Herland Sister Resources : v.4: no.4(1987)
- Title
- Herland Sister Resources : v.4: no.4(1987)
- Description
- The Herland Sister Resources newsletter is the monthly publication of Herland Sister Resources, a womanist organization with a strong lesbian focus based in Oklahoma City.
- Publisher
- en_US Herland Sister Resources
- Date Issued
- 1987-04
- Rights
- All rights reserved by Herland Sister Resources. Contact UCO Archives & Special Collections for the permission policy on the use, reproduction or distribution of these materials.
- Is Part Of
- Herland Sisters Resources
- Creator
- Herland Sister Resources
- Date
- 2017-09-02T17:00:37Z
- Date Available
- 2017-09-02T17:00:37Z
- Subject
- Oklahoma
- Type
- application/pdf
- extracted text
-
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 4
HERLAND SISTER RESOURCES, INC.
APRIL 1987
1630 N.W. 19, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73106
The Crusade of Karen Thompson
For Karen Thompson, the personal
has indeed become the political: and for
someone like Karen-a very private person
who was never issue-oriented-the path to
activism has resulted in an upheaval of her
entire life.
The story of Karen Thompson and
Sharon Kowalski began as a love story and
has become. and continues to be. a nightmare-a nightmare that could happen to any
of us. This is a tale of horror that one would
think could have occurred only in a repressive regime-something out of Nazi Germany. Instead. it is happening here, today, in
the United States.
Because this story is one of the most
important we've ever heard-a chilling abrogation of patients' rights, disability rights.
gay rights-indeed, all human rights-we are
doing it in two parts: a synopsis of the background in Volume VII and the two-hour interview On The Issues conducted with Karen
Thompson in Volume VIII.
For four years. Karen Thompson and
Sharon Kowalski lived as more than lovers.
As far as they were roncerned. they were
married. They had exchanged rings in their
own private ceremony because they are both
conventional people and, as Karen says, "We
figured we were married in our eyes and in
the eyes of God. and we were very much
brought up to believe in the institution of
marriage."
Then. on November 13, 1983, the
nightmare began. Sharon's car was smashed
by a drunk driver. leaving her a quadriplegic
and unable to speak. To this day, the extent
of her mental disability has yet to be determined. She suffered a closed-head iajury.
which means that some brain cells have been
permanently damaged while others can be
re-trained.
The accident forced Karen to "come
out of the closet". Says Karen: "I 'came out'
nationally before I came out to myself ... I'd
lived with Sharon for four years and only ad-
mitted that I happened to fall in love with a
human being because of certain qualities or
characteristics. I had never admitted to myself that I was gay."
Her first taste of the agony to come
was when the hospital wouldn't tell her if
Sharon was dead or alive. The second was
when the hospital psychologist suggested she
"come out" to Sharon's parents. The Kowalskis responded that Karen was a crazy
woman and was never to see their daughter
again. At that point. Karen saw an attorney,
only to learn that she had no legal rights as
far as Sharon was concerned. The Kowalskis
sued for guardianship. claiming that Karen
was just Sharon's landlady and that their
daughter was not a lesbian.
Fortunately. Karen was able to prove
their relationship in court, due to the testimony of the few people Sharon had told, and
the court permitted Karen visitation rights.
At that time. Sharon was in St. Cloud
Hospital, Minnesota in the city where she and
Karen lived. and where Karen is an assistant
professor at St. Cloud University. Karen has
also studied occupational and physical ther~
apy, and while Sharon remained in St. Cloud,
Karen was able to work with her for hours
every day. Slowly and continuously. Sharon
began to show improvement. Videotapes
prove that she was able to feed herself a little bit and type out responses with one hand
when asked questions. Sharon indicated that
she wanted to go home with Karen. and expressed fear that Karen would be taken from
her. In September. 1984, that's just what
happened. Donald Kowalski successfully filed
to have Sharon moved to Duluth, 150 miles
away.
In July. 1985, Sharon was again
moved-to a nursing home in Hibbing. Minnesota. despite the fact that the home has no
young adult rehabilitation program. Without
such a program, Sharon cannot receive the
treatment she needs to retain the progress
Karen helped her achieve. to say nothing of
progressing further. And. despite Sharon's
expressed Wish to see her. Karen has been
barred from the facility. She has not seen
Sharon since August 19. 1985. According to
Karen: "This is the United States and I'm not
allowed to get any information on how she's
doing. I cannot communicate with her in any
way. I'll get arrested if I step on the
premises."
Karen says her concern is not who
gets legal guardianship of. Sharon. but to insure that Sharon gets the best care possible.
Because Karen is willing to take Sharon
home. set up a rehabilitation program and
work with her. while Sharon's parents are
letting her vegetate in a nursing home. Karen
believes that Sharon's basic right to recovery
is being violated.
The Minnesota Civil Liberties Union is
fighting for Karen's cause. She has wanted
support from disability rights groups. but
says: "Most of the groups I've talked with
have agreed that Sharon's disability rights
are being flagrantly violated. The problem
seems to be that they have enough problems
fighting for disability rights without getting
involved in a case that has gay rights attached to it . .. My contention is that they
can't afford not to get involved."
Except for the gay press. the Thompson case has received little media coveragealmost none in the major media-which is
remarkable considering the issues involved.
Karen has been traveling the country. trying
to set up interviews and give speeches to enlist support for what has become a crusade.
She knows that the issues are far beyond the
fight for the custody and care of Sharon.
Says Karen: ''I've had the blinders ripped off.
I can no longer live in my little isolated world
and go to work and then. after work. live my
own personal life and nobody knows me. I
was very non-issue oriented. But once you do
have the blinders taken off, you see oppression in one area, then you start to see
oppression all around you. and it's almost
overwhelming. Now, I not only see what homophobia does to people and how it can be
used against them, but also I can make the
tie to racism. sexism. ageism. the disabledit's all connected. And I didn't know that becont. next page
fore . .. I'm a totally different person now
and I'll never be able to go back to the person that I was."
In addition to the emotional and
physical drain Karen is suffering , the financial
drain has been enormous. Her legal fees
alone are nearly $1 00.000. She is grateful to
the University that they have not only kept
her on. but have also been very supportive.
She will continue to fight. no matter what
the cost. because "If Sharon and I don't fight
this. then how many others will have to experience it because we didn't? It's got to
stop somewhere."
(For information or contributions
contact MnGALLA. c/o Suzanne Born. 3436
Holmes Ave .. Minneapolis, MN 55408)
ON THE ISSUES
Vol. VII, 1987
Published as an informat ional and educational service of
CHOICES Women·s Medical Center. Inc.
d.c. free health care
WASHHlGTON, DC -- In response . to a
request by the Canmission of Pub li c
Health, Mayor Mari on Barry recently
decreed that survivors of sexual
assault may rece ive free treatment
for injuries at D.C. General Hospital.
The Washington Post reports that
city health c crnmisSTOrier Or .. Reed
Tuckson pl ans to ask the mayor to
add women's fir st prenatal visit
to t he cit y's fr ee healthcare
services as well. D.C. law allows
t he mayor t o authorize su ch additi ons if they are de emed to be in
t he pub lic int erest, and Tuckson
wi l l argue bhat such vi s its could
hel p lower t he city's high infant
mortality r ate.
by tal
off our backs/march 1987
an advertising
f airy tale
the windy city
CHICAGO (AP) - An anonymous
flood of anti-homosexual literature
calling for quarantines and castration is triggering a dispute over freedom of speech between the University
of Chicago's gay community and
school officials.
Christmas cards were
mailed to students known or apparently believed to be gay that contained a verse wishing homosexuals
dead.
School officials are aware of the
"flurry of very distasteful and despicable letters and posters" distributed
on campus and in the surrounding
Hyde Park neighborhood since last
fall, said David Rosen, a spokesman
for the prestigious university.
A full-page advertisement denouncing the anti-homosexual activity and
signed by about 200 students and faculty members appeared in Friday editions of the twice-weekly campus
newspaper, Chicago Maroon.
Rosen said university authorities
wer~ trying to find out who was producing and distributing the materials.
He noted a bumper sticker that appeared on utility poles and building
walls last fall that said, "Stop AIDS,
Castrate Gays."
But Rosen said that while the private university has no constitutional
obli gation to prote ct free -speech
rights, "universities in particular are
morally bound to be sensitive to the
free expression of ideas."
Daily Oklahoman
CINCINNATI--December i ssues of Cinci nnati :1agazine and Columbus NOrith.!1. carr ied a s le e p~1e ar ad depicting
two women on a be d, one gaz i ng at
t he oth er, with the capt i on "The
stuff fa i ry ta l es are made of. . ..
My happi l y-ever-after ... just look
at her . My spirit soars at the
me re s i ght .... On ly Chri stian Dior
for my pri nces s." Re aders call ed
th e magazines and Lazarus Department
stores , who ran the ad, to protes t.
One woman threatened to cancel her
su bs cription. The magazine pub1i shers said they saw nothing wrong
with the ad. The department store
had origin ally intended to run a
ricture of a man and a woman, but
dec ide d to use two wome n to show
t··10 styles of th e garme nt . According to a spokeswoman of the
store , no one rec hec ked the capt i on for "appr opri aten ess."
info fr om ~ y cofllllunity news
off our backs/march 1987
by jlr
r----------------------,
Collective Meeting
April 12, 3:30 p.m.
at Herland
Volunteers needed to work
the bookstore. Please
come and find out how you
can be involved.
L----------------------J
Netherlands:
gay news on t v
AMSTERDAM-- The Dutch National Broadcasting Corporation (NOS) began a
teletext service for lesbians and
gay men as of January 1. The broadcasting company said ft needed to
serve the 10 to 20 percent of its
audience that is lesbian and gay.
NOS will provide daily news
and announcements compiled by the
gay Dutch paper De ~ Kant. The
service will enter tfie homes
broadcasts will reach people in
the Netherlands, Belgium and
West Gennany.
off our backs/march 1987
--info from
~
conmunity
~
no benefits for mothers
WASHINGTON, DC--ln case you
thought that the U.S. Supreme
Court had become enlightened to
the needs of pregn ant women by
r uling that Ca l i fornia could
requ ire mandat ory pregnancy lea ve
(see oob feb. 1987), gues s 'v' .
agai n. One month afte r that
l andmark decisionj the Supreme
Court has rul ed i n Wimberly v.
Labor & Indus t r ia l Re la t ions
Commiss i on of Mi ssou ri t ha t women
wh o leave thei r jobs beca use of
pregnancy are not eligible for
unemployment compensati on .
Linda Wimberly, the plaintiff
in the case, was a cashier with
J.C. Penney when she took a leave
of absence to have a baby . When
she returned, she was told tha t
no jobs were available. Her
application for unemployment was
denied because Missouri allows
compensation only for workrelated illness and disability
or an employer lay-off.
The unanimous opinion ,
written by the on ly woman on the
Court--Justice Sandra Day
O'Connor, said that the Federal
Unemployment Tax Act requires
only that all workers who leave
their jobs be treated equally and
that pregnancy not be treated
differently from any other
disability. Since the pregnancy
was not "work-related " the
plaintiff could be de~ied
benefits.
off our backs/march 1987
1nfo from: washington post
PUBLISHED BY: HERLAND SISTER RESOURCES
CIRCULATION: 600
ADVERTISING: LORAL REEVES, 495-1094
NEWSLETTER STAFF: BARBARA C., MARION H.,
CINDI I., GINGER MCGOVERN, KEETA M., DONA W.
Spring Retreat !
Herland Sister Resources is sponsoring the Second Annual Spring Retreat for Women, May 1, 2
and 3, 1987, at the group camp at Roman Nose
State .Park. Located just an hour's drive from
Oklahoma City, near Watonga, Oklahoma, Roman
Nose offers trout fishing (you must purchase a
special trout stamp, though--available at the
Park), golf, boating, hiking, tennis (if the repair
work has been completed on the courts), and .inst
enjoying spring's display of nature. Another feature of the area is the Watonga Cheese Factory,
with store and tours.
The group camp has A-frame cabins with cots,
and a fully equipped kitchen facility and dining
hall. Herland will again provide coffee, but you
should bring your own food for the weekend
through Sunday breakfast (checkout time is Sunday noon), plus something for our tradition of
sharing food on Saturday night. Also, bring a
bedroll or sleeping bag, (remember how cold we
got at Robbers Cave), a pillow, towels, toilet
articles, flashlights, musical instruments, toys,
cameras, fishing equipment, comfortable shoes.
Bring arts and crafts for exhibit or sale, plus
networking information. Pets are welcome but
must be kept on a leash while in the park.
Anyone who wishes to conduct a workshop should
contact Harland as soon as possible. We would
like to have some idea about workshops before
arriving at the park, but there will be a workshop board where you can post yours. Please do
this as soon as you arrive, as the time slots will
be filled on first-come, first-served basis. If
there is a workshop topic you would like to see
addressed, also contact someone at Herland.
Herland is planning on offering the popular Open
Mic session again on Saturday afternoon, for
anyone wishing to sing and play.
You may check in any time after 4:00 p.m. on
Friday. When you send in your complete registration, you will be sent a map of how to get to
the group camp.
We need an approximate count on attendees, so
send the pre-registration form below and your
check for S15 per person by April 15 to Harland Sister Resources, Inc., c/o Laura Choate,
4924 S. Kathy Dr., Oklahoma City, OK 73135.
On-site registration is S20. If you have special
needs, such as non-smoking or non-alcoholic
sleeping space, please indicate so on your form.
There are a few scholarships available for those
wishing to attend who cannot afford the S15
fee. Also, anyone wishing to sponsor an attendee
on scholarship, please contact HSR. You may indicate either of these items on the pre-registration
form.
You won't want to miss out on all the fun, so
send in your form today and secure your place.
SPRING RBTREAT FOR WOMEN
RBGISTRATION
Name(s)_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Address
City
ST_ Zip_ __
Telephone_____________________________
_ _Send me scholarship information.
_ _Send me information about sponsorship.
Deadline for pre-registration: April 15, 1987
Mail this form and your check for $15 per
person to:
Berland Sister Resources, Inc.
c/o Laura Choate
4924 S. Kathy Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 73135
-------------------------------
Individuals-Couples-Groups
Group for Lesbians
Helen tlol8ale
Certified Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
Counselor
'U'&(!I ~'U'
New Group Forming On
©!ilc!l
Ou:J'U'OUiJ@~\l
WHO ARE CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT
or love someone who is
INDIVIDUAL, COUPLB AND
GROUP COUNSBLING
For Information, Call
Bette Kelley, M.Ed., CADC
(Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor)
For Information coll 366-0923
405-949-2301
Mujer a Mujer
The women's movement is alive and well in
Mexico.
Arkansas' own Elaine Burns has organized Hujer a Mujer (Woman to Woman), a ten
day exchange, allowing U.S. women to come and
meet with women's organizations in Mexico
r,ity, hopefully
to the benefit of both
groups, though I think, as usual, we Yankee
women gained more than we gave, if nothing
else, simply the inspiration of seeing the
vitality and hope that springs from women
realizing their power through
organized
struggle. We met with refugee women from all
parts of Central and Latin America as well as
with Mexican women.
Most impressive were the women of the
Urban Poor Peoples Movement.
This group
(Regional Mujeres de CONAKJP) coordinates
actions of the women's organizations in the
poor neighborhoods throughout this city of 20
million people without a typewriter, a telephone, an office , or even a meeting place .
Their current meeting place is a vacant lot
filled with rubble from the earthquake of a
year ago. This group, comprised of thousands
of women from around 90 neighborhoods, fights
for the most basic city services, such as
water, transportation, and housing, as well
as organizing local action groups against
domestic violence, rape ,- and incest.
They
are powerful,
and it was thrilling
to
participate in/observe a huge march against
violence against women with them. Old and
young, many illiterate, all poor1
these
women mean business.
In a country where organized labor basically consists of company unions controlled
by the state, the women have moved in and organized the seamstresses in Mexico City.
This independent union was birthed like a
phoenix by the earthquake, which killed and
injured hundreds of the seamstresses.
A
wonderful documentary, chronicling the formation of the union, shows factory owners
preferring to rescue their machines and cloth
before concerning themselves with the dying
and trapped workers.
In the aftermath of
this disaster they resolved to
struggle
against the long hours, low pay, and unsafe
working conditions they had endured for so
long.
In truly Mexican fashion, they are
assisted by a group of muralists/bannermakers/plastic artists called Ojos de Lucha
(Eyes of Struggle) who lend a sense of joy,
humor and inevitable success to their actions.
REBECCA R. COHN, Ph.D.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
The large population of political refugees
in Mexico gives the women's movement an international nature lacking in the States, and
Mexican women are quick to act in solidarity
with their exiled sisters.
We met women from
Guatemala, Bolivia, El Salvador, Peru, and
Chile who cannot return to their homelands
and who have organized to identify and meet
their own unique needs as feminist/activist
women in a strange culture.
We were glad to
be able to express our horror, sorrow,
and
opposition to U.S. interventionism to women of
Central America.
(The Honduran woman introduced herself as coming from an occupied
country.) Their reply to our denunciation of
our government's
actions on their
lives
harked back to the days when u.s . peaceniks
visited Vietnam•
"We know it is not the
people of the U.S. who are our enemy,"
I
found myself wishing I could be as openminded
and forgiving toward many of my co-citizens,
There's a truly thrilling women's literacy
project happening, domestic workers organizing, two anti-rape/anti-violence groups,
a
feminist women's center/coffeehouse, and more,
Plus, work is being done to facilitate
the
Fourth Latin American Feminist Conference, and
the First Latin American Lesbian Conference
(We a re everywhere I ) , both to be held in
Octobe r.
Well wirnrnin1
hope your interest in your
southern sisters is aroused by this bri~feat
of summaries.
I first read about Mujer a
Mujer in Up and Coming . Here's their current
address• P.O. Box 1723, Harlingen, TX
78551.
The next trip is planned for March, and cultural workers are especially encouraged to
apply for that one.
--Dolphin
Up & Corning, February, 1987
According to Off Our Backs, Mujer a Hujer
organizes 10 exchanges with Mexican women
activists and a knowledge of Spanish is
not necessary. It's $300 minus transportation to and from Mexico City but there
are scholarships. The exchanges are focussed, with Chicana/Latino lesbians on
April 11-19, low-income community organizers in Aug. and cultural workers in Nov.
Write Woman to Woman/Mujer a Mujer, Apdo.
Postal 12-709, Colonia Narvarte, Mexico
03020 D.F., Mexico.
ll
KE_MCO
PRINTING INC.
Kelley Mattocks
340--'301
Norman, Oklo.
321-2148
Individual •••
Coup lea ••. Group ...
Family Therapy
1601
s.
Broadway. Unll
o
•Edmond. Okla. 73013
Greenham Women and Cruise-Watch
Stop A Nuclear Missile Convoy
by Nathaniel Batchelder
Eight nuclear-tipped cruise missiles on four launch trucks
were the centerpiece or a convoy or 22 vehicles rumbling through the
night on British route A-303 last November 4th. The convoy was
returning to Greenham Common RAF Base after monthly exercises in
the fields and forests or Salisbury Plain, historic ground where
Stonehenge is located. When the police escort got ahead on a hill, a
car and trailer eased into the gap and slowed to a stop, halting the
entire convoy. Immediately, 200 members or Cruise-Watch, waiting
by the road, ran among the vehicles and lay down on the pavement.
The car and van blocking the convoy were disabled by the driver,
who pulled the valve stems out or all the tires.
As frustrated USAF drivers watched helplessly from their
vehiCles, demonstrators with buckets or paint began daubing and
painting peace symbols on the launch vehicles. Despite the errorts or
some SO British constables, women climbed aboard the cabs or two
launch vehicles. Unnoticed in the confusion, another woman with
heavy cutters scooted under one or the launch vehicles and cut the
hydraulic brake lines. Some two hours later, after numerous arrests
and jury-rigged repairs, the convoy limped on back to the Greenham
RAF Base. As usual, it was greeted there by another demonstration
or the women who live permanently by the gates, in makeshift
plastic tents, year-round.
Most Americans arc unaware such actions take place monthly,
reported by an international network transmitting "Cruise Alerts" ....
In 1981, to protest the decision to deploy cruise missiles in
England, 40 women, children and men marched from Cardiffc in
W:ilcs to the U.S. Air Force Base at Greenham. The families went
home. The women stayed, and began the uninterrupted women's
encampment at Greenham. In December, 1982, 30,000 women
"embraced the base," linking arms around the entire 9-mile perimeter.
A year later, after the first missiles were deployed, more than 40,000
women came to the base in protest. Once, in a capricious act or
defiance, the women cul down six miles of perimeter fence before
being stopped by the MPs. Winter and summer, the women's presence
at the gates or the base is a constant reminder or their total
commitment to protest the instruments or death inside.
Cruise-Watch, an action arm of the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament, responds to cruise missile field exercises outside the
base. Mobilizing when the Greenham women pass the word that
"cruise is coming out," Cruise-Watchers use telephones and CB radios
to track the progress of each missile convoy, and plan demonstrations
and interventions along the route each month.
In winter, the Greenham women build their fires in the snow.
The British military police claim there has never been a permanent
presence since they evict the women every day. But mail has been
delivered every day for years to the "impermanent" camp. Letters,
gifts, and contributions should be directed to Greenham Common
Women's Peace Camp, Main Gate, USAF Greenham Common near
Newbury, Berkshire, U.K.
Edi1or's Note: A 11atio11al #Cruise Alert• office in Tunbridge, VT.
recefres reg11lar telephone alerts from Britai11, passi11g them 011 to of/ires
like the Benedictine Peace Ho11se, which passes the i11/ormatio11 011 to yo11.
Through the women in T11nbridge, we heard abo11t the Brilis/1 H-Bomb
truck that skidded and tumed over January J J, the day before ii was
an::crmced by AP i11 the State .~. Ol!r thar.ks and crckno111/,,deenrP11I to Mel
Goertz a11d her helpers i11 Tunbridge.
Words of Anger
Call for submissions for an anthology that
will provide a creative and constructive
expression of our anger as we use it to heal
and recover from acts of physical, sexual,
emotional or mental abuse during our lives:
OUR EYES HAVE FOUND YOU: ANGRY WORDS FROM
HONEST WOMEN aims to "create a language that
reflects our experiences and provide a way to
hold perpetrators of violence responsible~
Send SASE with poems, short stories, plays,
journal entries, etc. by September 1987 to
Celine-Marie Pascale, P.O. Box 2959, Santa
Cruz, CA 95063.
up & coming/march 1987
··--------· ------· --.,
i
I
I
SHIR LEY M. HUNTER. M.A.
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
PENN PARK OFFICE COMPLEX• SUITE 102
6009 N PENNSYLVANIA• OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73112
C!RQANIZATlON
llCIRWCIM•N
I
NATIONAL
CONFERENCE
FOR AND ABOUT
WOMEN OF COLOR
1
I
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
I
I
I REPRO~~€~~.:.~IGHTS I
I
I
I
I
J
I
I
I
I
I
848-5429
«O) ' I
I
WASHINGTON. D.C.
Topics Include:
Medicaid Funding for Poor Women
Teen Pregnanc1,1
Religion and Reproductive Rights
Abortion and the Genocide Question
Racism in the Pro-Choice Movement
Women of Color Wonting for the Right Wing
Speaking vith Young People about Sex
Medical Abuses Agaf list Women of Color
Family Planning vs. Population Control
Male Responsi bilitlJ
Genetic Screening and Nev Technologies
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
I
I
Loretto Ross (202) 347-2279
Notlonot Orqonlzotlon for Women
1401 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite BOO_
Woshington D.C. 20005
··----·-- -------
I
I
I
I
rorte 's Top 20 Women's Music
Sales for 1986
1. CITY DOWN by Casselberry-DuPree, Icebergg
Records
2. SINGING WITII YOU by H. Near and R. Gilbert,
Redwood Records
3. SHAIX)WS ON A DIME by Ferron, Lucy Records
4. MICHIGAN LIVE '85 by various artists, August
Night Records, **$13.00
5. A STEP AWAY by Teresa Trull, Redwood Records
6. LUCIE BLUE TREMBLAY by Lucie Blue, Olivia
Records
7. EDGES OF TIIE HEART by Tret Fure, Second Wave
Records
8. A RAINBOW PATII by Kay Gardner, Ladyslipper
Records
9. HARP by H. Near, A. Guthrie, R. Gilbert and P.
Seeger, Redwood Records
10. THE CHANGER AND TIIE CHANGED by Cris
Williamson, Olivia Records
11. SCRAPBOOK by Meg Christian, Olivia Records
12. TESTIMONY by Ferron, Lucy Records
13. LIFELINE by H. Near and R. Gilbert, Redwood
Records
14. THE OTHER SIDE by Sweet Honey in the Rock,
Flying Fish Records
15. SING TO ME THE DREAM by H. Near and
Inti-Illirnani, Redwood Records
16. DON'T IX)UBT IT by Deidre McCalla, Olivia
Records
17. FEEL SOMETIIING DRAWING ME ON by Sweet Honey in
the Rock, Flying Fish Records.
18. HARMONY by Hunter Davis, Redwood Records
19. PRAIRIE FIRE by Cris Williamson, Olivia
Records
20. SECRETS by Linda Tillery, 411 Records
College Ball
OU SOFTBALL
5:00pm
Apr. 7
Okla. St.
2:00pm
Apr. 15
N. Tex. St.
6:JOpm
Apr. 15
Tex-Arlington
Apr. 24-25
OSU Classic at
Stillwater
TENNIS
Apr. 11
Nebraska
q:ooam
Apr. 23-24 Big 8 Championship
OKC Tennis Center
OU
OU GOLF
APR. 6-7
Apr. 27-28
Susie Berning Classic
OU Golf Course
Big 8 Championship
Oklahoma City
Let's Play Rall!
The statewide a ll gay softball league
for men and wome n whi ch has been promoting
slow pitch softball in the summer for the
past five years is changing its name to
First Sooner League .
Committee members from OKC, Norman,
Stillwater, and Tulsa are seeking sponsors .
Other cities are being contacted for participation.
The league was organized as Sooner
Softball League in 1981 by a group in
Tulsa. The purpose in founding the league
was to promote gay softball competition
statewide. Tournaments and league play
have been a regular part of the season,
with as many as ten teams participating
at various times. It has been an outreach to the gay community and the response has been gratifying.
Opening games will start in June.
Play will continue throughout the summer.
culminating in partici pation in the
annua l Southwest Inv it at i onal Softba l l
Tournament in Tulsa over Labor Day weekend. The Invitational is becoming one of
the major events in t he country with teams
from as far away as Boston and San Francisco attending. Fund raisers and "fun
events" are planned along with the games .
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor
or wish to participate in some way, write:
First Sooner League
2127 NW 13th
OKC, OK 73107
Make your plans for a pleasant summer of
outdoor activity with friends. You are
cordially invited to participate.
TORR Reporter
Learn to Write
FLIGHT OF THE HIND announces its 4th
annual summer writing workshop for women,
July 26-August 2, led this year by Barbara
Wilson (Murder in the Collective), Judith
Barrington (Trying to be an Honest Woman),
and Evelyn c. White {Chain Chain Change-For Black Women Dealing with Ph sical and
Emotional Abuse • Three scholarships are
available; college credit can be arranged.
For brochure send SASE to Flight of t he
Hind , 622 SE 28th , Portland , OR 972 14.
up
& coming/march 1987
ICEBERGG
CONCERT-PARTY
Thurs, May 28, 1987
lOpm
(WEEKEND OF NWMF)
An Indnor Festival. Featuring
Mainstage Nightly with
Friday, May 29: Tracy Chapman, Kate Ointon,
Ferron
Saturday, May 30: Marie Rhines, Deuce,
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Sunday, May 31: Barbara Higbie, Heather Bishop,
Tret Fure & Band
with Sue Fink! as MC, all nights!
Casselberry-DuPree
Showcase Daily
Featuring the best in up-coming performers
Music Industry Conference
Over 100 Workshops Including
Writers Conference with guest speakers
Mary Daly, Nancy K. Bereano, & Cheryl Clarke
Spirituality Conference with guest speakers
Sonia Johnson, Hallie Iglehart & Kay Gardner
TICKETS :
For more information write:
NWMF, Dept. LC, P.O. Box 5217
Bloomington, IN 47402
or call: 317-637-4938
Pre-register before April 30 far discount!
"LOVE MJ\ V BP, m,JNO, BUT
HANDWRITING'S NOT
Professional Analysis of Compatibility
Confidential report on cassette
Shelly Zaikis, C.M.G.
405-946-6928
$ Z 50
JAKE'S
419N. Walnut
Bloomington
r---------1
I
I
I
Loral C. Reeves
C.P.A.
1014 Cedardale Drive
Okla. City, OK 73127
I
II
t---------.-i
405/495-1094
December 31 , 1986 and 1985
and for the Years then Ended
CCX>1PARATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENI'S
BERLAND SISTER RESOURCES, INC.
STATE.MEN!' OF SUPPORT , REVENUE AND EXPENSES
AND CHANGES IN GENERAL FUND BALANCE
STATEMENl' OF CHAN3ES I N FINANCIAL Pa3ITION
1986
1985
1985
SOORCES OF FUNDS
SUPPORT
Contributions
Donated services and materials
$1,876
1,264
$1 , 197
2,979
3, 140
4,176
Funds frClll operations:
Excess of support and
revenues over expenses
Increase in Building Fund
$845
1,305
$1,663
2,150
1,663
1,305
389
1,694
456
CAPITAL
1,663
TOrAL SOURCES OF FUNDS
REVENUES
81
5,033
678
560
286
6,638
TOrAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE 9, 778
Library memberships and assessments
Programs
Gross profit frClll bookstore sales
Advertising sales
other
1,425
1,655
1,741
743
APPLICATION OF FUNDS
Building funds invested
Furniture and fixtures acquired
5,564
9,740
INCREASE IN
~KING
~ING
CAPITAL - Beginning of year
~ING
CAPITAL - End of year
1,663
EXPENSES
Administrative and general
Programs
Operating expenses - Bookstore
Newsletter
NET EXCESS OF SUPPORT
AND REVENUE OVER EXPENSES
1, 231
3,987
1, 767
1,948
8, 933
989
3,767
1,631
1,690
8,077
845
1, 663
$2,119
=
ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN OORKING CAPI TAL
Increase (decrease ) in current assets:
Cash
Accounts receivable
Inventories
GENERAL FUND BALANCE - Beginning of year 1,663
GENERAL FUND BALANCE - End of year
BALANCE SHEET
1986
1987
ASSETS
Increase (decrease) in current
liabilities:
Prepaid advertising
Sales tax payable
Gift certificates outstanding
Due to consignors
Current Assets :
Cash in bank and on hand General Fund
Accounts receivable
Inventories
TOrAL CURR.ENI' ASSETS
NET INCREASE IN
$1 , 028
375
1,039
2,442
$937
874
1, 811
~ING
CAPITAL
$91
375
165
631
110
(9)
60
14
175
$456
$937
874
1,811
148
148
$1 , 663
STATEMENl' OF SUPPORT, REVENUE AND EXPENSES
AND CHANGES IN BUIIDING FUND B/\LANCE
1986
Building Fund:
Cash in bank
Money market mutual fund
Furniture and Fixtures , at cost
186
1,119
1,305
SUPPORT AND REVENUES
$656
835
Contributions
Fundraising programs
Interest incane
389
2
TCYl'AL SUPPORT AND REVENUE
EXPENSES - Fundraising programs
BUILDING FUND BALANCE - December 31, 1986
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES
Current Liabilities:
Prepaid advertising
Sales tax payable
Gift certificates outstanding
Due to consignors
TOrAL CURREN!' LIABILITIES
General Fund
$110
139
148
60
14
323
148
2,508
1,663
Building Fund
$1, 811
=
1,493
188
$1,305
=
-
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 4
HERLAND SISTER RESOURCES, INC.
APRIL 1987
1630 N.W. 19, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73106
The Crusade of Karen Thompson
For Karen Thompson, the personal
has indeed become the political: and for
someone like Karen-a very private person
who was never issue-oriented-the path to
activism has resulted in an upheaval of her
entire life.
The story of Karen Thompson and
Sharon Kowalski began as a love story and
has become. and continues to be. a nightmare-a nightmare that could happen to any
of us. This is a tale of horror that one would
think could have occurred only in a repressive regime-something out of Nazi Germany. Instead. it is happening here, today, in
the United States.
Because this story is one of the most
important we've ever heard-a chilling abrogation of patients' rights, disability rights.
gay rights-indeed, all human rights-we are
doing it in two parts: a synopsis of the background in Volume VII and the two-hour interview On The Issues conducted with Karen
Thompson in Volume VIII.
For four years. Karen Thompson and
Sharon Kowalski lived as more than lovers.
As far as they were roncerned. they were
married. They had exchanged rings in their
own private ceremony because they are both
conventional people and, as Karen says, "We
figured we were married in our eyes and in
the eyes of God. and we were very much
brought up to believe in the institution of
marriage."
Then. on November 13, 1983, the
nightmare began. Sharon's car was smashed
by a drunk driver. leaving her a quadriplegic
and unable to speak. To this day, the extent
of her mental disability has yet to be determined. She suffered a closed-head iajury.
which means that some brain cells have been
permanently damaged while others can be
re-trained.
The accident forced Karen to "come
out of the closet". Says Karen: "I 'came out'
nationally before I came out to myself ... I'd
lived with Sharon for four years and only ad-
mitted that I happened to fall in love with a
human being because of certain qualities or
characteristics. I had never admitted to myself that I was gay."
Her first taste of the agony to come
was when the hospital wouldn't tell her if
Sharon was dead or alive. The second was
when the hospital psychologist suggested she
"come out" to Sharon's parents. The Kowalskis responded that Karen was a crazy
woman and was never to see their daughter
again. At that point. Karen saw an attorney,
only to learn that she had no legal rights as
far as Sharon was concerned. The Kowalskis
sued for guardianship. claiming that Karen
was just Sharon's landlady and that their
daughter was not a lesbian.
Fortunately. Karen was able to prove
their relationship in court, due to the testimony of the few people Sharon had told, and
the court permitted Karen visitation rights.
At that time. Sharon was in St. Cloud
Hospital, Minnesota in the city where she and
Karen lived. and where Karen is an assistant
professor at St. Cloud University. Karen has
also studied occupational and physical ther~
apy, and while Sharon remained in St. Cloud,
Karen was able to work with her for hours
every day. Slowly and continuously. Sharon
began to show improvement. Videotapes
prove that she was able to feed herself a little bit and type out responses with one hand
when asked questions. Sharon indicated that
she wanted to go home with Karen. and expressed fear that Karen would be taken from
her. In September. 1984, that's just what
happened. Donald Kowalski successfully filed
to have Sharon moved to Duluth, 150 miles
away.
In July. 1985, Sharon was again
moved-to a nursing home in Hibbing. Minnesota. despite the fact that the home has no
young adult rehabilitation program. Without
such a program, Sharon cannot receive the
treatment she needs to retain the progress
Karen helped her achieve. to say nothing of
progressing further. And. despite Sharon's
expressed Wish to see her. Karen has been
barred from the facility. She has not seen
Sharon since August 19. 1985. According to
Karen: "This is the United States and I'm not
allowed to get any information on how she's
doing. I cannot communicate with her in any
way. I'll get arrested if I step on the
premises."
Karen says her concern is not who
gets legal guardianship of. Sharon. but to insure that Sharon gets the best care possible.
Because Karen is willing to take Sharon
home. set up a rehabilitation program and
work with her. while Sharon's parents are
letting her vegetate in a nursing home. Karen
believes that Sharon's basic right to recovery
is being violated.
The Minnesota Civil Liberties Union is
fighting for Karen's cause. She has wanted
support from disability rights groups. but
says: "Most of the groups I've talked with
have agreed that Sharon's disability rights
are being flagrantly violated. The problem
seems to be that they have enough problems
fighting for disability rights without getting
involved in a case that has gay rights attached to it . .. My contention is that they
can't afford not to get involved."
Except for the gay press. the Thompson case has received little media coveragealmost none in the major media-which is
remarkable considering the issues involved.
Karen has been traveling the country. trying
to set up interviews and give speeches to enlist support for what has become a crusade.
She knows that the issues are far beyond the
fight for the custody and care of Sharon.
Says Karen: ''I've had the blinders ripped off.
I can no longer live in my little isolated world
and go to work and then. after work. live my
own personal life and nobody knows me. I
was very non-issue oriented. But once you do
have the blinders taken off, you see oppression in one area, then you start to see
oppression all around you. and it's almost
overwhelming. Now, I not only see what homophobia does to people and how it can be
used against them, but also I can make the
tie to racism. sexism. ageism. the disabledit's all connected. And I didn't know that becont. next page
fore . .. I'm a totally different person now
and I'll never be able to go back to the person that I was."
In addition to the emotional and
physical drain Karen is suffering , the financial
drain has been enormous. Her legal fees
alone are nearly $1 00.000. She is grateful to
the University that they have not only kept
her on. but have also been very supportive.
She will continue to fight. no matter what
the cost. because "If Sharon and I don't fight
this. then how many others will have to experience it because we didn't? It's got to
stop somewhere."
(For information or contributions
contact MnGALLA. c/o Suzanne Born. 3436
Holmes Ave .. Minneapolis, MN 55408)
ON THE ISSUES
Vol. VII, 1987
Published as an informat ional and educational service of
CHOICES Women·s Medical Center. Inc.
d.c. free health care
WASHHlGTON, DC -- In response . to a
request by the Canmission of Pub li c
Health, Mayor Mari on Barry recently
decreed that survivors of sexual
assault may rece ive free treatment
for injuries at D.C. General Hospital.
The Washington Post reports that
city health c crnmisSTOrier Or .. Reed
Tuckson pl ans to ask the mayor to
add women's fir st prenatal visit
to t he cit y's fr ee healthcare
services as well. D.C. law allows
t he mayor t o authorize su ch additi ons if they are de emed to be in
t he pub lic int erest, and Tuckson
wi l l argue bhat such vi s its could
hel p lower t he city's high infant
mortality r ate.
by tal
off our backs/march 1987
an advertising
f airy tale
the windy city
CHICAGO (AP) - An anonymous
flood of anti-homosexual literature
calling for quarantines and castration is triggering a dispute over freedom of speech between the University
of Chicago's gay community and
school officials.
Christmas cards were
mailed to students known or apparently believed to be gay that contained a verse wishing homosexuals
dead.
School officials are aware of the
"flurry of very distasteful and despicable letters and posters" distributed
on campus and in the surrounding
Hyde Park neighborhood since last
fall, said David Rosen, a spokesman
for the prestigious university.
A full-page advertisement denouncing the anti-homosexual activity and
signed by about 200 students and faculty members appeared in Friday editions of the twice-weekly campus
newspaper, Chicago Maroon.
Rosen said university authorities
wer~ trying to find out who was producing and distributing the materials.
He noted a bumper sticker that appeared on utility poles and building
walls last fall that said, "Stop AIDS,
Castrate Gays."
But Rosen said that while the private university has no constitutional
obli gation to prote ct free -speech
rights, "universities in particular are
morally bound to be sensitive to the
free expression of ideas."
Daily Oklahoman
CINCINNATI--December i ssues of Cinci nnati :1agazine and Columbus NOrith.!1. carr ied a s le e p~1e ar ad depicting
two women on a be d, one gaz i ng at
t he oth er, with the capt i on "The
stuff fa i ry ta l es are made of. . ..
My happi l y-ever-after ... just look
at her . My spirit soars at the
me re s i ght .... On ly Chri stian Dior
for my pri nces s." Re aders call ed
th e magazines and Lazarus Department
stores , who ran the ad, to protes t.
One woman threatened to cancel her
su bs cription. The magazine pub1i shers said they saw nothing wrong
with the ad. The department store
had origin ally intended to run a
ricture of a man and a woman, but
dec ide d to use two wome n to show
t··10 styles of th e garme nt . According to a spokeswoman of the
store , no one rec hec ked the capt i on for "appr opri aten ess."
info fr om ~ y cofllllunity news
off our backs/march 1987
by jlr
r----------------------,
Collective Meeting
April 12, 3:30 p.m.
at Herland
Volunteers needed to work
the bookstore. Please
come and find out how you
can be involved.
L----------------------J
Netherlands:
gay news on t v
AMSTERDAM-- The Dutch National Broadcasting Corporation (NOS) began a
teletext service for lesbians and
gay men as of January 1. The broadcasting company said ft needed to
serve the 10 to 20 percent of its
audience that is lesbian and gay.
NOS will provide daily news
and announcements compiled by the
gay Dutch paper De ~ Kant. The
service will enter tfie homes
broadcasts will reach people in
the Netherlands, Belgium and
West Gennany.
off our backs/march 1987
--info from
~
conmunity
~
no benefits for mothers
WASHINGTON, DC--ln case you
thought that the U.S. Supreme
Court had become enlightened to
the needs of pregn ant women by
r uling that Ca l i fornia could
requ ire mandat ory pregnancy lea ve
(see oob feb. 1987), gues s 'v' .
agai n. One month afte r that
l andmark decisionj the Supreme
Court has rul ed i n Wimberly v.
Labor & Indus t r ia l Re la t ions
Commiss i on of Mi ssou ri t ha t women
wh o leave thei r jobs beca use of
pregnancy are not eligible for
unemployment compensati on .
Linda Wimberly, the plaintiff
in the case, was a cashier with
J.C. Penney when she took a leave
of absence to have a baby . When
she returned, she was told tha t
no jobs were available. Her
application for unemployment was
denied because Missouri allows
compensation only for workrelated illness and disability
or an employer lay-off.
The unanimous opinion ,
written by the on ly woman on the
Court--Justice Sandra Day
O'Connor, said that the Federal
Unemployment Tax Act requires
only that all workers who leave
their jobs be treated equally and
that pregnancy not be treated
differently from any other
disability. Since the pregnancy
was not "work-related " the
plaintiff could be de~ied
benefits.
off our backs/march 1987
1nfo from: washington post
PUBLISHED BY: HERLAND SISTER RESOURCES
CIRCULATION: 600
ADVERTISING: LORAL REEVES, 495-1094
NEWSLETTER STAFF: BARBARA C., MARION H.,
CINDI I., GINGER MCGOVERN, KEETA M., DONA W.
Spring Retreat !
Herland Sister Resources is sponsoring the Second Annual Spring Retreat for Women, May 1, 2
and 3, 1987, at the group camp at Roman Nose
State .Park. Located just an hour's drive from
Oklahoma City, near Watonga, Oklahoma, Roman
Nose offers trout fishing (you must purchase a
special trout stamp, though--available at the
Park), golf, boating, hiking, tennis (if the repair
work has been completed on the courts), and .inst
enjoying spring's display of nature. Another feature of the area is the Watonga Cheese Factory,
with store and tours.
The group camp has A-frame cabins with cots,
and a fully equipped kitchen facility and dining
hall. Herland will again provide coffee, but you
should bring your own food for the weekend
through Sunday breakfast (checkout time is Sunday noon), plus something for our tradition of
sharing food on Saturday night. Also, bring a
bedroll or sleeping bag, (remember how cold we
got at Robbers Cave), a pillow, towels, toilet
articles, flashlights, musical instruments, toys,
cameras, fishing equipment, comfortable shoes.
Bring arts and crafts for exhibit or sale, plus
networking information. Pets are welcome but
must be kept on a leash while in the park.
Anyone who wishes to conduct a workshop should
contact Harland as soon as possible. We would
like to have some idea about workshops before
arriving at the park, but there will be a workshop board where you can post yours. Please do
this as soon as you arrive, as the time slots will
be filled on first-come, first-served basis. If
there is a workshop topic you would like to see
addressed, also contact someone at Herland.
Herland is planning on offering the popular Open
Mic session again on Saturday afternoon, for
anyone wishing to sing and play.
You may check in any time after 4:00 p.m. on
Friday. When you send in your complete registration, you will be sent a map of how to get to
the group camp.
We need an approximate count on attendees, so
send the pre-registration form below and your
check for S15 per person by April 15 to Harland Sister Resources, Inc., c/o Laura Choate,
4924 S. Kathy Dr., Oklahoma City, OK 73135.
On-site registration is S20. If you have special
needs, such as non-smoking or non-alcoholic
sleeping space, please indicate so on your form.
There are a few scholarships available for those
wishing to attend who cannot afford the S15
fee. Also, anyone wishing to sponsor an attendee
on scholarship, please contact HSR. You may indicate either of these items on the pre-registration
form.
You won't want to miss out on all the fun, so
send in your form today and secure your place.
SPRING RBTREAT FOR WOMEN
RBGISTRATION
Name(s)_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Address
City
ST_ Zip_ __
Telephone_____________________________
_ _Send me scholarship information.
_ _Send me information about sponsorship.
Deadline for pre-registration: April 15, 1987
Mail this form and your check for $15 per
person to:
Berland Sister Resources, Inc.
c/o Laura Choate
4924 S. Kathy Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 73135
-------------------------------
Individuals-Couples-Groups
Group for Lesbians
Helen tlol8ale
Certified Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
Counselor
'U'&(!I ~'U'
New Group Forming On
©!ilc!l
Ou:J'U'OUiJ@~\l
WHO ARE CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT
or love someone who is
INDIVIDUAL, COUPLB AND
GROUP COUNSBLING
For Information, Call
Bette Kelley, M.Ed., CADC
(Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor)
For Information coll 366-0923
405-949-2301
Mujer a Mujer
The women's movement is alive and well in
Mexico.
Arkansas' own Elaine Burns has organized Hujer a Mujer (Woman to Woman), a ten
day exchange, allowing U.S. women to come and
meet with women's organizations in Mexico
r,ity, hopefully
to the benefit of both
groups, though I think, as usual, we Yankee
women gained more than we gave, if nothing
else, simply the inspiration of seeing the
vitality and hope that springs from women
realizing their power through
organized
struggle. We met with refugee women from all
parts of Central and Latin America as well as
with Mexican women.
Most impressive were the women of the
Urban Poor Peoples Movement.
This group
(Regional Mujeres de CONAKJP) coordinates
actions of the women's organizations in the
poor neighborhoods throughout this city of 20
million people without a typewriter, a telephone, an office , or even a meeting place .
Their current meeting place is a vacant lot
filled with rubble from the earthquake of a
year ago. This group, comprised of thousands
of women from around 90 neighborhoods, fights
for the most basic city services, such as
water, transportation, and housing, as well
as organizing local action groups against
domestic violence, rape ,- and incest.
They
are powerful,
and it was thrilling
to
participate in/observe a huge march against
violence against women with them. Old and
young, many illiterate, all poor1
these
women mean business.
In a country where organized labor basically consists of company unions controlled
by the state, the women have moved in and organized the seamstresses in Mexico City.
This independent union was birthed like a
phoenix by the earthquake, which killed and
injured hundreds of the seamstresses.
A
wonderful documentary, chronicling the formation of the union, shows factory owners
preferring to rescue their machines and cloth
before concerning themselves with the dying
and trapped workers.
In the aftermath of
this disaster they resolved to
struggle
against the long hours, low pay, and unsafe
working conditions they had endured for so
long.
In truly Mexican fashion, they are
assisted by a group of muralists/bannermakers/plastic artists called Ojos de Lucha
(Eyes of Struggle) who lend a sense of joy,
humor and inevitable success to their actions.
REBECCA R. COHN, Ph.D.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
The large population of political refugees
in Mexico gives the women's movement an international nature lacking in the States, and
Mexican women are quick to act in solidarity
with their exiled sisters.
We met women from
Guatemala, Bolivia, El Salvador, Peru, and
Chile who cannot return to their homelands
and who have organized to identify and meet
their own unique needs as feminist/activist
women in a strange culture.
We were glad to
be able to express our horror, sorrow,
and
opposition to U.S. interventionism to women of
Central America.
(The Honduran woman introduced herself as coming from an occupied
country.) Their reply to our denunciation of
our government's
actions on their
lives
harked back to the days when u.s . peaceniks
visited Vietnam•
"We know it is not the
people of the U.S. who are our enemy,"
I
found myself wishing I could be as openminded
and forgiving toward many of my co-citizens,
There's a truly thrilling women's literacy
project happening, domestic workers organizing, two anti-rape/anti-violence groups,
a
feminist women's center/coffeehouse, and more,
Plus, work is being done to facilitate
the
Fourth Latin American Feminist Conference, and
the First Latin American Lesbian Conference
(We a re everywhere I ) , both to be held in
Octobe r.
Well wirnrnin1
hope your interest in your
southern sisters is aroused by this bri~feat
of summaries.
I first read about Mujer a
Mujer in Up and Coming . Here's their current
address• P.O. Box 1723, Harlingen, TX
78551.
The next trip is planned for March, and cultural workers are especially encouraged to
apply for that one.
--Dolphin
Up & Corning, February, 1987
According to Off Our Backs, Mujer a Hujer
organizes 10 exchanges with Mexican women
activists and a knowledge of Spanish is
not necessary. It's $300 minus transportation to and from Mexico City but there
are scholarships. The exchanges are focussed, with Chicana/Latino lesbians on
April 11-19, low-income community organizers in Aug. and cultural workers in Nov.
Write Woman to Woman/Mujer a Mujer, Apdo.
Postal 12-709, Colonia Narvarte, Mexico
03020 D.F., Mexico.
ll
KE_MCO
PRINTING INC.
Kelley Mattocks
340--'301
Norman, Oklo.
321-2148
Individual •••
Coup lea ••. Group ...
Family Therapy
1601
s.
Broadway. Unll
o
•Edmond. Okla. 73013
Greenham Women and Cruise-Watch
Stop A Nuclear Missile Convoy
by Nathaniel Batchelder
Eight nuclear-tipped cruise missiles on four launch trucks
were the centerpiece or a convoy or 22 vehicles rumbling through the
night on British route A-303 last November 4th. The convoy was
returning to Greenham Common RAF Base after monthly exercises in
the fields and forests or Salisbury Plain, historic ground where
Stonehenge is located. When the police escort got ahead on a hill, a
car and trailer eased into the gap and slowed to a stop, halting the
entire convoy. Immediately, 200 members or Cruise-Watch, waiting
by the road, ran among the vehicles and lay down on the pavement.
The car and van blocking the convoy were disabled by the driver,
who pulled the valve stems out or all the tires.
As frustrated USAF drivers watched helplessly from their
vehiCles, demonstrators with buckets or paint began daubing and
painting peace symbols on the launch vehicles. Despite the errorts or
some SO British constables, women climbed aboard the cabs or two
launch vehicles. Unnoticed in the confusion, another woman with
heavy cutters scooted under one or the launch vehicles and cut the
hydraulic brake lines. Some two hours later, after numerous arrests
and jury-rigged repairs, the convoy limped on back to the Greenham
RAF Base. As usual, it was greeted there by another demonstration
or the women who live permanently by the gates, in makeshift
plastic tents, year-round.
Most Americans arc unaware such actions take place monthly,
reported by an international network transmitting "Cruise Alerts" ....
In 1981, to protest the decision to deploy cruise missiles in
England, 40 women, children and men marched from Cardiffc in
W:ilcs to the U.S. Air Force Base at Greenham. The families went
home. The women stayed, and began the uninterrupted women's
encampment at Greenham. In December, 1982, 30,000 women
"embraced the base," linking arms around the entire 9-mile perimeter.
A year later, after the first missiles were deployed, more than 40,000
women came to the base in protest. Once, in a capricious act or
defiance, the women cul down six miles of perimeter fence before
being stopped by the MPs. Winter and summer, the women's presence
at the gates or the base is a constant reminder or their total
commitment to protest the instruments or death inside.
Cruise-Watch, an action arm of the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament, responds to cruise missile field exercises outside the
base. Mobilizing when the Greenham women pass the word that
"cruise is coming out," Cruise-Watchers use telephones and CB radios
to track the progress of each missile convoy, and plan demonstrations
and interventions along the route each month.
In winter, the Greenham women build their fires in the snow.
The British military police claim there has never been a permanent
presence since they evict the women every day. But mail has been
delivered every day for years to the "impermanent" camp. Letters,
gifts, and contributions should be directed to Greenham Common
Women's Peace Camp, Main Gate, USAF Greenham Common near
Newbury, Berkshire, U.K.
Edi1or's Note: A 11atio11al #Cruise Alert• office in Tunbridge, VT.
recefres reg11lar telephone alerts from Britai11, passi11g them 011 to of/ires
like the Benedictine Peace Ho11se, which passes the i11/ormatio11 011 to yo11.
Through the women in T11nbridge, we heard abo11t the Brilis/1 H-Bomb
truck that skidded and tumed over January J J, the day before ii was
an::crmced by AP i11 the State .~. Ol!r thar.ks and crckno111/,,deenrP11I to Mel
Goertz a11d her helpers i11 Tunbridge.
Words of Anger
Call for submissions for an anthology that
will provide a creative and constructive
expression of our anger as we use it to heal
and recover from acts of physical, sexual,
emotional or mental abuse during our lives:
OUR EYES HAVE FOUND YOU: ANGRY WORDS FROM
HONEST WOMEN aims to "create a language that
reflects our experiences and provide a way to
hold perpetrators of violence responsible~
Send SASE with poems, short stories, plays,
journal entries, etc. by September 1987 to
Celine-Marie Pascale, P.O. Box 2959, Santa
Cruz, CA 95063.
up & coming/march 1987
··--------· ------· --.,
i
I
I
SHIR LEY M. HUNTER. M.A.
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
PENN PARK OFFICE COMPLEX• SUITE 102
6009 N PENNSYLVANIA• OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73112
C!RQANIZATlON
llCIRWCIM•N
I
NATIONAL
CONFERENCE
FOR AND ABOUT
WOMEN OF COLOR
1
I
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
I
I
I REPRO~~€~~.:.~IGHTS I
I
I
I
I
J
I
I
I
I
I
848-5429
«O) ' I
I
WASHINGTON. D.C.
Topics Include:
Medicaid Funding for Poor Women
Teen Pregnanc1,1
Religion and Reproductive Rights
Abortion and the Genocide Question
Racism in the Pro-Choice Movement
Women of Color Wonting for the Right Wing
Speaking vith Young People about Sex
Medical Abuses Agaf list Women of Color
Family Planning vs. Population Control
Male Responsi bilitlJ
Genetic Screening and Nev Technologies
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
I
I
Loretto Ross (202) 347-2279
Notlonot Orqonlzotlon for Women
1401 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite BOO_
Woshington D.C. 20005
··----·-- -------
I
I
I
I
rorte 's Top 20 Women's Music
Sales for 1986
1. CITY DOWN by Casselberry-DuPree, Icebergg
Records
2. SINGING WITII YOU by H. Near and R. Gilbert,
Redwood Records
3. SHAIX)WS ON A DIME by Ferron, Lucy Records
4. MICHIGAN LIVE '85 by various artists, August
Night Records, **$13.00
5. A STEP AWAY by Teresa Trull, Redwood Records
6. LUCIE BLUE TREMBLAY by Lucie Blue, Olivia
Records
7. EDGES OF TIIE HEART by Tret Fure, Second Wave
Records
8. A RAINBOW PATII by Kay Gardner, Ladyslipper
Records
9. HARP by H. Near, A. Guthrie, R. Gilbert and P.
Seeger, Redwood Records
10. THE CHANGER AND TIIE CHANGED by Cris
Williamson, Olivia Records
11. SCRAPBOOK by Meg Christian, Olivia Records
12. TESTIMONY by Ferron, Lucy Records
13. LIFELINE by H. Near and R. Gilbert, Redwood
Records
14. THE OTHER SIDE by Sweet Honey in the Rock,
Flying Fish Records
15. SING TO ME THE DREAM by H. Near and
Inti-Illirnani, Redwood Records
16. DON'T IX)UBT IT by Deidre McCalla, Olivia
Records
17. FEEL SOMETIIING DRAWING ME ON by Sweet Honey in
the Rock, Flying Fish Records.
18. HARMONY by Hunter Davis, Redwood Records
19. PRAIRIE FIRE by Cris Williamson, Olivia
Records
20. SECRETS by Linda Tillery, 411 Records
College Ball
OU SOFTBALL
5:00pm
Apr. 7
Okla. St.
2:00pm
Apr. 15
N. Tex. St.
6:JOpm
Apr. 15
Tex-Arlington
Apr. 24-25
OSU Classic at
Stillwater
TENNIS
Apr. 11
Nebraska
q:ooam
Apr. 23-24 Big 8 Championship
OKC Tennis Center
OU
OU GOLF
APR. 6-7
Apr. 27-28
Susie Berning Classic
OU Golf Course
Big 8 Championship
Oklahoma City
Let's Play Rall!
The statewide a ll gay softball league
for men and wome n whi ch has been promoting
slow pitch softball in the summer for the
past five years is changing its name to
First Sooner League .
Committee members from OKC, Norman,
Stillwater, and Tulsa are seeking sponsors .
Other cities are being contacted for participation.
The league was organized as Sooner
Softball League in 1981 by a group in
Tulsa. The purpose in founding the league
was to promote gay softball competition
statewide. Tournaments and league play
have been a regular part of the season,
with as many as ten teams participating
at various times. It has been an outreach to the gay community and the response has been gratifying.
Opening games will start in June.
Play will continue throughout the summer.
culminating in partici pation in the
annua l Southwest Inv it at i onal Softba l l
Tournament in Tulsa over Labor Day weekend. The Invitational is becoming one of
the major events in t he country with teams
from as far away as Boston and San Francisco attending. Fund raisers and "fun
events" are planned along with the games .
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor
or wish to participate in some way, write:
First Sooner League
2127 NW 13th
OKC, OK 73107
Make your plans for a pleasant summer of
outdoor activity with friends. You are
cordially invited to participate.
TORR Reporter
Learn to Write
FLIGHT OF THE HIND announces its 4th
annual summer writing workshop for women,
July 26-August 2, led this year by Barbara
Wilson (Murder in the Collective), Judith
Barrington (Trying to be an Honest Woman),
and Evelyn c. White {Chain Chain Change-For Black Women Dealing with Ph sical and
Emotional Abuse • Three scholarships are
available; college credit can be arranged.
For brochure send SASE to Flight of t he
Hind , 622 SE 28th , Portland , OR 972 14.
up
& coming/march 1987
ICEBERGG
CONCERT-PARTY
Thurs, May 28, 1987
lOpm
(WEEKEND OF NWMF)
An Indnor Festival. Featuring
Mainstage Nightly with
Friday, May 29: Tracy Chapman, Kate Ointon,
Ferron
Saturday, May 30: Marie Rhines, Deuce,
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Sunday, May 31: Barbara Higbie, Heather Bishop,
Tret Fure & Band
with Sue Fink! as MC, all nights!
Casselberry-DuPree
Showcase Daily
Featuring the best in up-coming performers
Music Industry Conference
Over 100 Workshops Including
Writers Conference with guest speakers
Mary Daly, Nancy K. Bereano, & Cheryl Clarke
Spirituality Conference with guest speakers
Sonia Johnson, Hallie Iglehart & Kay Gardner
TICKETS :
For more information write:
NWMF, Dept. LC, P.O. Box 5217
Bloomington, IN 47402
or call: 317-637-4938
Pre-register before April 30 far discount!
"LOVE MJ\ V BP, m,JNO, BUT
HANDWRITING'S NOT
Professional Analysis of Compatibility
Confidential report on cassette
Shelly Zaikis, C.M.G.
405-946-6928
$ Z 50
JAKE'S
419N. Walnut
Bloomington
r---------1
I
I
I
Loral C. Reeves
C.P.A.
1014 Cedardale Drive
Okla. City, OK 73127
I
II
t---------.-i
405/495-1094
December 31 , 1986 and 1985
and for the Years then Ended
CCX>1PARATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENI'S
BERLAND SISTER RESOURCES, INC.
STATE.MEN!' OF SUPPORT , REVENUE AND EXPENSES
AND CHANGES IN GENERAL FUND BALANCE
STATEMENl' OF CHAN3ES I N FINANCIAL Pa3ITION
1986
1985
1985
SOORCES OF FUNDS
SUPPORT
Contributions
Donated services and materials
$1,876
1,264
$1 , 197
2,979
3, 140
4,176
Funds frClll operations:
Excess of support and
revenues over expenses
Increase in Building Fund
$845
1,305
$1,663
2,150
1,663
1,305
389
1,694
456
CAPITAL
1,663
TOrAL SOURCES OF FUNDS
REVENUES
81
5,033
678
560
286
6,638
TOrAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE 9, 778
Library memberships and assessments
Programs
Gross profit frClll bookstore sales
Advertising sales
other
1,425
1,655
1,741
743
APPLICATION OF FUNDS
Building funds invested
Furniture and fixtures acquired
5,564
9,740
INCREASE IN
~KING
~ING
CAPITAL - Beginning of year
~ING
CAPITAL - End of year
1,663
EXPENSES
Administrative and general
Programs
Operating expenses - Bookstore
Newsletter
NET EXCESS OF SUPPORT
AND REVENUE OVER EXPENSES
1, 231
3,987
1, 767
1,948
8, 933
989
3,767
1,631
1,690
8,077
845
1, 663
$2,119
=
ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN OORKING CAPI TAL
Increase (decrease ) in current assets:
Cash
Accounts receivable
Inventories
GENERAL FUND BALANCE - Beginning of year 1,663
GENERAL FUND BALANCE - End of year
BALANCE SHEET
1986
1987
ASSETS
Increase (decrease) in current
liabilities:
Prepaid advertising
Sales tax payable
Gift certificates outstanding
Due to consignors
Current Assets :
Cash in bank and on hand General Fund
Accounts receivable
Inventories
TOrAL CURR.ENI' ASSETS
NET INCREASE IN
$1 , 028
375
1,039
2,442
$937
874
1, 811
~ING
CAPITAL
$91
375
165
631
110
(9)
60
14
175
$456
$937
874
1,811
148
148
$1 , 663
STATEMENl' OF SUPPORT, REVENUE AND EXPENSES
AND CHANGES IN BUIIDING FUND B/\LANCE
1986
Building Fund:
Cash in bank
Money market mutual fund
Furniture and Fixtures , at cost
186
1,119
1,305
SUPPORT AND REVENUES
$656
835
Contributions
Fundraising programs
Interest incane
389
2
TCYl'AL SUPPORT AND REVENUE
EXPENSES - Fundraising programs
BUILDING FUND BALANCE - December 31, 1986
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES
Current Liabilities:
Prepaid advertising
Sales tax payable
Gift certificates outstanding
Due to consignors
TOrAL CURREN!' LIABILITIES
General Fund
$110
139
148
60
14
323
148
2,508
1,663
Building Fund
$1, 811
=
1,493
188
$1,305
=
-
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 4
HERLAND SISTER RESOURCES, INC.
APRIL 1987
1630 N.W. 19, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73106
The Crusade of Karen Thompson
For Karen Thompson, the personal
has indeed become the political: and for
someone like Karen-a very private person
who was never issue-oriented-the path to
activism has resulted in an upheaval of her
entire life.
The story of Karen Thompson and
Sharon Kowalski began as a love story and
has become. and continues to be. a nightmare-a nightmare that could happen to any
of us. This is a tale of horror that one would
think could have occurred only in a repressive regime-something out of Nazi Germany. Instead. it is happening here, today, in
the United States.
Because this story is one of the most
important we've ever heard-a chilling abrogation of patients' rights, disability rights.
gay rights-indeed, all human rights-we are
doing it in two parts: a synopsis of the background in Volume VII and the two-hour interview On The Issues conducted with Karen
Thompson in Volume VIII.
For four years. Karen Thompson and
Sharon Kowalski lived as more than lovers.
As far as they were roncerned. they were
married. They had exchanged rings in their
own private ceremony because they are both
conventional people and, as Karen says, "We
figured we were married in our eyes and in
the eyes of God. and we were very much
brought up to believe in the institution of
marriage."
Then. on November 13, 1983, the
nightmare began. Sharon's car was smashed
by a drunk driver. leaving her a quadriplegic
and unable to speak. To this day, the extent
of her mental disability has yet to be determined. She suffered a closed-head iajury.
which means that some brain cells have been
permanently damaged while others can be
re-trained.
The accident forced Karen to "come
out of the closet". Says Karen: "I 'came out'
nationally before I came out to myself ... I'd
lived with Sharon for four years and only ad-
mitted that I happened to fall in love with a
human being because of certain qualities or
characteristics. I had never admitted to myself that I was gay."
Her first taste of the agony to come
was when the hospital wouldn't tell her if
Sharon was dead or alive. The second was
when the hospital psychologist suggested she
"come out" to Sharon's parents. The Kowalskis responded that Karen was a crazy
woman and was never to see their daughter
again. At that point. Karen saw an attorney,
only to learn that she had no legal rights as
far as Sharon was concerned. The Kowalskis
sued for guardianship. claiming that Karen
was just Sharon's landlady and that their
daughter was not a lesbian.
Fortunately. Karen was able to prove
their relationship in court, due to the testimony of the few people Sharon had told, and
the court permitted Karen visitation rights.
At that time. Sharon was in St. Cloud
Hospital, Minnesota in the city where she and
Karen lived. and where Karen is an assistant
professor at St. Cloud University. Karen has
also studied occupational and physical ther~
apy, and while Sharon remained in St. Cloud,
Karen was able to work with her for hours
every day. Slowly and continuously. Sharon
began to show improvement. Videotapes
prove that she was able to feed herself a little bit and type out responses with one hand
when asked questions. Sharon indicated that
she wanted to go home with Karen. and expressed fear that Karen would be taken from
her. In September. 1984, that's just what
happened. Donald Kowalski successfully filed
to have Sharon moved to Duluth, 150 miles
away.
In July. 1985, Sharon was again
moved-to a nursing home in Hibbing. Minnesota. despite the fact that the home has no
young adult rehabilitation program. Without
such a program, Sharon cannot receive the
treatment she needs to retain the progress
Karen helped her achieve. to say nothing of
progressing further. And. despite Sharon's
expressed Wish to see her. Karen has been
barred from the facility. She has not seen
Sharon since August 19. 1985. According to
Karen: "This is the United States and I'm not
allowed to get any information on how she's
doing. I cannot communicate with her in any
way. I'll get arrested if I step on the
premises."
Karen says her concern is not who
gets legal guardianship of. Sharon. but to insure that Sharon gets the best care possible.
Because Karen is willing to take Sharon
home. set up a rehabilitation program and
work with her. while Sharon's parents are
letting her vegetate in a nursing home. Karen
believes that Sharon's basic right to recovery
is being violated.
The Minnesota Civil Liberties Union is
fighting for Karen's cause. She has wanted
support from disability rights groups. but
says: "Most of the groups I've talked with
have agreed that Sharon's disability rights
are being flagrantly violated. The problem
seems to be that they have enough problems
fighting for disability rights without getting
involved in a case that has gay rights attached to it . .. My contention is that they
can't afford not to get involved."
Except for the gay press. the Thompson case has received little media coveragealmost none in the major media-which is
remarkable considering the issues involved.
Karen has been traveling the country. trying
to set up interviews and give speeches to enlist support for what has become a crusade.
She knows that the issues are far beyond the
fight for the custody and care of Sharon.
Says Karen: ''I've had the blinders ripped off.
I can no longer live in my little isolated world
and go to work and then. after work. live my
own personal life and nobody knows me. I
was very non-issue oriented. But once you do
have the blinders taken off, you see oppression in one area, then you start to see
oppression all around you. and it's almost
overwhelming. Now, I not only see what homophobia does to people and how it can be
used against them, but also I can make the
tie to racism. sexism. ageism. the disabledit's all connected. And I didn't know that becont. next page
fore . .. I'm a totally different person now
and I'll never be able to go back to the person that I was."
In addition to the emotional and
physical drain Karen is suffering , the financial
drain has been enormous. Her legal fees
alone are nearly $1 00.000. She is grateful to
the University that they have not only kept
her on. but have also been very supportive.
She will continue to fight. no matter what
the cost. because "If Sharon and I don't fight
this. then how many others will have to experience it because we didn't? It's got to
stop somewhere."
(For information or contributions
contact MnGALLA. c/o Suzanne Born. 3436
Holmes Ave .. Minneapolis, MN 55408)
ON THE ISSUES
Vol. VII, 1987
Published as an informat ional and educational service of
CHOICES Women·s Medical Center. Inc.
d.c. free health care
WASHHlGTON, DC -- In response . to a
request by the Canmission of Pub li c
Health, Mayor Mari on Barry recently
decreed that survivors of sexual
assault may rece ive free treatment
for injuries at D.C. General Hospital.
The Washington Post reports that
city health c crnmisSTOrier Or .. Reed
Tuckson pl ans to ask the mayor to
add women's fir st prenatal visit
to t he cit y's fr ee healthcare
services as well. D.C. law allows
t he mayor t o authorize su ch additi ons if they are de emed to be in
t he pub lic int erest, and Tuckson
wi l l argue bhat such vi s its could
hel p lower t he city's high infant
mortality r ate.
by tal
off our backs/march 1987
an advertising
f airy tale
the windy city
CHICAGO (AP) - An anonymous
flood of anti-homosexual literature
calling for quarantines and castration is triggering a dispute over freedom of speech between the University
of Chicago's gay community and
school officials.
Christmas cards were
mailed to students known or apparently believed to be gay that contained a verse wishing homosexuals
dead.
School officials are aware of the
"flurry of very distasteful and despicable letters and posters" distributed
on campus and in the surrounding
Hyde Park neighborhood since last
fall, said David Rosen, a spokesman
for the prestigious university.
A full-page advertisement denouncing the anti-homosexual activity and
signed by about 200 students and faculty members appeared in Friday editions of the twice-weekly campus
newspaper, Chicago Maroon.
Rosen said university authorities
wer~ trying to find out who was producing and distributing the materials.
He noted a bumper sticker that appeared on utility poles and building
walls last fall that said, "Stop AIDS,
Castrate Gays."
But Rosen said that while the private university has no constitutional
obli gation to prote ct free -speech
rights, "universities in particular are
morally bound to be sensitive to the
free expression of ideas."
Daily Oklahoman
CINCINNATI--December i ssues of Cinci nnati :1agazine and Columbus NOrith.!1. carr ied a s le e p~1e ar ad depicting
two women on a be d, one gaz i ng at
t he oth er, with the capt i on "The
stuff fa i ry ta l es are made of. . ..
My happi l y-ever-after ... just look
at her . My spirit soars at the
me re s i ght .... On ly Chri stian Dior
for my pri nces s." Re aders call ed
th e magazines and Lazarus Department
stores , who ran the ad, to protes t.
One woman threatened to cancel her
su bs cription. The magazine pub1i shers said they saw nothing wrong
with the ad. The department store
had origin ally intended to run a
ricture of a man and a woman, but
dec ide d to use two wome n to show
t··10 styles of th e garme nt . According to a spokeswoman of the
store , no one rec hec ked the capt i on for "appr opri aten ess."
info fr om ~ y cofllllunity news
off our backs/march 1987
by jlr
r----------------------,
Collective Meeting
April 12, 3:30 p.m.
at Herland
Volunteers needed to work
the bookstore. Please
come and find out how you
can be involved.
L----------------------J
Netherlands:
gay news on t v
AMSTERDAM-- The Dutch National Broadcasting Corporation (NOS) began a
teletext service for lesbians and
gay men as of January 1. The broadcasting company said ft needed to
serve the 10 to 20 percent of its
audience that is lesbian and gay.
NOS will provide daily news
and announcements compiled by the
gay Dutch paper De ~ Kant. The
service will enter tfie homes
broadcasts will reach people in
the Netherlands, Belgium and
West Gennany.
off our backs/march 1987
--info from
~
conmunity
~
no benefits for mothers
WASHINGTON, DC--ln case you
thought that the U.S. Supreme
Court had become enlightened to
the needs of pregn ant women by
r uling that Ca l i fornia could
requ ire mandat ory pregnancy lea ve
(see oob feb. 1987), gues s 'v' .
agai n. One month afte r that
l andmark decisionj the Supreme
Court has rul ed i n Wimberly v.
Labor & Indus t r ia l Re la t ions
Commiss i on of Mi ssou ri t ha t women
wh o leave thei r jobs beca use of
pregnancy are not eligible for
unemployment compensati on .
Linda Wimberly, the plaintiff
in the case, was a cashier with
J.C. Penney when she took a leave
of absence to have a baby . When
she returned, she was told tha t
no jobs were available. Her
application for unemployment was
denied because Missouri allows
compensation only for workrelated illness and disability
or an employer lay-off.
The unanimous opinion ,
written by the on ly woman on the
Court--Justice Sandra Day
O'Connor, said that the Federal
Unemployment Tax Act requires
only that all workers who leave
their jobs be treated equally and
that pregnancy not be treated
differently from any other
disability. Since the pregnancy
was not "work-related " the
plaintiff could be de~ied
benefits.
off our backs/march 1987
1nfo from: washington post
PUBLISHED BY: HERLAND SISTER RESOURCES
CIRCULATION: 600
ADVERTISING: LORAL REEVES, 495-1094
NEWSLETTER STAFF: BARBARA C., MARION H.,
CINDI I., GINGER MCGOVERN, KEETA M., DONA W.
Spring Retreat !
Herland Sister Resources is sponsoring the Second Annual Spring Retreat for Women, May 1, 2
and 3, 1987, at the group camp at Roman Nose
State .Park. Located just an hour's drive from
Oklahoma City, near Watonga, Oklahoma, Roman
Nose offers trout fishing (you must purchase a
special trout stamp, though--available at the
Park), golf, boating, hiking, tennis (if the repair
work has been completed on the courts), and .inst
enjoying spring's display of nature. Another feature of the area is the Watonga Cheese Factory,
with store and tours.
The group camp has A-frame cabins with cots,
and a fully equipped kitchen facility and dining
hall. Herland will again provide coffee, but you
should bring your own food for the weekend
through Sunday breakfast (checkout time is Sunday noon), plus something for our tradition of
sharing food on Saturday night. Also, bring a
bedroll or sleeping bag, (remember how cold we
got at Robbers Cave), a pillow, towels, toilet
articles, flashlights, musical instruments, toys,
cameras, fishing equipment, comfortable shoes.
Bring arts and crafts for exhibit or sale, plus
networking information. Pets are welcome but
must be kept on a leash while in the park.
Anyone who wishes to conduct a workshop should
contact Harland as soon as possible. We would
like to have some idea about workshops before
arriving at the park, but there will be a workshop board where you can post yours. Please do
this as soon as you arrive, as the time slots will
be filled on first-come, first-served basis. If
there is a workshop topic you would like to see
addressed, also contact someone at Herland.
Herland is planning on offering the popular Open
Mic session again on Saturday afternoon, for
anyone wishing to sing and play.
You may check in any time after 4:00 p.m. on
Friday. When you send in your complete registration, you will be sent a map of how to get to
the group camp.
We need an approximate count on attendees, so
send the pre-registration form below and your
check for S15 per person by April 15 to Harland Sister Resources, Inc., c/o Laura Choate,
4924 S. Kathy Dr., Oklahoma City, OK 73135.
On-site registration is S20. If you have special
needs, such as non-smoking or non-alcoholic
sleeping space, please indicate so on your form.
There are a few scholarships available for those
wishing to attend who cannot afford the S15
fee. Also, anyone wishing to sponsor an attendee
on scholarship, please contact HSR. You may indicate either of these items on the pre-registration
form.
You won't want to miss out on all the fun, so
send in your form today and secure your place.
SPRING RBTREAT FOR WOMEN
RBGISTRATION
Name(s)_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Address
City
ST_ Zip_ __
Telephone_____________________________
_ _Send me scholarship information.
_ _Send me information about sponsorship.
Deadline for pre-registration: April 15, 1987
Mail this form and your check for $15 per
person to:
Berland Sister Resources, Inc.
c/o Laura Choate
4924 S. Kathy Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 73135
-------------------------------
Individuals-Couples-Groups
Group for Lesbians
Helen tlol8ale
Certified Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
Counselor
'U'&(!I ~'U'
New Group Forming On
©!ilc!l
Ou:J'U'OUiJ@~\l
WHO ARE CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT
or love someone who is
INDIVIDUAL, COUPLB AND
GROUP COUNSBLING
For Information, Call
Bette Kelley, M.Ed., CADC
(Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor)
For Information coll 366-0923
405-949-2301
Mujer a Mujer
The women's movement is alive and well in
Mexico.
Arkansas' own Elaine Burns has organized Hujer a Mujer (Woman to Woman), a ten
day exchange, allowing U.S. women to come and
meet with women's organizations in Mexico
r,ity, hopefully
to the benefit of both
groups, though I think, as usual, we Yankee
women gained more than we gave, if nothing
else, simply the inspiration of seeing the
vitality and hope that springs from women
realizing their power through
organized
struggle. We met with refugee women from all
parts of Central and Latin America as well as
with Mexican women.
Most impressive were the women of the
Urban Poor Peoples Movement.
This group
(Regional Mujeres de CONAKJP) coordinates
actions of the women's organizations in the
poor neighborhoods throughout this city of 20
million people without a typewriter, a telephone, an office , or even a meeting place .
Their current meeting place is a vacant lot
filled with rubble from the earthquake of a
year ago. This group, comprised of thousands
of women from around 90 neighborhoods, fights
for the most basic city services, such as
water, transportation, and housing, as well
as organizing local action groups against
domestic violence, rape ,- and incest.
They
are powerful,
and it was thrilling
to
participate in/observe a huge march against
violence against women with them. Old and
young, many illiterate, all poor1
these
women mean business.
In a country where organized labor basically consists of company unions controlled
by the state, the women have moved in and organized the seamstresses in Mexico City.
This independent union was birthed like a
phoenix by the earthquake, which killed and
injured hundreds of the seamstresses.
A
wonderful documentary, chronicling the formation of the union, shows factory owners
preferring to rescue their machines and cloth
before concerning themselves with the dying
and trapped workers.
In the aftermath of
this disaster they resolved to
struggle
against the long hours, low pay, and unsafe
working conditions they had endured for so
long.
In truly Mexican fashion, they are
assisted by a group of muralists/bannermakers/plastic artists called Ojos de Lucha
(Eyes of Struggle) who lend a sense of joy,
humor and inevitable success to their actions.
REBECCA R. COHN, Ph.D.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
The large population of political refugees
in Mexico gives the women's movement an international nature lacking in the States, and
Mexican women are quick to act in solidarity
with their exiled sisters.
We met women from
Guatemala, Bolivia, El Salvador, Peru, and
Chile who cannot return to their homelands
and who have organized to identify and meet
their own unique needs as feminist/activist
women in a strange culture.
We were glad to
be able to express our horror, sorrow,
and
opposition to U.S. interventionism to women of
Central America.
(The Honduran woman introduced herself as coming from an occupied
country.) Their reply to our denunciation of
our government's
actions on their
lives
harked back to the days when u.s . peaceniks
visited Vietnam•
"We know it is not the
people of the U.S. who are our enemy,"
I
found myself wishing I could be as openminded
and forgiving toward many of my co-citizens,
There's a truly thrilling women's literacy
project happening, domestic workers organizing, two anti-rape/anti-violence groups,
a
feminist women's center/coffeehouse, and more,
Plus, work is being done to facilitate
the
Fourth Latin American Feminist Conference, and
the First Latin American Lesbian Conference
(We a re everywhere I ) , both to be held in
Octobe r.
Well wirnrnin1
hope your interest in your
southern sisters is aroused by this bri~feat
of summaries.
I first read about Mujer a
Mujer in Up and Coming . Here's their current
address• P.O. Box 1723, Harlingen, TX
78551.
The next trip is planned for March, and cultural workers are especially encouraged to
apply for that one.
--Dolphin
Up & Corning, February, 1987
According to Off Our Backs, Mujer a Hujer
organizes 10 exchanges with Mexican women
activists and a knowledge of Spanish is
not necessary. It's $300 minus transportation to and from Mexico City but there
are scholarships. The exchanges are focussed, with Chicana/Latino lesbians on
April 11-19, low-income community organizers in Aug. and cultural workers in Nov.
Write Woman to Woman/Mujer a Mujer, Apdo.
Postal 12-709, Colonia Narvarte, Mexico
03020 D.F., Mexico.
ll
KE_MCO
PRINTING INC.
Kelley Mattocks
340--'301
Norman, Oklo.
321-2148
Individual •••
Coup lea ••. Group ...
Family Therapy
1601
s.
Broadway. Unll
o
•Edmond. Okla. 73013
Greenham Women and Cruise-Watch
Stop A Nuclear Missile Convoy
by Nathaniel Batchelder
Eight nuclear-tipped cruise missiles on four launch trucks
were the centerpiece or a convoy or 22 vehicles rumbling through the
night on British route A-303 last November 4th. The convoy was
returning to Greenham Common RAF Base after monthly exercises in
the fields and forests or Salisbury Plain, historic ground where
Stonehenge is located. When the police escort got ahead on a hill, a
car and trailer eased into the gap and slowed to a stop, halting the
entire convoy. Immediately, 200 members or Cruise-Watch, waiting
by the road, ran among the vehicles and lay down on the pavement.
The car and van blocking the convoy were disabled by the driver,
who pulled the valve stems out or all the tires.
As frustrated USAF drivers watched helplessly from their
vehiCles, demonstrators with buckets or paint began daubing and
painting peace symbols on the launch vehicles. Despite the errorts or
some SO British constables, women climbed aboard the cabs or two
launch vehicles. Unnoticed in the confusion, another woman with
heavy cutters scooted under one or the launch vehicles and cut the
hydraulic brake lines. Some two hours later, after numerous arrests
and jury-rigged repairs, the convoy limped on back to the Greenham
RAF Base. As usual, it was greeted there by another demonstration
or the women who live permanently by the gates, in makeshift
plastic tents, year-round.
Most Americans arc unaware such actions take place monthly,
reported by an international network transmitting "Cruise Alerts" ....
In 1981, to protest the decision to deploy cruise missiles in
England, 40 women, children and men marched from Cardiffc in
W:ilcs to the U.S. Air Force Base at Greenham. The families went
home. The women stayed, and began the uninterrupted women's
encampment at Greenham. In December, 1982, 30,000 women
"embraced the base," linking arms around the entire 9-mile perimeter.
A year later, after the first missiles were deployed, more than 40,000
women came to the base in protest. Once, in a capricious act or
defiance, the women cul down six miles of perimeter fence before
being stopped by the MPs. Winter and summer, the women's presence
at the gates or the base is a constant reminder or their total
commitment to protest the instruments or death inside.
Cruise-Watch, an action arm of the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament, responds to cruise missile field exercises outside the
base. Mobilizing when the Greenham women pass the word that
"cruise is coming out," Cruise-Watchers use telephones and CB radios
to track the progress of each missile convoy, and plan demonstrations
and interventions along the route each month.
In winter, the Greenham women build their fires in the snow.
The British military police claim there has never been a permanent
presence since they evict the women every day. But mail has been
delivered every day for years to the "impermanent" camp. Letters,
gifts, and contributions should be directed to Greenham Common
Women's Peace Camp, Main Gate, USAF Greenham Common near
Newbury, Berkshire, U.K.
Edi1or's Note: A 11atio11al #Cruise Alert• office in Tunbridge, VT.
recefres reg11lar telephone alerts from Britai11, passi11g them 011 to of/ires
like the Benedictine Peace Ho11se, which passes the i11/ormatio11 011 to yo11.
Through the women in T11nbridge, we heard abo11t the Brilis/1 H-Bomb
truck that skidded and tumed over January J J, the day before ii was
an::crmced by AP i11 the State .~. Ol!r thar.ks and crckno111/,,deenrP11I to Mel
Goertz a11d her helpers i11 Tunbridge.
Words of Anger
Call for submissions for an anthology that
will provide a creative and constructive
expression of our anger as we use it to heal
and recover from acts of physical, sexual,
emotional or mental abuse during our lives:
OUR EYES HAVE FOUND YOU: ANGRY WORDS FROM
HONEST WOMEN aims to "create a language that
reflects our experiences and provide a way to
hold perpetrators of violence responsible~
Send SASE with poems, short stories, plays,
journal entries, etc. by September 1987 to
Celine-Marie Pascale, P.O. Box 2959, Santa
Cruz, CA 95063.
up & coming/march 1987
··--------· ------· --.,
i
I
I
SHIR LEY M. HUNTER. M.A.
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
PENN PARK OFFICE COMPLEX• SUITE 102
6009 N PENNSYLVANIA• OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73112
C!RQANIZATlON
llCIRWCIM•N
I
NATIONAL
CONFERENCE
FOR AND ABOUT
WOMEN OF COLOR
1
I
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
I
I
I REPRO~~€~~.:.~IGHTS I
I
I
I
I
J
I
I
I
I
I
848-5429
«O) ' I
I
WASHINGTON. D.C.
Topics Include:
Medicaid Funding for Poor Women
Teen Pregnanc1,1
Religion and Reproductive Rights
Abortion and the Genocide Question
Racism in the Pro-Choice Movement
Women of Color Wonting for the Right Wing
Speaking vith Young People about Sex
Medical Abuses Agaf list Women of Color
Family Planning vs. Population Control
Male Responsi bilitlJ
Genetic Screening and Nev Technologies
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
I
I
Loretto Ross (202) 347-2279
Notlonot Orqonlzotlon for Women
1401 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite BOO_
Woshington D.C. 20005
··----·-- -------
I
I
I
I
rorte 's Top 20 Women's Music
Sales for 1986
1. CITY DOWN by Casselberry-DuPree, Icebergg
Records
2. SINGING WITII YOU by H. Near and R. Gilbert,
Redwood Records
3. SHAIX)WS ON A DIME by Ferron, Lucy Records
4. MICHIGAN LIVE '85 by various artists, August
Night Records, **$13.00
5. A STEP AWAY by Teresa Trull, Redwood Records
6. LUCIE BLUE TREMBLAY by Lucie Blue, Olivia
Records
7. EDGES OF TIIE HEART by Tret Fure, Second Wave
Records
8. A RAINBOW PATII by Kay Gardner, Ladyslipper
Records
9. HARP by H. Near, A. Guthrie, R. Gilbert and P.
Seeger, Redwood Records
10. THE CHANGER AND TIIE CHANGED by Cris
Williamson, Olivia Records
11. SCRAPBOOK by Meg Christian, Olivia Records
12. TESTIMONY by Ferron, Lucy Records
13. LIFELINE by H. Near and R. Gilbert, Redwood
Records
14. THE OTHER SIDE by Sweet Honey in the Rock,
Flying Fish Records
15. SING TO ME THE DREAM by H. Near and
Inti-Illirnani, Redwood Records
16. DON'T IX)UBT IT by Deidre McCalla, Olivia
Records
17. FEEL SOMETIIING DRAWING ME ON by Sweet Honey in
the Rock, Flying Fish Records.
18. HARMONY by Hunter Davis, Redwood Records
19. PRAIRIE FIRE by Cris Williamson, Olivia
Records
20. SECRETS by Linda Tillery, 411 Records
College Ball
OU SOFTBALL
5:00pm
Apr. 7
Okla. St.
2:00pm
Apr. 15
N. Tex. St.
6:JOpm
Apr. 15
Tex-Arlington
Apr. 24-25
OSU Classic at
Stillwater
TENNIS
Apr. 11
Nebraska
q:ooam
Apr. 23-24 Big 8 Championship
OKC Tennis Center
OU
OU GOLF
APR. 6-7
Apr. 27-28
Susie Berning Classic
OU Golf Course
Big 8 Championship
Oklahoma City
Let's Play Rall!
The statewide a ll gay softball league
for men and wome n whi ch has been promoting
slow pitch softball in the summer for the
past five years is changing its name to
First Sooner League .
Committee members from OKC, Norman,
Stillwater, and Tulsa are seeking sponsors .
Other cities are being contacted for participation.
The league was organized as Sooner
Softball League in 1981 by a group in
Tulsa. The purpose in founding the league
was to promote gay softball competition
statewide. Tournaments and league play
have been a regular part of the season,
with as many as ten teams participating
at various times. It has been an outreach to the gay community and the response has been gratifying.
Opening games will start in June.
Play will continue throughout the summer.
culminating in partici pation in the
annua l Southwest Inv it at i onal Softba l l
Tournament in Tulsa over Labor Day weekend. The Invitational is becoming one of
the major events in t he country with teams
from as far away as Boston and San Francisco attending. Fund raisers and "fun
events" are planned along with the games .
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor
or wish to participate in some way, write:
First Sooner League
2127 NW 13th
OKC, OK 73107
Make your plans for a pleasant summer of
outdoor activity with friends. You are
cordially invited to participate.
TORR Reporter
Learn to Write
FLIGHT OF THE HIND announces its 4th
annual summer writing workshop for women,
July 26-August 2, led this year by Barbara
Wilson (Murder in the Collective), Judith
Barrington (Trying to be an Honest Woman),
and Evelyn c. White {Chain Chain Change-For Black Women Dealing with Ph sical and
Emotional Abuse • Three scholarships are
available; college credit can be arranged.
For brochure send SASE to Flight of t he
Hind , 622 SE 28th , Portland , OR 972 14.
up
& coming/march 1987
ICEBERGG
CONCERT-PARTY
Thurs, May 28, 1987
lOpm
(WEEKEND OF NWMF)
An Indnor Festival. Featuring
Mainstage Nightly with
Friday, May 29: Tracy Chapman, Kate Ointon,
Ferron
Saturday, May 30: Marie Rhines, Deuce,
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Sunday, May 31: Barbara Higbie, Heather Bishop,
Tret Fure & Band
with Sue Fink! as MC, all nights!
Casselberry-DuPree
Showcase Daily
Featuring the best in up-coming performers
Music Industry Conference
Over 100 Workshops Including
Writers Conference with guest speakers
Mary Daly, Nancy K. Bereano, & Cheryl Clarke
Spirituality Conference with guest speakers
Sonia Johnson, Hallie Iglehart & Kay Gardner
TICKETS :
For more information write:
NWMF, Dept. LC, P.O. Box 5217
Bloomington, IN 47402
or call: 317-637-4938
Pre-register before April 30 far discount!
"LOVE MJ\ V BP, m,JNO, BUT
HANDWRITING'S NOT
Professional Analysis of Compatibility
Confidential report on cassette
Shelly Zaikis, C.M.G.
405-946-6928
$ Z 50
JAKE'S
419N. Walnut
Bloomington
r---------1
I
I
I
Loral C. Reeves
C.P.A.
1014 Cedardale Drive
Okla. City, OK 73127
I
II
t---------.-i
405/495-1094
December 31 , 1986 and 1985
and for the Years then Ended
CCX>1PARATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENI'S
BERLAND SISTER RESOURCES, INC.
STATE.MEN!' OF SUPPORT , REVENUE AND EXPENSES
AND CHANGES IN GENERAL FUND BALANCE
STATEMENl' OF CHAN3ES I N FINANCIAL Pa3ITION
1986
1985
1985
SOORCES OF FUNDS
SUPPORT
Contributions
Donated services and materials
$1,876
1,264
$1 , 197
2,979
3, 140
4,176
Funds frClll operations:
Excess of support and
revenues over expenses
Increase in Building Fund
$845
1,305
$1,663
2,150
1,663
1,305
389
1,694
456
CAPITAL
1,663
TOrAL SOURCES OF FUNDS
REVENUES
81
5,033
678
560
286
6,638
TOrAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE 9, 778
Library memberships and assessments
Programs
Gross profit frClll bookstore sales
Advertising sales
other
1,425
1,655
1,741
743
APPLICATION OF FUNDS
Building funds invested
Furniture and fixtures acquired
5,564
9,740
INCREASE IN
~KING
~ING
CAPITAL - Beginning of year
~ING
CAPITAL - End of year
1,663
EXPENSES
Administrative and general
Programs
Operating expenses - Bookstore
Newsletter
NET EXCESS OF SUPPORT
AND REVENUE OVER EXPENSES
1, 231
3,987
1, 767
1,948
8, 933
989
3,767
1,631
1,690
8,077
845
1, 663
$2,119
=
ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN OORKING CAPI TAL
Increase (decrease ) in current assets:
Cash
Accounts receivable
Inventories
GENERAL FUND BALANCE - Beginning of year 1,663
GENERAL FUND BALANCE - End of year
BALANCE SHEET
1986
1987
ASSETS
Increase (decrease) in current
liabilities:
Prepaid advertising
Sales tax payable
Gift certificates outstanding
Due to consignors
Current Assets :
Cash in bank and on hand General Fund
Accounts receivable
Inventories
TOrAL CURR.ENI' ASSETS
NET INCREASE IN
$1 , 028
375
1,039
2,442
$937
874
1, 811
~ING
CAPITAL
$91
375
165
631
110
(9)
60
14
175
$456
$937
874
1,811
148
148
$1 , 663
STATEMENl' OF SUPPORT, REVENUE AND EXPENSES
AND CHANGES IN BUIIDING FUND B/\LANCE
1986
Building Fund:
Cash in bank
Money market mutual fund
Furniture and Fixtures , at cost
186
1,119
1,305
SUPPORT AND REVENUES
$656
835
Contributions
Fundraising programs
Interest incane
389
2
TCYl'AL SUPPORT AND REVENUE
EXPENSES - Fundraising programs
BUILDING FUND BALANCE - December 31, 1986
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES
Current Liabilities:
Prepaid advertising
Sales tax payable
Gift certificates outstanding
Due to consignors
TOrAL CURREN!' LIABILITIES
General Fund
$110
139
148
60
14
323
148
2,508
1,663
Building Fund
$1, 811
=
1,493
188
$1,305
=
- Temporal Coverage
- 1980-1989
Linked resources
- Hierarchies
-
Herland Archive
- All Resources (Private)
- Themes
- LGBTQ+ (482 items)
- Feminism (40 items)
- Faith and Religion (51 items)
- Activism and Advocacy (69 items)
- HIV/AIDS (25 items)
- Education (18 items)
- Literature (20 items)
- Art (16 items)
- Themes
- All Resources (Private)