HerlandVoice-2016-08-v34-no03_ocr.pdf
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WHAT’S INSIDE
Disarm Hate 2
Events 3
Interview Signup 3
SISU Update 4
Black Lives Matter 4
Pryor Rendering 5
VOICE
herland
VOLUME 34 No 3 AUGUST 2016
Herland Oral History Project Update—Dr. Lindsey Churchill
By Dr. Lindsey Churchill, Director, The
Center: Women’s Research Center and
BGLTQ+ Student Center, University of
Central Oklahoma
Starting in mid-August 2016 at least a
dozen University of Central Oklahoma
(UCO) students will begin the Herland
Sister Resources Oral History project.
This project is funded through a 7.7
million dollar U.S. Department of Education grant awarded to the University
of Central Oklahoma to fund the Student Transformative Learning Record
(STLR). STLR tracks experiences, “found
in both classroom and extracurricular
activities — and students will graduate
with documentation to show potential
employers that they have proven competency in critical areas not represented on a traditional academic transcript.” The Herland project received
over 25,000 dollars from STLR
for materials and to compensate
students for their work. The project is also supported by the new
Center at UCO which includes
the Women’s Research Center
and the BGLTQ+ Student Center.
Students will be grouped into
different clusters for the nearly
year-long project (August 2016May 2017). One cluster will work
on cataloguing the book donations from the Herland library. I
have worked with archivists at
UCO to ensure that these books
are preserved. Another cluster
will digitize the newsletters and
preserve them in our archives at
the Center. Around half of our
students will work on the documentary portion of the project.
E
V
I
H
C
AR
Herland Sister Resources 2312 NW 39th St Oklahoma City 73112
405.521.9696 www.herlandsisters.org herland@herlandsisters.org
Regular hours 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 1-5 pm
UCO Project
(cont. from page 1)
We have received funding for a camera and other equipment to record
interviews. We hope that we will
have lots of members to interview.
The project has many layers of importance for students. I can genuinely say I have never seen students so
excited for a project.
In addition to my personal interests
and desire to write a historical monograph about Herland, my support
for this project is largely inspired by
my work in the classroom, particularly the History of Sex class that I teach
at UCO. The class focuses on the
“hidden history” of sexuality. However, when we talk about lesbian or
queer women in history there are too
many silences. My students consistently remark that we have such little
information about women in history,
particularly women in the LGBTQ+
community. I hope that this project
will contribute to preserving a multilayered history of activist lesbian
women. Herland contributes and
contributed so much to the community, it is only fitting that this history
be honored. This project will ensure
that the legacy and activism of Herland is preserved forever.
We are so grateful to Herland Sister
Resources for gifting us with this opportunity. If you would like to participate in the project please contact
Lindsey at lchurchill@uco.edu or call
813-956-7727. We are actively looking for current or former members to
interview. Group interviews are 1 pm
Aug 20 and 6 pm Sept 2.
Disarm Hate—Pat Reaves
On June 21, I watched transfixed while Democratic members of the U.S. House
of Representatives held a sit-in on the floor of the U.S. House calling for a vote
on two measures that they termed “common-sense gun” control. Just a few
days after the mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, congressperson
after congressperson spoke about the effects of gun violence and the need for
legislation to address the problem. They called for votes on two gun-control
measures before the House recess – a bill that would bar anyone on the no-fly
list from buying a gun and a bill that would require background checks for
more gun purchases.
Wearing a rainbow ribbon on his lapel, Representative John Lewis began the sit
-in when took the floor saying, “how many more mothers, how many more fathers need to shed tears of grief before we do something...the time for silence
and patience is long gone” (watch his speech here). Person after person echoed Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s
statement decrying moments
of silence, “Moments of silence are a substitute for taking matters into our own
hands.” In a letter read by
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Arizona Representative Gabby
Giffords said, “Speaking now
is difficult for me, but I haven't
been silenced, and neither
should the American people.”
Living in a place like Oklahoma, it’s easy to feel silenced. Steve Russell, the congressman from Oklahoma’s 5th district where I live, manufactures and sells military-style assault-style weapons. Every current member of the U.S. House and
Senate from Oklahoma has accepted contributions from the National Rifle Association and opposes gun control. Under those conditions, how can I have
any influence on national gun control policy? As I listened and watched, I resolved to speak out. Even though I have little confidence that Steve Russell will
listen, I must tell him that as MY representative I expect him to take action to
limit access to military-style weapons. I cannot silently assent to the continuation of laws and policies that allow for the proliferation of military-style weapons on our streets.
As Representative Lewis said, “There comes a time when you have to say
something, when you have to make a little noise, when you have to move your
feet. This is the time. Now is the time to get in the way. The time to act is now.
We will be silent no more.” I urge you to be silent no more.
The Herland Voice is a publication of Herland Sister Resources, 2312 NW 39th, OKC, OK 73112. Call us at (405) 5219696 or email us at herland@herlandsisters.org. Visit us on the web at www.herlandsisters.org or on Facebook at
Herland Sister Resources.
What’s Happening
AUGUST SUPPER CLUB
5:30 pm, Saturday, Aug 13
Potluck
Herland, 2312 NW 39th St
OCTOBER MOVIE NIGHT
DECEMBER MOVIE NIGHT
UCO GROUP INTERVIEWS
OCTOBER SUPPER CLUB
5:30 pm, Saturday, October 8
Royal Bavaria
3401 S Sooner Rd, Moore
HOLIDAY PARTY/
POTLUCK
6:00 pm, Saturday, December 10
Herland, 2312 NW 39th St
NOVEMBER MOVIE NIGHT
NEW YEARS DAY
POTLUCK
1:00 pm, Sunday, January 1
Potluck
Herland, 2312 NW 39th St
1 pm Aug 20 & 6 pm Sept 2
Herland, 2312 NW 39th St
SEPTEMBER MOVIE NIGHT
7 pm, Friday, Sept 2
Paris Is Burning
Herland, 2312 NW 39th St
SEPTEMBER SUPPER CLUB
5:30 pm, Saturday, Sept 10
Mama Roja
9219 Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC
7 pm, Friday, October 7
GBF (Gay Best Friend)
Herland, 2312 NW 39th St
7 pm, Friday, November 4
Pariah
Herland, 2312 NW 39th St
NOVEMBER SUPPER CLUB
5:30 pm, Saturday, November 12
Toby Keith’s
310 Johnny Bench Dr, OKC
7 pm, Friday, December 2
Fried Green Tomatoes
Herland, 2312 NW 39th St
UCO Group Interviews for Herland History Project
The Herland Oral History Project is set to begin! The first
group interviews will be held
Saturday, August 20, at 1 pm
and Friday, September 2, at 6
pm. Since traffic noise is a
problem at Herland, the interviews will need to be recorded
at a different location (to be
announced).
If you have been involved with
Herland, we invite and encourage you to participate in this
project. Think of it as NPR’s
StoryCorps only cooler! It’s all
about our women’s community
in OKC over the years.
To participate, go to signupgenius.com and click on “Find a
Sign Up” in the upper right
corner. Then search by email
using mcging@aol.com as the
person that created the signup.
Then look for Herland Oral History. Please sign up for both a
group and individual interview—we want all your stories!
SISU Youth Update
SISU Youth continues to need overnight volunteers to serve as Youth
Support Specialists for the youth
shelter. Volunteers will be trained
in:
Basic Training
Trauma Informed Care
Medical First-Aid
Mental Health First-Aid
All volunteers must pass a background check and be willing to
work a 6-hour shift.
Can’t volunteer at night? How
about donating monthly to support
SISU Youth’s operating costs? Every
dollar counts to ensure that OKC
teens have a safe place to sleep at
night.
Sign up to volunteer or donate at
sisuyouth.org.
Black Lives Matter—Rev. Kayla Bonewell
Kayla Bonewell,
Pastor of Church of the Open Arms
and Cathedral of Hope OKC
Recently my fiancé Dana and I attended the Black Lives Matter
march and rally which was spearheaded by Rev. Sheri Amore. I’ve
heard reports that it was the largest
attended rally in
Oklahoma City
since the 1960’s
civil rights movement, having
around 4500
people in attendance. There have
been over 1400
Black Lives Matter
protests in 300
US and international cities since
November of
2014. We gathered to seek justice for Alton
Sterling and Philando Castile.
Tensions were
high in the wake
of the horrendous and heartwrenching murder of 5 police officers at the Dallas protest just days
before. When we arrived on the
scene, there was a feeling of
warmth and gratitude that so many
cared about black and brown lives,
when events and circumstances in
our culture say the opposite, that
black and brown lives do not seem
to matter to a majority of people.
Dana and I have taken part in several Black Lives Matter protests in
Minnesota. In the town where we
lived, the Rochester, MN police
chief would attend our rallies and
march alongside of us as we stood
up for justice and equality. As
members of the NAACP, we had a
good relationship with the police
department, and were able to build
on that relationship through honest
conversation, and opportunities to
listen to each other when difficult
situations would arise. The atmos-
phere was much different when we
would drive an hour and a half
north to support Black Lives Matter
events in St. Paul and Minneapolis.
There we would be met at protests
with police officers in riot gear,
holding batons, shields, and tear
gas grenades. How we greet each
other matters.
Fortunately, at our Oklahoma City
rally, police officers protected and
served in a much less menacing
way, some even arrived via bicycle.
As the march headed toward the
Harkins Theater, police officers
lined the streets on either side of
Pryor Rendering Musical Raises
BLM (cont.)
the march. I watched as many protestors made their way over to police
officers to give them a handshake, a
high five, or a hug, thanking them for
their service, and expressing condolences for the fallen officers in Dallas.
Someone caught these handshakes
and hugs on video and shared it
online.
When we got home that night, I saw
that the video had already been seen
by 4 thousand people. Shortly thereafter it has been viewed by over 338
thousand people. Love, respect, and
opportunities for grace and growth
are contagious and viral.
Again and again I have learned that
if you are given the opportunity to
listen to someone’s personal experience, you can learn something very
important. Never should you discount someone’s experience, just
because it differs from your own. I
have never encountered the travesty
of treatment by the government as
many have, but thank goodness I did
not dismiss or disregard the sacred
stories I have heard along the way.
Certain times in history call for showing up and speaking out. Let us
speak out and at the same time, listen with an open heart and mind to
the sacred truth and wisdom of
those around us. Whose story can
you listen to this week? Or what sacred truth and stories can you pass
along?
Awareness of LGBT Teen Suicide
Oklahoma City PFLAG is raising
funds to send 250 LGBT kids in the
Oklahoma City area from 3 youth
groups to a completely private
showing of the world premier musical, Pryor Rendering, the poign-
ant story of a gay child born in
rural Oklahoma in 1960 where
there was no support.
PFLAG wants to send these kids to
a show that is for and about their
community to give them a chance
to have a real and meaningful
communication for what will be in
many cases the first time. The
goal is to help reduce the rate of
LGBT teen suicides.
Through the cooperation and gen-
erosity of the show’s assistant producer, Sue Marinello, CityRep The-
ater Company, and the directors
of the show, PFLAG has secured an
entire show for our kids and their
family members, but to accomplish this they need donations
fast! They only have 5 weeks to
raise the entire sum of money.
Please help PFLAG make this a reality for these kids;
please help make
these terrible statistics drop in our area!
Donations may be
sent to: PFLAG OKC,
4001 N. Classen Blvd.,
Ste. 160, Oklahoma
City OK 73118
Suicide is the second leading cause
of death for 10-24
year olds in America today and
LGBTQ youth are
4 times more likely than straight
youth to commit
suicide. This comes from lack
of support, shaming, bullying,
anxiety, depression, confusion,
and sheer loneliness and
hopelessness.
LGBTQ youth from rejecting
families are 8 times more likely
than those from supporting
families to commit suicide.
Suicide is the leading cause of
death among gay and lesbian
youth nationally. More teenagers and young adults die
from suicide than from automobile accidents, cancer, heart
disease, AIDS, birth defects,
stroke, pneumonia, influenza,
and chronic lung disease,
COMBINED.
Oklahoma leads the country in
teen suicide rates!
Four out of Five teens who attempt suicide have given clear
warning signs. Each day in our
nation there are an average of
5,400 attempts by young people grades 7-12.
HERLAND
2312 NW 39th St Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Sandy Ingraham, J.D., M.S.W.
Attorney-at-Law
Ingraham & Associates, PLLC
Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Probate, Adoption, Contracts
333629 E Kickapoo Valley Rd
McLoud, OK 74851
Ofc (405) 964-2072
SandyJoIngraham@gmail.com
Part of Herland Voice : v.34: no.3(2016)