#136 Felicity and Janeen

Janeen’s contribution.
I was raised the only daughter in a large family in the Wimmera as a good church going, god-fearing girl. Therefore, it was only natural that I moved to the city and became a radical lesbian feminist in my early twenties. I was active in fighting for women’s rights and safety and participated in many a protest and a street march with my sisters. We were incensed about bigotry, discrimination, and inequality. We were very active, very loud, and very organised.
It is a big sadness that we are still fighting for our rights and our safety. In the big scheme of discrimination in this world it would seem to me that marriage inequality is an easy one to fix. How hard is it to legalise same sex unions?
Felicity and I have been together for 32 years. In 2012 we had a commitment ceremony. My elderly parents came. All our extended families, our gay family and friends came together to enjoy the ceremony and celebrate our love and commitment to each other. It was a wonderful affirming thing to do. We would’ve loved it to be a legal marriage.

Felicity’s bit
Coming from a fairly right-wing family it probably should not have been a surprise that I veered sharply to the left in my thinking throughout my life. I have always felt passionately about the imbalance I could see in the lives of many and have spent most of my working life trying to address the disadvantages experienced by those who have a mental illness. It’s all about balance.

Music has always been a levelling element in my life whether in church or school choir or just in general. In a way it was music that brought Janeen, my partner of 32 years, and I together. We discovered we shared a love of folk music and musical theatre long before we fell in love. Now, although music is still in our lives it is actually Janeen who keeps me balanced. She even tolerates my passion for the Geelong Football Club and Basset Hounds – she must really love me!