Lesbian Nation (organisation)

The organisation was inspired by Jill Johnston's book Lesbian Nation, from which they got their name and a desire for lesbian separatism. This made Lesbian Nation turn inward and, for the duration of their activities, intentionally illusive to the outside world. Members searched for lesbian identity in lengthy discussions on lesbian weekends, through international lesbian contacts and a visit to the Danish feminist women's camp Femølejren. but the idea of separatism was inspirational in creating a number of cultural establishments. == Activism and culture ==

In 1976 members of Lesbian Nation took part in the occupation of the 'Bloemenhove' abortion clinic, after the Justice minister had threatened it with closure. A year later the group, in cooperation with Maaike Meijer, out of the male-dominated COC-office. Among these were a women's bar in Amsterdam (Saarein), a publisher (Virginia), the ethical bank Mama Cash, a women's bookstore (Xantippe), and two Dutch lesbian magazines, Diva and Lust en Gratie. It was called an example of the group's "lesbian cultural guerilla", and fits in the identity finding that Lesbian Nation practised. ==References==