A note to yonger lesbians
by Brendelie Mitchell

There's a saying "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," but what if ur scorned by another woman—or worse still, your lover. Ur younger lover?

Over the years, I've had many affairs with younger womyn who would call me Gogo. When all was well and the home fires were burning brightly, I was the best thing you’d seen since sliced bread 'cause I provided the transportation, the money, and the clothes for you and for ur family! Then we fizzled and it was over. Guess who became the bad one to abangane? I just become old to you. But think about it for a moment now—‘cause I have—you’ve started growing old too! How sweet it is. Now that you’re all grown up, you are uGogo!

Why do you young ones think we who came before you were born the age we are at now? Ask yourself: If you had to go through everything we have seen, if you had to struggle against, and put ur bodies on the line, just so that today, in 2007, you and I have the Constitutional right to walk as proud lesbians, will you look as good as when you reach our age?

We who came before you may not be the rich or infamous. We may not have streets named after us in Johannesburg. But don’t get it wrong. It is we who came before you. It is we who we were the first to organize, to fight for the simple right to exist, to love and appreciate our girlfriends and lovers. Our relationships then were about more than the physical. And without our choice in the matter, the simply act of loving each other was political. So please, have respect for us who came before your rights were guaranteed.

© 2007

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