Leslie Feinberg starts Michigan tour

Leslie Feinberg, a Workers World newspaper managing editor and internationally renowned author and activist in the lesbian/gay/bi/trans movement, spoke at a Workers World Party public meeting here on Oct. 7. The meeting’s theme was, “Why every worker should support LGBT liberation—building solidarity in the struggle against all forms of oppression.” The meeting kicked off a four-city speaking tour by Feinberg in Michigan.

Feinberg (third from right) with supporters in Detroit. WW photo: Jerry Goldberg

Feinberg captivated the diverse audience with her lucid depiction of capitalism and its “divide and conquer” tactics, such as LGBT oppression, racism, war and reaction.  She spoke on what it means to have solidarity with all struggles against oppression, and what it means to be a revolutionary and a member of Workers World Party.

“It is the class struggle of the vast working class, who produce and run everything in society, versus the tiny handful who own and control everything, that is the objective basis for unity among all workers and the oppressed,” she stressed.

On Oct. 8 Feinberg took her message to Michigan State University in East Lansing, where she addressed a large audience at a meeting hosted by several LGBT groups to mark the start of Coming Out Week on campus. Feinberg urged the audience to reject the Democrats and vote for Stop the War Slate candidates who are running on the Green Party ticket in Michigan. “You will find no other candidates who oppose war and reaction, and who support LGBT rights and liberation, like these candidates do,” said Feinberg.

Lauren Spencer, an MSU student and candidate for the university’s Board of Trustees, was invited on-stage to talk about her campaign. “We need to make sure the university fights to keep domestic partner benefits,” she said, “despite a lawsuit after last year’s statewide vote rejecting gay and lesbian marriage. We need to make sure that gender identity and gender expression are included in the anti-discrimination code here at MSU, so that no student faces discrimination and bigotry.”

Feinberg officially endorsed Spencer’s candidacy. Both speakers defended affirmative action and urged a No vote on Michigan’s Proposal 2, which seeks to do away with this remedy for institutionalized racism and sexism.

Many participants in the Detroit and East Lansing meetings expressed their desire to network with other progressives around the state in the various working class battles taking place, including the struggle for immigrant rights and to free the Cuban Five political prisoners. About 40 people signed up for subscriptions to Workers World newspaper at the two meetings.

Feinberg will return to Michigan for speaking engagements later this month. On Oct. 24, she will be in Ann Arbor at the U of M, Michigan League Hussey Room at 5:00 p.m.; on Oct. 25 in Kalamazoo at Kalamazoo College, Mandelle Room, 8 p.m.; and on Oct. 26 in Detroit at Wayne State University, Helen de Roy Auditorium, 5203 Cass Ave., 6:30 p.m. The topic of Feinberg’s remarks, as in East Lansing, will be: “Struggling for trans liberation in an era of war, racism and reaction.”