Memories by Catherine M
Boot Women - 'a walking cocktail party'
Boot Women was started in 1993, set up by Val, Catherine’s ex-partner – and they weren’t speaking at the time, but a year later they were OK and Catherine’s been leading walks ever since. “At first we knew all the women, it was described as a ‘walkin...
A novelty talking about lesbian health
Catherine was involved in organising the first national Lesbian Health Conference at Aston University in 1995, attended by around 100 women including researchers, doctors and nurses. There were all sorts of serious issues raised including health serv...
Dykenosis triggered feedback and interest
LesBeWell produced a regular photocopied newsletter called Dykenosis, distributed amongst lesbians via pubs, clubs, and subscriptions, from 1994, to 1998. “Dykenosis was the only health advice for lesbians available, so discussions on eating disorder...
LesBeWell ran out of steam in 1998
“LesBeWell ran out of steam, Gudrun had to get a job and no-one else could take it on. We produced 17 issues of Dykenosis and organised two conferences which was quite remarkable”. Through her involvement in the survey Gudrun Limbrick realised that s...
Lesbians have poorer health
"The LesBeWell group undertook a questionnaire survey, aiming to get a representative sample of around 350 women, which proved very difficult. Lesbians were recruited to complete the questionnaire at pubs, clubs, after Boot Women walks, at Pride etc....
We know about men so we'll apply it to lesbians!
Catherine is concerned about lesbian health issues. “We need funding to undertake a cohort study, and to look at previous research. Sexual orientation is not routinely collected data; people are asked about everything else but this”. Catherine has al...
A mixed bunch on Lesbian Line
Catherine volunteered on the second incarnation of Lesbian Line. “Pat Howie got us a room in the Custard Factory. There were 8 volunteers, a mix of people, with no budget, it was a bit of a mess, but we kept going for a couple of years. We didn’t get...