HerlandVoice-1996-06-v14-no06_ocr.pdf

Title: HerlandVoice-1996-06-v14-no06_ocr.pdf
extracted text: June, 1996

11

HELP WANTED
Herland needs you! As a community of women,
Herland can only be the sum ofits parts -- the women who
come to Herland, to check out books, to buy books and
music, and just to hang out and meet others; the women
who perform at coffeehouses; the women who participate
ill retreats; the women and men who attend Herland
events; the women who volunteer, keeping Herland open
on the weekend, improving the grounds and the building,
writing for the newsletter, serving on the Board, and
doing the myriad of tasks necessary to keep Herland
operating; and the women and men who contribute financially.
If you have four or more weekend hours a month
available, you can help staff Herland and make sure the
library and bookstore are available. If you have a skill-just about any skill -- Herland can use your help. We
particularly need volunteers with skills in carpentry, plumbing, electricity or other areas related to building maintenance and accounting. Volunteers are always needed to
help with the newsletter mailing, to write for the Voice
and to help with the library.
If you have eight or more hours a month, Herland
always needs committed Board members. All are invited
to attend the monthly meeting (4:30 PM on the 3rd
Sunday of each month) where the business of planning
and keeping Herland open is discussed.
If you can't make a regular volunteer commitment,
watch the Voice for announcements ofspecial Herland work
days. The work days are always a good opportunity to make
new friends. Check it out with the June 15 work day.
And, as always, Herland needs your financial support. Herland depends on contributors to meetthe regular
monthly expenses of the building and publishing the
newsletter and the expenses for events.
Building maintenance and improvement is a major cost.
Currently, we need to replace our old gas space heater which
has developed a leak and our broken-down window air
conditioner. Our dream is that some wonderful person (or
persons) will donate enough to have central heat and air
installed. Another immediate need is for contributions for
folding chairs so there will be enough seats for everyone who
comes to a Herland coffeehouse.
Volume 14 Number 6

This community, Herland, won't be the same without
you. Give us a call at 521-9696 or come to the work day
and/or newsletter folding. Remember, if it takes a while
for your call to be returried or if you come to Herl and and
it's not open, we are all volunteers. That unreturried
message or unopened door is just more evidence of how
much your volunteer help is needed. Keep trying -Herland needs you. l:l

CELEBRATE PRIDE
WITH HERLAND
SATURDAY, JUNE

22

CONCERT AND COOKOUT
7 P .M.

AT HERLAND

FEATURING

FREEFALL
We'll have hot dogs (&tofu dogs) on the grill.
Bring something to share and come join the
fun. With any luck, Freefall's new CD will be
available.

SUNDAY, JUNE

23

PRIDE PARADE
Come join the Herland Contingent. Preparade activities start in Memorial Park at
N.W. 36 and Classen at about 1 P.M with the
Parade stepping off at 4 P.M. (see inside for
a complete schedule). If you can't join the
parade, you can watch as the parade moves
along N. W. 39th from Classen to Barnes.

Herland Sister Resources

2312 N.W. 39, OKC, OK 73112

Sr. Sve1L
Dear St. Sybil,
Our Oklahoma Senate passed a bill recently that
establishes fines and penalties for bear wrestling and, in
an oddly placed but nevertheless welcome amendment,
strengthens previously passed laws against spousal
abuse. (And if your spouse just happens to be a bear,
look out.) Not unexpectedly, the wife-beaters' lobby
found a spokesman, in the person of Senator Dave
Herbert, D-Midwest City, who was against the bill
because "there are women who incite their husbands to
beat them because the husbands later are 'completely
apologetic.' 1 Do you care to comment on this, Sybil?
Thanks.
Your old pal and buddy,
Ima Bea Wilderd
Dear Ima Bea,
Senator Herbert gives brand new meaning to the
.dynamics of "kiss and make up", but what I wonder is
how battered wives can understand the apologies that
must be delivered in Cro Magnan?
Unfortunately, the Senator is not up for reelection
for another two years. At that time why don't you
make posters with his smug visage and the above
remark, and plaster them all over Midwest City, garden
suburb ofthe State Capital? In the meantime, letters of
condolence to his poor wife Marilyn at 5922 S.E. 15th
Street, Midwest City, OK 73110, would surely not be
out of order.
The main thing is, Ima, don't forget this incident,
and don't let him run for office again without it being
brought up, loudly and repeatedly. The skinny is that
he is ambitious, and you know he's got just the kind of
smug spoiled good looks that make men aspire to
higher office. What happens is, they look in the mirror
and admire themselves, going "Yes inde,ed, I am a good
looking cuss, aren't I? Bland, boring features, white,
anglo saxon; every mother's dream - my gosh, hey; I
guess I'd make a good president, wouldn't I! Wow, is
life good or what? Look out country, here I come!"
Don't let that happen with this guy, Ima. No one
who is able to stir a saint to want to smack him a good
one deserves to be elected to any office. I know, I

2

Her/and Voice

June, 1996

know. I won't smack him because I don't believe in
violence, but ifl did forget myself and toss a thunderbolt or two down his jeans I would probably be very
apologetic; I wonder if he would incite me again?
Cigarette anyone?
Yours in saintly and sisterly disdain,
Sybil
Dear Sybil,
You notice I do not call you "Saint." I am so
disappointed in you, I am going to have to take to my
bed. In your answer above you did three things I was
sure I could always count on you of all people never to
do. First of all, you were looksist as all get out - you
can't hold it against these guys just because they are
good looking, you know. Secondly, you exhibited a
desire to violence that was shocking; and thirdly, and
worst of all, you used "going" as a synonym for
"saying". What were you thinking of?
Yours,
Miss Tretid N . Distrest
Dear Miss,
I do sometime forget where I am on the grand
continuum of time when I address the Berland Voice,
and it is true that the use of"go" for "say" will not be
academically acceptable until the year 2037. Sorry.
About your other problems, oh well.
Yours,
Saint Sybil

1

•

The Daily Oklahoman, 5-2-96.

BUT WHAT IF THEY
MEAN IT???
By Margaret Cox

Reverence for all who live, even Republicans, is my
motto. It is a hard one to live by, but I try.
The good news in the OklahomaRepublicanPlatform
is that they reject the portion of their Tulsa County
Platform which reads: "Juries or judges should have the
option to sentence convicted defendants to death in cases
ofrape or sodomy." Yes indeed, death for sodomy, that's
what it says.
The bad news is that they too have an unhealthy fixation
on gays and lesbians, dedicating nearly two full pages to a
"Sexual Perversion" plank, (thank you very much) as well of
course as sprinkling negative referrals throughout the rest of
the platform. In the SP plank, they call homosexuality an
"abominable sin", "a factor in the demise of societies from
Sodom and Gomorrah to the Empires of Ottoman, Greece
and Rome"; and they "oppose the ominous political powers
being given to homosexuals in the United States." That's
right, "ominous". I find that pretty ominous, myself, and
scary as all get out, especially as coupled with their declaration thatthey believe that "legislation condoning homosexuality would confer public acceptability of this activity and
would lead inexorably to the destruction of our nation. "
That makes it sound almost treasonous to be gay, doesn't it?
It makes me nervous, I'll admit it.
They go on with thirty-one specific points, opposing the
"homosexual agenda'' - Lordy, how they love that phrase;
supporting the retention and enforcement of sodomy laws in
Oklahoma; urging "vigorous arrest and prosecution of all
those violating laws regarding the promotion ofhomosexual
behavior" -what on earth does that mean: goodbye Berland,
goodbye OGLPC, goodbye Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association?
They oppose the establishment of gay studies, oppose
allowing homosexuals to work as teachers, waiters, doctors,
nurses, dentists, soldiers, or in any other "sensitive and
responsible position" - Goodbye my job, goodbye your job,
close the restaurants? They oppose the adoption or foster
parenthood of children by homosexuals; oppose same-sex
marriages, and in a particularly despicable section lump
homosexuality with pedophilia, necrophilia and bestiality.
Hello, does anyone out there in Republican land understand
the concept of consent?
Elsewhere these darling folk call for quarantine of those
known to be infected with HIV and practicing high-risk
behavior, which to them is anything except abstinence; they
oppose ratification of the United Nations Convention on the

Rights of the Child and the United Nations Treaty on
Women. They support a legal ban on all forms of advertisement, such as television, radio, newspaper, yellow pages,
etc. which promote abortion or abortion clinics-goodbye any
public face ofFlanned Parenthood. They support the right of
local school boards to divide girls and boys into separate
classes - but equal, no doubt. ... They support the teaching of
Creationism in the public schools and oppose "political
correctness" including "Environmental Awareness". That's
right, down with environmental awareness, up with ign~
ranee. They' re for spanking in schools, - but probably not m
the bedroom
They oppose any attempt to make child day-car~ a
mandatory employee benefit. They oppose women servmg
in anything butnon-combatantroles in the military, -goodbye
high rank, prestige, pay; they oppose multi-cul~alism and
affirmative action in all its guises. They urge abolishment of:
the U.S. Departments ofLabor, Education, Energy, HUD,
Environment, Commerce and Agriculture, OSHA, EPA,
A1F, Office of Surgeon General and government-paid
volunteers.
The National Endowment for the Arts, the National
Endowment for Humanities, the Corporations for Public
Broadcasting and Public Radio are of course all dead meat
and unfunded ifthe Republicans have their way. They are for
"Right-to-Work" and favor abolishment oftheFederal minimum wage.
It is just such a mean-spirited, narrow-minded, block- ·
headed, ignorant document that I feel soiled reading it and
hate to burden others with it; but really, dear reader, you need
to know about it. I have looked in this document in vain for
phrases and ideologies that leap to the eye when bro~ingthe
1992 Democratic platform: Fairness; Empowermg the
Poor· Civil and Equal Rights; Responsibility; Labor-Manage~ent Responsibilities; Restoring Community; National
Service; Workers Rights.
Now we all know thatyour average Republican is not as
bad as theirplatformand the averageDemocratisnotas good
as theirs, and personally I can find a lot to like in the Socialist
and the Libertarian and other political parties - heck, even
anarchy hath its charms. I've belonged to the Republican oops, I've outed myself - the Democratic and the Peace and
Freedom parties; and I am not trying to tell anyone how to
register or vote. I just cannot for the life ofme understand
how any woman, straight or lesbian; any person of color,
man or woman; any gay or lesbian person, of whatever
color, or any thoughtful decent human being, can stand
on, or for, or anywhere in the vicinity of, the platform
outlined above. D
Her/and Voice June, 1996

3

NANCY SCOTT:

BIBLIOBITS
HEARTPRINTS IN CLAY
Reviewed by Jill Garner

This latest release by Nancy Scott has taken a few
listenings to really draw me in but the more I listen to
the words and get into the songs, the more I like it.
Scott's voice is not what initially draws me in, but it's
her talent at reaching my heart with her songs exploring
love, friendship and other fun things, with some of her
humor subtly thrown in.
The album starts off with "Po co", a song which
explores the passing of time and losing touch with
friends and places along the way. "So Poco when we
look behind we find the treasures of the past, supposedly aren't in the stars to last, But I defy that fate and
I can't wait to see you all and know, The heart's
capacity for love just grows." And I love the funky beat
of "Everybody" . Emily Kaitz and her upright bass on
. "Worn Out Getting Wise" gives the song a bluesy
sound and the words, "Don't come looking for no new
flame, This one burned out long ago from playing that
ole game, Better find a woman with some stars left in
her eyes, who hasn't got worn out getting wise" are
certainly sad enough. Fortunately later on the album,
"Right Past Dawn" restores my spirit and faith in love
and desire. "Right past dawn, now babe don't get me
wrong, My love for you is strong the whole day
through, Something 'bout the way the blue lights up
your face, no moment can replace right past dawn."
"Old Flings" is the highlight of the album. Its jazz
sound is helped along by Millie Marlow on guitars,
Ruth Haber on piano, drums by Teri Lord, Emily Kaitz
and her bass, and Mary Reynolds playing saxophone.
I think the song is a good one for Scott's voice and the
lyrics make the song a great one. "Because old flings
don't die they just fade away, leaving their heartprints
in clay, and when it dries it just seems to say, hey look
what those people had themselves that day."
I've had the pleasure of hearing Nancy Scott sing
at Herland retreats in the past. She's nice, funny,
tender, and a talented musician. What a package.
Heartprints in Oay is available at Herland.
Dallas Happenings: If you're a Joan Armatradingfan, don't
miss her in Dallas June 16 at Deep Ellum live. Ani Defranco
will perform at Trees June 7. Tracy Chapman will be at the
Bronco Bowl August 17. D
4

Her/and Voice

June, 1996

With the Gay Pride Parade on June 23, political and
community history may be a topic for reading this
month. HERLAND'S LENDING LIBRARY has
many books and materials on lesbian and gay history in
the non-fiction section (east wall). Please come in,
browse and check out books that are of interest.
In the month of June, HERLAND'S LENDING
LIBRARY will have a collection display of materials
for and about Native Americans, in recognition of
Oklahoma City's Red Earth Festival and Native Americans in our community.
Another HSR work day will be on June 15, and
volunteers will be needed. Even with the cold windy
weather for the last work day, several tasks were
accomplished inside (woodwork, paint preparation,
and book processing) and outside (flower bed planting). If interested in easy tasks and a chance to visit
with other women, there is plenty of sorting, verifying,
and marking of books with the on-going library inventory. Either an hour or so or the whole day of helping
will be appreciated. A potluck is also planned. For
more information, contact the library 1,..!..:rk. at 5219696 by leaving a message or visit with a volunteer on
the weekend. D
.97"~,

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Published by: Herland Sister Resources, 2312
N.W. 39th, Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Circulation: 800
The Voice is offered as an open forum for community discourse. Articles reflect the opinions 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 or anonymously.

Subscriptions to The Voice are free upon request;
however, a $12 annual donation is encouraged to
help meet the costs of publication and distrib.ution .
The Voice is printed on recycled paper.

I

l

..- -

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

PLANNING SURVEY

In the October 1995 issue ofthis newsletter we
told you about the availability of emergency contraception which is well-known in medical circles but little
shared with the women who need it. Now Katha
Pollitt, writing in The Nation, has published a 1-800
number which women can use to locate a doctor in her
vicinity who will prescribe the "morning after" pill or
other emergency contraception. The pills are not
RU482, but tried and proven combinations of drugs
which are effective as a contraception when take in the
first several days after unprotected heterosexual intercourse. The number is 1-800-584-9911.
Anyone who wants to help protect women's reproductive freedom should call their personal physicians
and ask them to register with the Emergency Contraception Hotline, P. 0 . Box 33218, Decatur Georgia
30033 .

In April, Herland began a planning process to look
at what our immediate priorities and long-term priorities should be. Those who participated in that initial
meeting decided that we needed more information and
input from Herland volunteers and supporters and
others in our community.
A survey was designed to gather info 1mation. The
first surveys were distributed at the Spring Retreat.
Surveys are also being distributed through the Voice
and will be distributed at the Pride Parade.
Please take the opportunity to complete the survey
and contribute your opinions to the planning process. D

PBIDB CBLBBB4TIDlf
JUNE

Pollitt, a wonderful feminist columnist reviewed
in these pages in March of this year, offers us another
1-800 number on a horrific subject of commanding
interest to us all: female genital mutilation (F.G.M .)
As Pollitt describes it, F. G.M. is "sometime euphemized
as "female circumcision", although the operation - in
which the clitoris, the labia and sometimes the entire
vulva are sliced off and the vaginal opening sewn up is a medically disastrous, sometimes even fatal, procedure with grave consequences: excruciating pain,
recurring infections, the destruction of sexual pleasure
and lifelong difficulties with urination, menstsruation,
intercourse and childbirth."
A nineteen year old woman, Fauziya Kasinga of
Togo, is currently seeking asylum in the United States
as a refuge from F.G.M. Thus far she has been denied
asylum, and for more than a year was held in detention
(read: prison) in New Jersey.
She was recently
released "on parole". F auziya fled her homeland at the
age of 17, requesting political asylum in the United
States. Her case is being appealed with the help of
Equality Now, a coalition of Human Rights groups.
For further information you may call 1-800-2539539; and ifyou would like to express your opinion on
this matter you can fax Attorney General Janet Reno at
1-202-514-4371. D

23, 1996

MEMORIAL PARK

N. w.

36TH AND CLASSEN, OKC

1:00 Begin Gathering & Opening
1:30 Ecumenical Service with Holy
Trinity Ecumenical Catholic
Church and Lighthouse MCC
Church
2:00 The Banned, Oklahoma's Gay
and Lesbian Marching Band
2:15 Metro Men's Chorus
2:30 Introductions of dignitaries
2:45 Senator Bernest Cain presents
Proclamation for Pride Day
2:50 Presentation of the Helen Tyson
award
3:00 Keynote address by Donna Redwing, National Spokesperson for
GLAAD
After Donna's speech, music by Peggy
Johnson and Parade line-up
4:00 Parade steps off!
Her/and Voice June, 1996

5

JI tJJ..J..l~'l1 IN Jltt1llll)
Counseling for Lesbians: Call for a Wednesday evening appointment. Jo L. Soske MEd/MHR/CADC/LPC 8792226.
Call for Submissions: Women's Words, a new magazine dedicated to publishing women's short stories, is now
accepting submissions of never before published short stories for publication. Send your submission to Women's
Words, P.O. Box 103, Maynard, MA 01754. Stories will not be returned. Include a SASE for notification if your
story is selected for publication.
!T~ .Al'at-tMk fo J JU"U' ttKY,( cMnzf/uuuw t~ ~~ fo %t'."k.d and J
HZtJl'i!

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tfeaattj'a.IJ

Red Rock Gay and Lesbian
Ol/li'each
Free Seminars & Workshops • Substance Abuse Prevention
Education & Referral • Lesbian and Gay Support Groups
Activities (Dances, Ar1s & Crafts Classes, · Sports, etc.)
Workshops (Dance, Pottery, Relationshi~. Safer Sex, etc.)
Testing• YGLA (14-20yen old-under 18wlh parent's permission)

Ol/li'each & calendar of Events
425-0399
.otds-528-1018
~/.

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-

.

-- .

'-..__

-;;-- __ rPeggy--C~ Johnson

3:c --9"'-I _:'

The Chautauqua Center
Director

- r FAX 405-528-1035
...-..,

.,

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::

ATTORNEY AT- [AW

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( ;" · - ' c -

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- 'Parr, Friend and ,]Dhnson

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REBECCA R. COHN, Ph.D
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

PO Box 5119

22000assen Blvd.,.Soite 650
Oklahoma City, OK 73106-5809 -

illli1hlf Li nel
BUSINESS

--=--\-

Norman, Okla. 73070
405 321-2148

Payrol
Bookkeeping
Tax Preparation

Individual - Couples
Family Therapy
Retreat§

JACKIE RUFF

SERVICES
Certified Massage

ROSE M. RABON

(405) 629-2074

842-2357
6488 Avondale Drive
Suite342
Oklahoma City. OK 73116
6

Her/and Voice

June, 1996

Essential Oils

On Site Chair Massage

Herbal Colon Cleanse
House Sitting

•

- - - Herland Sister Resources - - June 1996
Monday

Sunday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1
Full Moon

3

2

4

5

6

7

8
Last Quarter

9

10

11

12

13

14

15
New Moon

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Herland Work Day
9:00 PM Peggy Johnson at Diversity
Coffeehouse, 2300
N.W. 17, 0KC

16

17

18

19

Father's Day

20

21

Summer begins

4:30 PM. Herland Board
Meeting

23
1st Quarter

1:00 PM
Pride Celebration and
Parade, Memorial Park

30
Full Moon

24

25

26

27

28
\?. ~

~: 10""~(

~r:,~o

22
7:00 PM Freefall
Concert and
Cookout at HSR

29

Herland Sister Resources
2312 N.W. 39
Oklahoma city, OK 73112
Address Correction Requested
Return Postage Guaranteed

NonProfit Org .
U.S. Postage

PAID
Oklahoma City, OK
Permit no. 861

Part of The Herland Voice : v.14: no.6(1996)