HerlandVoice-1997-02-v15-no02_ocr.pdf
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February, 1997
VALENTINE'S DAY MARRIAGE
PROTEST
The Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus (OGLPC)
and Oklal1oma NOW are organizing protests against Oklahoma's
anti-lesbian and gay marriage laws.
Members of OGLPC and Oklahoma NOW are making
plans for events in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Norman
protesting Oklahoma's version of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Possible actions are carrying protest signs at the county courthouses and /or the state capitol and same-sex couples applying
for marriage licenses in those counties. Same-sex couples who
are willing to participate in such an action, and gay and straight
supporters are encouraged to contact the organizers.
Oklahoma NOW state coordinator, Nancy Dwyer, will be
organizing efforts in Cleveland County. She can be contacted
for more information by calling 790-0757. Paul Thompson,
male co-chair of OGLPC is leading efforts in Oklahoma County.
Call him at 524-2131 for more information about Oklal1oma
County actions and for information about plans in Tulsa call
either Dwyer or Thompson.
Donations to help support these efforts can be made to
Oklahoma NOW "Marriage Protest." Mail all contributions to
OK NOW, P.O. Box 5465, Norman, OK 73070.D
IN REVIEW....
by Jill Garner
Rory Block, known for her Mississippi Delta style blues
and skillful guitar work, will perform at the City Arts Center
on the fairgrounds on March 1. Don't miss this show! Block
has a beautiful deep voice and has long been known as one of the
top acoustic blues guitarists performing today. And we have a
chance to see her here in Oklahoma City! Tickets are $12 in
advance or $15 at the door, a bargain to see a great musician in
such an intimate setting. Call 843-5789 for more information.
Ifwe can support shows like this one, we might see more ofthem
coming to Oklahoma City! See you there!
Also, make plans now to see Catie Curtis at the City Arts
Center on March 20 ! I will give you more information on Catie
in the next newsletter.
Claire Lynch - Moonlighter
Claire Lynch is well-known in Nashville circles for her
bluegrass talent and she's hoping to be known around the
country, and she should be. She and her band, the Front Porch
String Band, have been playing together for years, honing their
talent and gathering fans along the way. Moonlighter is the
result.
Lynch was introduced to Nashville songwriter Paul Craft in
the early '80s. He liked her and her songwriting talent and
Volume 15 Number 2
urged Kathy Mattea to record "Hills of Alabam" and Patty
Loveless to sing "Some Morning Soon." Then a producer heard
her backup vocals and she was soon singing backup for Patty
Loveless, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton as
word about her beautiful voice made the rounds.
After several albums by the Front Porch String Band and
a critically acclaimed gospel album by Lynch called Friends of
a Lifetime, Moonlighter was created. I hope it helps make the
name Claire Lynch well-known because she has the talent that
deserves an audience. With a wonderful bluegrass sound and
a voice that can be beautifully soft and tender and also strong
and forceful, Moonlighter should be added to your collection.
Many great instrumentalists helped out Lynch and her
band on this album, Bela Fleck and Alison Brown on the banjo
to name just a couple. The result is a great sound that will send
your heart soaring and warm your soul, not to mention make
you want to dance. Five of the songs are Lynch creations,
including the title "Moonlighter" which is one of my favorites.
Some of my other favorites weren't written by Lynch but she
picked them well. The Cajun song, "Thibodaux," will get your
feet tapping and take you to a dance floor on a warm New
Orlean's night where you'll swing the night away. "Pee Wee
and Fern" is a wonderfully sweet love story that always warms
my heart with the lines "It's another great American love story,
tltis time it just happened in Missouri." "My Heart is a
Diamond" is a beautiful feel good song and with words I love
and a gorgeous fiddle accompaniment.
I would hesitate to characterize Claire Lynch solely as
bluegrass. Certainly she is that, but if you think you don't like
bluegrass, give this album a chance to change your mind.
In t11e liner notes, Lynch is quoted as saying, "Whenever
I meet people who say, 'I am a big fan," I always tltink, 'How
do they know me? Where have they heard me?" Fortunately my
girlfriend takes chances on CDs of women she's never heard of.
We've found some of our favorite music tliat way. That's how
we made tl1e wonderful discovery of Claire Lynch! Consider
this your introduction. Take a chance. She's worth it!D
Herland Sister Resources
Songs by
PEGGY JOHNSON
Comedy by
JERRI
7:00 P.M.
Friday, Feb. 28
Herland, 2312 N.W 39, OKC
2312 N.W. 39, OKC, OK 73112
LETTERS
TO:
Friends and Neighbors in Oklahoma County
My name is Lee Brawner. I have been a professional
librarian for over 38 years including 25 years as executive
director of the Metropolitan Library System serving Oklahoma
County.
For the past few months the Metropolitan Library System
has come under a well organized local campaign by Oklahomans For Children and Families (OCAF) and Family Friendly
Libraries, a subsidiary of the Christian Coalition and the Focus
on the Family organization in Colorado Springs.
The true purpose of FFL is belied by its genial-sounding
name. FFL believes that the library's purpose should be to
emphasize the "superiority" of the traditional family--"mother
and father, married to each other, committed to a lifetime of
monogamous relationship and caring responsibly together for
their children."
FFL has charged that our library has "obscene" and "pornographic" materials in its collection.
Anti-homosexual bigotry and attacks on books referencing
the homosexual life-style also provides much of the fuel for
FFL. FFL aims to exploit homophobia in the hopes of polarizing
the community.
As part ofFFL's carefully orchestrated plan, over the past
several months our library has received numerous demands
from FFL members to remove or restrict books that have been
listed in FFL's campaign materials. Most of these individuals
cite the books listed in the FFL literature and many concede they
have neither seen or read the books or even know ifthe library
owns them.
FFL seeks to change and control the mission of the public
library. That mission is to make available the widest diversity
of views and expressions, including those which are unorthodox or unpopular with the majority.
The freedom to read and unrestricted access to books and
infonnation -- within legal limits is fundamental to libraries.
Ideas can be dangerous, but the suppression of ideas is fatal to
a democratic society. When a censor gets a library book removed or restricted, that censor is making a decision for you and
your families. If any book is removed or restricted because it
might offend someone, every book is in danger. Freedom itself
is a dangerous way of life, but, fortunately, it is ours.
Your Metropolitan Library System is a tax-district type of
system and ninety percent of its funding comes from a special
ad-valorem tax approved by Oklahoma County voters. The
library is seeking a small increase in the library mill levy onF eb.
11, 1997. Your library system is governed by a nineteen member, citizen's body, the Metropolitan Library Commission.
Members devote considerable time to this important public duty
and the library achieves high service standards.
The FFL wants to restrict the library access of certain books
and subjects for minors. At the request of FFL, the Library
Commission has agreed to review the library's policy regarding
unlimited access policy in February 1997.
2 Her/and Voice February, 1997
The Library Commission has proposed to review the policy
in February to afford ample time to review the policy including
legal and First Amendment issues with regard to restricting
access to books and information.
Your library's policy's state, in part, that, "A person's right
to use a library should not be denied or abridged because
of...age ... " Limiting access to certain materials or portions of
the library only to adults abridges the use of the library for
minors. Access to library materials is an integral part of the
right to use a library. The library believes that it is parents, and
only parents who may restrict their children and only their
children. Libraries do not serve in loco parentis.
HOW YOU CAN HELP KEEP CENSORSHIP OUT OF
YOUR LIBRARY: Write to individual members of the Library
Commission or to "Metropolitan Library Commission, Metropolitan Library System, 131 McGee, Oklahoma City, OK.
73102" (copies will be sent to all Commission Members).
Attend the monthly public meeting of the Library Commission
to express your views. Express your views in letters to newspaper editors. Copy and share this information with your friends
and neighbors. And, more than ever before, keep our libraries
strong by voting for the library mill levy increase on Feb.11.
Lee Brawner
Editor's note: This letter is excerptedfrom a longer letter which
is available with its enclosures at Her/and. 0
14TH INTERNATIONAL AIDS CANDLELIGHT
MEMORIAL & MOBILIZATION
"Illuminate the Truth: Honor Every Death, Value Every
Life: Global Solidarity for Access to Health Care, Dignity and
Life" is the theme for the 14th International AIDS Candlelight
Memorial & Mobilization to be observed world-wide on May 4.
In 1996, the annual mobilization was observed in over 300 cities
in 43 nations, making it the world's largest annual communitybased event. The Oklahoma City 1997 event will be held at the
north shelter and amphitheater at Will Rogers Park. Activities
will start at 3 P.M. with a picnic and continue with various
entertainers throughout the afternoon in honor of those that are
living with HIV and AIDS. At dusk, a program of remembrance
will be conducted in honor ofthose who have fallen in the battle.
Closing out the day of activities, there will be a candlelight
service in the amphitheater.
Individuals or organizations who would like to participate
in this event should contact Andy Southam at 942-1014 or make
plans to attend an organizational meeting at 7 PM, February 10
at North Winds Living Center, 3714 N. Portland, OKC, OK.0
Individual, couples, and family counseling
for lesbians. Contact Jo L. Soske, M.Ed./
MHR/CADC/LPC for a Wednesday evening
appointment: 879-2226.
Herland Sister Resources -- February 1997
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
Thursday
5
6
12
13
Friday
Saturday
7
8
84th Birthday of Rosa
Parks, who started
the Montgomery
bus boycott
9
10
11
15
177th Birth Anniversary
of Susan B. Anthony
7:00 PM Plannin_g for
AIDS candlelight
memorial, North
Winds, 3714 N.
Portland, OKC
16
17
4:30 PM
HSR Board
Meeting
23
18
95th Birth Anniversary of
Marian Anderson, the
first woman of color to
sing with the Metropol~
tian Opera
24
20
19
22
21
105th Birth Anniversary of
Edna st. Vincent Millay,
American poet
!Voice Deadline~
25
26
6:30 PM - 8:30
PM Newsletter
Folding Party
28
27
Sonia Johnson's 61st
Birthday. She was
excommunicated from
the Mormon Church
for her support of the
ERA
7:00 PM Coffeehouse
featuring Peggy
Johnson and Jerri
I
I
Have an event of interest to Voice readers? Let us know by the Voice deadline and we'll put it on the calendar. Call 521-9696
and leave a message for Pat or email preaves@mail.icon.net.
Thanks to all who contributed to the heat and air fund. We'll publish the final list of heat and air angels in the
March Voice. Contributions are still needed to pay off the loan that partially financed the new system. Come by
Berland, Saturday 10- 6 or Sunday 1-6 and enjoy the warmth!
The Voice is published by: Herland Sister Resources, Inc. 2312
N.W. 39th, Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Red Rock Gay and Lesbian
Olfkeach
The Voice is offered as an open forum for community discourse.
Articles reflect the opinions of the author and not necessarily those
of He;land Sister Resources. Unsolicited articies 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.
Free Seminars & Workshops • Substance Abuse Prevention
Education & Referral • Lesbian and Gay Support Groups
Activities (Dances, Arts & Crafts Classes, Sports, etc.)
Workshops (Dance, Pottery, Relationships, Safer Sex, etc.)
Testing • YGLA (14-20yearsold-under 18withparent'spennission)
Subscriptions to The Voice are free upon request although a
donation is requested to meet distribution costs.
Ollli'each & Calendar of Events
425-0399
Keep My Voice Coming!
Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Phone: _ _ __
Address_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
REBECCA R. COHN, Ph.D.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
321-2148
__ My subscription donation of _$12 or
_other: _ _ _ is enclosed.
_ Maybe I can contribute later.
Return to HSR, 2312 N.W. 39, OKC, OK 73112
P.O. Box5119
Norman, Okla 73070
Individual •
Family Therapy,
Couples
Retreats
---------------------------------------------
falfl'~ PLU~BING
Nancy Jane Nesser
T
~-l'l51
32211 S. BOULEVARD #WJ
EDMOr-:D. OK 7JDIJ
""FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBl'llG NEEos··
( 405) 942-1425
~OQESt tQEaSUQ€S
• unique ' unusual gifts • ~rt
• jc1Ddr, • canblcs • inccn&e '
~ I (405)
447-5111
mmhtrcSmct .
l1orlDID,
Harland Sister Resources
2312 N.W. 39
Oklahoma city, OK 73112
Address Correction Requested
Return Postage Guaranteed
( 405) 942-4190
4115-SlB·10'lll
""'~StlC.
OK 730&9
T
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
JEAN PROCKISH
,..
natilha Rkc ·
Attorney At Law
FAX 405·5ll·10l5
Peggy C. Johnson
AnOltNEY AT LAW
DID C'-n lhd., Suite 650
Olilahoma City, OIC 7l105·SID9
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Oklahoma City, OK
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