extracted text

IP operty o • the Center

the Honeypot
June 1993 The Newsletter of Womyn for Womyn. the Lesbian Resource Centre Vol. 4, No. 6

LI) ~ I ) i-.,

4L

And the beat goes on ...and on ... and on. •
No matter what else happens ..no matter what else
comes up...the work of the Centre continues. A lot of
MARTI KRANZBERG, Ph.D.
important things happened this month. Some may sound
insignificant to you, but they are all the thir.gs that make
Psychologist
a Centre come together. The Centre was fitted with new
blinds for the front window..fumished by our neighbor,
David Alexander... installed by Lisa Mashigian and
Carolyn Rowley, who also located and purchased the
4054 McKinney Ave., Suite 212
blinds. Flower seeds were planted by Azure. The wrought
Dallas, Texas 75204
(214) 528-1815
iron bars were painted (only the ones on the North end;
others will be done as weather permits) by Christine,
Amanda S, Carolyn, Lisa, and others. Thanks to
can a Lesbian make an anti Lesbian joke? Is it okay or not okay to make
Carolyn for putting this weekend together. The place
jokes about one's own culture. The joke was bad ...the audience left no
looks much nicer. A new group decided to fonn: a
doubt about that...the audience responded with some booing. Okay,
writers group, meeting on Sundays (call Diane Kirksey
that's happened before. But then ... th!ngs got pretty heated when D
for infonnation). Christine was a presenter at the
demanded an apology for someone else. B refused and a short and
Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The Battered Lesbian
heated discussion on racism began. The question on whether the
Task Force created a brochure to be distributed at the
Centre was a safe space for everyone was raised. The question on
Dallas Association of Family and Marriage Therapy Conwhether this arena (the Talent Show) was the best place to deal with this
ference. It will also be used as the foundation brochure for
issue came up. The Talent Show continued with dampened and
all future outreach on battering. LRC, as a sponsor, has
darkened spirits. The main parties got together after the Show to
a table for distribution of all of our literature including info
discuss their perspectives. Jeanne R who will be helping to restart the
for Umoja Hennanas. A womyn's spirituality ritual was
Womyn for Womyn University Edu.:ational Series suggested that
held the first weekend. Over 38's, Trykes (fonnerly, and
the first class would be on "Is It a Joke? Or Isn't It?" A good place to deal
still, the Under 30's), the Women's Lodge (support
with serious issues. It was a most unhappy situation. The LRC works to
and recovery group), Womyn against Racism, Umoja
end sexism ·a nd racism on a daily basis ... but It was difficultto know what
~nnanas, Womyn of Color Poetry and Short Story
Group, the Battered Lesbian Task Force:-:all had their, to do in this situation. All ~f the participants were either guests or
meetings and ail their separate activities.The Sprin·g
entertainers. Some might believe that what people say at the Centre.is
the Centre's responsibility. But, while we try to provide a safe place for .
Talent Show, as always, had many surprises including
all (and what does that mean? A safe place ... where no one ever says ·
the foot stomping, body moving rhythms of Rayva; the
continuing Tragi-comedic poetry of Marlene; the sweet, • anything insulting, or racist, or sexist, or ageist; or is the Centre a safe
gentle lovingness of Jeanne R and her sweet remem~
place for us to make mistakes, learn from them, and go on?), it can't be
guaranteed that no one's feelings will be hurt. It cannot ever be sure that
brance of her Mother. We witnessed the courage of a
womyn who, though new to the Centre, participated
your issue is someone else's issue. It~. however, guaranteed that all
proudly and honored the LRC by saying how glad she was: of the issues will be discussed. The Centre is not and does not want to
be the Lesbian thought and action police. Do you want the Centre to ask
that the Centre existed for her. Judy, Linda, Brenda,
people what they think or what they will say before they come in? I don't
Cathy, Jenny, Alpha, Lisa, Josi, and Barbara enterthink so. Dealing with important issues should not make enemies out of
tained us. And, then the MC provided an added attractionus. We alf have different ways of handling crisis ... one cannot always
an impromptu and bad joke that for many was no joke at
all. Some say it was an Anti-Semitic joke; others say it was
expect that it will be handled in the way we would like ...judging each
an anti-German joke (this difference alone shows how
other quickly can only harm us. Depends on what your goal is... a
community of womyn Who all believe the same thing or a community of
much is a matter of perception).:Can a German rriake an
womyn committed to the empowerment of all womyn. One final
anti-German joke; can a Jew make an a_nti"'.Semitic joke;
comment on this: SEXISM AND RACISM MUST BE ELIMINATED.
How we do.that is a matter of personal conviction and choice. Th~re is
The Lesbian Resource Centre exists to create physical
. no one right way to do anything and everybody makes mistakes. And
space where lesbians are valued for themselves. This
. if someone isn't as angry or assertive or aggressive about an issue as
space, committed to a feminist philosophy, will provide
you are, it doesn't mean that they are wrong. You may think they are
resources to all lesbians. The LRC Newsletter is pubwrong
... but that's just one opinion.
lished monthly and is distributed to over 650 womyn by
the LRC, P.O. Box 180446, Dallas, TX 75218-0446.
(214) 821-3999. We welcome your comments, news,
The LRC is a non-profit corporation registered with the state of
_suggestions, and contributions. Call for ad rates. All
Texas and governed by a Board of Directors. The Bylaws of
material is due in the LRC by the second Friday of the
the organization are available at the Centre for review by all
month.
•
members. Meetings are conducted according to the
Board of Directors
par1imentary procedures outlined in Alice Sturgis' Rules of
Lisa Mashigian
Ann Brown
Order, which is available in the Library for review by members.
Vicki Cantrell
Lurese Terrell
The LRC has been granted 501 (c) 3 status by the IRS, and
Dawynn Edwards
Vicki Harris
contributions are therefore tax deductible.
Christine Jarosz, Director

(

Those Wild and
Crazy Telephone
Calls

Friday Night Dinners ·
The womyn who prepare dinner on
Friday Nights are giving the womyn
who participate a gift. They take
their time, energy, and money to prepare
what they like for unknown womyn. It seems extraordinarily ungrateful
and disrespectful for womyn to complain all the time. If dinner is not
ready on time, people seem to go crazy. If you don't like the food a
particular night, go somewhere else to eat. Don't complain ... you are
not always going to get what you want. It's impossible. The main focus
is not food but conversation and friendship . People are getting their
fMlings hurt because complaints seem to be constant. The LRC itself
is a gift ... a labor of love and commitment...it is not a birthright. Please
participate by pitching in not by dumping on someone. This little note
is in response to the numberofwomyn who are upset by unfair and rude
treatment. The Centre can 't make you not be rude ...but we can point
out that it is very destructive.
,,------'-----7-==

An Apology
On alternating Monday nights, Volunteer Training and New Member
Orientation have been scheduled as regular meetings. However
since no one called any of those nights saying they were interested,
as presenter, I chose not to show up. For anyone who showed, I am
sorry for the inconvenience. Call me and let's schedule a time.
For future reference .. .notice of attendance is necessary.

AN INTRODUCTION TO NLP
( \e11ro-l.111g111\lic l'rogrummmg)

NLP and Money, .. ..as much as you want !
NL P and Exceptional Health, ... for sure !
NL P and Relationships, ... good ones !
NLP and Self- Empo werment, .. .no w !
NLP and Fun, ... this is a choice !
with V. JAN MA RSZA LEK
-President & Owner, NLP Learning Sy stems Corp.
-largest NLP Center S/ W of the Mississippi
-I 2 years in business
-Member of Govenor's Board for Communications

$3:00. entranceproceeds go to LRC .

Join Deb and Helen
in finding out
how this info rmation
can be beneficial
in your life NOW!
DATE : June ,9th
TIM E: 8 - 9:30pm
PLACE : At the LRC
For more information call:
(21 4) 437 - 6878

It is . a never ending
surprise ...the phone calls we
get. Just on Monday, a
woman called and asked about the programs of the
Centre. Like a good LRC member, I spent about 5 minutes
going over every thing the Centre does. She was not
responding to anything , so I asked her what she was
interested in . She said she was looking for a date (that is
not an unusual phone request) ..
but the rest of it was! I said that LRC was not a dating or
sex service andwhyeverdid she think we would be. Then _
!!!! It dawned on me to ask ...are you a Lesbian? The ,
answer.. no. Why are you calling a Lesbian Resource
Centre? Well, I thought you were a front for something
else. What else? I thought maybe you were a cover for
prostitution. You 're kidding ... you are definitely misinformed about what Lesbians are. Well, I am from a small
town ..just moved .. wantto buy a house ...need fast money
for a down payment. Are you calling us looking for a job?
Yes!!!!!!!! Well, you have the wrong number and are you
aware of the dangers involved ... there's AIDS out there
and other sexually transmitted disease. You might be
able to raise a lot of money fast, but you could die. I spent
22 minutes counseling a heterosexual woman about
AIDS and the dangers of acting without thought.
Then there's th is guy who calls us all the time. He is
p:::ralyzed , uses a computer to talk, is questioning his
sexuality, was encouraged to call Gayline, who keeps
calling us because he wants to make friends. What do you
tell this guy? Who can answer and meet the needs of so
many people who are so lonely and so scared . It is so sad.
Answering the phone is a real challenge. It is so frustrating
to talk to peop!e you can 't help ... who keep calling back.
Maybe , we help a little.
And then there was Alene who was calling for her daughter, who is a Lesbian. Her daughter wants to move out of
Dallas and she wants to help her daughter find a place that
has a strong womyn's community. Now that is wonderful.

r-------------------

Womyn for
M.embership
L'.

Womyn
Form

,

A MEMBERSHIP LEVEL:
FOUNDING MOTHER

~ame: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ddress: _________________
City/State/Zip:_____________
~Ielephone:

I
l.,

Womyn for Womyn , Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Your
dona!ions are tax deductable. All information provided to Womyn for
rvomyn IS kept stri~tly confidential. For more information, please call : (214)
Mail your completed form along with your payment to·
I 821-3999.LRC,
P.O. Box 180446, Dallas, Texas , 75218
•
L _________ _

PLEASE CHECK

__ _

___________

(10$ PER MONTH)
coNTRIBUTING MEMBER
(40$ PER YEAR)
PART1c1PATINGNOTING MEMBER
(40$ PER YEAR)
BENEFACTOR AMOUNT - - - (250$ - 500$ PER YEAR)
CORPORATE
MEMBER
--_ ______
_j_200l£>ERYEARL

_

_

_

__ J

Censorship at the LRC

Mary K. Grigsby, M.Ed.
One of the things that the LRC is very proud of is its newsletter. It is
Licensed Proressional
a publication to keep its members informed .. to let members know
Counselor
what is happening at the Centre. It is not, at this time, never has
been, nor intended to be·, a general newsletter about the Lesbian
• Chronic Illnesses
Community, tho
~---r:u.&1
ents do appear
• Addictions
(214) 521-1213
at times. T
mbership.
• Relationships
Individual and
Articles
Ac..Af-1~--F.,l"ffllt,:>
e Board
• Abuse Recovery
Group Therapy
Mem
...
the
3514 Cedar Springs Rd . • Suite 300-C • Dallas, TX 75219
co
he Board Minu
e
a
, that is, who read
i
ined they didn't know
r
.
e got the newsletter. Th
The Newsletter in
CLASSIFIED ?
d it. It certainly
,
to compl
nsibility.) M
readers hav
raged to
,
•
etry ... but if the E
he Centre has r
ROOMMATES WANTED
ey've been printed.
Looking for 1 or 2 lesbians to share a 3 bedeceived, the less the
room home located at Coit and Legacy in Plano.
t
ngthy article (whi
Call Lisa for more details at 618-4282 HM/
pe
LRC's Direct
d,
abou
r, 199 •
WK#.
ersion
The art
-:-----.-- or divisi
ers. THAT
ARTICLE STI
~=.:._:.....;c..c-~
EDITOR AS
FOR SALE: 1982 Kawasaki 305, needs minor
OF MAY 13, 1993. LRC is being accused of Censorship and Racism.
repairs, good condition, $500 or best offer, call
It appears that womyn are once again not taking responsibility for
their own actions or inaction. Though articles are not always printed
Kris after 6:00pm at 618-4282.
the month received, the Newsletter Committee has never turned
down an article. The Committee wants to thank its Editor for the fine
work she does ... lay out is a great skill. But nothing like the skill she
must use in handling warranted and unwarranted complaints. Thanks
very much, Mary Jo. Don't let anyone fool you or mislead you or LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY:
abuse you, you are doing a great, great service for womyn .
I attended a portion of the most recent
Board meeting at the LRC, and I must
say that I was appalled at the lack of
adherence to partimentary procedure . Not
only was the meeting at times chaotic, but
the absence of controls showed a distinct
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
lack of respect for those who came for
XLisa Mashigian
Friday Night Dinner.
We are forgoing our space this month to allow for the article
written by Josi.

Ladies, get your act together!
Sincerely,
Mary Jo

LRC BUILDING FUND
Lisa Mashigian

Carpets
Upholstery
Orientals
Dhurries
Haitians
Drap eries
L eathers

Response has been positive to the establishing of a building
fund. We have saved approximately $350.00.

LIBRARY
Don't forget about the recycling effort underway to benefit the
library - bring those cans!

DONNA BIGELOW

3307 Kinmore St reet, Dallas, Texas 75223, (214) 826-6133

'Ifie 1993 £e.s6ian !Jleaftft !fair
Registration Form:
Name

Address

City.State, Zip

Phone
Registration includes admittance to all presentations,
workshops , exhibits and lunch.

Please circle the Workshops you plan to attend :

.

10:30

2

3

11 : 15

2

3

4

1:30

1

2

3

4

·b .~

2:45

1

2

3

4

2

3

4

)S

4:00

Fees:

Program

Dance

prior to June 18
_$7.50

If purchased at fair
_$1.00
at the door
-$10.00
_ _ $2.00

__ Please check if child care will be required .
We ask that you bring food for your child.
Make checks to
& mailto:

Nelson-T ebedo Clinic
P.OBox190712 Dallas75219.

~~

~,
,")
~

I

I

II
~ i

~ ~

s

~ ~

~ ~

This Is a women's space only event.

E
~o
O>·-

o.s

..__

Cl.()

0)

.COC\JT±:::"'CT- C\J co
ca Q) I"'-- LO C')
Q) .c O r--- C')
I
Q)o,XC\J
I- TI
en• xl-oo
C\J

ccoooLO
Q)E o en ca ,
en ·=-qo Q) Q ca T~ Z Cl.. O C\I
I ;

'

,.

.

'

SclieJfule. of'Events

2na .9l.nnua[

£es6ian :J{eaftn !Fair
{jreater 51.wareness
{jreater Clioice

=

A day dedicated to Lesbian, Gay
& Bisexual Women's Health Issues

8:30 a.m. Breakfast - Registration
9:00 a.m. Keynote Charlotte Taft

Workshops
10:00 a.m. Bonding Sessions
1 - Under 30
2-30to50
3 - Over 51

• Educate women concerning the necessity
of preventive health care.

11 :15 a.m. 1 - Internalized Homophobia
Coming Out
2 - Dating to Partners
3 - Teens and Sexuality
4 - Fat as a Feminist Issue

• Provide a safe, sensitive and empowering
environment in which to learn.

12:15 p.m. Lunch ... Planning /Preparation
by MICA ENGLAND

• A holistic approach to a productive,
healthier life.

June 26, 1993
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. P!l{.O(j!l{..9l.Af
'Ifie Catlidral of!Hope
5910 Ceaar Springs
(behind Ruth's Chris Steak House)

8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. '1J.9l.9{C'E
'l1ie {jll!JILes6ian Comnumit!J Cent-a
(at !R.!agan and 'Brown)

1:30 p.m. 1 - "Is There Really Safe Sex?"
2 - Battering - Physical &
Emotional
3 - Wisewomen Mentors
4 - Chemical Dependency
2:45 p.m. 1 - Aging & Menopause
2 - Inter-racial Relationships
3 - Women & Spirituality
4 - Health Empowerment
4:00 p.m. 1 - Emotional & Love
Addiction
2 - Breast Cancer
3 - Wellness & Holistic Health

'l1ie 1993 Lesbian :Healtfi :Jair tfieme,
(jreater Jlwareness = (jreater Cfioice, reffects
tfie greatest nope for fiealtfi and we{[ness in our
community. Jls man9 as one out of tfiree
fesbians mag deve{op breast cancer. One out
of tfiree fesbians fias a cliemicaf dependency
probfem. Studies fiave snown tfiat fesbians
receive preventive or screening fiealtfi care
fess often tfian fieterosezy.als. 'l1ie urgency of
tfiese issues demands an imtrudiate community
response. Pfease join us in a day for creating
Jlwareness and Cnoice.
~ t e Sp~ Cfiarfotte 'Taft is founder and

director of tlie !Rputn.Street 'Womtn's Cunic..
Sfie fias been tirefess in lier support of women's,
fiealtli care and pro-cfioice on a national, state
and {ocaf kvtf. Cfiarfotte is currently a plaintiff
in tfie 'Te;cas :Human !Rjgfits :Jountfation Cawsuit against tlie state of'Ie;cas' sodomy Caw,
21.06. In lier ~ynote atftfress, Cfiarfotte wi«
el(J)fore tfie issue of empowerment for women
in tfie comi.ng decade.

Sponsored 69 tli.e.
'Xf,fson - 'Iebetlo Cfinic

'Women's ,ka[t/i '.Program
Addltlonal Sponsors:
The Candy Marcum Institute of OLCS
Women 's Activities of the Cathedral of Hope

Exhibits throughout the day .

5:00 p.m. Closing Ritual

Comprehensive Care Center

1
r

Fort Worth Womyn
LRC wishes to congratulate the womyn of Fort
Worth on their efforts to start a Centre in Fort
Worth.

Continuing Saga
Last week, June F from Denton called to respond to my
F~w Words on my next door neighbor, the wife abuser.
She gave me strong support, for protecting the womyn.
She related a story about her above apartment neighbor
who beat his wife. She repeatedly reported his behavior to
the police; he threatened her and called her names; she
continued to report him. Now, he and his wife are getting
counseling ... and doing better. There is no doubt that
womyn must look out for each other, she says.I want to
thank you for your letter of advice and support. It means a
lotto know that we can share experiences ...this is the very
reason the newsletter exists .. to show that we have needs,
interests, and answers in common. The very reason forthe
Centre ... a sharing of experiences. Thanks so much, June.
Just for the record, D D said things were much better for
her now. Who knows how long that will last? But, it's good
for her.

That Fabulous Amanda
A few weeks ago, after checking with the Board, Amanda
took it upon herself to write a number, if not all, of the
womyn's publications, journals, newspapers. She asked
them to consider donating a subscription for the use of the
womyn of Dallas. Way to go, Amanda ... that's using great
creativity and initiative. Haven't seen you in awhile to tell
you that we have received good response to your letters.
Copies of Hot Wire, Common Lives/Lesbian Lives,
Deneuve, and one other are arriving. Amanda, that's
great. If you want to get something done follow Amanda's
lead.

Ola«::k Tie ~equlred
LRC's annual membership reception and
celebration is planned for June 19 at 7:30
pm. In keeping with LRC's tradition of making jest at very serious affairs, affair is
BLACK TIE REQUIRED ... all
other clothing optional. Speeches, music,
food, and presentations are a usual part of
this time evening. Everyone gathers together to recognize those womyn who are
members or Founding Mothers. The event
is free to Founding Mother's and is $4.00 for
Members. It is $6.00 for non members.

,e Cent r

Lefter to the Editor:
To the MC who made the antisemitic comment at the talent
show - and to those who did not
support their sisters who protested:
Remember that we llve In a
patrlarchal system that encour~ and counts on us mallgnlng Jews, people of color.
lesblans and gays, women. the
poor, the physically challenged ... anyone who Is not a privileged.
white male. Like It or not. sister. we're In this together. An lnsensltlve
comment hurts all of us. I believe~ when ~ say~ are weUlntentloned ... and I hope ~ recognize the good lntentlons of
those pointing out the problem. We must get to this place of
mutuality before we can come together to undo the racist, sexist.
homophobic mlseducaflon we have all had In this culture.
If ~ are one of those who sat In silence I Invite ~ to find ~r
voice In our Wlmm:n overcoming Racism group designed speclflcally to help us see the connections between the various forms of
oppression In a woman-only, feminist envlronment.(see LRC
calendar)

We are all unlearning.
In sisterhood.
Therese Palmer

Battered Lesbian Task Force
A call for help..... The BLP created a brochure for distribution at the
Dallas Association of Family and Marriage Therapy Conference.
Designed primarily by Tanea and Christine, the brochure has helpful
information and facts about domestic violence. It will be available at
the LRC, too. It was discussed whether to print the brochure both in
English and Spanish. It was decided, after much discussion, that it
would be misleading to print a brochure in Spanish at this time.
Though the shelters and programs working with the BLP have multi
lingual staff, the Task Force does not: Once the Task Force can locate
a Spanish speaking therapist, counselor, or peer counselor, the
brochures will be printed in Spanish . Josi M of Urnoja Hermanas
handles a lot of calls from Lesbians seeking information and help.
She was informed that the LRC brochure includes the name and
phone number of Umoja Hermanas in its list of resources available
to womyn. It is expected that this brochure will reach hundreds of
therapists and counselors in Dallas who have no idea about what
services and support are available for their lesbian clients. This is
such a good way for the LRC to make "contact" with otherwise
closeted lesbians. This is such a fantastic opportunity for us to work
with and provide support forthe larger mental health service community. Task Force meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 5:30. Thanks
again to Kay Christian who prepared the brochure for printing ... sh~
did a rush job for us... she was leaving town and did it in less than 36
hours. Thanks for the tooperation and help, Kay .
.

,

"What I Know and Should Have Said"~

.•

by Josi Mata

(214) 618-4282

(The following article will be presented in two segments due to it's
length.)

Several weeks ago, a friend of mine, whom I will call
Susan, requested my presence ata reception for Women's
Equality Day. I was to attend and give some information
on a local Lesbians of Color support group that I am
involved in. I told her that I didn't think I should attend the
gathering, especially since I didn't celebrate Women's
Equality Day. She snickered and said, "Well don't celebrate it, just come". I looked at her puzzled, not knowing
whether to go into detail on why I refuse to celebrate the
. holiday. The following day, I met up with her and explained
. why I didn't observe the day. I informed her that I thought
it was a very rac,st observance, since the suffragettes who
lobbied for the measure, had scared the sexist and racist
lawmakers of this country into choosing to give the vote to
women orto blacks. I repeated Susan B. Anthony's words
to lawmakers "And you don't want blacks voting, do you?"
The suffragettes had used racism to their advantage and
saw no wrong in using it as a tool of intimidation on a, so
called, "Feminist" platform. Obviously, they believed that
when they were fighting for the rights of women , and in
particular the right for women to vote, they meant white
women; and most possibly believed that the term "women",
under the definition of the laws that they were trying t have
passed, did not apply to black women, or any women of
color for that matter. We were not considered people,
much less any particular sex privileged with rights under
the constitution . I also told Susan about a Texas N.O.W .
state conference several years ago, where Rainbow
N.O.W., a local N.O.W. chapter, tried to get an affirmative
action resolution passed to require the state organization
to have equal representation from women of color, something the organization has been struggling with for over a
decade. The resolution was surprisingly defeated. This
occurred at a, so called "feminist" conference. When we
tried to absolve the observance of "Women's Equality
Day" due to the racist nature of its orientation, all hell broke
loose. Women were Shouting, standing up and scream- ing, mostly at us. A white woman, who was sitting in front
of us with several of her charter mates, turned around and
pointed her finger at my friend Alpha's face, only a few

JUDITH CANNON, PH.D.
INDIVIDUAL, COUPLE and FAMILY COUNSELING

3609 Cedar Springs
Dallas, Texas 75219
(214) 521-4810
Liwtsea ?vfarri119e an.f J amify 'Thaapist

Mashigian Investigations
P.O. Box 260415
Plano, TX 75026-0415

Commercial and Domestic
Private Investigations

Lisa A. Mashigian
President

inches from her nose, and yelled "Don't you blame me for
what happened 100 years ago"!! She looked at all of us
and with the support of her companions yelled "D~n·t
f_king try to take our history away"! (read: Niggers and
Spies go home!). We were not trying to take these
women's history away, we were simply trying to make them
aware of it. And because feminism includes intolerance of
racism or any oppression, it only makes sense that these
women should be aware of the implications of celebrating
such a holiday.
When I recaptured this story for Susan and spoke about
the philosophy of Feminism, every word I managed to spit
out was met with an "I know that". She, at the time of our
second conversation, was working on an article for a local
"feminist" publication. In her article she disputed the idea
of women's equality day by stating that no woman was free
on this earth, so how could there possibly be a "Women's
Equality Day"? No woman of any race, class or ethnicity,
under the guise of the law, was free to do as she pleases
and constantly fears for her life; and with the recent rapes
involving the Dallas Police Department, nowhere else was
this more apparent. She also made reference to the fact
that women are paid less, not paid attention to, placed on
pedestals and then abused and discarded, and that along
with the children, are the majority of the starving. I told her that
I thought her article was not on target because the law is applied
differently to people of color in comparison to white people. I did
not deny the fact that some men have privilege under the law, and
some under the economic system, however, she had lumped all
women into one category as receiving the same oppression.
women of color are not placed on pedestals. On the contrary, the
patriarchal powers that be take from women of color in order to
create a pedestal for white women. Nowhere did she state that for
some women, other women are their oppressors as well. Nowh~re,
in her article, and more importantly iri her personal statement, for
she considers herselfa radical, lesbian, separatist feminist, did she
acknowledge her privilege as a white woman. She believed she
had none under the law. She place much of the woe's of the world
on men. She became defensive when I pointed out that white
peoples racism, regardless of sex, is a great obstacle in over 3/4ths
of the worlds population. Much to my disappointment, she also
did not clarify the history of "Women' s Equality Day", as the day
white women got the right to vote, even after she agreed she would
do so. (The remainder of the article will appear in next month's
issue. Special thanks to Lisa for taking the time to type it- Ed.)

Womyn for Womyn, a Lesbian Resource Centre
May 30 - July 10, 1993
SUNDAY

May 30
10:30am Women's Lodge (Recovery
and Support)
I :OOpm -5 Librarian's Opt.-n House

June 6

MONDAY

TUESDAY

May 31

June 1

Memorial Day
(Observed)

June 7

J0:.30ant Women"s Lodge (Recovery
and Support)
1:00pm -5 Librarian's Open House
2:00pm Writers' Group

June 8
7:30pm Over 38 's
Group

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

June 4

June 2

June 3

7 :30pm Tuesday
Night Discussion

7:00pm Women's
Lodge (Recovery
and Support)

June 9
7:00pm NLP
Introduction

SATURDAY

,::: FM
7:30pm Friday Night
Dinners

June 5
3:00pm -5:00 Under 30's

7:00pm Saturday Night at the
Movies

June 11

June 10
7:00pm Women's
Lodge (Recovery
and Support)

June 12

<) LQ

3:00pm -5:00 Under 30's

6:00pm LRC Busines;,i
Board Meeting/Newsletter
Deadline
7:30pm Friday Night
Di~rs

7:00pm Umoja Hermanas

5

June 13
10:30am Women's Lodge (Recovery
and Support)
1:00pm -5 Librarian's Open House

June 14
Flag Day
5: 30pm Domesti,:
Violence Task
Force

June 15
7 :OOpm -9:00
Womyn
Overcoming
Racism

--~

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

7:30pm Tuesday
Night Discussion
Group

7:00pm Women's
Lodge (Recovery
and Support)

6 :OOpm "ewslettcr :\failing
6:30pm Membership
Committee
7 :30pm Friday :-light
Dinners

eNM
12:00pm Recydlll8 Party by Under W 's
Group
3:00pm -5:00 l'nder 30',
~ :OOpm Annwl Dla,·k Tie Required Affoir/
Membership Party

·-

June 20
Father's Day
10:30am Women·s Lodge (Recovery and .
I :()()pm -5 Librarian's Open Houoc
2:00pm Writcrs ' Group
2 :OOpm Sum1rrr Sol•tic:., Ritual
5 :00pm Womyn of Color Po,,try and Sh ..

June 21
Summer begins

June 22

June 23

7:30pm Over 38's
, Group

s:
8
.....

June 25
7:30pm Friday Night
Dinn.:rs

7 :OOpm Women ' s
Lod~c (Recovery
and Support)
7 :30pm Book ,Study

:

l

Ii
~

~

.....
_. _
.j::,.

June 24

-.i

~
r

- ~
.

~ = = rl

June 26
( · FQ
Womyn's H.:alth Fair and Dance
3:00pm -5:00 Un~r 30's

(,) - ~
g

p.

0

"

'

June 27

June 28

10:30am Women's Lodg.: (R.:c,w.:t')·
and Support)
I :OOpm -5 Lihrarian •s Open Hous,·

5:30pm Dom.:sti,
Violenc<! Task For..:,

June 29

June 30

Ju]y 3

July 2

Ju1y l
D,lminion Day

1:: Jllpm Friday Night
· Dmn~r"

(Canada)
7 :00pm W ,Hncn ' ,
LoJge (Rcc,)wry
and Support,

-,

"t1
0
'O

FM

3:00pm -5:00 Und"r 31J"s

7:00pm Saturday Night at the
Mnvies

m

g
M'

::;

July 4
Independence Day
10:Jllam Women's Lodge (Re.:,,vcry
and Suppnrt)
1:00pm -5 Lihrarian·s Open Hou.,~
2:00pm Writers' Group

Jul¥ 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

7:30pm Tuesday
Night Discussion

7 :OOpm \Vnmc:n ·,

July Q
h :(~ T!·o J.R C Bu••.in\!~ ...
, 8',a1,d fv1~\! tai~-N~" -..,J..:nl.! r l},.:.Jdimt..·

Lo<lgt' ( R <c:,OVt't')

anJ Support)

'

7:JOpm h,day N ,ghl
Dmn~rs

m

July JO
1r,,., )arn -o :t_s) NLP Wcd.,cnll

Q
...,

_, ,, ~ lpm . .' :i1(, Under 3d'~

@~

7:00pm Umoja Hermanas

5/ 14/ 1993

;f.taf'r.
\

•";,;:,...,

-,

MAAK YOUR CAt..E.NDAR SATURDAY NJGftT
MAY 29, 1993
a:00 PM
COMtDY JMPROV WJT'1 KAAE.N RJPt..E.Y
ADMJSSJON 5. 0014.00 F<M ME.MBE.RS
SE.E. YOU AT TfC CE.NTRE.

lr.c
P.O.BOX 180446
DALLAS, TEXAS 75218-0446

FORWARDING ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
FORWARDING AND RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED

Non-Profit
Organization
US.POSTAGE
PAID

Permit No. 1197
Dallas, Texas



IP operty o • the Center

the Honeypot
June 1993 The Newsletter of Womyn for Womyn. the Lesbian Resource Centre Vol. 4, No. 6

LI) ~ I ) i-.,

4L

And the beat goes on ...and on ... and on. •
No matter what else happens ..no matter what else
comes up...the work of the Centre continues. A lot of
MARTI KRANZBERG, Ph.D.
important things happened this month. Some may sound
insignificant to you, but they are all the thir.gs that make
Psychologist
a Centre come together. The Centre was fitted with new
blinds for the front window..fumished by our neighbor,
David Alexander... installed by Lisa Mashigian and
Carolyn Rowley, who also located and purchased the
4054 McKinney Ave., Suite 212
blinds. Flower seeds were planted by Azure. The wrought
Dallas, Texas 75204
(214) 528-1815
iron bars were painted (only the ones on the North end;
others will be done as weather permits) by Christine,
Amanda S, Carolyn, Lisa, and others. Thanks to
can a Lesbian make an anti Lesbian joke? Is it okay or not okay to make
Carolyn for putting this weekend together. The place
jokes about one's own culture. The joke was bad ...the audience left no
looks much nicer. A new group decided to fonn: a
doubt about that...the audience responded with some booing. Okay,
writers group, meeting on Sundays (call Diane Kirksey
that's happened before. But then ... th!ngs got pretty heated when D
for infonnation). Christine was a presenter at the
demanded an apology for someone else. B refused and a short and
Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The Battered Lesbian
heated discussion on racism began. The question on whether the
Task Force created a brochure to be distributed at the
Centre was a safe space for everyone was raised. The question on
Dallas Association of Family and Marriage Therapy Conwhether this arena (the Talent Show) was the best place to deal with this
ference. It will also be used as the foundation brochure for
issue came up. The Talent Show continued with dampened and
all future outreach on battering. LRC, as a sponsor, has
darkened spirits. The main parties got together after the Show to
a table for distribution of all of our literature including info
discuss their perspectives. Jeanne R who will be helping to restart the
for Umoja Hennanas. A womyn's spirituality ritual was
Womyn for Womyn University Edu.:ational Series suggested that
held the first weekend. Over 38's, Trykes (fonnerly, and
the first class would be on "Is It a Joke? Or Isn't It?" A good place to deal
still, the Under 30's), the Women's Lodge (support
with serious issues. It was a most unhappy situation. The LRC works to
and recovery group), Womyn against Racism, Umoja
end sexism ·a nd racism on a daily basis ... but It was difficultto know what
~nnanas, Womyn of Color Poetry and Short Story
Group, the Battered Lesbian Task Force:-:all had their, to do in this situation. All ~f the participants were either guests or
meetings and ail their separate activities.The Sprin·g
entertainers. Some might believe that what people say at the Centre.is
the Centre's responsibility. But, while we try to provide a safe place for .
Talent Show, as always, had many surprises including
all (and what does that mean? A safe place ... where no one ever says ·
the foot stomping, body moving rhythms of Rayva; the
continuing Tragi-comedic poetry of Marlene; the sweet, • anything insulting, or racist, or sexist, or ageist; or is the Centre a safe
gentle lovingness of Jeanne R and her sweet remem~
place for us to make mistakes, learn from them, and go on?), it can't be
guaranteed that no one's feelings will be hurt. It cannot ever be sure that
brance of her Mother. We witnessed the courage of a
womyn who, though new to the Centre, participated
your issue is someone else's issue. It~. however, guaranteed that all
proudly and honored the LRC by saying how glad she was: of the issues will be discussed. The Centre is not and does not want to
be the Lesbian thought and action police. Do you want the Centre to ask
that the Centre existed for her. Judy, Linda, Brenda,
people what they think or what they will say before they come in? I don't
Cathy, Jenny, Alpha, Lisa, Josi, and Barbara enterthink so. Dealing with important issues should not make enemies out of
tained us. And, then the MC provided an added attractionus. We alf have different ways of handling crisis ... one cannot always
an impromptu and bad joke that for many was no joke at
all. Some say it was an Anti-Semitic joke; others say it was
expect that it will be handled in the way we would like ...judging each
an anti-German joke (this difference alone shows how
other quickly can only harm us. Depends on what your goal is... a
community of womyn Who all believe the same thing or a community of
much is a matter of perception).:Can a German rriake an
womyn committed to the empowerment of all womyn. One final
anti-German joke; can a Jew make an a_nti"'.Semitic joke;
comment on this: SEXISM AND RACISM MUST BE ELIMINATED.
How we do.that is a matter of personal conviction and choice. Th~re is
The Lesbian Resource Centre exists to create physical
. no one right way to do anything and everybody makes mistakes. And
space where lesbians are valued for themselves. This
. if someone isn't as angry or assertive or aggressive about an issue as
space, committed to a feminist philosophy, will provide
you are, it doesn't mean that they are wrong. You may think they are
resources to all lesbians. The LRC Newsletter is pubwrong
... but that's just one opinion.
lished monthly and is distributed to over 650 womyn by
the LRC, P.O. Box 180446, Dallas, TX 75218-0446.
(214) 821-3999. We welcome your comments, news,
The LRC is a non-profit corporation registered with the state of
_suggestions, and contributions. Call for ad rates. All
Texas and governed by a Board of Directors. The Bylaws of
material is due in the LRC by the second Friday of the
the organization are available at the Centre for review by all
month.
•
members. Meetings are conducted according to the
Board of Directors
par1imentary procedures outlined in Alice Sturgis' Rules of
Lisa Mashigian
Ann Brown
Order, which is available in the Library for review by members.
Vicki Cantrell
Lurese Terrell
The LRC has been granted 501 (c) 3 status by the IRS, and
Dawynn Edwards
Vicki Harris
contributions are therefore tax deductible.
Christine Jarosz, Director

(

Those Wild and
Crazy Telephone
Calls

Friday Night Dinners ·
The womyn who prepare dinner on
Friday Nights are giving the womyn
who participate a gift. They take
their time, energy, and money to prepare
what they like for unknown womyn. It seems extraordinarily ungrateful
and disrespectful for womyn to complain all the time. If dinner is not
ready on time, people seem to go crazy. If you don't like the food a
particular night, go somewhere else to eat. Don't complain ... you are
not always going to get what you want. It's impossible. The main focus
is not food but conversation and friendship . People are getting their
fMlings hurt because complaints seem to be constant. The LRC itself
is a gift ... a labor of love and commitment...it is not a birthright. Please
participate by pitching in not by dumping on someone. This little note
is in response to the numberofwomyn who are upset by unfair and rude
treatment. The Centre can 't make you not be rude ...but we can point
out that it is very destructive.
,,------'-----7-==

An Apology
On alternating Monday nights, Volunteer Training and New Member
Orientation have been scheduled as regular meetings. However
since no one called any of those nights saying they were interested,
as presenter, I chose not to show up. For anyone who showed, I am
sorry for the inconvenience. Call me and let's schedule a time.
For future reference .. .notice of attendance is necessary.

AN INTRODUCTION TO NLP
( \e11ro-l.111g111\lic l'rogrummmg)

NLP and Money, .. ..as much as you want !
NL P and Exceptional Health, ... for sure !
NL P and Relationships, ... good ones !
NLP and Self- Empo werment, .. .no w !
NLP and Fun, ... this is a choice !
with V. JAN MA RSZA LEK
-President & Owner, NLP Learning Sy stems Corp.
-largest NLP Center S/ W of the Mississippi
-I 2 years in business
-Member of Govenor's Board for Communications

$3:00. entranceproceeds go to LRC .

Join Deb and Helen
in finding out
how this info rmation
can be beneficial
in your life NOW!
DATE : June ,9th
TIM E: 8 - 9:30pm
PLACE : At the LRC
For more information call:
(21 4) 437 - 6878

It is . a never ending
surprise ...the phone calls we
get. Just on Monday, a
woman called and asked about the programs of the
Centre. Like a good LRC member, I spent about 5 minutes
going over every thing the Centre does. She was not
responding to anything , so I asked her what she was
interested in . She said she was looking for a date (that is
not an unusual phone request) ..
but the rest of it was! I said that LRC was not a dating or
sex service andwhyeverdid she think we would be. Then _
!!!! It dawned on me to ask ...are you a Lesbian? The ,
answer.. no. Why are you calling a Lesbian Resource
Centre? Well, I thought you were a front for something
else. What else? I thought maybe you were a cover for
prostitution. You 're kidding ... you are definitely misinformed about what Lesbians are. Well, I am from a small
town ..just moved .. wantto buy a house ...need fast money
for a down payment. Are you calling us looking for a job?
Yes!!!!!!!! Well, you have the wrong number and are you
aware of the dangers involved ... there's AIDS out there
and other sexually transmitted disease. You might be
able to raise a lot of money fast, but you could die. I spent
22 minutes counseling a heterosexual woman about
AIDS and the dangers of acting without thought.
Then there's th is guy who calls us all the time. He is
p:::ralyzed , uses a computer to talk, is questioning his
sexuality, was encouraged to call Gayline, who keeps
calling us because he wants to make friends. What do you
tell this guy? Who can answer and meet the needs of so
many people who are so lonely and so scared . It is so sad.
Answering the phone is a real challenge. It is so frustrating
to talk to peop!e you can 't help ... who keep calling back.
Maybe , we help a little.
And then there was Alene who was calling for her daughter, who is a Lesbian. Her daughter wants to move out of
Dallas and she wants to help her daughter find a place that
has a strong womyn's community. Now that is wonderful.

r-------------------

Womyn for
M.embership
L'.

Womyn
Form

,

A MEMBERSHIP LEVEL:
FOUNDING MOTHER

~ame: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ddress: _________________
City/State/Zip:_____________
~Ielephone:

I
l.,

Womyn for Womyn , Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Your
dona!ions are tax deductable. All information provided to Womyn for
rvomyn IS kept stri~tly confidential. For more information, please call : (214)
Mail your completed form along with your payment to·
I 821-3999.LRC,
P.O. Box 180446, Dallas, Texas , 75218
•
L _________ _

PLEASE CHECK

__ _

___________

(10$ PER MONTH)
coNTRIBUTING MEMBER
(40$ PER YEAR)
PART1c1PATINGNOTING MEMBER
(40$ PER YEAR)
BENEFACTOR AMOUNT - - - (250$ - 500$ PER YEAR)
CORPORATE
MEMBER
--_ ______
_j_200l£>ERYEARL

_

_

_

__ J

Censorship at the LRC

Mary K. Grigsby, M.Ed.
One of the things that the LRC is very proud of is its newsletter. It is
Licensed Proressional
a publication to keep its members informed .. to let members know
Counselor
what is happening at the Centre. It is not, at this time, never has
been, nor intended to be·, a general newsletter about the Lesbian
• Chronic Illnesses
Community, tho
~---r:u.&1
ents do appear
• Addictions
(214) 521-1213
at times. T
mbership.
• Relationships
Individual and
Articles
Ac..Af-1~--F.,l"ffllt,:>
e Board
• Abuse Recovery
Group Therapy
Mem
...
the
3514 Cedar Springs Rd . • Suite 300-C • Dallas, TX 75219
co
he Board Minu
e
a
, that is, who read
i
ined they didn't know
r
.
e got the newsletter. Th
The Newsletter in
CLASSIFIED ?
d it. It certainly
,
to compl
nsibility.) M
readers hav
raged to
,
•
etry ... but if the E
he Centre has r
ROOMMATES WANTED
ey've been printed.
Looking for 1 or 2 lesbians to share a 3 bedeceived, the less the
room home located at Coit and Legacy in Plano.
t
ngthy article (whi
Call Lisa for more details at 618-4282 HM/
pe
LRC's Direct
d,
abou
r, 199 •
WK#.
ersion
The art
-:-----.-- or divisi
ers. THAT
ARTICLE STI
~=.:._:.....;c..c-~
EDITOR AS
FOR SALE: 1982 Kawasaki 305, needs minor
OF MAY 13, 1993. LRC is being accused of Censorship and Racism.
repairs, good condition, $500 or best offer, call
It appears that womyn are once again not taking responsibility for
their own actions or inaction. Though articles are not always printed
Kris after 6:00pm at 618-4282.
the month received, the Newsletter Committee has never turned
down an article. The Committee wants to thank its Editor for the fine
work she does ... lay out is a great skill. But nothing like the skill she
must use in handling warranted and unwarranted complaints. Thanks
very much, Mary Jo. Don't let anyone fool you or mislead you or LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY:
abuse you, you are doing a great, great service for womyn .
I attended a portion of the most recent
Board meeting at the LRC, and I must
say that I was appalled at the lack of
adherence to partimentary procedure . Not
only was the meeting at times chaotic, but
the absence of controls showed a distinct
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
lack of respect for those who came for
XLisa Mashigian
Friday Night Dinner.
We are forgoing our space this month to allow for the article
written by Josi.

Ladies, get your act together!
Sincerely,
Mary Jo

LRC BUILDING FUND
Lisa Mashigian

Carpets
Upholstery
Orientals
Dhurries
Haitians
Drap eries
L eathers

Response has been positive to the establishing of a building
fund. We have saved approximately $350.00.

LIBRARY
Don't forget about the recycling effort underway to benefit the
library - bring those cans!

DONNA BIGELOW

3307 Kinmore St reet, Dallas, Texas 75223, (214) 826-6133

'Ifie 1993 £e.s6ian !Jleaftft !fair
Registration Form:
Name

Address

City.State, Zip

Phone
Registration includes admittance to all presentations,
workshops , exhibits and lunch.

Please circle the Workshops you plan to attend :

.

10:30

2

3

11 : 15

2

3

4

1:30

1

2

3

4

·b .~

2:45

1

2

3

4

2

3

4

)S

4:00

Fees:

Program

Dance

prior to June 18
_$7.50

If purchased at fair
_$1.00
at the door
-$10.00
_ _ $2.00

__ Please check if child care will be required .
We ask that you bring food for your child.
Make checks to
& mailto:

Nelson-T ebedo Clinic
P.OBox190712 Dallas75219.

~~

~,
,")
~

I

I

II
~ i

~ ~

s

~ ~

~ ~

This Is a women's space only event.

E
~o
O>·-

o.s

..__

Cl.()

0)

.COC\JT±:::"'CT- C\J co
ca Q) I"'-- LO C')
Q) .c O r--- C')
I
Q)o,XC\J
I- TI
en• xl-oo
C\J

ccoooLO
Q)E o en ca ,
en ·=-qo Q) Q ca T~ Z Cl.. O C\I
I ;

'

,.

.

'

SclieJfule. of'Events

2na .9l.nnua[

£es6ian :J{eaftn !Fair
{jreater 51.wareness
{jreater Clioice

=

A day dedicated to Lesbian, Gay
& Bisexual Women's Health Issues

8:30 a.m. Breakfast - Registration
9:00 a.m. Keynote Charlotte Taft

Workshops
10:00 a.m. Bonding Sessions
1 - Under 30
2-30to50
3 - Over 51

• Educate women concerning the necessity
of preventive health care.

11 :15 a.m. 1 - Internalized Homophobia
Coming Out
2 - Dating to Partners
3 - Teens and Sexuality
4 - Fat as a Feminist Issue

• Provide a safe, sensitive and empowering
environment in which to learn.

12:15 p.m. Lunch ... Planning /Preparation
by MICA ENGLAND

• A holistic approach to a productive,
healthier life.

June 26, 1993
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. P!l{.O(j!l{..9l.Af
'Ifie Catlidral of!Hope
5910 Ceaar Springs
(behind Ruth's Chris Steak House)

8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. '1J.9l.9{C'E
'l1ie {jll!JILes6ian Comnumit!J Cent-a
(at !R.!agan and 'Brown)

1:30 p.m. 1 - "Is There Really Safe Sex?"
2 - Battering - Physical &
Emotional
3 - Wisewomen Mentors
4 - Chemical Dependency
2:45 p.m. 1 - Aging & Menopause
2 - Inter-racial Relationships
3 - Women & Spirituality
4 - Health Empowerment
4:00 p.m. 1 - Emotional & Love
Addiction
2 - Breast Cancer
3 - Wellness & Holistic Health

'l1ie 1993 Lesbian :Healtfi :Jair tfieme,
(jreater Jlwareness = (jreater Cfioice, reffects
tfie greatest nope for fiealtfi and we{[ness in our
community. Jls man9 as one out of tfiree
fesbians mag deve{op breast cancer. One out
of tfiree fesbians fias a cliemicaf dependency
probfem. Studies fiave snown tfiat fesbians
receive preventive or screening fiealtfi care
fess often tfian fieterosezy.als. 'l1ie urgency of
tfiese issues demands an imtrudiate community
response. Pfease join us in a day for creating
Jlwareness and Cnoice.
~ t e Sp~ Cfiarfotte 'Taft is founder and

director of tlie !Rputn.Street 'Womtn's Cunic..
Sfie fias been tirefess in lier support of women's,
fiealtli care and pro-cfioice on a national, state
and {ocaf kvtf. Cfiarfotte is currently a plaintiff
in tfie 'Te;cas :Human !Rjgfits :Jountfation Cawsuit against tlie state of'Ie;cas' sodomy Caw,
21.06. In lier ~ynote atftfress, Cfiarfotte wi«
el(J)fore tfie issue of empowerment for women
in tfie comi.ng decade.

Sponsored 69 tli.e.
'Xf,fson - 'Iebetlo Cfinic

'Women's ,ka[t/i '.Program
Addltlonal Sponsors:
The Candy Marcum Institute of OLCS
Women 's Activities of the Cathedral of Hope

Exhibits throughout the day .

5:00 p.m. Closing Ritual

Comprehensive Care Center

1
r

Fort Worth Womyn
LRC wishes to congratulate the womyn of Fort
Worth on their efforts to start a Centre in Fort
Worth.

Continuing Saga
Last week, June F from Denton called to respond to my
F~w Words on my next door neighbor, the wife abuser.
She gave me strong support, for protecting the womyn.
She related a story about her above apartment neighbor
who beat his wife. She repeatedly reported his behavior to
the police; he threatened her and called her names; she
continued to report him. Now, he and his wife are getting
counseling ... and doing better. There is no doubt that
womyn must look out for each other, she says.I want to
thank you for your letter of advice and support. It means a
lotto know that we can share experiences ...this is the very
reason the newsletter exists .. to show that we have needs,
interests, and answers in common. The very reason forthe
Centre ... a sharing of experiences. Thanks so much, June.
Just for the record, D D said things were much better for
her now. Who knows how long that will last? But, it's good
for her.

That Fabulous Amanda
A few weeks ago, after checking with the Board, Amanda
took it upon herself to write a number, if not all, of the
womyn's publications, journals, newspapers. She asked
them to consider donating a subscription for the use of the
womyn of Dallas. Way to go, Amanda ... that's using great
creativity and initiative. Haven't seen you in awhile to tell
you that we have received good response to your letters.
Copies of Hot Wire, Common Lives/Lesbian Lives,
Deneuve, and one other are arriving. Amanda, that's
great. If you want to get something done follow Amanda's
lead.

Ola«::k Tie ~equlred
LRC's annual membership reception and
celebration is planned for June 19 at 7:30
pm. In keeping with LRC's tradition of making jest at very serious affairs, affair is
BLACK TIE REQUIRED ... all
other clothing optional. Speeches, music,
food, and presentations are a usual part of
this time evening. Everyone gathers together to recognize those womyn who are
members or Founding Mothers. The event
is free to Founding Mother's and is $4.00 for
Members. It is $6.00 for non members.

,e Cent r

Lefter to the Editor:
To the MC who made the antisemitic comment at the talent
show - and to those who did not
support their sisters who protested:
Remember that we llve In a
patrlarchal system that encour~ and counts on us mallgnlng Jews, people of color.
lesblans and gays, women. the
poor, the physically challenged ... anyone who Is not a privileged.
white male. Like It or not. sister. we're In this together. An lnsensltlve
comment hurts all of us. I believe~ when ~ say~ are weUlntentloned ... and I hope ~ recognize the good lntentlons of
those pointing out the problem. We must get to this place of
mutuality before we can come together to undo the racist, sexist.
homophobic mlseducaflon we have all had In this culture.
If ~ are one of those who sat In silence I Invite ~ to find ~r
voice In our Wlmm:n overcoming Racism group designed speclflcally to help us see the connections between the various forms of
oppression In a woman-only, feminist envlronment.(see LRC
calendar)

We are all unlearning.
In sisterhood.
Therese Palmer

Battered Lesbian Task Force
A call for help..... The BLP created a brochure for distribution at the
Dallas Association of Family and Marriage Therapy Conference.
Designed primarily by Tanea and Christine, the brochure has helpful
information and facts about domestic violence. It will be available at
the LRC, too. It was discussed whether to print the brochure both in
English and Spanish. It was decided, after much discussion, that it
would be misleading to print a brochure in Spanish at this time.
Though the shelters and programs working with the BLP have multi
lingual staff, the Task Force does not: Once the Task Force can locate
a Spanish speaking therapist, counselor, or peer counselor, the
brochures will be printed in Spanish . Josi M of Urnoja Hermanas
handles a lot of calls from Lesbians seeking information and help.
She was informed that the LRC brochure includes the name and
phone number of Umoja Hermanas in its list of resources available
to womyn. It is expected that this brochure will reach hundreds of
therapists and counselors in Dallas who have no idea about what
services and support are available for their lesbian clients. This is
such a good way for the LRC to make "contact" with otherwise
closeted lesbians. This is such a fantastic opportunity for us to work
with and provide support forthe larger mental health service community. Task Force meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 5:30. Thanks
again to Kay Christian who prepared the brochure for printing ... sh~
did a rush job for us... she was leaving town and did it in less than 36
hours. Thanks for the tooperation and help, Kay .
.

,

"What I Know and Should Have Said"~

.•

by Josi Mata

(214) 618-4282

(The following article will be presented in two segments due to it's
length.)

Several weeks ago, a friend of mine, whom I will call
Susan, requested my presence ata reception for Women's
Equality Day. I was to attend and give some information
on a local Lesbians of Color support group that I am
involved in. I told her that I didn't think I should attend the
gathering, especially since I didn't celebrate Women's
Equality Day. She snickered and said, "Well don't celebrate it, just come". I looked at her puzzled, not knowing
whether to go into detail on why I refuse to celebrate the
. holiday. The following day, I met up with her and explained
. why I didn't observe the day. I informed her that I thought
it was a very rac,st observance, since the suffragettes who
lobbied for the measure, had scared the sexist and racist
lawmakers of this country into choosing to give the vote to
women orto blacks. I repeated Susan B. Anthony's words
to lawmakers "And you don't want blacks voting, do you?"
The suffragettes had used racism to their advantage and
saw no wrong in using it as a tool of intimidation on a, so
called, "Feminist" platform. Obviously, they believed that
when they were fighting for the rights of women , and in
particular the right for women to vote, they meant white
women; and most possibly believed that the term "women",
under the definition of the laws that they were trying t have
passed, did not apply to black women, or any women of
color for that matter. We were not considered people,
much less any particular sex privileged with rights under
the constitution . I also told Susan about a Texas N.O.W .
state conference several years ago, where Rainbow
N.O.W., a local N.O.W. chapter, tried to get an affirmative
action resolution passed to require the state organization
to have equal representation from women of color, something the organization has been struggling with for over a
decade. The resolution was surprisingly defeated. This
occurred at a, so called "feminist" conference. When we
tried to absolve the observance of "Women's Equality
Day" due to the racist nature of its orientation, all hell broke
loose. Women were Shouting, standing up and scream- ing, mostly at us. A white woman, who was sitting in front
of us with several of her charter mates, turned around and
pointed her finger at my friend Alpha's face, only a few

JUDITH CANNON, PH.D.
INDIVIDUAL, COUPLE and FAMILY COUNSELING

3609 Cedar Springs
Dallas, Texas 75219
(214) 521-4810
Liwtsea ?vfarri119e an.f J amify 'Thaapist

Mashigian Investigations
P.O. Box 260415
Plano, TX 75026-0415

Commercial and Domestic
Private Investigations

Lisa A. Mashigian
President

inches from her nose, and yelled "Don't you blame me for
what happened 100 years ago"!! She looked at all of us
and with the support of her companions yelled "D~n·t
f_king try to take our history away"! (read: Niggers and
Spies go home!). We were not trying to take these
women's history away, we were simply trying to make them
aware of it. And because feminism includes intolerance of
racism or any oppression, it only makes sense that these
women should be aware of the implications of celebrating
such a holiday.
When I recaptured this story for Susan and spoke about
the philosophy of Feminism, every word I managed to spit
out was met with an "I know that". She, at the time of our
second conversation, was working on an article for a local
"feminist" publication. In her article she disputed the idea
of women's equality day by stating that no woman was free
on this earth, so how could there possibly be a "Women's
Equality Day"? No woman of any race, class or ethnicity,
under the guise of the law, was free to do as she pleases
and constantly fears for her life; and with the recent rapes
involving the Dallas Police Department, nowhere else was
this more apparent. She also made reference to the fact
that women are paid less, not paid attention to, placed on
pedestals and then abused and discarded, and that along
with the children, are the majority of the starving. I told her that
I thought her article was not on target because the law is applied
differently to people of color in comparison to white people. I did
not deny the fact that some men have privilege under the law, and
some under the economic system, however, she had lumped all
women into one category as receiving the same oppression.
women of color are not placed on pedestals. On the contrary, the
patriarchal powers that be take from women of color in order to
create a pedestal for white women. Nowhere did she state that for
some women, other women are their oppressors as well. Nowh~re,
in her article, and more importantly iri her personal statement, for
she considers herselfa radical, lesbian, separatist feminist, did she
acknowledge her privilege as a white woman. She believed she
had none under the law. She place much of the woe's of the world
on men. She became defensive when I pointed out that white
peoples racism, regardless of sex, is a great obstacle in over 3/4ths
of the worlds population. Much to my disappointment, she also
did not clarify the history of "Women' s Equality Day", as the day
white women got the right to vote, even after she agreed she would
do so. (The remainder of the article will appear in next month's
issue. Special thanks to Lisa for taking the time to type it- Ed.)

Womyn for Womyn, a Lesbian Resource Centre
May 30 - July 10, 1993
SUNDAY

May 30
10:30am Women's Lodge (Recovery
and Support)
I :OOpm -5 Librarian's Opt.-n House

June 6

MONDAY

TUESDAY

May 31

June 1

Memorial Day
(Observed)

June 7

J0:.30ant Women"s Lodge (Recovery
and Support)
1:00pm -5 Librarian's Open House
2:00pm Writers' Group

June 8
7:30pm Over 38 's
Group

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

June 4

June 2

June 3

7 :30pm Tuesday
Night Discussion

7:00pm Women's
Lodge (Recovery
and Support)

June 9
7:00pm NLP
Introduction

SATURDAY

,::: FM
7:30pm Friday Night
Dinners

June 5
3:00pm -5:00 Under 30's

7:00pm Saturday Night at the
Movies

June 11

June 10
7:00pm Women's
Lodge (Recovery
and Support)

June 12

<) LQ

3:00pm -5:00 Under 30's

6:00pm LRC Busines;,i
Board Meeting/Newsletter
Deadline
7:30pm Friday Night
Di~rs

7:00pm Umoja Hermanas

5

June 13
10:30am Women's Lodge (Recovery
and Support)
1:00pm -5 Librarian's Open House

June 14
Flag Day
5: 30pm Domesti,:
Violence Task
Force

June 15
7 :OOpm -9:00
Womyn
Overcoming
Racism

--~

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

7:30pm Tuesday
Night Discussion
Group

7:00pm Women's
Lodge (Recovery
and Support)

6 :OOpm "ewslettcr :\failing
6:30pm Membership
Committee
7 :30pm Friday :-light
Dinners

eNM
12:00pm Recydlll8 Party by Under W 's
Group
3:00pm -5:00 l'nder 30',
~ :OOpm Annwl Dla,·k Tie Required Affoir/
Membership Party

·-

June 20
Father's Day
10:30am Women·s Lodge (Recovery and .
I :()()pm -5 Librarian's Open Houoc
2:00pm Writcrs ' Group
2 :OOpm Sum1rrr Sol•tic:., Ritual
5 :00pm Womyn of Color Po,,try and Sh ..

June 21
Summer begins

June 22

June 23

7:30pm Over 38's
, Group

s:
8
.....

June 25
7:30pm Friday Night
Dinn.:rs

7 :OOpm Women ' s
Lod~c (Recovery
and Support)
7 :30pm Book ,Study

:

l

Ii
~

~

.....
_. _
.j::,.

June 24

-.i

~
r

- ~
.

~ = = rl

June 26
( · FQ
Womyn's H.:alth Fair and Dance
3:00pm -5:00 Un~r 30's

(,) - ~
g

p.

0

"

'

June 27

June 28

10:30am Women's Lodg.: (R.:c,w.:t')·
and Support)
I :OOpm -5 Lihrarian •s Open Hous,·

5:30pm Dom.:sti,
Violenc<! Task For..:,

June 29

June 30

Ju]y 3

July 2

Ju1y l
D,lminion Day

1:: Jllpm Friday Night
· Dmn~r"

(Canada)
7 :00pm W ,Hncn ' ,
LoJge (Rcc,)wry
and Support,

-,

"t1
0
'O

FM

3:00pm -5:00 Und"r 31J"s

7:00pm Saturday Night at the
Mnvies

m

g
M'

::;

July 4
Independence Day
10:Jllam Women's Lodge (Re.:,,vcry
and Suppnrt)
1:00pm -5 Lihrarian·s Open Hou.,~
2:00pm Writers' Group

Jul¥ 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

7:30pm Tuesday
Night Discussion

7 :OOpm \Vnmc:n ·,

July Q
h :(~ T!·o J.R C Bu••.in\!~ ...
, 8',a1,d fv1~\! tai~-N~" -..,J..:nl.! r l},.:.Jdimt..·

Lo<lgt' ( R <c:,OVt't')

anJ Support)

'

7:JOpm h,day N ,ghl
Dmn~rs

m

July JO
1r,,., )arn -o :t_s) NLP Wcd.,cnll

Q
...,

_, ,, ~ lpm . .' :i1(, Under 3d'~

@~

7:00pm Umoja Hermanas

5/ 14/ 1993

;f.taf'r.
\

•";,;:,...,

-,

MAAK YOUR CAt..E.NDAR SATURDAY NJGftT
MAY 29, 1993
a:00 PM
COMtDY JMPROV WJT'1 KAAE.N RJPt..E.Y
ADMJSSJON 5. 0014.00 F<M ME.MBE.RS
SE.E. YOU AT TfC CE.NTRE.

lr.c
P.O.BOX 180446
DALLAS, TEXAS 75218-0446

FORWARDING ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
FORWARDING AND RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED

Non-Profit
Organization
US.POSTAGE
PAID

Permit No. 1197
Dallas, Texas



IP operty o • the Center

the Honeypot
June 1993 The Newsletter of Womyn for Womyn. the Lesbian Resource Centre Vol. 4, No. 6

LI) ~ I ) i-.,

4L

And the beat goes on ...and on ... and on. •
No matter what else happens ..no matter what else
comes up...the work of the Centre continues. A lot of
MARTI KRANZBERG, Ph.D.
important things happened this month. Some may sound
insignificant to you, but they are all the thir.gs that make
Psychologist
a Centre come together. The Centre was fitted with new
blinds for the front window..fumished by our neighbor,
David Alexander... installed by Lisa Mashigian and
Carolyn Rowley, who also located and purchased the
4054 McKinney Ave., Suite 212
blinds. Flower seeds were planted by Azure. The wrought
Dallas, Texas 75204
(214) 528-1815
iron bars were painted (only the ones on the North end;
others will be done as weather permits) by Christine,
Amanda S, Carolyn, Lisa, and others. Thanks to
can a Lesbian make an anti Lesbian joke? Is it okay or not okay to make
Carolyn for putting this weekend together. The place
jokes about one's own culture. The joke was bad ...the audience left no
looks much nicer. A new group decided to fonn: a
doubt about that...the audience responded with some booing. Okay,
writers group, meeting on Sundays (call Diane Kirksey
that's happened before. But then ... th!ngs got pretty heated when D
for infonnation). Christine was a presenter at the
demanded an apology for someone else. B refused and a short and
Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The Battered Lesbian
heated discussion on racism began. The question on whether the
Task Force created a brochure to be distributed at the
Centre was a safe space for everyone was raised. The question on
Dallas Association of Family and Marriage Therapy Conwhether this arena (the Talent Show) was the best place to deal with this
ference. It will also be used as the foundation brochure for
issue came up. The Talent Show continued with dampened and
all future outreach on battering. LRC, as a sponsor, has
darkened spirits. The main parties got together after the Show to
a table for distribution of all of our literature including info
discuss their perspectives. Jeanne R who will be helping to restart the
for Umoja Hennanas. A womyn's spirituality ritual was
Womyn for Womyn University Edu.:ational Series suggested that
held the first weekend. Over 38's, Trykes (fonnerly, and
the first class would be on "Is It a Joke? Or Isn't It?" A good place to deal
still, the Under 30's), the Women's Lodge (support
with serious issues. It was a most unhappy situation. The LRC works to
and recovery group), Womyn against Racism, Umoja
end sexism ·a nd racism on a daily basis ... but It was difficultto know what
~nnanas, Womyn of Color Poetry and Short Story
Group, the Battered Lesbian Task Force:-:all had their, to do in this situation. All ~f the participants were either guests or
meetings and ail their separate activities.The Sprin·g
entertainers. Some might believe that what people say at the Centre.is
the Centre's responsibility. But, while we try to provide a safe place for .
Talent Show, as always, had many surprises including
all (and what does that mean? A safe place ... where no one ever says ·
the foot stomping, body moving rhythms of Rayva; the
continuing Tragi-comedic poetry of Marlene; the sweet, • anything insulting, or racist, or sexist, or ageist; or is the Centre a safe
gentle lovingness of Jeanne R and her sweet remem~
place for us to make mistakes, learn from them, and go on?), it can't be
guaranteed that no one's feelings will be hurt. It cannot ever be sure that
brance of her Mother. We witnessed the courage of a
womyn who, though new to the Centre, participated
your issue is someone else's issue. It~. however, guaranteed that all
proudly and honored the LRC by saying how glad she was: of the issues will be discussed. The Centre is not and does not want to
be the Lesbian thought and action police. Do you want the Centre to ask
that the Centre existed for her. Judy, Linda, Brenda,
people what they think or what they will say before they come in? I don't
Cathy, Jenny, Alpha, Lisa, Josi, and Barbara enterthink so. Dealing with important issues should not make enemies out of
tained us. And, then the MC provided an added attractionus. We alf have different ways of handling crisis ... one cannot always
an impromptu and bad joke that for many was no joke at
all. Some say it was an Anti-Semitic joke; others say it was
expect that it will be handled in the way we would like ...judging each
an anti-German joke (this difference alone shows how
other quickly can only harm us. Depends on what your goal is... a
community of womyn Who all believe the same thing or a community of
much is a matter of perception).:Can a German rriake an
womyn committed to the empowerment of all womyn. One final
anti-German joke; can a Jew make an a_nti"'.Semitic joke;
comment on this: SEXISM AND RACISM MUST BE ELIMINATED.
How we do.that is a matter of personal conviction and choice. Th~re is
The Lesbian Resource Centre exists to create physical
. no one right way to do anything and everybody makes mistakes. And
space where lesbians are valued for themselves. This
. if someone isn't as angry or assertive or aggressive about an issue as
space, committed to a feminist philosophy, will provide
you are, it doesn't mean that they are wrong. You may think they are
resources to all lesbians. The LRC Newsletter is pubwrong
... but that's just one opinion.
lished monthly and is distributed to over 650 womyn by
the LRC, P.O. Box 180446, Dallas, TX 75218-0446.
(214) 821-3999. We welcome your comments, news,
The LRC is a non-profit corporation registered with the state of
_suggestions, and contributions. Call for ad rates. All
Texas and governed by a Board of Directors. The Bylaws of
material is due in the LRC by the second Friday of the
the organization are available at the Centre for review by all
month.
•
members. Meetings are conducted according to the
Board of Directors
par1imentary procedures outlined in Alice Sturgis' Rules of
Lisa Mashigian
Ann Brown
Order, which is available in the Library for review by members.
Vicki Cantrell
Lurese Terrell
The LRC has been granted 501 (c) 3 status by the IRS, and
Dawynn Edwards
Vicki Harris
contributions are therefore tax deductible.
Christine Jarosz, Director

(

Those Wild and
Crazy Telephone
Calls

Friday Night Dinners ·
The womyn who prepare dinner on
Friday Nights are giving the womyn
who participate a gift. They take
their time, energy, and money to prepare
what they like for unknown womyn. It seems extraordinarily ungrateful
and disrespectful for womyn to complain all the time. If dinner is not
ready on time, people seem to go crazy. If you don't like the food a
particular night, go somewhere else to eat. Don't complain ... you are
not always going to get what you want. It's impossible. The main focus
is not food but conversation and friendship . People are getting their
fMlings hurt because complaints seem to be constant. The LRC itself
is a gift ... a labor of love and commitment...it is not a birthright. Please
participate by pitching in not by dumping on someone. This little note
is in response to the numberofwomyn who are upset by unfair and rude
treatment. The Centre can 't make you not be rude ...but we can point
out that it is very destructive.
,,------'-----7-==

An Apology
On alternating Monday nights, Volunteer Training and New Member
Orientation have been scheduled as regular meetings. However
since no one called any of those nights saying they were interested,
as presenter, I chose not to show up. For anyone who showed, I am
sorry for the inconvenience. Call me and let's schedule a time.
For future reference .. .notice of attendance is necessary.

AN INTRODUCTION TO NLP
( \e11ro-l.111g111\lic l'rogrummmg)

NLP and Money, .. ..as much as you want !
NL P and Exceptional Health, ... for sure !
NL P and Relationships, ... good ones !
NLP and Self- Empo werment, .. .no w !
NLP and Fun, ... this is a choice !
with V. JAN MA RSZA LEK
-President & Owner, NLP Learning Sy stems Corp.
-largest NLP Center S/ W of the Mississippi
-I 2 years in business
-Member of Govenor's Board for Communications

$3:00. entranceproceeds go to LRC .

Join Deb and Helen
in finding out
how this info rmation
can be beneficial
in your life NOW!
DATE : June ,9th
TIM E: 8 - 9:30pm
PLACE : At the LRC
For more information call:
(21 4) 437 - 6878

It is . a never ending
surprise ...the phone calls we
get. Just on Monday, a
woman called and asked about the programs of the
Centre. Like a good LRC member, I spent about 5 minutes
going over every thing the Centre does. She was not
responding to anything , so I asked her what she was
interested in . She said she was looking for a date (that is
not an unusual phone request) ..
but the rest of it was! I said that LRC was not a dating or
sex service andwhyeverdid she think we would be. Then _
!!!! It dawned on me to ask ...are you a Lesbian? The ,
answer.. no. Why are you calling a Lesbian Resource
Centre? Well, I thought you were a front for something
else. What else? I thought maybe you were a cover for
prostitution. You 're kidding ... you are definitely misinformed about what Lesbians are. Well, I am from a small
town ..just moved .. wantto buy a house ...need fast money
for a down payment. Are you calling us looking for a job?
Yes!!!!!!!! Well, you have the wrong number and are you
aware of the dangers involved ... there's AIDS out there
and other sexually transmitted disease. You might be
able to raise a lot of money fast, but you could die. I spent
22 minutes counseling a heterosexual woman about
AIDS and the dangers of acting without thought.
Then there's th is guy who calls us all the time. He is
p:::ralyzed , uses a computer to talk, is questioning his
sexuality, was encouraged to call Gayline, who keeps
calling us because he wants to make friends. What do you
tell this guy? Who can answer and meet the needs of so
many people who are so lonely and so scared . It is so sad.
Answering the phone is a real challenge. It is so frustrating
to talk to peop!e you can 't help ... who keep calling back.
Maybe , we help a little.
And then there was Alene who was calling for her daughter, who is a Lesbian. Her daughter wants to move out of
Dallas and she wants to help her daughter find a place that
has a strong womyn's community. Now that is wonderful.

r-------------------

Womyn for
M.embership
L'.

Womyn
Form

,

A MEMBERSHIP LEVEL:
FOUNDING MOTHER

~ame: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ddress: _________________
City/State/Zip:_____________
~Ielephone:

I
l.,

Womyn for Womyn , Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Your
dona!ions are tax deductable. All information provided to Womyn for
rvomyn IS kept stri~tly confidential. For more information, please call : (214)
Mail your completed form along with your payment to·
I 821-3999.LRC,
P.O. Box 180446, Dallas, Texas , 75218
•
L _________ _

PLEASE CHECK

__ _

___________

(10$ PER MONTH)
coNTRIBUTING MEMBER
(40$ PER YEAR)
PART1c1PATINGNOTING MEMBER
(40$ PER YEAR)
BENEFACTOR AMOUNT - - - (250$ - 500$ PER YEAR)
CORPORATE
MEMBER
--_ ______
_j_200l£>ERYEARL

_

_

_

__ J

Censorship at the LRC

Mary K. Grigsby, M.Ed.
One of the things that the LRC is very proud of is its newsletter. It is
Licensed Proressional
a publication to keep its members informed .. to let members know
Counselor
what is happening at the Centre. It is not, at this time, never has
been, nor intended to be·, a general newsletter about the Lesbian
• Chronic Illnesses
Community, tho
~---r:u.&1
ents do appear
• Addictions
(214) 521-1213
at times. T
mbership.
• Relationships
Individual and
Articles
Ac..Af-1~--F.,l"ffllt,:>
e Board
• Abuse Recovery
Group Therapy
Mem
...
the
3514 Cedar Springs Rd . • Suite 300-C • Dallas, TX 75219
co
he Board Minu
e
a
, that is, who read
i
ined they didn't know
r
.
e got the newsletter. Th
The Newsletter in
CLASSIFIED ?
d it. It certainly
,
to compl
nsibility.) M
readers hav
raged to
,
•
etry ... but if the E
he Centre has r
ROOMMATES WANTED
ey've been printed.
Looking for 1 or 2 lesbians to share a 3 bedeceived, the less the
room home located at Coit and Legacy in Plano.
t
ngthy article (whi
Call Lisa for more details at 618-4282 HM/
pe
LRC's Direct
d,
abou
r, 199 •
WK#.
ersion
The art
-:-----.-- or divisi
ers. THAT
ARTICLE STI
~=.:._:.....;c..c-~
EDITOR AS
FOR SALE: 1982 Kawasaki 305, needs minor
OF MAY 13, 1993. LRC is being accused of Censorship and Racism.
repairs, good condition, $500 or best offer, call
It appears that womyn are once again not taking responsibility for
their own actions or inaction. Though articles are not always printed
Kris after 6:00pm at 618-4282.
the month received, the Newsletter Committee has never turned
down an article. The Committee wants to thank its Editor for the fine
work she does ... lay out is a great skill. But nothing like the skill she
must use in handling warranted and unwarranted complaints. Thanks
very much, Mary Jo. Don't let anyone fool you or mislead you or LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY:
abuse you, you are doing a great, great service for womyn .
I attended a portion of the most recent
Board meeting at the LRC, and I must
say that I was appalled at the lack of
adherence to partimentary procedure . Not
only was the meeting at times chaotic, but
the absence of controls showed a distinct
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
lack of respect for those who came for
XLisa Mashigian
Friday Night Dinner.
We are forgoing our space this month to allow for the article
written by Josi.

Ladies, get your act together!
Sincerely,
Mary Jo

LRC BUILDING FUND
Lisa Mashigian

Carpets
Upholstery
Orientals
Dhurries
Haitians
Drap eries
L eathers

Response has been positive to the establishing of a building
fund. We have saved approximately $350.00.

LIBRARY
Don't forget about the recycling effort underway to benefit the
library - bring those cans!

DONNA BIGELOW

3307 Kinmore St reet, Dallas, Texas 75223, (214) 826-6133

'Ifie 1993 £e.s6ian !Jleaftft !fair
Registration Form:
Name

Address

City.State, Zip

Phone
Registration includes admittance to all presentations,
workshops , exhibits and lunch.

Please circle the Workshops you plan to attend :

.

10:30

2

3

11 : 15

2

3

4

1:30

1

2

3

4

·b .~

2:45

1

2

3

4

2

3

4

)S

4:00

Fees:

Program

Dance

prior to June 18
_$7.50

If purchased at fair
_$1.00
at the door
-$10.00
_ _ $2.00

__ Please check if child care will be required .
We ask that you bring food for your child.
Make checks to
& mailto:

Nelson-T ebedo Clinic
P.OBox190712 Dallas75219.

~~

~,
,")
~

I

I

II
~ i

~ ~

s

~ ~

~ ~

This Is a women's space only event.

E
~o
O>·-

o.s

..__

Cl.()

0)

.COC\JT±:::"'CT- C\J co
ca Q) I"'-- LO C')
Q) .c O r--- C')
I
Q)o,XC\J
I- TI
en• xl-oo
C\J

ccoooLO
Q)E o en ca ,
en ·=-qo Q) Q ca T~ Z Cl.. O C\I
I ;

'

,.

.

'

SclieJfule. of'Events

2na .9l.nnua[

£es6ian :J{eaftn !Fair
{jreater 51.wareness
{jreater Clioice

=

A day dedicated to Lesbian, Gay
& Bisexual Women's Health Issues

8:30 a.m. Breakfast - Registration
9:00 a.m. Keynote Charlotte Taft

Workshops
10:00 a.m. Bonding Sessions
1 - Under 30
2-30to50
3 - Over 51

• Educate women concerning the necessity
of preventive health care.

11 :15 a.m. 1 - Internalized Homophobia
Coming Out
2 - Dating to Partners
3 - Teens and Sexuality
4 - Fat as a Feminist Issue

• Provide a safe, sensitive and empowering
environment in which to learn.

12:15 p.m. Lunch ... Planning /Preparation
by MICA ENGLAND

• A holistic approach to a productive,
healthier life.

June 26, 1993
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. P!l{.O(j!l{..9l.Af
'Ifie Catlidral of!Hope
5910 Ceaar Springs
(behind Ruth's Chris Steak House)

8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. '1J.9l.9{C'E
'l1ie {jll!JILes6ian Comnumit!J Cent-a
(at !R.!agan and 'Brown)

1:30 p.m. 1 - "Is There Really Safe Sex?"
2 - Battering - Physical &
Emotional
3 - Wisewomen Mentors
4 - Chemical Dependency
2:45 p.m. 1 - Aging & Menopause
2 - Inter-racial Relationships
3 - Women & Spirituality
4 - Health Empowerment
4:00 p.m. 1 - Emotional & Love
Addiction
2 - Breast Cancer
3 - Wellness & Holistic Health

'l1ie 1993 Lesbian :Healtfi :Jair tfieme,
(jreater Jlwareness = (jreater Cfioice, reffects
tfie greatest nope for fiealtfi and we{[ness in our
community. Jls man9 as one out of tfiree
fesbians mag deve{op breast cancer. One out
of tfiree fesbians fias a cliemicaf dependency
probfem. Studies fiave snown tfiat fesbians
receive preventive or screening fiealtfi care
fess often tfian fieterosezy.als. 'l1ie urgency of
tfiese issues demands an imtrudiate community
response. Pfease join us in a day for creating
Jlwareness and Cnoice.
~ t e Sp~ Cfiarfotte 'Taft is founder and

director of tlie !Rputn.Street 'Womtn's Cunic..
Sfie fias been tirefess in lier support of women's,
fiealtli care and pro-cfioice on a national, state
and {ocaf kvtf. Cfiarfotte is currently a plaintiff
in tfie 'Te;cas :Human !Rjgfits :Jountfation Cawsuit against tlie state of'Ie;cas' sodomy Caw,
21.06. In lier ~ynote atftfress, Cfiarfotte wi«
el(J)fore tfie issue of empowerment for women
in tfie comi.ng decade.

Sponsored 69 tli.e.
'Xf,fson - 'Iebetlo Cfinic

'Women's ,ka[t/i '.Program
Addltlonal Sponsors:
The Candy Marcum Institute of OLCS
Women 's Activities of the Cathedral of Hope

Exhibits throughout the day .

5:00 p.m. Closing Ritual

Comprehensive Care Center

1
r

Fort Worth Womyn
LRC wishes to congratulate the womyn of Fort
Worth on their efforts to start a Centre in Fort
Worth.

Continuing Saga
Last week, June F from Denton called to respond to my
F~w Words on my next door neighbor, the wife abuser.
She gave me strong support, for protecting the womyn.
She related a story about her above apartment neighbor
who beat his wife. She repeatedly reported his behavior to
the police; he threatened her and called her names; she
continued to report him. Now, he and his wife are getting
counseling ... and doing better. There is no doubt that
womyn must look out for each other, she says.I want to
thank you for your letter of advice and support. It means a
lotto know that we can share experiences ...this is the very
reason the newsletter exists .. to show that we have needs,
interests, and answers in common. The very reason forthe
Centre ... a sharing of experiences. Thanks so much, June.
Just for the record, D D said things were much better for
her now. Who knows how long that will last? But, it's good
for her.

That Fabulous Amanda
A few weeks ago, after checking with the Board, Amanda
took it upon herself to write a number, if not all, of the
womyn's publications, journals, newspapers. She asked
them to consider donating a subscription for the use of the
womyn of Dallas. Way to go, Amanda ... that's using great
creativity and initiative. Haven't seen you in awhile to tell
you that we have received good response to your letters.
Copies of Hot Wire, Common Lives/Lesbian Lives,
Deneuve, and one other are arriving. Amanda, that's
great. If you want to get something done follow Amanda's
lead.

Ola«::k Tie ~equlred
LRC's annual membership reception and
celebration is planned for June 19 at 7:30
pm. In keeping with LRC's tradition of making jest at very serious affairs, affair is
BLACK TIE REQUIRED ... all
other clothing optional. Speeches, music,
food, and presentations are a usual part of
this time evening. Everyone gathers together to recognize those womyn who are
members or Founding Mothers. The event
is free to Founding Mother's and is $4.00 for
Members. It is $6.00 for non members.

,e Cent r

Lefter to the Editor:
To the MC who made the antisemitic comment at the talent
show - and to those who did not
support their sisters who protested:
Remember that we llve In a
patrlarchal system that encour~ and counts on us mallgnlng Jews, people of color.
lesblans and gays, women. the
poor, the physically challenged ... anyone who Is not a privileged.
white male. Like It or not. sister. we're In this together. An lnsensltlve
comment hurts all of us. I believe~ when ~ say~ are weUlntentloned ... and I hope ~ recognize the good lntentlons of
those pointing out the problem. We must get to this place of
mutuality before we can come together to undo the racist, sexist.
homophobic mlseducaflon we have all had In this culture.
If ~ are one of those who sat In silence I Invite ~ to find ~r
voice In our Wlmm:n overcoming Racism group designed speclflcally to help us see the connections between the various forms of
oppression In a woman-only, feminist envlronment.(see LRC
calendar)

We are all unlearning.
In sisterhood.
Therese Palmer

Battered Lesbian Task Force
A call for help..... The BLP created a brochure for distribution at the
Dallas Association of Family and Marriage Therapy Conference.
Designed primarily by Tanea and Christine, the brochure has helpful
information and facts about domestic violence. It will be available at
the LRC, too. It was discussed whether to print the brochure both in
English and Spanish. It was decided, after much discussion, that it
would be misleading to print a brochure in Spanish at this time.
Though the shelters and programs working with the BLP have multi
lingual staff, the Task Force does not: Once the Task Force can locate
a Spanish speaking therapist, counselor, or peer counselor, the
brochures will be printed in Spanish . Josi M of Urnoja Hermanas
handles a lot of calls from Lesbians seeking information and help.
She was informed that the LRC brochure includes the name and
phone number of Umoja Hermanas in its list of resources available
to womyn. It is expected that this brochure will reach hundreds of
therapists and counselors in Dallas who have no idea about what
services and support are available for their lesbian clients. This is
such a good way for the LRC to make "contact" with otherwise
closeted lesbians. This is such a fantastic opportunity for us to work
with and provide support forthe larger mental health service community. Task Force meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 5:30. Thanks
again to Kay Christian who prepared the brochure for printing ... sh~
did a rush job for us... she was leaving town and did it in less than 36
hours. Thanks for the tooperation and help, Kay .
.

,

"What I Know and Should Have Said"~

.•

by Josi Mata

(214) 618-4282

(The following article will be presented in two segments due to it's
length.)

Several weeks ago, a friend of mine, whom I will call
Susan, requested my presence ata reception for Women's
Equality Day. I was to attend and give some information
on a local Lesbians of Color support group that I am
involved in. I told her that I didn't think I should attend the
gathering, especially since I didn't celebrate Women's
Equality Day. She snickered and said, "Well don't celebrate it, just come". I looked at her puzzled, not knowing
whether to go into detail on why I refuse to celebrate the
. holiday. The following day, I met up with her and explained
. why I didn't observe the day. I informed her that I thought
it was a very rac,st observance, since the suffragettes who
lobbied for the measure, had scared the sexist and racist
lawmakers of this country into choosing to give the vote to
women orto blacks. I repeated Susan B. Anthony's words
to lawmakers "And you don't want blacks voting, do you?"
The suffragettes had used racism to their advantage and
saw no wrong in using it as a tool of intimidation on a, so
called, "Feminist" platform. Obviously, they believed that
when they were fighting for the rights of women , and in
particular the right for women to vote, they meant white
women; and most possibly believed that the term "women",
under the definition of the laws that they were trying t have
passed, did not apply to black women, or any women of
color for that matter. We were not considered people,
much less any particular sex privileged with rights under
the constitution . I also told Susan about a Texas N.O.W .
state conference several years ago, where Rainbow
N.O.W., a local N.O.W. chapter, tried to get an affirmative
action resolution passed to require the state organization
to have equal representation from women of color, something the organization has been struggling with for over a
decade. The resolution was surprisingly defeated. This
occurred at a, so called "feminist" conference. When we
tried to absolve the observance of "Women's Equality
Day" due to the racist nature of its orientation, all hell broke
loose. Women were Shouting, standing up and scream- ing, mostly at us. A white woman, who was sitting in front
of us with several of her charter mates, turned around and
pointed her finger at my friend Alpha's face, only a few

JUDITH CANNON, PH.D.
INDIVIDUAL, COUPLE and FAMILY COUNSELING

3609 Cedar Springs
Dallas, Texas 75219
(214) 521-4810
Liwtsea ?vfarri119e an.f J amify 'Thaapist

Mashigian Investigations
P.O. Box 260415
Plano, TX 75026-0415

Commercial and Domestic
Private Investigations

Lisa A. Mashigian
President

inches from her nose, and yelled "Don't you blame me for
what happened 100 years ago"!! She looked at all of us
and with the support of her companions yelled "D~n·t
f_king try to take our history away"! (read: Niggers and
Spies go home!). We were not trying to take these
women's history away, we were simply trying to make them
aware of it. And because feminism includes intolerance of
racism or any oppression, it only makes sense that these
women should be aware of the implications of celebrating
such a holiday.
When I recaptured this story for Susan and spoke about
the philosophy of Feminism, every word I managed to spit
out was met with an "I know that". She, at the time of our
second conversation, was working on an article for a local
"feminist" publication. In her article she disputed the idea
of women's equality day by stating that no woman was free
on this earth, so how could there possibly be a "Women's
Equality Day"? No woman of any race, class or ethnicity,
under the guise of the law, was free to do as she pleases
and constantly fears for her life; and with the recent rapes
involving the Dallas Police Department, nowhere else was
this more apparent. She also made reference to the fact
that women are paid less, not paid attention to, placed on
pedestals and then abused and discarded, and that along
with the children, are the majority of the starving. I told her that
I thought her article was not on target because the law is applied
differently to people of color in comparison to white people. I did
not deny the fact that some men have privilege under the law, and
some under the economic system, however, she had lumped all
women into one category as receiving the same oppression.
women of color are not placed on pedestals. On the contrary, the
patriarchal powers that be take from women of color in order to
create a pedestal for white women. Nowhere did she state that for
some women, other women are their oppressors as well. Nowh~re,
in her article, and more importantly iri her personal statement, for
she considers herselfa radical, lesbian, separatist feminist, did she
acknowledge her privilege as a white woman. She believed she
had none under the law. She place much of the woe's of the world
on men. She became defensive when I pointed out that white
peoples racism, regardless of sex, is a great obstacle in over 3/4ths
of the worlds population. Much to my disappointment, she also
did not clarify the history of "Women' s Equality Day", as the day
white women got the right to vote, even after she agreed she would
do so. (The remainder of the article will appear in next month's
issue. Special thanks to Lisa for taking the time to type it- Ed.)

Womyn for Womyn, a Lesbian Resource Centre
May 30 - July 10, 1993
SUNDAY

May 30
10:30am Women's Lodge (Recovery
and Support)
I :OOpm -5 Librarian's Opt.-n House

June 6

MONDAY

TUESDAY

May 31

June 1

Memorial Day
(Observed)

June 7

J0:.30ant Women"s Lodge (Recovery
and Support)
1:00pm -5 Librarian's Open House
2:00pm Writers' Group

June 8
7:30pm Over 38 's
Group

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

June 4

June 2

June 3

7 :30pm Tuesday
Night Discussion

7:00pm Women's
Lodge (Recovery
and Support)

June 9
7:00pm NLP
Introduction

SATURDAY

,::: FM
7:30pm Friday Night
Dinners

June 5
3:00pm -5:00 Under 30's

7:00pm Saturday Night at the
Movies

June 11

June 10
7:00pm Women's
Lodge (Recovery
and Support)

June 12

<) LQ

3:00pm -5:00 Under 30's

6:00pm LRC Busines;,i
Board Meeting/Newsletter
Deadline
7:30pm Friday Night
Di~rs

7:00pm Umoja Hermanas

5

June 13
10:30am Women's Lodge (Recovery
and Support)
1:00pm -5 Librarian's Open House

June 14
Flag Day
5: 30pm Domesti,:
Violence Task
Force

June 15
7 :OOpm -9:00
Womyn
Overcoming
Racism

--~

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

7:30pm Tuesday
Night Discussion
Group

7:00pm Women's
Lodge (Recovery
and Support)

6 :OOpm "ewslettcr :\failing
6:30pm Membership
Committee
7 :30pm Friday :-light
Dinners

eNM
12:00pm Recydlll8 Party by Under W 's
Group
3:00pm -5:00 l'nder 30',
~ :OOpm Annwl Dla,·k Tie Required Affoir/
Membership Party

·-

June 20
Father's Day
10:30am Women·s Lodge (Recovery and .
I :()()pm -5 Librarian's Open Houoc
2:00pm Writcrs ' Group
2 :OOpm Sum1rrr Sol•tic:., Ritual
5 :00pm Womyn of Color Po,,try and Sh ..

June 21
Summer begins

June 22

June 23

7:30pm Over 38's
, Group

s:
8
.....

June 25
7:30pm Friday Night
Dinn.:rs

7 :OOpm Women ' s
Lod~c (Recovery
and Support)
7 :30pm Book ,Study

:

l

Ii
~

~

.....
_. _
.j::,.

June 24

-.i

~
r

- ~
.

~ = = rl

June 26
( · FQ
Womyn's H.:alth Fair and Dance
3:00pm -5:00 Un~r 30's

(,) - ~
g

p.

0

"

'

June 27

June 28

10:30am Women's Lodg.: (R.:c,w.:t')·
and Support)
I :OOpm -5 Lihrarian •s Open Hous,·

5:30pm Dom.:sti,
Violenc<! Task For..:,

June 29

June 30

Ju]y 3

July 2

Ju1y l
D,lminion Day

1:: Jllpm Friday Night
· Dmn~r"

(Canada)
7 :00pm W ,Hncn ' ,
LoJge (Rcc,)wry
and Support,

-,

"t1
0
'O

FM

3:00pm -5:00 Und"r 31J"s

7:00pm Saturday Night at the
Mnvies

m

g
M'

::;

July 4
Independence Day
10:Jllam Women's Lodge (Re.:,,vcry
and Suppnrt)
1:00pm -5 Lihrarian·s Open Hou.,~
2:00pm Writers' Group

Jul¥ 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

7:30pm Tuesday
Night Discussion

7 :OOpm \Vnmc:n ·,

July Q
h :(~ T!·o J.R C Bu••.in\!~ ...
, 8',a1,d fv1~\! tai~-N~" -..,J..:nl.! r l},.:.Jdimt..·

Lo<lgt' ( R <c:,OVt't')

anJ Support)

'

7:JOpm h,day N ,ghl
Dmn~rs

m

July JO
1r,,., )arn -o :t_s) NLP Wcd.,cnll

Q
...,

_, ,, ~ lpm . .' :i1(, Under 3d'~

@~

7:00pm Umoja Hermanas

5/ 14/ 1993

;f.taf'r.
\

•";,;:,...,

-,

MAAK YOUR CAt..E.NDAR SATURDAY NJGftT
MAY 29, 1993
a:00 PM
COMtDY JMPROV WJT'1 KAAE.N RJPt..E.Y
ADMJSSJON 5. 0014.00 F<M ME.MBE.RS
SE.E. YOU AT TfC CE.NTRE.

lr.c
P.O.BOX 180446
DALLAS, TEXAS 75218-0446

FORWARDING ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
FORWARDING AND RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED

Non-Profit
Organization
US.POSTAGE
PAID

Permit No. 1197
Dallas, Texas