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HERLAND SISTER RESOURCES, INC.
2312 N.W. 39TH, OKC-73112
VOLUME 5, NUMBER 11
NOVEMBER, 1988
Around the Corner
THE END IS NEAR!
Get out and Vote
By Sondra Metzger
For what seems like an eternity, we have all
been deluged with the political issues, ideas,
campaign promises and snide remarks of
George Bussh and Michael Dukakis. Don't
worry. This article is not going to be a
campaign to get you to vote for one or the
other. My own personal beliefs as well as the
fact that a nonprofit organization cannot
endorse a candidate spares you from reading
any political rhetoric in any of my columns in
this newsletter.
What I would like to say is that, if you are
reading this newsletter, chances are that you
are of voting age. This is a right given to us
women by an amendment to the Constitution. Understand that "amendment" means
"a formal alteration of a law; a correction; an
improvement." Note that last one, an improvement. Whoever wrote the American
Heritage Dictionary knew what they were
talking about!
Women were not granted the right to vote
under the original Constitution. Neither
were blacks and 18-year-olds. In a display of
power, our foremothers fought and won the
right to vote for women all over this country.
They laid the foundation for a road that will
someday lead to the freedom to be women
and not be judged because of what we are.
Yes, it matters who gets into office. The
next president will be filling two or three
seats on the Supreme Court with judges who
we will have to endure until they retire or die.
I'm not trying to tell you who to vote for.
I'm trying to tell you to examine the issues
and get out there and vote. Use one of the
freedoms that has been given to you by our
foremothers. You didn't have to do anything
for it! All the work was done for you many
years ago! All you have to do is go to a polling
place and exercise that right.
Not voting would be equal to ignoring all
the women before us who fought so hard to
get us where we are today. Let's not let them
down. Voice your opinion and select the
candidate you feel best suits the job. Yes,
your vote counts. Yes, your opinion matters.
Yes, you are important! Do it! On November
8th.
BUSH & DUKAKIS: THEIR STANDS IN A NUTSHELL
BUSH
DUKAKIS
Abortion: Anti-choice
Pro-choice
ERA:
Opposes the ERA
Supports the ERA
Defense:
Supports MX missile; supports arms
control; favors no cuts in defense
spending.
Supports enhancement of conventional
weapons; favors negotiations with USSR
in halting development of new missiles.
Against MX missiles.
Poverty:
Endorses increase in minimum wage;
with a lower minimum wage for trainees; maintain low interest rates.
Endorses raise in minimum wage;
proposes low income housing plan.
Education:
Endorses improving education via award systems for teachers & students;
proposes redesign of student loan
program to repay loans according to
income.
Endorses revamping student loan program to repay loan via fixed perctep.tage
deducted from payroll; National ~pluca
tion Assn. endorses this candidate. •
Environment: Pro nuclear energy & clean up
toxic washes; stop ocean dumping &
acid rain; supports off-shore drilling.
Would make Environmental Protection Agency part of the Cabinet; opposes off-shore drilling & Seabrook
nuclear plant in New Hampshire; endorsed by League of Conservation
Voters and Friends of the Earth.
Health
Care:
Proposes tax incentives for those with
insurance; limit malpractice suits.
Supports long-term national health
care plan and an increase in funds for
AIDS research.
Childcare:
Against federal funding of day care
facilities; proposes tax credit on day
care for low income families and
incentives for companies providing
employee child care.
Supports Act for Better Child Care
Services Bill, which ~ould subsidize
childcare services for poor & middleincome families; supports Unpaid
Parental Leave Bill.
Civil
Rights:
Supports affirmative action; opposes
federal regulations or wage equality;
endorses "traditional morality" in
AIDS Education.
Supports affirmative action to neutralize past injustices because of race
and gender; supports role of government in guaranteeing civil rights; supports pay equality bill; opposes employment discrimination due to sexual
orientation.
NOW, GET OUT AND VOTE!
HERLAND IS ...
A non-profit corporation composed of a collective of wimmin - open to any womyn who
wants to be a part of it - which works to maintain a fem inist library and bookstore, sponsors
workshops, retreats, concerts and other events for YOU. Herland's reason for being is to
provide a framework for a variety of projects for the support and enjoyment of the area
wimmin's community. It is a place to learn and grow, meet other wimmin, develop lasting
friendsh ips, rece ive support and nurture the positive self-image that societal attitudes
sometimes make illusive to us. Herland exists to serve YOU.
Your donations are used to pay the mortgage and utilities on the resource center, and
printing and postage for the monthly HSR Newsletter and Friend of Herland cards.
With the exception of the Library, all of Herland's services are free, including the Newsletter.
Th is is why your donation is so important: It is Herland's lifeblood.
COFFEEHOUSE PLANNED
In the beginning, Herland held coffeehouses to raise money. After a three-year
absence, they're back!
Herland's first coffeehouse in the new
building will be held November 12 from 8
p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Entertainment will be
provided by the winner of the G.A.L.A.
femasle vocalist of the year award, Donna
DeSalvo.
Although admission is free, donations to
Herland and tips for Mss. DeSalvo will be
appreciated. Refreshments will be provided.
DeSalvo has opened for national performers Sue Fink and Nancy Day, and writes
all her own music. She began her career
singing and playing her guitar at past Her land
coffeehouses.
Stop in, catch the talent and wit of Donna
DeSalvo and enjoy Herland's first coffeehouse. Herland is located at 2312 NW 39th
Street.
Watch for "An Interview with Donna D"
in next month's HSR Newsletter.
PET WINTERIZATION
By Sondra Metzger
Those of you who own pets that stay
outside all the time need to remember to
winterize your pets before the harsh Oklahoma winter months arrive.
Although they have fur coats, it's not
always enough to keep them warm. Extra
food should be put out so they can fuel up
their bodies. Water should be checked to
make sure it's not frozen. They should have
adequate shelter with proper bedding to keep
warm. By adequate shelter, it should be
something that is covered and will break the
wind with some type of covering over the
door. Failure to provide adequate shelter
could lead to a fine if you live in Oklahoma
City, accordng to a city ordinance.
Another item to watch out for is antifreeze . Anti-freeze has a sweet taste to
animals . An animal that drinks it will
hemorrhage internally and die in a short
matter of time. Ensure that all containers are
kept out of their reach, and that spilled antifreeze is cleaned up.
Be aware of the dangers of severe cold on
your animal friends and enjoy their love a
little while longer.
PUBLISHED BY: Herland Sister Resources, Inc.
2312 NW 39th, Oklahoma City, OK 73112
CIRCULATION: 700
GENERAL INFO: (405) 794-7464 or 672-4141
VOLUNTEER INFO: 528-0604
ADVERTISING: 672-4141
DEADLINE on all advertising and submissions
is the 15th of each month.
SUBSCRIPTIONS to this Newsletter are free
upon request.
ANNOUNCES
· ALIX DOBKIN IN CONCERT
on November 18
at Civic Center Little Theater
(Call 528-0020 for information)
HERLAND WORK WEEKEND
November 5th and 6th, 10:00 a.m. - ??
. 2312 Northwest 39th, Oklahoma City
For info rmation, call 794-7464
Volunteers Needed!
COFFEEHOUSE AT HSR - DONNA D!
November 12th, 8:00 - 9:30 p.m .
Donations accepted! Refreshments included.
THE NEW HERLAND CENTER IS NOW OPEN:.
SATURDAYS 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. & SUNDAYS 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
at 2312 N.W. 39th St.
HERLAND BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD THE 3RD
SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 2312 N.W. 39TH
Next Meeting: November 19th, 4:30 p.m.
We welcome your presence
i
COMING OUT DAY RALLY
HELD AT ANGLES
By Sondra Metzger
A rally celebrating National Coming Out
Day was held at Angles on October 9. Tables
were set up around the outer· edge of the
dance floor for various organizations within
the community to display brochures, pamphlets, pins and books. Some organizations
sold munchies while Angles' bar managed to
quench the thirsts of those attending.
The showing of a video made from the
newscasts of the three local television
networks featuring the Gay Rights March
held in June opened the rally. Extra video
footage was added and accompanied by the
songs I Am What I Am by Mitzi Gaynor and
I'm Coming Out by Diana Ross.
John Nicholas, associate pastor at MCC,
provided the invocation followed by Mary R .
leading the group in the national anthem.
Keith Smith served as emcee for the rally and,
along with OASIS director Darlene Burgess,
Maryann and Paul Thompson, read suggestions for coming out.
Entertainment was provided by Mychall
2
Allen, Mary R., Peggy Johnson, Denise,
Living Water from MCC, Mark Agnew,
Tutu, Randall Powell and Three of Hearts.
Gretchen, representing Gay / Lesbian Alliance at University of Oklahoma, invited
everyone to attend their meetings on Thursdays, 7:30 p .m., Room 165 in the Student
Union. It is their tenth anniversary!
Darlene Burgess, OASIS Community
Center, announced that Zoom Beach will not
be one of the festivities held during Gay Pride
Week in 1989. Instead, there will be a Pride
Fest at Taft Stadium. They are hoping to have
local and out-of-state entertainers on hand to
perform.
Bill Rogers spoke, encouraging all to deal
with their gayness, feel good about themselves and share their gayness with people
they desire to share it with.
Organizations represented at the rally
were : Herland Sister Resources; OASIS
Community Center; AIDS Support Program; Gay and Lesbian Helpline; Church of
Christ; Interfaith Connections on AIDS
Response and Education; Dignity/Integrity
of OKC; OU Gay /Lesbian Alliance; American Civil Liberties Union; and Affirmation.
FRIENDSHIPS UNITED
FRIENDSHIPS UNITED is a not for
profit group that has organized thirteen of
Oklahoma City's talented musicians and
entertainers. These people are committed to
producing a collection of songs for a cassette
tape for which all proceeds will benefit the
"Winds," a hospice home for those living
with AIDS. Some of the musicians and
entertainers involved in this project are Mark
Agnew, Mychall Lee Allen, Elyse Angelo,
Cindy Bookout, Glenn Brown, Donna
DeSalvo, Peggy Johnson, Randall Powell,
Mary Reynolds, and Rhonda Smith. FRIENDSHIPS UNITED believes they have assembled a most gifted and generous collage of
individuals; each contributing their own
expertise and specialties to a very worthwhile
cause.
They chose the name FRIENDSHIPS
UNITED to represent themselves because
they believe it is a unification of friendships
that will enable them to reach the goals they
have established. It will be through faith,
trust, love, patience and a lot of hard work.
Their goals are:
1) To raise a minimum of $1,000.00
through donations and fundraising
efforts. This will enable them to begin
studio recording.
2) Projected studio production is set for
the first quarter of 1989. This is
coptingent upon receiving the $1,000.
3) To communicate their efforts both
verbally and written to as many people
possible.
4) To market their finished product, the
collective works of music with all
proceeds benefitting the "Winds"
home.
Once these goals are met, then the Winds
Cassette Tape Project will be a self-sufficient
operation. The tape will be available through
mail order and at various functions throughout the year. All proceeds will be channeled
to the "Winds" home.
Artists Brian Landreth and Rhonda London
are designing the cassette tape cover and goal
poster respectively.
The first fundraising effort is scheduled for
Sunday, November 20, 1988 at the Bunkhouse,
2807 N.W. 36th Street, 942-9305. The 3 of
Hearts will be providing entertainment, so
come on out for a handclapping, footstomping good time!!
There is no cover charge and they'd love to
see you!
Donations of any size and magnitude will
be greatly appreciated and may be sent to
Friendships United, c/o Peggy Johnson, P.O.
Box 75842, Okalhoma City, OK 73147. For
information call 949-1768.
From Press Release
A big thank you to Shatzy for Herland's
beautiful new curtains. A very talented
woman with a generous heart!
ExPressions
PERFORMER LEAVES
CROWD CHEERING
FOR MORE
By Sondra Metzger
Singer-songwriter Nancy Scott opened the
concert portion of Herland's Fall Retreat
with a performance that left the audience
cheering for more.
"I love this retreat," she said. "All those
wild women. Wild women don't get the
blues, you know."
The Tennessee-born guitarist loves all
types of music. Because she writes from a
lesbian perspective, Nancy has been singing
to primarily lesbian audiences.
"I write all kinds of munic," she explained,
"sometimes it's about other peoples' experiences, but mostly it's about the trouble I
get myself into."
Born February 6, 1950, Nancy moved to
Austin, Texas 11 years ago because she was,
in her words, wild in love. But that's another
story.
"I got my first guitar when I was 16." she
said, "and wrote a couple of .songs in high
school. I guess I was 12 years old when I
performed in public for the first time. That
was in Knoxville, Tennessee."
Working at the School for the Deaf in
Austin during the day, Nancy performs
whenever she can at night. Her schedule has
been taking her out of town quite a bit lately,
but she's not complaining. She has just
released her first album entitled Both Sides of
Me.
"That was neat," she said, "now that I can
look back on it. People kept asking me about
an album and I said I didn't have the money
for a album. They said 'Let's raise it!' and
they did!"
The album contains what Nancy calls quiet
songs and wild songs, which describe both
sides of her, hence the title. It took three and a
half years and thousands of dollars to make
the album a reality. Because she appreciated
all the effort by her friends and supporters in
making the album possible, Nancy attempted
to put everyone's name on the bottom of the
inside cover. You might say it's a handmade
album.
"I'd do another album today if someone
walked up and handed me $12,000," she
said. "But I won't do it like I did the first one,
not with bake sales and garage sales.
That album and tape are available at
Herland for $10.
Nancy never intentionally structures "-~er
performance for a totally lesbian audience.
Her songs are written from the heart.
"There's more appreciation from a lesbian
audience," she explains, "but I don't ever
want to lose sight of the fact that I love to sing
everything. There's a dream in the back of my
3
head about being a front singer for a band and
singing blues and jazzy stuff and still keep the
Nancy Scott that does womens' music. I want
to do both. I want to do everything! f'.rf
Nancy's future dreams consist of ~etting
one of her songs sold in Nashville and be
primarily a songwriter, ~lthough she says she
doesn't have aspirations for big fame. She's a
day-by-day kind of woman who trudges
along just to keep it from the heart.
When asked what the craziest thing was
that ever happened to her on stage, Nancy
remembered one time when she was singing
Cashmere Sweater.
"When I got to the part where I sing 'come
take these clothes off so slow,"' she explained, "I got rushed. They took my belt and
my tie, and they were going for my blouse
when we finally got them under control."
"My worst mem~ry," she continued, "was
coming here. The airlines wouldn't take my
paycheck as payment for the plane ticket
without 12 lD's. They were telling me I
couldn't fly to OKC and I was telling them I
HAD to fly to OKC. A friend helped me out,
but I was still an hour and a half late. My
guitar was here, but I wasn't."
Anyone who was at the retreat knows that
Nancy Scott is not a singer-songwriter. Nancy
Scott is an entertainer of the highest caliber,
and we thank her for sharing her songs and
her talent with us.
To the Editor
Herland Sister Resources, Inc. Newsletter
October 11 was "National Coming Out
Day." One of the television talk shows aired a
very tasteful program featuring several lesbians and gays addressing exclusively the
issues of coming out of the closet, the
importance of and reasons for coming out,
and the personal and political implications of
coming out. One angry phone caller expressed the feelings of many persons, accusing the talk show guests of trying to recruit
Continued on page 5
WHY ALL WORKING
WOMEN NEED
EQUAL PAY
Around the Country
LITIGATION TO STOP
REAGAN ATTACK
ON FAMILY PLANNING
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA) has filed suit in the U.S.
District Court against the Reagan Administration's Department of Health and Human
Services.
The legal action against Otis Bowen,
Secretary, U .S. Department of Health and
Human Servcices, is one of the most important cases in PPFA's 71-year history.
AND ... it's vitally important to millions
of Americans who value their reproductive
rights and their civil liberties.
The lawsuit was filed to challenge President Reagan's shocking regulatory attack on
one of the most important and effective
government health programs - Title X of the
Public Health Service Act..
The Title X family planning program
prevents 800,000 unwanted pregnancies and
prevents 433,000 abortions each year! This
health program also provides contraceptive
services to more than five million women each
year - the vast majority of them poor women
and teen-agers.
If the Reagan regulatory attack on Title X
succeeds, almost two decades of effective
work to prevent unwanted pregnancies and
abortions will be destroyed. And the cost in
individual lives and to the nation in both
social and economic terms will be catastrophic.!
The lawsuit charges that the Reagan action
is nothing short of a denial of free speech - a
bald-faced attempt to gag and stifle those with
whom this administration disagrees.
The Title X family planning program has
enjoyed strong bi-partisan support since its
enactment by Congress in 1970. But Mr.
Reagan, determined to destroy abortion
rights and family planning before leaving
office, has committed the full political power
of his administration to undermining it.
Mr. Reagan's attack - announced before
200 anti-abortion leaders in the White
House - led the Department of Health and
Human Services to issue restrictive regulations to cut off federal money to family
planning organizations that even mention
abortion to their clients.
If President Reagan's changes to the Title X
family planning program are permitted to
take effect, hundreds of family planning
clinics throughout the country may be forced
to close.
And, millions of Americans would be
denied the principal means of receiving complete
and accurate medical information about the
choices available to them in meeting their
reproductive health needs.
To contribute much-needed funds to
PPFA's fight to save reproductive rights and
help America's women and families, send
donations to: Planned Parenthood, 810
Seventh Avenue, Box 4447, New York, NY
10163.
From Press Release
OBSERVANCE OF
10th ANNIVERSARY
OF ASSASSINATION OF
HARVEY MILK URGED
The Harvey Milk Remembrance Committee, an ad hoc group organized by the Gay
Services Network of Kansas City and the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
(NOLTF), has declared Sunday, November
27 - the 10th anniversary of Harvey Milk's
assassination - to be Harvey Milk Rememberance Day. The Committee urges gay and
lesbian groups across the United States to
hold events - such as vigils and workshops
- remembering Milk and focusing attention
on the growing problem of anti-gay violence.
Harvey Milk, a tireless and outspoken
advocate for the rights of gay people and
other oppressed groups, was elected to the
San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977,
one of the first openly gay elected officials in
the U.S. On November 27, 1978, Milk
-along with San Francisco Mayor George
Moscone - was assassinated by Dan White,
another city Supervisor. That night, more
than 40,000 marchers converged on San
Francisco's City Hall to mourn the deaths of
both men. Months later, Dan White was
acquitted by a jury of first degree murder and
convicted of manslaughter - for which he
served only five years in prison. The lenient
sentence shocked and outraged many, sparking angry protests and violence.
Commented Scott Smith, Executor of the
estate of Harvey Milk, "A national day of
remembrance is appropriate because Harvey's
legacy extends beyond San Francisco to the
entire world. Ten years later, his example
continues to inspire and energize gay and
lesbian people everywhere."
"The tenth anniversary of Harvey Milk's
assassination allows us to not only recall his
enormous contribution to our movement,"
said Kevin Berrill, Director of NGLTF's
Anti-violence Project, "but also to focus
attention on the violence that still plagues our
community, still threatens our freedom to
live and love as we choose. It is my hope that
local observances will encourage more of us
to combat anti-gay violence and to demand
equal protection from the criminal justice
system."
Press Release
4
In 1939 women working full-time yearround earned 58% of what men did. Today
the ratio remains little changed at 68%,
despite the fact that at least 15 states have
enacted laws requiring equal pay for jobs of
equal value. In 1984 nearly 213 of working
women earned less than $10,000; only 4%
made over $25,000. The average female
college graduate still earns approximately the
same as a male high-school dropout.
Nearly half of all female-headed households
have incomes below $10,000. In 1984 the
median income for all white families was over
$30,000; white families headed by women
made less than half that amount., Showing
the double oppressions of racism and sexism,
the median black family in America in 1984
made only $13 ,500, and female-headed black
families only% of that. (A "median" figure
means that half of the families made more,
halfless.)
Figures show that two-earner couples
make only 27% more than couples in which
only the husb and works; the extra ·costs of
transportation, daycare, work claffies,. etc.,
eat up more than 213 of the wife's low salary.
Nevertheless, both spouses work in 54% of
U .S. married couples (including half of
mothers with children under age one), up
from only 33% two decades ago.
They have to, if they hope to buf a home
and a car and educate their children. The
average price of a new home is now over
$80,000. It costs nearly $5,000 per year to
own and operate a new compact car. College
costs have almost doubled in the last five
years, while federal assistance has gone down
10%.
I
A White House economist in 1984 said the
idea of comparable pay for men & women
(supported by Mondale/Ferraro) was "a
truly crazy proposal" and "an idea whose
time, I think, has long passed," based on the
"rather medieval concept of a just pay and a
just wage." He said this was "one of those
many instances unfortunately in which Mr.
Mondale seems to have catered to particular
constituencies without thought for the implication for the larger American (economy)."
From Up & Coming, August, 1988
r:-------------
0 YES! I want to be a Friend of Herland. My min imum!
donation of $12 allows me use of the Herland Library
and a 10% discount on store purchase over the next 12
months. {My $12 is enclosed.}
D YES' I want to help Herland with a donation to the
New Building Fund.
D $25
D $15
D $20
D $100
D $_ _
D $50
D Bookstore volunteer
D Building volunteer
Name - - - - - - - - - - - - - Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
City _ _ _ _ _ _ __
SL__ZIP _ _
Telephone Number: (
Mail to:
Herland Sister Resources, Inc.
2312 N.W. 39th
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
LEITER, Continued from page 3
people to our ranks and a plot to annihilate
the human race. He even resorted to name
calling, throwing in words such as "sick-a"
and "blimp."
Sadly enough, the angry caller represents
the attitude of many uninformed, fearful
people. We can get angry in return, get
defensive, shake our heads at his ignorance
-we have several choices. Recognizing that
people tend to hate what they fear, and to fear
what they don't understand, is it beyond
reason to hope that enlightenment, even to a
small degree, might make a difference? IfWE
don't put forth an effort to clear up some of
these misconceptions, who will?
What have we done here in Oklahoma
City to enlighten our oppressors? What have
we done to show them that we are their
neighbors, their co-workers, their professionals, their relatives? What have we done
here in Okalhoma City to dispel the widespread belief that AIDS is the curse of the
lifestyle, the dreaded incurable disease so
many people believe is prophesied in the
Bible as a curse of sin? What have we done?
WE HEADED UP THE PARADE ON GAY
PRIDE WEEK WITH THE PWA's!
What activities did our Community sponsor for Coming Out Day? What did we do to
show that we are not all bull dykes or drag
queens, that we are loving, caring people, that
we do have some mature, responsible adults
in our ranks, that we are not child molesters
and that we are more than kinky, irresponsible "sick-o's"? What have we done? WE
HAD A BIG PARTY AT A BIG GAY BAR!
Isn't it about time we take some of the
responsibility for the image we give to the
straight world? Sure, we can't hope to change
the attitudes of others, but we can, and have
the obligation to, take responsibility for
ourselves and our image.
The Oklahoma City Community is blessed
with several wonderful lesbian and gay
organizations and support groups. I'm looking forward to seeing, and participating in,
some of their activities, hopefully in a more
mature, enlightening atmosphere - ones
which will help others to know who we
REALLY are!
Loral Reeves
THE VOICE OF WOMAN
In the words of the Russian visionary and
writer, Helena Roerich, "the great epoch of
woman is coming." Hers is a two-fold task:
"to uplift herself and to uplift her eternal
companion, man." Spiritual renewal of
humanity calls for us to heed the "voice of
woman, who during millenniums has drunk
the chalice of suffering and humiliation and
has forged her spirit in the greatest patience."
Ours is still very much a man's world. Men
hold most positions of power, wealth and
decision-making, reinforcing dominance of
the masculine principle throughout society.
Ours is, therefore, a world gravely out of
balance.
This imbalance presents us with a crisis of
greatest urgency. It's not that either the
feminine or masculine is superior to the
other. They are equally of value and complementary. But present human and global
problems show the peril that results when
one of the two elements dominates and the
other is suppressed and denied expression.
For the past 3 ,000 years or so most people
have lived in social structures conditioned by
masculine attitudes and values. On all sides
today we see the cost of this one-sided
emphasis. The economist, Hazel Henderson,
writes that ''there is much evidence associating patriarchal societies with oppression,
violence and militarism," She describes how
patriarchal systems are based on rigid divisions of labour, polarisation of sex roles,
reductionist policies, control of information
and competition both internally as well as
between nations. Qualities that have come to
be equated with masculinity are glorified
while, at trhe same time, patriarchal value
systems breed contempt for qualities decried
as 'soft' or feminine.
However, if we are to live in peace, to
conserve the environment, to protect the
weak and vulnerable, to make the meeting of
real human and world need our priority - in
other words, if the human species is to
survive and have a world which we would
want our children to inherit - it will be
because feminine values have begun to gain
ascendency.
It is the values of compassion, relationship,
forgiveness, cooperation, justice-with-mercy
that today hold the key to our survival. It is
only when goodwill and humanitarian values
are given proper 'weight' that the real h uman
issues of our times will be found at the very
centre of world concern and action.
A liberating recognition that h as come
through both the women's movement and
the increasing awareness of the need to
balance the masculine and feminine elements
is that these two great forces are present in
each person. The 'macho' image of the tough,
aggressive male is a stereotype that debases
what it is to be a man. One of the many signs
that the patriarchal era has had its day is the
growing number of men who are acknowledging and learning how to give expression
to the gentler, caring side of their nature in
order to be 'whole' and integrated. For
women the crisis is that of having confidence
to explore and hold to the true feminine
values and to find the strength and skills
needed to bring these values into every
sphere of their lives.
The women's movement affirms that both
sexes are equal in all significant ways and that
qualities that are traditionally associated with
women are of equal value to the qualities
associated with men. The movement aims for
equal participation by women and men in
shaping and governing society. A major step
towards this objective has been the success
5
that many women have had in moving into
influential positions in the existing social
structure. However, this is only a beginning
and these women are stilt a small minority of
the people in power. The women's movement is so very significant precisely because
its long-term aim is not that women should
just fit into the existing social pattern but that
the pattern itself must change. Full creative
participation and equal rights for women
depend upon changing the system, 'feminising' it, so that women's values and concerns
are elevated to their rightful place.
The United Nations Decade for Women
spotlighted the appalling disadvantages of
being a woman in our modern world. It can
also be seen as marking a turning point.
Although the struggle for a new and balanced
relationship between women and men is, and
remains, extremely difficult and we have a
very long way to go before the worst of the
inequalities affecting women are overcome,
nothing can now put back the clock and stop
this process.
Research during the decade shows that in
every part of the world women are worse off
than men. They have less power, less freedon,
less money, more work and more .·;~¥pon
sibility. "A man may work from sun ~o sun,
but a woman's work is never done" - to
quote a piece of folk wisdom. UN figures
show that women "perform nearly twothirds of all working hours." One of the few
generalisations that hold true everywhere is
that unpaid domestic work is regarded as
women's work. This is hard work and
important work: caring for children, keeping
house and home and, for the poor, collecting
water and firewood. Research has shown that
a typical woman in a Pakistani village, for
example, spends nearly 63 hours a week on
domestic work alone. The/ assumption that
the long hours of domestic work are her sole
responsibility is perhaps the chief injustice
done to women. It is made all the worse by
not being considered to be 'real work' and by
being unpaid and taken for granted.
Women and children make up the majority of the world's poor. This reflects not
only the limited employment opportunities
for women and the lower wages they are paid
but also the increase in numbers of womanheaded households. In rich countries divorce
is the main cause of the rise in single parent
families. In poor countries it is due both to
divorce and to the migration of men in search
of work. Almost always this leads to a much
reduced income to the home. Estimates vary
but it is thought that as many as one-third of
all households worldwide may now be
headed by women.
One of the most heartening and progressive changes improving the lot of women
today is improved access to education. The
education gap is closing fast, although it
remains a very significant gap. From the longterm perspective of the good of the whole of
humanity it can be argued that, in fact, girls
and women have a higher claim to enlightened education than boys and men. This
Continued on page 6
WOMAN, Continued from page 5
is because, in our present social structure, the
years of childhood are spent mostly in the
company of the mother and other female
relatives or helpers. These early years of life
are the most impressionable, so the influence
of women on the coming generation is
formative and their attitudes and world-view
of critical importance to the culture of the
future.
For thousands of years women have been
made silent and 'invisible' in the public arena
not only by pressure against them playing any
role outside the home but also by lack of
education. Education is essential in the
process of women gaining confidence, selfesteem and the skills to equip them in the
struggle for equal rights.
It is hardly surprising that woman's lack of
confidence has been, and is still, an obstacle
to progress. For long ages they have been
treated by church and state as greatly inferior
to men. The idea of the inferiority of women
is deep rooted and its effect is pervasive.
Degradation _o f women is also big business.
Figures are difficult to come by but the
pornography industry in the USA alone was
estimated at 8 billion dollars in 1984. This is
more than the giant film and music industries
put together. Pornographic films outnumber
other films by three to one and the pornographic magazine market is said to be even
more lucrative.
By largely ignoring the role of women
history as told in our history books has given
us few heroines. The focus of mainstream
historians has been related, in most cases, to
power and the major social events related to
power. In patriarchal society the proportion
of women who wield power is small and yet
even those who did hold power are generally
omitted. Marilyn French gives as an example
of this, a book on the history of the world by
William McNeill which lists only one woman
in the index - Catherine the Great of Russia.
In another example a UN paper, "Women
and Science," comments that, despite the
prejudice that made science "forbidden
territory" for women until recent years, quite
a number of women did achieve scientific
Potpourri
NGLTF NATIONAL
CONFERENCE FEATURES
APUZZO, D'EMILIO
"Creating Change: A National Conference for Gay & Lesbian Organizations" will feature keynote speeches by two
leading gay activists, Virginia Apuzzo and
John D'Emilio. The Conference is organized
by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
(NGLTF) and will be held on November 1820, 1988 in Washington DC at the Hotel
Washington.
The Conference, which is open to all gay
organizations, has three goals: ( 1) to foster
skill, resource and information sharing; (2)
to support and develop gay /lesbian leadership at the local, state and national levels; and
( 3) to strengthen our political movement by
supporting the organizations and institutions
that serve our community.
Technical skill-building workshops led by
activists from across the country will be
offered in the areas of lobbying, grassroots
organizing, media action, development and
fundraising, and direct action. Panels will
also focus on current political debates within
our movement.
Virginia Apuzzo has be actively engaged in
the national gay and lesbian movement since
the early ?O's and remains the gay and lesbian
political movement's most original and
visionary thinker. Apuzzo is former Executive Director of the National Gay & Lesbian
Task Force. She is Deputy Executive Director
of the New York State Consumer Protection
Board; serves as Governor Mario Cuomo's
liason to New York's gay and lesbian community; and is the Vice-Chair of the New
York State AIDS Advisory Council.
John D'Emilio is a noted historian, activist
and author from North Carolina. He is a
professor at the University of North Carolina
in Greensboro. D'Emilio is author of:
Intimate Matters: A History of Sexuality In
America which is co-authored by Estelle
Freedman (Harper & Row 1988); and Sexual
Politics, Sexual Communities: The Making of a
Homosexual Minority (University of Chicago
Press).
For more information on Conference
workshops and registration, write: NGLTF
CREATING CHANGE, 1517 U St. NW,
DC 20009.
prominence in the past but only very few of
them ever appear on the pages of scientific
historical reference books.
The "voice of woman" calls for a transformation of our society so that we move
towards a world where women and the
feminine principle are justly represented at
all levels of life. Then women and men will
both have the opportunity of full participation and the opportunity to give of their best.
True to the spirit of the divine feminine the
women's movement has transcended the
glamour of being "anti-men" and is emerging
as a movement for equality, for life, for peace,
for justice, for the earth. The new era
depends upon the "voice of woman" being
heard and acted upon. This new era depends
more than anything else upon the united
action of women and men of goodwill and
understanding in every part of the world,
serving creatively together in equal partnership.
From World Goodwill Newsletter
1988, No. 1
lesbians as women who are making,positive
· contributions to society, enjoying "Lffe :tnd
interacting in a positive way with others,"
Ms. Vida said.
Photographers will receive $35 for each
photo published in the revised edition,
payable upon publication. Photos must be
black and white, professional quality, nd all
persons pictured must sign a release which
the editor will provide. Photographers will be
credited in the book.
Our Right to Love is an anthology oflesbian
writing that includes more than 40 essays,
dozens of personal testimonies, more than
100 photographs of lesbians plus some
lesbian rights supporters. 'The original edition was published in 1978 by Prentice Hall.
Photos may be submitted to: Ginny Vida,
Editor, Our Right To Love, 45 Plaza St., #1-G,
Brooklyn, NY 11217. (718) 789-0391.
From Dimensions, Oct. 1988, Vol. 3 No. 4
r--- - -COUPON----,
PHOTOS SOUGHT FOR
REVISED EDITION OF
uouR RIGHT TO LOVE"
CaPitol Hill Family Clinic
BROOKLYN, NY - Ginny Vida, Editor of
Our Right To Love; A Lesbian Resource Book, is
inviting lesbian photographers to submit
photos of lesbians for possible inclusion in
the revised edition of Our Right To Love, to be
published by E.P. Dutton.
Photographs depicting: affection, friendship, outdoor and indoor scenes, lesbians at
work, individual portraits, lesbians engaged in
sports, Black, White, Asian America, Latina
and Native American, lesbians of all ages,
lesbians who are abled and differently abled,
are being sought. Lesbians who are national
or local movement leaders are also desirable
subjects for photos.
"I'm looking for photographs that portray
PAMELA S. HITI, D.O.
6
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Meet the Board
DEDICATED
BOARD MEMBER
SISTER#3
MEET JILL W.
By Sondra Metzger
Up to this point in time, you have met
Sisters #1 and #2 who have presented
themselves as serious, dedicated professionals striving to make Herland better for all
women. For what it's worth, the entire board
is like that. By the time I finish this series
(there are 12 more board members at this
time, folks), you will know that Herland is
kept afloat by one main ingredient: dedication.
When I think of what the word dedication
means, the definition that comes to mind is
Sister #3, Jill W . As Sister #3, Jill is the
treasurer whose duties are to keep track of
Herland's income and expenses, maintain
accounts receivable, prepare monthly sales
tax reports, and generally make sure Herland
has enough money in the bank to cover
expenses. As oflate, this has not been an easy
job since Herland's account usually operates
in the red.
Jill also serves on the library, volunteer,
fundraising, and executive committees. One
would think that that would be enough,
wouldn't one?
Nine times out of ten, it's not, for Jill can
usually be found doing something for HSR
whether it's at home ar at the resource center.
Her work does not go unnoticed. All of us
know where we would be if it wasn't for Jill,
and are very grateful for her gift of time.
Jill was the first person I met when I started
coming to HSR. She was the one who trained
a friend of mine on how to run the bookstore.
A year later, I find out that Jill herself had
never been properly trained.
"My first day at the bookstore was a
nightmare," she recalls. "The person who
was supposed to train me on the operation of
the store never showed up. I had to snoop
around and pick things up on my own."
This dedicated Sister considers herself a
fun lady who doesn't inhabit the bars,
majored in English and library science at
Central State (the school, folks, no the
hospital- she's not out on a pass), graduated
in 1970 with a BA, and is a native Oklahoman.
Jill works in the medical field during the
day. So how did a librarian end up in the
medical field?
"When I got out of college,'' Jill explains,
"it was an in between time for getting a job. I
applied at numerous libraries and everyone
said 'We'll keep your application on file.' We
all know what file that is - the dumpster. I
needed a job, so I went to work for the
Department of Human Services as a medical
abstractor. I really liked being involved in the
medical field. I went from there to the
medical records department of Oklahoma
Memorial Hospital and realized that I enjoyed working with medical records. That's
the career I've followed for the past 14 years.
I've been in my present job for four years. My
goal now is to get certified in the area I work
in.''
Jill calls herself a homebody, but she adds
that she does like to travel. She also collects
owls and music, is involved with her church,
and enjoys being with family and friends. She
likes to read and cook and would love to
entertain her friends at her apartment but it's
so small, she says, that more than four people
is a real crowd. Jill is the first board member I
have interviewed who is not only single but
also available! She thought I was kidding
when I said I'd quote her on that.
Jill first heard about Herland in 1983.
Unlike the other two hoard members, Jill did
not hear about HSR from Barbara Cleveland.
Believe me, she is one of the few and far
between.
"My boss at that time told me about this
neat bookstore," she explains, "so I went
exploring one Saturday and ran into an old
college friend, Barbara Cleveland (bet you
readers couldn't have guessed that). The
stories I could tell about my college days and
Barbara Cleveland!"
"My first impression of Her land was that it
was something that was needed for a long
time,'' she recalls. "I was excited about it. I
didn't realize that it had been going on for as
long as it had. I sort of felt left out, but I had
no way of knowing about it because I really
wasn't a bar person and didn't get around
much. "
When asked how she became involved
with the board, Jill's answer was that she was
railroaded. Really, Jill? Now who would
possibly do a thing like that?
"Barbara Cleveland did a lot of talking
over the phone,' ' she says. "Everything she
said made sense, and I just felt like I had a lot
to offer. I had a lot of good ideas that I would
like to have seen incorporated into Herland.
It was, and still is, a good bunch of women.
They're like family, even the ones who have
gone on to other things. It's like a family
because they're all there for one another."
Surely you weren't railroaded into becoming an officer, too!
"Now, that I really was railroaded into,''
she says. "It was one of the coldest nights of
the year and my car wouldn't start. Since it
was a meeting night, two of the board
members picked me up and told me they
were going to put my name in for Sister #4. I
said 'the hell you are,' but they insisted. I
really didn't want to do it. When we got to
the meeting, they suggested my name and I
said 'oh well, what the heck, why not,' and
that was that. I think there was a conspiracy at
that meeting but I have yet to prove it."
One ofJill's dreams for Herland is to see it
operating in the black and not running on a
month-to-month basis. She feels the only
way to do that is to really push the fundraising aspects and get the resource center
7
stocked with items that are of interest to the
whole community, then have enough volunteers to have the center open during the week.
"I think networking is going to be a key
factor as we move into the nineties,'' she says.
"We're going to have to do more of that, as
well as work on getting volunteers. I know it's
a lot of work, but the sacrifice will be worth
it in the long run. Some people say they don't
have any money. Who does in this economy?
Sure, we need money, but we also need
physical help. If someone has a little spare
time, they could come over and help. There
are a lot of people out there who have a talent
that could be put to good use working with
us."
According to the rules of rotation, Jill will
become Sister #2 in January 1989, then Sister
#1inJuly1989.Afterthat,sheisplanningon
keeping herself busy with whatever Herland
needs, like the lending library. She feels
Herland could have one of the best lending
libraries in the state. She hopes volunteers
can be instructed on how to work it and will
be able to do it on weekends.
"I feel Herland's purpose for being in
existence is to be there for all men and
women in the community," she ,explains.
"There's a lot of room for compasskh in our
work and we need to be there for everyone
who is struggling, for people that just want to
come in and talk. We are there to provide a
service, and if we don't have the answers, we
need to be able to tell them where to go to get
them. I think we need to really strive to be a
better instrument of that image as far a
helping one another."
Jill feels very strongly that Herland needs
to get more people involved in itself and let
the community know that it is sincere and
that it is a business.
"Herland is not out 1 to make a great
profit," she says. "That's not our goal. To be
self-sufficient, yes, but not to make millions
of dollars. Just to provide a service for our
community. We can do that. We've been
restructuring, and we really need to put forth
all the effort we can muster into making a go
of it. We've had a lot of struggles, and the way
I look at it is, those are behind us."
To Jill, Herland means freedom - freedom
to be yourself. She feels that people can
express ideas and have them listened to.
"It's been good for me,'' she explains. "I've
seen a lot of change in me and I'm not a 'me'
person. I also see a lot of growing I still need
to do. I like being involved in Herland
because there's some really wonderful people
here. I don't think the community knows us
well yet, but they're learning. We have fun,
but it's not all fun and games. It's a serious
matter, too."
If you have the time, come by the resource
center, meet some of the board members and
see if everything I've been writing so far is the
truth! The board meetings are held the third
Sunday of each month, which means the next
one will be November 20 at 4:30 p .m. In
December, our featured board member will
be Sister #4. Stay tuned!
1
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Classifieds
GOLDEN THREADS-A contact publication for lesbians
over 50 and women who love older women. Canada and the
U.S. Confidential, warm, reliable. For free information, send
a self-addressed envelope (U .S. residents please stamp it).
Sample copy mailed discreetly, $5.00 (U.S.) GOLDEN
THREADS: P.O. Box 3177; Burlington, VT 05401.
Please SUPPOrt the
Businesses who SuPPOrt Herland!
KE_MCO
•
PRINTING INC.
340-4301
160 I
s.
1ZO~ I{
l!anttJ. Fe,
M..<>ore
l
Broadway. Unit D • E<lmond. Okla. 7:30 13
i
Designs With Lettering
Custom Signs and Lettering
REBECCA R. COHN, Ph.D.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
P. 0 . Box Si 19
Norman, Okla. 73070
321-2148
359-1900
HSR would like to thank the women of DWL for their generous
donations of signs for our new builrJing.
Adolescent .. . Group ...
Family Therapy
848-6429
rr-------------~
I
CHURCH OF CHRIST FOR GAY PEOPLE
RAISED IN THE CHURCH AND THEIR FRIENDS
MEETS TUESDAYS, 7:30 P.M.
AT THE OASIS COMMUNITY CENTER
2135 N.W. 39TH IN OKLAHOMA CITY
FOR INFORMATION CALL
DANNY (405)787-1253 OR JANIE (405)755-7259
SHIRLEY M. HUNTER. M.A.
LICENSED PRCWEISIONAL COUNSELOR
PENN PARK OFFICE COMPLEX• SUITE 102
ll009 N PENNIYL VANIA • OKLAHOMA CITY. OK 73112
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