HerlandVoice-1991-11-v8-no11_ocr.pdf
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do~HERLAND ~
NOVEMBER 1991
ICE
JUSTICE-THOMAS
Contradictory Terms
by Jo Soske
Having been asked to write this, I have begun my introductory
paragraph three times. Each time, I have found myself being far
more personal and far less politital than I had hoped to be. But alas
the goddess has whispered to me, "Remember the personal is the
political." Therefore, I shall write about my experience.
On Tuesday, October 15, I stood among a group of friends and
strangers at the O.U. School of Law. Our eyes were fixed on a
television screen as the U.S. Senate voted on the confirmation of
Clarence Thomas. Though I knew what was coming, a part of me
held out hope until they announced that Thomas was confirmed by
a vote of 52 to 48. At that moment, I spontaneously screamed out in
rage and pain.
As a feminist, an educator, and a counselor, I have said to
wommin for years, "When we are sexually harrassed and sexually
abused in other ways, we must speak out. We must tell our stories
and make our voices heard." That evening, we were told in a most
chilling way that we should remain silent. The message from the
boys of the senate was clear. "Even if you are a womon of the
greatest integrity, even if you have impeccable corroborating witnesses, even if you are willing to jeopardize your career, even if you
are willing to face national humiliation, even if you take a four-hour
lie detector test, even if two other wommin confirm your experience
with their own; we will not believe you. We want you to remain
silent and we will use all uf the tools of our system against you."
Though I have been a politi~ai activist for much of my adult life, I
have never felt so profoundly impacted by a national event. The
implications of this decision cut to the soul. Those of us who have
been sexually mistreated, and I believe that is most of us, can know
more deeply than we have ever known that there is no protection in
our country. So what does this mean? Shall we again be silent?
Absolutely not!
In the few days since the decision, I have come tb realize that my
scream was also a scream of freedom. At that instant, I was able to
release the last vestiges of the deluded hope for patriarchal change,
remnants which I was unaware I kept. Having seen "America's
brightest and best in all of their glory'," I am free from all desire to
give the boys any more of my hope, attention or energy. They do not
represent me, they never have, and they never will.
Personally, I believe it is time for a non-violent but extremely
dynamic revolution-a revolution of wommin putting energy into
wommin. I would like to see us organize, vote Nickles and Boren out
of office, and replace them with wommin centered wommin. I have
renewed my commitment to donate what money, time, and
resources I have solely to wommin's causes. Other wommin have
shared with me that they intend to do the same.
I am angry. It is a healthy anger which will lead to action, and I am
not alone. There are many of us. We will not forget October 15th,
and we will not go away.
•
VOLUME 8 NUMBER 10
•
HERLAND SISTER RESOURCES
Dealing With Feelings
(Jo Soske, M.Ed!MHRICAC)
As a counselor, I am aware that the Thomas confirmation has
resulted in the reliving of painful memories and feelings for many
wommin. This is to be expected. We have wirnessed the denial system
of an incestous family being played out at the national level.
I would like to make just a few suggestions for handling these feelings.
First, tell or retell your story. Choose somebody who will listen to your
entire story and believe you unconditionally. If the feelings are too
overwhelming, I would suggest seeking a professional. In many cases,
however, a close friend can provide the needed support.
Secondly, put your feelings into action. Take some steps, large or
small, to reclaim yourself through action. You may wish to:
1. Write to Nickles, Boren, or other elected officials, and express your
outrage
2. Write to Anita Hill and affirm her courage
3. Volunteer some time working for NOW, Herland, or another
wommin's organization
4. Become involved in a political campaign
5. Listen to the story of another womon who has been offended.
The possibilities are limitless, but taking action can help to keep you
from falling prisoner to the old fears.
Finally, and perhaps most important, find ways to affirm yourself.
You have suffered a loss, and you deserve to be treated gently.
•
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Speak Out .. Take Action
This is a forum to talk about the experience of sexual harassment
and to plan ways to address the problem. This event, sponsored by
a coalition of local women's organizations, promises to be really
hot. The room it's being held in holds 100 people. The media will
be there, and there is a slight chance that Ms. Hill herself will be
present. Let's fill the place to overflowing and show the world that
we're here and we've had it!
6:30P.M.November19 • NS0,431 S.W.11,0KC
NO IDLE CHATTER
According to the Tulsa World( 10/17/91), a Tulsa attorney's letter to
the Senate Judiciary Committee denouncing Professor Anita Hill was
prompted by the White House. Mary Constance T. Matthies said she
was asked to write a letter critical of Professor Hill even though she had
never met her. Ms. Matthies' letter was one of those released by Senator
Simpson days after he said he had received letters from Tulsa saying to
"watch out" for Hill.
•
•
2312 N.W. 39th, OKC, OK 73112
•
(405) 521-9696
MISINFORMATION,
ERASURE, AND LIES
by Deborah Fox
Language and the written word are tools in the oppression of
women and other minorities. We can never accept what we are
told or taught without our vigorous scrutiny. Patriarchal bias is
the art of deception.
For example, we are taught (from a tender and impressionable
age on up) about the "heroic" exploits in "The New World" by
our forefathers against the Native Americans. America is spotted
with Historical Sites and Monuments boasting of these heroic deeds
for which our bossom is to swell with patriotic pride. The facts
are, however, that "America" is founded upon stolen land. The
Treaties made and broken by white men to the Native Americans
are what instigated Indian wars, and the "heroic exploits" of our
forefathers were really the savage murders of Indian women,
children, the aged, as well as the Indian men.
We are taught that witches were evil, devil worshipping,
sexually impure, vile people. The fact is that witches were
predominantly female, adhered loyally to the Old Religion (of the
Goddess), were lesbians, widows, women who did not wish to
marry, in short; independent, and were the first doctors, midwives,
healers, herbalists, counselors and teachers, which the Church and
the budding male dominated medical "profession" saw as a threat
because they could not wrest away from the witches the trust of
the masses.
Witches, then, were an impediment to the "progress" of the
patriarchal religion and medical profession just like Native
Americans were an impediment to the "progress" of white male
culture, or Jews an impediment to the "progress" of Nazi
Germany. The "Witchcraze" was a holocaust - it is estimated
nine million people, mostly female, were raped, tortured,
burned at the stake/savagely murdered. The "confessions" of
witches to the vile acts dreamed up by their accusers were
extracted under horrific torture. But we don't read that in your
history books!
Nor do we read of the magnitude of the worship of the Great
Goddess and yet it is not for want of hard evidence and fact. We
read, instead, of ''fertility cults" and "idols," which are blatant
lies. The religion of the Goddess was a full-blown religion,
geographically widespread, and Her images were not mere idols
but statues of female divinity, much like the Catholic statues of
Christ, saints, and the virgin Mary (that tamed, patriarchal version
of the Goddess, which the church had to acknowledge somehow, in
order to even begin to win the trust of the greater populations).
We owe this legacy of minimalization and omission to patriarchal
scholarship. We are not taught the truth by the supposedly
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2
HERLAND VOICE, OCTOBER 1991
professional/ objective scholarship of Academia; instead we are
conditioned to patriarchal bias.
Everything we read, hear, and the language used we must
scrutinize for bias, lies, or omissions.
In the Lawton daily newspaper yesterday I read a Paperback
Review of two biographies about Mary Shelley, the author of
Frankenstein. Not once was it mentioned that she was the daughter
of the feminist Mary W ollstonecraft, author of The Vindication of
Women's Rights . This omission also acts as an erasure of Mary
Wollstonecraft's fame .
In this same newspaper I read a column by Erma Bombeck
titled: "At Wit's End," where not only does she trivialize spouse
battering but she creates the illusion that this violence is comitted
by men and women equally. A grossly misleading picture of
reality that gives the covert idea that male violence against women
is justified.
Then there was an article titled: "House Cats Feasting on
Rabbits and Birds," that claimed house cats are "directly
responsible for the loss of millions of songbirds and other
wildlife." Which gives the impression that the general populace is
primarily at fault rather than the corporations who are destroying
the rain forests (which are home to a tremendous variety of
migratory birds of North America and Europe) and other natural
habitats of a variety of wildlife.
These are just a few examples of the veiled truths and outright
lies paraded as professional scholarship and journalism. Many
people are unaware of these deceptions and are seduced into false
consciousness, unwittingly perpetuating patriarchal bias. Women
and other minorities cannot afford blind trust and acceptance. We
must evaluate everything we are taught, everything we are told,
everything we hear, and scrutinize language. The name of the game
is Exposing Deception. If we lose this game we lose our identity,
our heritage, and our culture.
•
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL TO
ADOPT GAY & LESBIAN PRISONERS
International gay and lesbian groups responded positively to a
recent decision by Amnesty International to adopt as prisoners of
conscience those imprisoned for their homosexuality, including
those arrested for homosexual acts. The decision is a major
development and victory in the more than 12-year battle to
change the global human rights group's policy toward gays and
lesbians.
AI made its decision to defend gays at its biennial International
Council conference in Yokohama, Japan, September 7, The
decision was made by consensus.
The Gay and Lesbian Task Force to Change Amnesty International, a worldwide coalition formed this year to pressure the
organization, issued the following statement:
"We, as representatives of thousands of gay men and lesbians
around the world, would like to thank Amnesty International for
taking this long-needed step. We offer our deepest thanks to
Amnesty sections that worked so hard to achieve this victory,
especially the USA, Canada, Ireland and Norway. The Task Force
has faith that Amnesty will implement this important decision
immediately.
•
DENVER CITY AGENCY RULES
LESBIAN PARTNERS ARE A FAMILY
In a landmark legal ruling, an employer has been ordered to
grant sick leave to a lesbian employee to care for her life partner.
A hearing officer of the Career Service Authority of Denver,
Colorado ruled last Friday that Denver General Hospital violated
Department of Health and Hospital regulations when it refused to
allow a lesbian employee to take three days sick leave to care for
her injured companion. The decision recognizes lesbian and gay
relationships as families.
In an eight-page opinion, hearing officer Margot Jones held that
the agency violated the rights of social worker Mary Ross by
refusing to give her sick leave to care for her "permanent life
partner," Jeannie DiClementie, who had fractured her skull. Jones
said that Ross had demonstrated that she and DiClementi are a
family, and that the agency's action was "discriminatory on the
basis of appellant's sexual orientation."
Specifically, Jones ruled that the agency had violated its fouryear-old anti-discrimination policy, which prohibits it from
discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. Denver city
officials said they would appeal the decision. .
Jones also relied upon testimony supplied by Dr. Anne Rankin
Mahoney, a professor of sociology at the University of Denver,
that lesbians create family units. " By every measurement used by
society to determine whether people have created a family,
appellant's relationship with her permanent life partner, measures
up to that standard," Jones wrote in her decision. In the three
years Ross and DiClementi have lived together, they have had a
monogamous relationship and have shared their finances, living
expenses and responsibility for raising DiClementi's two children.
William B. Rubenstein, the Director of the ACLU'~ national
Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, said the decision. was an
important step toward greater recognition of lesbian and gay
relationships. "Little by little, courts and administrative tribunals
are giving legal recognition and tangible rights to'relationships that
are, by definition, families," he said. "More and more cities and
states will hve to take notice of this encouraging .development and
incorporate it into their own laws ."
. •
COYOTE CLUB
HOSTS HELPLINE
COYOTE CLUB, NOV. 10-Peggy Johnson, Bonnie
H., Donna D., Mark Agnew and Randall Powell will be
featured singers and musicians at a fundraiser for the Gay
and Lesbian Helpline of Central Oklahoma on Sunday,
November 10 at 7 p.m. Prizes will be raffled throughout the
evening. A $3 donation is requested for admission .
Proceeds will support operating costs of the Helpline.
The Helpine hours are 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. Thursday Monday . Volunteers are needed. For more information, or
if you are interested in volunteering, call 447-GAYS.
•
Emphasis on the problems of gay people.
848-5429
SHIRLEY M. HUNTER, M.Ed.
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNS ELOR
LICENSED MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPIST
PENN PARK OFFICE COMPLEX• SUITE 102
5009 N. PENNSYLVANIA • OKLAHOMA CITY, OK73112
ST. SYBIL
Sybil Ludington, Matron Saint of the Forgotten Woman, answers the
occasional odd question in the Herland Voice.
Dear St. Sybil,
With Thanksgiving and all coming up, I've been wonder·
ing. Are you a vegetarian? Should I be?
Sincerely,
Morna Littlelamb lvalent
Dear Morna,
Where I am, we are not exactly eaters anymore, you know? Our
thirteen senses and our fifteen basic needs are tuned to a spiritual
base which allows satisfaction without a corporeal interaction face it, we are disembodies folks here, Morna; I haven't had 'food'
in 200 years.
If you are asking ifl would be a vegetarian if I were alive today
knowing what I know now, there is no one answer; is there ever? If
I were a cat or a squid or a Venus fly trap I would be a meat-eater;
that's the way it was meant to be. If I were an elephant or a
diplodocus or a fruit fly I would be a herbivore. If . . .
What's that? Oh, sorry, no need to get testy; where I am when
we think of 'life' we don't zero right in on the two-legged .animal
variety, you know? Saint Trigger wouldn't like it, and it would
really infuriate the Passenger Pigeons. So your question is, if I
were a live human being today, would I be vegetarian? Knowing
what I know now? You bet your sweet life I would. Should you be?
If you're like me and can't discern a gnat's worth of difference
between yourself and Fluffy and Tom Turkey, you wouldn't ask.
But if your thirteenth sense is impaired it's not your fault, and
there are no contact lenses or other aids to compensate for a
defective 13th. What you should be, what you have to be, is who
and what you are. If you are a vegetarian you are a vegetarian;
there is no deciding to become one; it just .happens, you just get
lucky one day and your thirteenth sense kicks in. So good luck,
and whatever else you do on Thanksgiving, give thanks.
Love,
Sybil
Dear St. Sybil,
Have you heard that RU486 reverses male-pattern
baldness?
Jess Hopen
Dear Jess,
Yes.
Love,
Sybil
***
HERLAND VOICE, OCTOBER 1991
3
HOMOSEXUAL ORIENTATION OR
BEHAVIOR NOT CAUSE FOR
SECURITY RISK, SAYS LEAKED
DOCUMENT FROM PENTAGON
LAWYERS
Gay men and lesbians should not be disqualified from obtaining
military security clearances solely on the basis of their sexual
orientation, states an internal memorandum issued by the Department of Defense Office of General Counsel.
The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), which
obtained the internal document from an anonymous source, says
the memo's acknowledgement that gays are eligible for security
clearances contradicts and "finally destroys" the Pentagon's argument that gay men and lesbians in the military represent a security
risk.
The memo also addresses the issue of same-sex marriages in the
military and says such relationships would not be grounds for
disqualification unless "other circumstances were involved."
The advisory states that a person's sexual orientation is relevant to
security clearance eligility "only if" [emphasis added] an individual's
"sexual practices, whether homosexual or heterosexual . . . ( 1)
make him or her susceptible to exploitation, or (2) reflect untrustworthiness, unrelability, or lack of common sense judgement that
must be demanded of anyone with access to classified information."
"The Counsel's memo is quite clear in stating that homosexual
orientation or 'homosexual behavior' in and of itself is not sufficient
reason to categorize someone as a security risk," said Tim Drake,
director of the NGLTF Military Freedom Initiative. "This memo,
from their own legal department, destroys the Pentagon's reasoning
for defending its taxpayer-funded policy of discriminating against
gay people serving in the Armed Forces."
In addition, the memo explains that "a claimed marital relationhip with a person of the same gender" would be disqualifying "only
if" other circumstances were involved, namely the two conditions
stated previously.
The memorandum goes on to assert that violations of local
sodomy laws-which make homosexual acts criminal behavior in
25 states and the District of Columbia - are not sufficient grounds
to deny a security clearance.
"The general lack of enforcement, and acceptance of this type of
private activity suggest that it would be of security concern ... only
if it is indicative of poor judgement other than criminality such as
involvement with minors or sex in public places," the memo states.
Dated January 9, 1991 , the memorandum was sent out on Office
of General Counsel letterhead over the signature of Michael
Sterlacci, the Assistant General Counsel. It stands in sharp contrast
to the military's policy of excluding homosexuals from service
because the Pentagon alleges they pose a security risk.
•
NEED TO TALK?
NEED COMMUNITY INFORMATION?
CALL
447-GAYS
The Gay & Lesbian
HELPLINE
Hours: 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. Thursday - Monday
Volunteers Needed: Leave a message with
a current volunteer if you are interested.
CREATING CHANGE CONFERENCE63 Workshops Slated
Washington D.C. - Noted speakers, leaders, activists and other
luminaries in the gay, lesbian and bisexual movement are slated to
make presentations and spark debate at the . National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) 4th Annual Creating Change Conference . The skills-building conference, held this Nov. 9-11 outside
Washington, D.C., will feature 63 workshops, a gay and lesbian
cabaret, networking sessions, social events, provocative plenary
speakers and much more.
Workshops include: organizing against violence, fundraising, drag
activism, media advocacy, activism and stress, sexual liberation/
sexual diversity, censorship, AIDS organizing and health issues,
lobbying, international activism, direct action, organizing the workplace, staging visibility actions, the March on Washington, election
year activism, movement in-fighting and more.
Besides staff and board members ofNGLTF, presenters include:
Robin Tyler, comedienne and lesbian activist; Alexander Robinson,
ACLU- Washington lobbyist; Tim Sweeney, exec. dir., Gay Men's
Health Crisis; Anita Taylor, Nat'l Minority AIDS Council; Letitia
Gomez, Nat'l Latino/a Lesbian and Gay Organization (LLEGO);
Suzanne Pharr, former exec. dir., Women's Project of Little Rock,
author, Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism; and many more.
Plenary speakers atthe conference are Jewelle Gomez, writer, poet
and activist; Mario Solis-Marich, national board co-chair, LLEGO,
and AIDS Project L.A. public policy director; and Minnie Bruce
Pratt, lesbian poet, essayist, teacher and NEA fellowship recipient.
Three pre-conference institutes will also be offered: Campus
Organizing, Nov 7; People of Color Organizing and Diversity Training,
Nov. 8. The conference will be held at the Old Colony Inn in
historic Alexandria, VA., minutes from downtown W ashington,
D .C. Last year's conference sold out at more than 700 activists. This
year's attendance is expected to exceed that number. Register now to
ensure a place. For registration info, contact Brian Albert, NGLTF,
1734 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009, (202) 332-6483.•
~ Sam L Nicolos~ D. V.M
1991 Fall Peace Festival
Sat., Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Civic Center Music Hall, Hall of Mirrors
Concert that Night:
8:00 p.m. with Buddy Mondlock
$5 at-the-door.
(Concert arranged by Mary ReynoJ.ds)
4
HERLAND VOICE, OCTOBER 1991
A
NI COL OSI ANIMAL HOSPITAL
ABC MOBILE VETERINARY SERVICE S
M edicine, Surgery, Vaccinations. Boardint:
Oklahoma City Area H ouse Calls
By Appointment
4015 N. W. 23 rd S t
Phone: (405) 947-5545
Oklahoma City, OK 73 107
"Grooming services now available."
WOMEN VETERANS SUPPORT
NETWORK FORMED
Throughout the histor y of our nation, women have served in
our Armed Forces. In the early years, women primarily followed
units of male soldiers, acting as cooks, laundresses, nurses and
helpers for the soldiers . Occasionally, women dressed as men to
take part in the action of combat.
During World War I, a unit of Women Marines was formed to
assist with clerical work in Defense offices; when the war ended,
the women were immediately discharged . During World War II
women were accep ted for service by all branches of the Armed
Forces and for the first time, women served in a wide variety of
job fields in the military. By the end of World War II, the
women's contributions and proven ability to work well under
adverse conditions led to the continuation of women's branches
of each service.
To date, approximately 1.2 million American women have
served in our Armed Forces. For as many reasons as there are
individuals, these women have donned military uniforms and
survived the rigors of training designed to mold individual
personalities into soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, each a part
of a much larger team with the common' goal of providing defense
for the nation. While immersed in the military sub-culture,
women have served proudly and with distinction in peace time
and in times of conflict.
No matter what era, branch of service, or the length of time
spent in the service, every woman who has served in the military
has been changed by the experience. When women veterans reenter the mainstream they are thrust from a highly structured
environment into a world of endless possibilities and options.
Women veterans, aware of a lack of resources specifically
designed for women veterans, have created the Pallas Athena
Network, named after the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, Craft and
War whose likeness served as the branch insignia for the
Women's Army Corps .
The bi-monthly publication, "Pallas Athena," provides an
open, supportive network environment through which women
veterans can discuss issues, thoughts and experiences with other
women who share the common experience of military services. It
provides articles of interest to women veterans and resource
information as well as letters, fiction and creative works by
women veterans.
All women veterans are encouraged to participate, regardless of
race, creed, religion or sexual orientation. A special, discreet
supplement by/for lesbian veterans is available.
For further information contact: The Pallas Athena Network,
P.O. Box 1171, New Market, VA 22844.
•
ENCODINGS
· Volume Two, No. One ·
WOMEN WRITING WOMEN'S LIVES:
a sampling of new poetry. .
Artwork by Kanti R. Campagna
AT YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSTORE, OR WRITE:
LIAUD: A Women's Press
P.O. Box 6793, Houston, TX 77265-6793
$4.50/copy
In celebration of the one-year
anniversary of the release of her first album
If You See a Dream
LIBBY RODERICK
wishes to thank
JOANN CONTINI and MARIAH REDWOOD
of the ALASKA WOMEN'S BOOKSTORE
for their generosity and support
from the bottom of my heart
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
TO YOU ... And the Rest of the
Wife Abusers Out There ...
I am the wrong woman to mess with. I am intelligent, lifeeducated, smart, and angry. I have been hurt, insulted, embarrassed, humiliated, and injured by you once too often. I am NOT
to blame, and my children are NOT to blame for your lack of
control, your insecurities, your inability to respect women as
fellow human beings with the same rights you were born with,
your psychotic temper, and the rest of your character defects. I am
the wrong woman to mess with. And I am ANGRY!
I am angry with a society that still treats me and others like me
as personal possessions of you clowns. I am angry at the cops who
were afraid to interfere, I am angry with the friends, family and
co-workers who were afraid to help, or refused to acknowledge
my pain and suffering that you caused, and, buddy, I'm angry with
you. I am not to blame and my children are not the problem ...
your problem is YOU!
I know what my rights are, even though you refused to respect
them. I have the right to my opinion without you telling me I'm
too stupid to have one. I have the right to socialize and be with
friends of my own choosing, not the people you select. I have the
right to come and go as I please without reporting to you, and
without you spying on me and insisting that I give you a play-byplay of who I talked with today, what was said, where I was and
who I was with, etc, etc. I have the right to not have my posessions
smashed, broken, and tom when you don't get your way. I have
the right not to be hit, and so do my children. I have the right to
not be yelled at, threatened, intimidated, or belittled in any way,
by you or anyone else WITHOUT A REASON if I choose to do
so. I don't have to explain .. . after all, you don't! I am my own
person, whether married or not, and YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO
ME ANYMORE! I will love, and be loved in return, I will care for
myself and my children, and by the grace of God, will know better
next time someone like you comes along.
I am the wrong woman to mess with. And I left you. So put
your own damn log on the fire, and boil up your own pot of tea, if
you can. I don't sympathize with you, I don't hear your pleas for
me to come back to you ... I only want a life free from fear of you.
And I will have that life. Without you.
There are many more women like me. I am not alone, even
without you. And we're ALL angry. So ... LOOK OUT!
The Wife . .. The Survivor
HERLAND VOICE, OCTOBER 1991
•
5
MIDWEST WIMMIN'S FESTIVAL NEEDS HELP
Proudly Presents
"The Mother Of Women's Music"
CRIS WILLIAMSON
and
TRET FURE
in concert
Saturday
•
November 9th
•
8:00 p.rn.
The Tower Theater • One Williams Center (Downtown by The Jee) • Tulsa, Oklahoma
General Admission $15.00 AT AT AT
Limited Reserved Seating $20.00
Tickets Available at
TNr1 • 2114 S. Mtmorl.;al • Tulsa.. OK • 660-0856
Tlmr .a.nd Tlmr Ag.iln • 1515 S. Memorial • Tulu., OK • 664-8299 ·
The Warehouse • 1229 S. Memorial • Tulsa. OK • 838-9283
Steve's Boob • 2612 S. Harvard • Tulsa.. OK • 743-3544
Or tickets by mail (must include a self addressed stamped envelope).
Send Check or Money Order payable to:
Step Forward Productions • P.O. Box 700333 • Tulsa, OK 74170
For more information CALL (918) 481-0261
Spon90re:I
by
-n ---
OKLAHOMA
•
• ncURITT
[J
CHRIS WILLIAMSON: The theatre dimmed and as the spot
lights rose a vibrant clear-eyed woman with a mischievious grin stepped
onto the stage. She donned an acoustic guitar and with the very first
note, her music captured the hearts of the crowd.
Chris Williamson's musical career began in the folk and rock dubs
during the early 70's when she recorded her first commercial album,
CHRIS WILLIAMSON. Soon after, Chris was to be instrumental in the
creation of a whole new genre of independent music.
One of the most beloved and successful artists in independent music
today, Chris Williamson writes and performs "healing music" that
touches her audiences deeply. For those who flock to her sold-out
concerts in major venues like the venerable Carnegie Hall, and those
who have bought her 13 albums and catapulted her record sales to
nearly one million, Chris Williamson's music and message are restorative balms that soothe, enlighten and inspire.
Dear MWF wimrnin, friends, and interested ones,
As you may know, the Festival planning group decided on July 1
as the date by which a site must be found in order to give us adequate
time to prepare for the 1991 Midwest Wimmin's Festival. That date
has passed, and at the June 29th meeting, the planning group reached
consensus that there will be no 1991 Festival. Group members
remain committed to working toward making a 1992 Festival
happen, and future meetings of the planning group and the land
search committee have been scheduled.
Land Search. The land search committee welcomes all wimmin
who want to participate either by attending meetings, offering
suggestions, or investigating and reporting on possible Festival sites.
Copies of a one-page "wish list" of guidelines for information
needed by the committ~e are available for those who want to help.
Planning Group. The Festival planning group has made a
commitment to participate in anti-oppression work. The gathering
of this group was on September 14 and 15, at Mel's, Mary's and
Faux's in Ava, Missouri. The focus of the weekend was on racism
and anti-semiitsm.
Regional Gatherings. One way of keeping Festival alive until we
can all gather again is to organize and participate in local or regional
gatherings. Some wimmin have volunteered to be regional contacts
for planning and/ or gathering information about such gatherings.
Members of the planning group have offered to facilitate networking
between regional contact wimmin and wimmin desiring to receive
information about events in their area.
Finances/Fund Raising. The present balance in the MWF
checking account is $1, 144. 79. Our ongoing expenses include
communication (keeping planning and land search happening and
keeping us all in touch) and rent on a storage locker ($2 7 .SO/ month
on an 8' x 10' space).
In the past we have needed a minimum of $1,400 to "start-up"
Festival. We face many unknowns about financial needs for our next
Festival. So we are again urging local fund raising efforts for MWF
and encouraging everyone to donate what we can to help in this time
of transition. Please consider these suggestions: 1. donating one
hour's wages for each day of Festival you would attend ( 1-13 days,
more if you can/less if you can't); 2. organizing attending an
accessible event to generate funds; 3. adding a fund raising
component to regional gatherings.
Keeping in Touch. Anyone who wants information about Festival
planning, land search, fund raising, accessibility, and/or regional
gatherings may write or tape to MWF, P.O. Box 861, Columbia,
MO 65205. Please tell us what information you want: planning
group minutes; planning meeting notice; land search meeting notice;
land search info sheet; regional gathering info. Please include a
stamped, self-addressed envelope. This will allow Festival money to
be used for Festival.
Although Festival funds are at an all-time low, the planning group
felt that keeping you in touch and informed about process and
decisions the group has made is important.
Know that Festival is not over, that many wimmin are continuing
to put time and energy into finding a place for a 1992 Festival and
into keeping the spirit of Festival alive until then.
TRET FU RE:
"If it's a woman rocker you want who can sing and write ... strong music that takes risks both in the extent of personal expression and in
the composition . .. Tret Fure's for you." Tret Fure's latest album "Time Turns the Moon," produced by award winning musician Teresa Trull, shows Tret's
versatility as both a singer and songwriter.
Chris Wiliamson and Tret Fure will be performing in Tulsa November 9th, 1991 at 8:00 p.m. at The Tower Theater, One Williams Center, Tulsa, OK.
General Admission $15.00, Reserved$20.00 For more information or tickets by mail contact: Step Forward Productions, P.O. Box 700333, Tulsa, OK 74170,
(818) 481-0261.
•
6
HERLAND VOICE, OCTOBER 1991
WOMEN CAMPAIGN GLOBALLY FOR
EQUAL SAY AT UN FATE-OF-THE-EARTH
CONFERENCE Will Develop Action Agenda at
November 1991 World Women's Congress for a
Healthy Planet
NEW YORK- Women around the world are campaigning for an equal
say when " fate-of-the-Earth " decisions are made at the biggest UN
environment and development conference ever held, next year in Brazil.
"Women have been almost invisible in policy-making on environment and development issues," said Bella Abzug, a founder of the
U .S.-based Women 's Foreign Poicy Council and an initiator of the
global women 's campaign. " That's why women, who are more than 50
percent of the world's population, must participate - and be heardwhen decisions are made that affect all our lives and the health of
Mother Earth."
The June 1 - 12, 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (UN CED) could draw heads of state from as many as
159 nations, making it the largest summit meeting ever held - an Earth
Summit. In addition, thousands of citizen activists are expected in Brazil
for a parallel People's Congress. Together, they will comprise the largest
forum ever held for international legal and other actions on such issues
as climate change, saving species, Earth ethics and financing sustainable
development. Their decisions will affect life on Earth well into the 21st
century.
To make sure women's voices and concerns are heard at the Earth
Summit and in the national and international meetings preparing for it,
women activists and experts from around the world have mobilized for a
World Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet, to be held November 8
- 12, 1991, seven months prior to the UN meeting in Rio de Janeiro.
Organizers of the Congress - an International Policy Action Committee of 50 women from every world region-met for the first time
October 19 - 22 1990 in New York, invited by the Women's
Environment & Development Organization (WEDO) of the Women's
Foreign Policy Council.
The New York Times reported, "Although they came from diverse
cultures, the women had little difficulty in reaching a general consensus
on their basic goals, principles and plan of action." They decided
women must organize worldwide for a significant impact on Earth
Summit decisions, and that they should meet at a World Women's
Congress for a Healthy Planet in Miami.
The five-day Congress will be conducted as a Tribunal with a panel of
distinguished women jurists- from Guyana, Kenya, Australia, Sweden
and India. Margarita Aris, former first lady of Costa Rica and President
of the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress, will give the
keynote speech. The judges will hear dramatic testimony from women
in every region of the world, who will present evidence of their battles
against ecological and economic devastation. The participants will act as
jurors taking evidence from the Tribunal, along with their own
experiences, to a series of workshops where they will develop recommendations and actions for a healthy planet.
Their Women's Action Agenda will go to a Summit Meeting of
women heads of state and government, top UN officials and other world
leaders at the concluding session of the Congress, November 12th.
Among those participating are Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem
Brundtland, who led the highly influential World Commission on
Environment and Development, and UNCED Secretary-General
Maurice Strong.
One thousand women are expected at the Miami Congress, with the
majority coming from developing countries. The Congress is open to
all. It will directly follow the invitation-only Global Assembly of
Women and the Environment, convened by the UN Environment
Programme's Senior Women's Advisory Group, which will focus on
replicable environmental successes.
•
ACLU SUES ATORNEY GENERAL OF
GEORGIA; Alleges Religious,
Lesbian/Gay Discrimination
ATLANTA-In a challenge to both religio us and anti-gay discrimination, the American Civil Liberties Union today sued the
Atto rney General of G eorgia alleging that he improperly fired a
woman after learning o f her plans to undertake a Jewish religious
ceremony of marriage with her female partner.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the U .S. District C ourt for the
Northern District of Georgia by the American Civil Liberties
Unio n's national Lesbian and Gay Rights Project and the ACLU
of Georgia, charges that Attorney General Michael J. Bowers
violated Robin Shahar's rights to religious freedom, freedom of
association and equal protection under the United States
Constitution.
Shahar, who graduated 6th in her class form Emory Law School
in the spring, had been offered and had accepted a job as a staff
attorney in the Attorney General's office. On July 10th, however,
she was presented with a letter from Bowers in which he withdrew
his offer, saying that his action had become necessary after he
learned of her "purpo rted marriage" to another woman .
Shahar and her partner of 5 years were joined in a private
Jewish ceremony performed by their Rabbi on July 28, 1991. The
religious ceremo ny was attended by the family and friends of the
couple.
"After long and careful consideration and consultation with
our Rabbi, my partner and I committed to one another as an act of
our faith," stated Shahar. "I was stunned when Attorney General
Bowers fired me-even before the ceremony had taken placefor my religious practices. I know enough about my religious
freedom to believe that my rights have been violated."
"Bowers has clearly acted unconstitutionally," said Ruth E.
Harlow, an attorney with the ACLU's national Lesbian and Gay
Rights Project who is handling Shahar's case. "Although lesbians
and gay men cannot be civilly married to one another in Georgia,
the state's refusal to recognize gay marriage does not preclude
individual couples from making religious vows to one another,"
stated Harlow. "Robin's marriage was a purely religious ceremony, centrally protected by the First Amendment."
The lawsuit seeks both compensation and punitive damages and
asks the court to order Bowers to rehire Shahar. Shahar's case will
be litigted by the ACLU 's national Lesbian and Gay Rights
Project, with the ACLU of Georgia, and cooperating attorney
Debra Schwartz, of the Atlanta firm of Stanford, Fagan & Giolito.
As a result of the Attorney General's discriminatory behavior,
the Emory University School of Law earlier this week prohibited
Bowers from recruiting on its campus. The law school determined
that the Attorney General's action amounted to discrimination
based on sexual orientation which violates school policy, as well
as the policy of the American Association of Law Schools. The
American Bar Associatio n also condemns d iscriminatio n based on
sexual orientatio n .
"The real losers here are the people of the state of Georgia,"
stated Teresa Nelson, the Executive D irector of the ACLU of
Georgia. "First, they have been deprived of the services of one of
the finest young lawyers in the state because of the religious
intolerance of the Attorney General. What's worse, every
Georgian's religious freedom is in peril if the state is permitted to
make employment decisions based upon whether it likes or
dislikes particular religious practices."
•
HERLAND VOICE, OCTOBER 1991
7
PUBLISHED BY: Herland Sister Resources, Inc. 231 2 NW 39th, Oklahoma
City, OK73112
NEWSLETIER COMMITIEE:
Margaret Cox, Deborah Fox, Pat Reaves
CIRCULATION: 850
ADVERTISING RATES: Business card $15.00; 1/4 page $35.00; 1/2 page
$60.00; Full page; $100.00
The Voice is offered as an open forum for community discourse. Signed
articles reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily those of Herland
Sister Resources. Unsolicited articles and letters to the editor are welcomed
and must be signed by the writer with full name and address. Upon request,
letters or articles may be printed under a pseudonym.
Subscriptions to The Voice are free upon request.
The Voice is printed on recycled paper.
a~AAA1•/_;A..,/A
~,,,,,
MUSICIANS WANTED-Rhythm and lead electric guitar and
keyboard players needed. Call 528-0621
LESBIAN ONLY THERAPY GROUP. Wednesday evenings.
Call Jo Soske. M.Ed/ MHR/CAC at 364-5708 .....
STILLWATER LESBIANS ••• Two sisters in town want to
organize some kind of regular get-together. Volleyball, softball or
anything else, until the weather turns chilly, and over the winter
maybe a weekly or bi-weekly potluck dinner. Let's get together; let's
form community. It give us strength and makes us happy. Call Judi
Kaufman at 377-4718 or Alice Anderton at 377-9425 ....
FOUND AT RETREAT, WILL TRADE beautiful pyrex
casserole with lid found at retreat for recipe of delicioius rice
"stuff" it contained. Call 794-3035. Check at Herland for other
items found at the retreat .....
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS. Why do you garden? Gardening as Lesbian Art; Gardening and Feminist Ethics; Politics of
Gardening and Ecofeminism; Making a living as a gardener; Market
gardening; History of women and gardening; Herbology; etc. etc.!
Send essays, poems, stories, narratives, line drawings, black and
white photos with self-addressed stamped envelope by August l,
1992 to: HerBooks, P.O. Box 7467, Santa Cruz, CA 95061 ... ..
SECOND ANNUAL WOMEN'S ARTS AND CRAFTS
FESTIVAL The Women's Activities Department of the Metropolitan Community Church of Dallas will showcase arts and crafts
produced by local and regional women artisans on Saturday,
November 9th at the Second Annual Women's Arts and Crafts
Festival. This year the show will be held on the church grounds at
5353 Maple Avenue (1 block south of Inwood).
The doors will open at 11 :00 a.m. There is a $1 admission charge.
Parking is free. Refreshments will be available through the day. We
invite all of you to come by and kick off your holiday shopping at
this growing annual holiday event. For more information contact:
Sue Schrader, 214-526-6221 .. ...
THE FALL PEACE FEST, sponsored by the Peace House will be
November 23 at the Civic Center Hall of Mirrors. This promises to
be one of the biggest and best Peace Fests ever. Be sure and stop by
the Herland table and say Hi.
8
HERLAND VOICE, OCTOBER 1991
THE ASTON MASSAGE
2
RHON DA L. SMITH
P rac titi o n er
(405) 942-47.J.8
(405) 524- 2958
ANNOUNCING NEW
VENTURE AT HERLAND:
CRAFTS WANTED
Herland is looking for quality crafts to carry at the Herland
bookstore. All items will be offered on consignment, with artists
receiving 60% of sales. A committee has been formed to review all
articles for appropriateness for the store. We're asking for well-crafted
items in good taste. Please contact 521-9696 and leave a message.
The "crafts room" should be completed and ready for merchandise
by mid-November, just in time for the holiday season.
•
FALL RETREAT ... We Were There!
Red Rock Canyon State Park was the site of the thirteenth
semi-annual Herland Retreat. Almost 150 women (147 we think)
and several children participated in the retreat. Women from
Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, California, Colorado, Iowa and Alabama
were in attendance.
The retreat officially opened with the presentation of Herland's
colors with a custom tie-dyed banner and the symbolic lighting of
the first campfire by Sister I, Peggy Johnson.
The highlight of the workshops was a well-attended nature walk
led by Sally Blevins' mom (or was it really Red Rock Canyon 's First
Gay Pride Parade?-rumor has it that over 50 women were seen
traipsing through the woods). Other workshops ranged from "Ask
Your Almost Vet," to "Self-Empowerment," "Why Women Need
the Goddess" and "Sensuality, Sexuality and Spirituality."
Nancy Scott came in .from Austin, Texas to provide her own
special blend of music and humor on Saturday night and joined us
around the campfire after the concert.
Thanks to everyone who worked to make this retreat a huge
success. Everyone who attended pitched in to keep the camp clean
and make retreat activities successful and fun.
Plan now to be a part of the next retreat in May of 1992 at Robbers
Cave State Park. Watch The Voice for more information.
•
WOMEN'S CRAFTS FESTIVALSuccess at the Porthole
The fund and fun-raising women's arts and crafts festival at the
Porthole on October 6th was a rousing success; and Herland wants
to thank all the folks who contributed, and especially of course
Shatzy and Carol. The Herland Building Fund is richer by $349.96,
and everyone involved had a lot of fun as well. There were
wonderful crafts for sale, and the open mic had some fantastic talent.
Thank you, Shatzy and Carol. It was great. You are a true supporter
of our community.
•