As we went to press we learned of two more lesbian TV characters’ deaths. SPOILER ALERT! Fox’s Empire killed off lesbian couple Camilla and Mimi, played by Naomi Campbell and Marisa Tomei. This brings the total TV body count to 12 in the first four months of 2016. As film director Campbell X told me: “Didn’t we realise when we were crying for mainstream recognition we couldn’t change the rules?” Black lesbian writer and civil rights activist Audre Lorde famously said, “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house,” and I can’t help agreeing with her. The lesbian death trope has long enraged DIVA readers and that’s why it’s more important than ever to support lesbian and bi women’s endeavours (p18). When buying DIVA (supporting lesbian and bi-owned businesses, cultural output and community activism in doing so) and being out and proud wherever and whenever we can, we are engaging in vital acts of resistance. What are we resisting? An implicit (and sometimes explicit) hetero-patriarchal message that lesbians and bi women deserve to be dead or miserable. DIVA rejects this outright and in this month’s celebration of lady-loving sex (p70) we are saying loud and proud that we’re here and we’re not going to go quietly. Even when some try to silence, erase and censor us (p60) we intend to carry on living our lives as brightly and boldly as ever. Remember, you are wonderful and don’t let anyone tell you any different.
Jane Czyzselska DIVAMAG.CO.UK