lesbian Network amigas
- www.amigas.deBei female News Munich residents find tips for their region.
- www.femalenews.de Great Design: The Site of Escape offers up to date tips, a chat room
- and much more for lesbians
- Hamburg.
- escapeInformation about Schleswig-Holstein
- Offers for lesbians and gays.
- www.lesben-schwule-sh.de
