Editor's Note: This story was written last quarter. The author was a member of The Front's spring 2025 staff.
The Lavender Menaces Club proudly stands as a group that connects a community of lesbians and sapphics within the university, leaning on the past with its namesake rooted in a rich history dating back to the 1960s.
The fight for sapphic inclusion has been ongoing for decades — even within the feminist movement and other queer spaces.
History
At the height of the second-wave of feminism in 1969, the president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Betty Friedan, coined the term “Lavender Menaces” during a meeting as a slight against lesbians. She viewed lesbian association as threatening to the movement’s reputation.
Fearing the women’s movement would be diminished and reduced simply to a group of “man haters” or “a bunch of dykes,” Friedan distanced lesbians from NOW entirely. Her actions declared lesbians as inconsequential to the future of women’s equality, according to the NYC LGBT historic sites project.
In protest, Radicalesbians, women from the Gay Liberation Front and other feminist organizations met in protest at the Second Congress to Unite Women. The group went undercover, wearing handmade shirts that read “Lavender Menaces” underneath their plain clothes. Shutting off the lights of the room, the group removed their layers and revealed themselves as the Lavender Menaces, reclaiming the once-exclusionary name.
The group insisted on redirecting the meeting to include lesbians and welcome the contributions of lesbian activists as an integral part of the women’s liberation movement. They challenged NOW to amend the group's values as opposed to their president's publicly stated beliefs.
According to the NYC LGBT historic sites project, the Lavender Menaces held the congress floor for two hours, allowing NOW members to ask questions and confront their perceptions of lesbians. The following two days replaced congress’s schedule for workshops on lesbianism and a Gay Liberation Front dance.
“The feminists should have been unified against misogyny and sexism, that was the whole movement,” said club President, Bethany Badoux. “But some straight women still behave like lesbianism threatens their femininity, so it's rejected socially.”
Presently at WWU
Today, LGBTQ+ Western provides support and resources to the queer community at Western and advises each active LGBTQ+ club.
“Lavender Menaces and other Queer Guild clubs are central for the holistic wellbeing of our LGBTQ+ students,” JoeHahn, the LGBTQ+ director at Western, said. “A space for sapphic students is important, as we have many students who identify within that population.”
The Lavender Menaces officials establish events they find common among the sapphic community. “Sapphic,” derived from the famous Greek poet Sappho, is an umbrella term for any woman who is attracted to other women.
This quarter, events consisted of waterside picnics, paint and sip night, group yoga, movie showings and forest foraging. The events intend to educate attendees on sapphic and queer history, and create a space where club-goers can find common ground, and connect with one another.
“They open these spaces where people feel welcome and can participate in those activities and then establish connections within the sapphic community,” Badoux said.
Many events are created to integrate newcomers, connecting them directly, and to aid in making quick connections. The club frequently hosts events like date nights or speed friending, where club officials say they hope attendees will find fast friends or potential dates..
“We put together the hard part for people so they can just show up,” said Madisyn Sickafoose, the social media manager for Lavender Menaces.
Current club conflicts
While the Lavender Menaces are a club that encourages sapphics, lesbians and allies alike to participate in bi-weekly meetings and events, the club officers have noted moments when their inclusivity was taken advantage of by unrelated parties.
“Whenever we advertise food events, we usually get a couple guys sneaking in and stealing food,” Badoux said. “We use our club funds for that, so it sucks to see that happening even at Western – having people come to clubs that aren't supporting the queer community and taking food and ruining vibes.”
Beyond the impacts of a few individuals who disrupt the group event, the club has also faced conflicts with the school. Reaching students, reserving spaces for events and being recognized fairly, even compared to other queer clubs, has proved difficult.
“There are other clubs that are prioritized over us, and I think a part of that is still misogyny,” Badoux said. “We as a mostly women and feminine-presenting group struggle with that exposure, because a lot of people don't see us as being as important as other clubs in the queer community.”
Lavender Menaces Vice President Raelyn Iddings said the T.A.G. Team for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students has experienced similar barriers.
“Everyone knows there's a lot of queer people at Western, but I feel like sapphic people are overlooked,” Badoux said.
The Lavender Menaces effect
A substantial draw to Western for many incoming LGBTQIA+ students is the queer culture and community already present throughout the university. The Lavender Menaces are a proponent of that community. Their facilitation of group events and frequent opportunities for connection create a space for this predominantly feminine group to feel seen and accepted.
“I wanted to be involved in queer community on campus. That’s one of the most important reasons why I am at Western," said Katie, who attends Lavender Menaces meetings.
Katie asked that their last name not be used because they didn't want family to know about their involvement. “I wanted to meet more people who are LGBTQ+, finding out there is a space specifically for sapphic people was so exciting.”
Katie said the tone of the club events is joyful, secure and lighthearted. Everyone is welcome. Labeled or unlabeled, no one is excluded.
“The focus is expressing and uplifting the beauty of sapphic existence and resistance – just as the club is aptly named for,” Katie said.
Lynn Piefer (she/her) is a campus life reporter for The Front, she is a visual journalism major. Outside of her academics, Lynn is a practice player for the WWU club volleyball team, and a Lakewood Boathouse attendant. Beyond school, Lynn is typically found outside involved in some recreation activity or another, exploring Bellingham, or dropping in on events throughout town and campus. You can reach her at lynncpiefer.thefront@gmail.com.
