HerlandVoice-1994-12-v12-no12_ocr.pdf
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December, 1994
by Deborah Fox
Christmas - Consumerist Extravaganz.a or Holy Celebration? For many, the meaning of Christmas has gotten lost in the frenzy
of shopping or the depression of not having the means to shop. Many people at this time of year worry more than ever about bills and
finances and many are anxious for Christmas to be over with. I worry about my son having a "good" Christmas and fell pressure to make
it "good" by buying lots of toys to pile under the tree for him. If there isn't a lot to put under the tree many people will feel bleak and
depressed. I wonder if anybody even likes Christmas anymore! Christmas has become a mere consumerist extravaganza.
But what is Christmas really? Barbara Walker tells us in her Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets that for its first three
centuries, the Christian church knew no birthday of its savior and that in the 4th century there was much argument about adoption of a
date. Most pagan Mysteries celebrated the birth of the Divine Sun Child at the Winter Solstice. It was only in the 4th century that the
roman church adopted December 25th as Jesus' birthday because the people were used to calling it a god's birthday. Trappings such as
Yule logs, gifts, lights, mistletoe, holly, carols, feasts, and processions were altogether pagan. They were drawn from worship of the
Goddess as mother of the Divine Sun Child. Christmas trees evolved from the pinea silva, pine groves attached to temples of the Great
Mother.
So alas, when we dig deep enough we find the original meaning of Christmas was the celebration of the cycles of our Great
Mother Earth and the rebirth of the sun, when at Winter Solstice (the longest night of the year), night would stop increasing and daylight
would begin to increase. It is the promise of Spring. The promise that life will be born anew in Her never-ending cycles of birth, death
and rebirth.
Rather than allow this Holy Season Celebration of the Earth to be undermined by a Capitalist ideology running with the bit,
which is literally destroying the Earth, it is time to remember and re-invent ways to celebrate this Season that are in harmony with
preserving the Earth and all life upon Her.
Goddess Bless ye merry gentlewomen. Happy Holidays!
Need a Gift
Idea?
Volume 12 Number 12
There is a limited supply of
cookbooks remaining if you are
looking for a unique gift. F amity
Cookin' is now available at a special
sale price of five dollars and all
proceeds benefit the Berland Legal
Defense Fund.
We also have a great
selection of books that would make
ideal gifts. Berland is open for
business Saturdays, 10 - 5 and
Sundays, 1 - 5 for your convenience.
Harland Sister Resources
2312 NW 39, OKC, OK 73112
ST~
SYBIL
Dear St. Sybil,
Wow! What an election. I feel as if a cosmic pachyderm
just stomped all over me. What happened, and are things as bad
as I'm thinking they are?
Worriedly,
I wanna Puque
Dear I wanna,
You're in good company, lots of people are scared these
days. ''The times ... they are a 'changin"', and people are rightfully
alarmed at the direction of the change. To tell the truth, the times
hadn't really gotten all that good, and now it appears they're
getting worse - at least for the poor, the marginal, the minorities,
the uncommon and unconventional - for those who might be
expected to look to the Rainbow Coalition or rainbow flag with
pride.
Today I hear a lot of talk that "the times" are scarily
similar to the early days of Hitler's ascendance. Is this true? Well
yes, it kind of is. There are disturbing parallels. Today, just as
there was then, there is a lot of generalized hate and intolerance
being directed at inappropriate targets. For instance, people are
frightened of drive-by shootings and gangs and random violence.
Not knowing what to do about it, they do the easy thing: they
direct their hate at groups they know aren't going to shoot back.
Inoffensive, non-threatening non-mainstream groups become the
enemy, the culprit, the scapegoat - gays and lesbians, welfare
moms, illegal aliens and the homeless (who I saw referred to in
the conservative press recently as "vicious bums".)
Gays and lesbians, we are told, as if it should disqualify
them from civilized treatment, are wealthy and upper-middle
class. [OK, a brief time out for chortles from our readers.] In
other words, not like us hardworking normal people who have to
work for a living. Gays and lesbians are bleeding heart liberals,
say the empty brains of the religious right, and they are taking
over our schools and universities. Richer than they should be,
with more power and better jobs than they deserve - a lot of this
kind of talk, directed at Jews, was in the air in Germany in the
thirties, and was parroted in the United States by apologists for
the Nazis.
Is the number of illegitimate births skyrocketing, and are
fathers abandoning their children? Well, what do you expect
when gays and lesbians are out demonstrating for sexual license
and special rights? I know, Iwanna, it doesn't make a lick of
sense, it doesn't follow at all, and of course lesbians and gays don't
want any special rights, but it's an easy lie that gets believed. It's
a whole lot easier than trying to do a little zero-based problem
solving, and lesbians and gays are an easy target.
A very easy target. Easy and visible. Lesbians and gays
have been coming out of the closet like crazy in recent years. Was
it maybe really crazy? Has the rushing to come out been like
lemmings racing to the sea or clowns pouring out of a fire
2
Her/and Voice
December, 1994
engine? Are you in trouble? Should you go back in? Are
repressive laws going to become widespread and accepted?
Should you start hoarding guns and food for the revolution?
No. No. Yes. No. Yes. Maybe. If lesbians and gays
become the principal scapegoat for the ills of this country, then
who knows? Who knows what trouble the world is in?
Remember the purpose of the scapegoat; it is not enough to tie
one's sins and illnesses to its back - it must be driven out into the
wilderness; eliminated from society.
The major change in the world since the days of the
Holocaust is the tremendous advance in technology, which
renders government infinitely more efficient in certain areas, and
allows for almost total government intrusion into personal
privacy. The requirement of mandatory identification cards as
proposed by California's Proposition 187 does not augur well for
personal freedom . More and more in America there appears a
willingness to sacrifice personal freedom and the freedoms
guaranteed in the Constitution for short-term and short-sighted
results. The framers of the Constitution, and the Supreme Court
justices who have interpreted it, are as distressed at the sight of a
vicious felon going free on a technicality as much as anybody
else; but they know that far more dangerous than even Willie
Horton or Oliver North is an unfettered government.
So, Iwanna. Things are bad, and getting worse, and if
worse comes to worst I know that people like you will rise to the
challenge and fight back. Beats there a lesbian heart so femme, or
even a gay male heart so nelly, that it never once wanted to
parachute behind enemy lines with the OSS, or stand with Nathan
Hale, or fight with Guatemalan guerrillas like Jennifer Harbury?
I think not. But for heaven's sake, for everyone's sake, please do
everything in your power to keep it from coming to that.
Love & kisses, (but don't tell
the Morals Police),
Sybil
Rebecca R. Cohn, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology
Norman, OK
321-2148
Individual,
Couples & FamHy
Therapy
Published by: Herland Sister Resources, Inc. 2312 N.W. 39th,
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Circulation: 1200
Advertising Rates: Business card $15; 1/4 page $35; 1/2
page $60; full page $100
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. The Voice is printed on recycled paper.
I
Suzanne Westenhoder •
Lesbian Comedienne
Extraordinaire
by Jill Garner
COVER GIRL
by Shawn Colvin
I first heard of Shawn Colvin on National Public Radio
News several years ago. Her first album, Steady On, had just
been released and I liked what I heard. I still like the album
although there's not really any song on it that just grabs me.
Colvin's second album, Fat City, pulled me in even less. It's
pleasurable enough but too produced and flashy, not an album to
rave about. However, Cover Girl, Colvin's latest, is such an
album. When I saw her perform a couple of years ago, I knew
then what draws me to her music is simply her voice and her
guitar and that's what you get with her latest release, nothing
flashy. The album, some of it recorded live, gives me the feeling
that I'm in a small club ten feet from the stage, mesmerized by
Colvin and her guitar, completely lost in her songs and secure in
the knowledge that with music that makes me feel this good, all is
·
right with the world.
As the title implies, these are not Colvin's songs but she
chose them well. She does do an old Police song written by Sting,
Every Little Thing (He) Does is Magic, but that's my least favorite
song, probably because it was well known. So many of the other
songs though are Colvin at her best. The highlight of the album is
Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter on Greg Brown's One Cool
Remove. Their voices blend smoothly together on this sad song
that will make you happy anyway because it's beautiful. Another
shining point is If These Walls Could Speak written by Jimmy
Webb and it's one of the best songs I've heard. Also, Someday, a
longing to leave a small town written by 'Steve Earle, is hopeful
and sad at the same time. "You go to school and you learn to read
and write, So you can walk into the county bank and sign away
your life." Roly Salley's Killing the Blues is another one of my
favorites along with Bob Dylan's You're Gonna Make Me
Lonesome When You Go. Despite, in my opinion, Dylan's lack of
much singing ability, he's one of the great songwriters and I love
some of the lines in this song. ''Purple clover, Queen Anne's lace,
Crimson hair across your face, You could make me cry but you
don't know."
Colvin makes some great song choices and really shows
off her talent at making these songs her own. She wrote in the
liner notes that she didn't choose any songs by women for this
album because she finds it harder to bring something new to
women's work that has influenced her. She did well though and if
you haven't heard Shawn Colvin and want to, I recommend this
album as your introduction.
For those of you who are already serious fans, Colvin
will be in Dallas December 8 at Deep Ellum Live. Maybe I'll see
you there.
Suzanne is finally coming to Oklahoma City! With her
own HBO special and shows all over the country, W estenhoefer
will bring her funny and very "out" act to the Comedy Comer in
Bricktown December 5. She's rapidly gaining widespread
attention with shows across the country and has made numerous
talk show appearances (Geraldo, Sally Jesse Raphael, Joan
Rivers). The milestones in her career that she cites are first
openly Gay comic to do Caroline's Comedy Hour, or to play a
regular/non-gay night at Catch a Rising Star. She and comedian
Bob Smith were also the first Gay comics to have their own HBO
specials. When she's not performing, Westenhoefer regularly
does time as a guest lecturer in public schools sex-ed programs,
answering questions about homosexuality, trying to make the
world a better place for Gay youth.
Come out on December 5th and help support the
Comedy Comer for bringing Gay comedians to OKC. They
recently hosted the Gay Freedom Comedy Jam Tour twice and
now we have another opportunity to prove to them that Gay
entertainers can be popular and profitable. Help support Gay
comedy in Oklahoma and have a very "gay" time in the process.
For ticket information call the Comedy Comer at 235-2332.
YtJIL
A~
r; /#Vl/G"O lo;
So.tgf'drv Y,J'1 I
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Mas$ 5!kJp1tt,
1":~a,M,
Sunday lll;n Mzi.11
WeJ.11ekiay Ldw Mas~
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HOLY TRINITY
[Ecumenical Catholic Church
2328 N. MacArthur
PbJFu (405) 755-8351
WOMONTOWN
An Intentional Neighborhood Community
For Lesbians
P.O. Box 090811
Kansas City, MO 64109
3
(913) 791-8058
Her/and Voice
December, 1994
S~I
While pondering what to get who this
holiday season, please think of us! Herland
Sister Resources is always in need of donations.
Your generosity helps us to reach out to many
others in our community. As always, donations
of any amount are genuinely appreciated!
NE\V YEAR·s EVE
.
Open House
~
7 pm 'til f995
~o.
Herland
!•~Food - f"un - Game!i
Bill of Ri!!hts Day
On Sunday, December 11, 1994, the
ACLU of Oklahoma will celebrate the end of its
30th year of defending individual liberty.
Oklahoma City's Clarion Hotel at 4535 N.
Lincoln Boulevard will be the site of the final
30th birthday bash. Registration is scheduled to
begin at 12:30 p.m.; the banquet and program
will take place between 1 and 5 p.m.
In addition to dinner, the Bill of Rights
Day will feature the presentation of the Angie
Debo Award to Don Ed Payne, and the Fran
Morris Civil Liberties in Media Award to its
namesake, Fran Morris, tireless advocate for the
rights of children.
The highlight of the day's program will
be the keynote speech by the witty and irreverent
syndicated columnist, Molly Ivins. A three time
Pulitzer Prize finalist, Ivins, is the author of two
books: Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? and
Nothin' But Good Times Ahead Tickets
purchased before December 1 are $50; after
December 1, $75.
s~
'P4'ttt/
Come celebrate the Winter Solstice with present and past Herland
Board Members. Herland is hosting a Pot Luck Thursday, December 22, 1994,
from 6 - 9 p.m., and we hope to have as many of our old Board Members there
as possible. We'll have music and hot cider and cold drinks, and all the good
food that our community can bring together.
Herland will have been operating as a non-profit corporation for ten
years this month. Come help us honor our past Board Members and celebrate
these ten years. It will be a fun and joyful occasion!
=~==
ACLU OKLAHOMA
of
H
1411 Cl assen.Suite 3 18
Okl a homa City. OK 7 3 106
Ameri can Civil Libe rti es Union of Oklahom a
lll
Dykes To Watch Out For
4 Herland Voice
December, 1994
405-524 -85 l I
DECEMBER
1 9 9 4
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Health Tips from Ms. Magazine:
1. "Lactose intolerant? Get the recommended 800 mg of calcium
per day via nondairy sources like tofu, spinach, kale,
broccoli, sardines, shrimp, and fortified orange juice."
2. "Secondhand smoke may leech vitamin C from your body. If
you live or work with a smoker, increase your intake of
strawberries, red peppers, orange juice and other C-laden
1
Friday
3
:2
OK Stale
NO~I
MeeUnp
Noon al
Harvey House
in OKC
10.
foods."
5•·~·.
4
' •.
' •
6
8
ACLIJ
Bill of Rights
g
'
·.
'
'
Joan Didion
born 1934
U
Saturday
Willa Calher
1873 - 1947
13
12
14
15
Oa:y·
t2:30pm
16.
'
'
al lhe
Clarion Holel
in OKC
Moll:y Ivins!!
Mari:iaret
Mead
1901 - 1978
19
20
21
26
27
28
Emily
Dickinson
1830-1886
17
PEGGY
J JOHNSON
J
at
LaBapuelle
in Norman
9 - Midniphl
23
24
30
31_./\ . ·.I ' "\'I
•t.J'' · ·~'·.
~\'.<:~ .. "o.
Herl'ana
Board
MeeUnp
4:30 pm
25
C~mas
29
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~ ..1 r .,., r.;
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Kwanzaa
be pins
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7
HERLAND SISTER RESOURCES, INC.
Solstice Party
231:2 N.\\I, 39th Street
Thursday December 22
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112
405/ 521-9696
Pot. Luck •t. H•rl•nd, ,
1ear s
Eve
Open House
Clara
Barlon
1821 - 1912
e-
9p•
Winler Hours: Salurda:ys 10-5: Sundays 1-5
pm
att H<erland
I
NEWS FLASH!
The book you've been waiting for is here
at last!
HOTHEAD PAISAN
Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist
by Diane DiMassa
Think you're a feminist? See the world through new
eyes. Meet HotHead and her cat, Chicken. H.H. is NOT going to
take it anymore. Deneuve describes H.H. as an Italian Catholic
combination of Rambo, Martina, and Pippy Longstocking.
Alison Bechdel says she's "the backlash to the backlash." Sound
scary? You'll find comfort in her best friend, Roz.
My lover and I read this obsessively, then kept laughing
for days . This is just the antidote for those suffering from postelection anxiety/depression syndrome. Get'em while they're hot!
P.S. This is sure to entertain you through the holidays. It would
be a perfect gift...except you'll want to keep it for yourself!
P.O.M.
OTHER NEWLY ARRIVED TITLES!
Uncommon Waters: Women Write About Fishing, ed. Holly
Morris (Seal Press)
EveryWoman's Dreams, short fiction by Leslea Newman (New
Victoria Publishers)
Butch I and Butch II by Jay Rayo (Lace Publications)
In the Garden of Dead Cars, future fiction by Sybil Claiborne
(Oeis Press)
Lesbian-only counseling group, Wednesday evenings. Call Jo
L. Soske, MEd/MHR/ICADC/NCC/LPC at 364-5708 for more
information.
Lavendar Life, a monthly nationwide lesbian magazine has
announced a writing contest to celebrate the beginning of their
fourth year in January 1995. Every woman is invited to enter and
prizes will be awarded. All original short stories and poetry
received by December 31, 1994 will automatically be entered into
the contest. Winners will be announced in their January 15th,
1995 Anniversary Issue. All entrants who are published will
receive a complimentary issue, mailed with their privacy in mind.
All writers will retain final rights to their short stories and/or
poetry. For more information or to send your entry write to:
Lavendar Life, P.O. Box 898, Binghamton, NY 13902-0898.
Attention: Pamela K. Fite.
WANTED! Short-short stories by women for an Anthology
edited by Irene Zahava. Stories on any theme will be considered.
The only requirement is that the title begin with the word "In"
[i.e.: In a Box; In Kansas at Noon; In the beginning; In the dream;
In the meantime; In my next life; In a hurry; etc.]. Length of
stories: 2,000 words or less. Deadline: March 1, 1995.
Manuscripts must be typed and double-spaced. Include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope for correspondence or return of
manuscript. Contributors will receive payment and a copy of the
published anthology. Previously unpublished material is
preferred. If your story has appeared elsewhere, but you hold the
copyright and reprint rights, then it can be considered. Send
short-shorts to: Irene Zahava, 307 West State Street, Ithaca, NY
14850.
The Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum invites you to
attend the 8th Annual National Black Lesbian & Gay Conference
& Institutes Black Lesbians and Gays: Our Families Make a
Difference, February 16 - 20, 1995. Los Angeles Airport Hilton
& Towers, Reservations 310-410-4000. For more information
contact The Black Gay & Lesbian Leadership Forum, 1219 South
LaBrea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90019, 213-964-7820.
One Teacher in 10, ed. Kevin Jennings (Alyson Publishers)
The Word is Out: The Bible Reclaimed for Lesbians and Gay
Men (365 Daily Meditations) by Chris Glaser (Harper, San
Francisco)
MEMBER
Sarah J. Rucker
Certified Massage Therapist
REMEMBER! SHOP EARLY FOR THE
BEST SELECTION. BERLAND IS OPEN
EVERY WEEKEND, SATURDAY, 10
A.M. 5 P.M. AND SUNDAY, 1 P.M. - 5
P.M.
By Appointment Only
Therapeutic Massage
Sports Massage
Trigger Point Therapy
(405) 943-4210
Reflexology
m
5
Herland Voice
December, 1994
The Threat From Within
by Pat Reaves
Driving in the darkness of the early morning one day
post-election, I listen carefully for results of the California vote on
Proposition 187. Finally, the report - Californians have
overwhelming voted yes. I'm stunned and angry - and I'm still
stunned that so many people can cast a vote that clearly says a
group of people are not as important as themselves.
Proposition 187, called "Save our State" by proponents,
denies public education, publicly funded health care and other
services to undocumented immigrants. Under it, health care
facilities, police departments and schools are required to report
any suspected undocumented immigrants.
Proposition 187 threatens us all - regardless of where we
live or our residency status. Similar laws are likely to be
considered in many other states. Harold Ezell, a co-author of
Proposition 187, was quoted in the Dallas Morning News saying,
"I think Texas is next. I think Texas ought to see what it can do
about its borders." Representative Newt Gingrich, considered the
most-likely new Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives,
told the LA Times, "I favor saying flatly that illegal immigration is
a federal problem and that it requires a federal solution."
Even more threatening is the anti-democratic agenda of
the radical right that Proposition 187 illuminates. Thomas Sowell
in an syndicated column published in the Daily Oklahoman
(11-15-94) gives a clear picture of that agenda.
"Governor Pete Wilson's winning slogan in California 'save our state' - might well become a new battle-cry for 1996:
Take back America!
Take it back.from the people who want to run our lives,
destroy our values, brainwash our children, confiscate our
earnings, jeopardize our safety and treat us as guinea pigs for
their social experiments.
The victory of the California ballot initiative denying
government services to illegal aliens is one symptom of this
desire to take back America" [emphasis added]
These themes reverberate in the right's attacks on
lesbians and gays, women, and welfare recipients (who are
overwhelmingly children and women).
The central message of the Prop. 187 campaign is that an
"invasion" of illegal immigrants is causing economic hardship
and eroding the lifestyles of U.S. citizens and legal immigrants.
One of Governor Wilson's ads showed some 50 people running
through customs gates at the Tijuana/San Diego border (filmed
during an unusual event essentially set up by the Border Patrol).
A basic premise of the message is that there are not enough rights
or resources to go around.
The right uses economic and social fears and blames the
problems on minority groups - undocumented immigrants, people
of color, gays and lesbians, welfare recipients, women, etc. With
all of these, the right argues, "they" are taking away from "us".
Sowell says, "Illegal aliens have been sanitized as mere
'undocumented' workers. Parasites of all sorts have been verbally
transformed into 'victims' of society." A religious activist calling
for the firing of lesbian and gay school teachers said, ''They are
6 Her/and Voice
December, 1994
like parasites, they feed off us." [emphasis added] Over and over
the refrain is repeated, "They are taking our jobs. They are taking
our money. They are taking our rights. They are taking our way
of life." This scapegoating takes attention away from structural
changes in the economy and the role of corporate policy.
Racism fuels the scapegoating and the dehumanization
used by the radical right. Discussions of immigration usually
ignore significant numbers of undocumented immigrants with
European origins. Welfare recipients are seen as people of color.
People of color are stereotyped as criminals.
The radical right offers simple solutions to complex
problems - solutions that might sometimes look attractive. Our
challenge is to recognize those "solutions" for what they are fundamental threats to democracy; expose them as part of an
agenda that attacks basic civil, human, labor, economic and
reproductive rights and resist - resist from love of and support for
an inclusive democracy.
Nancy Schneider M.s. w.
~ G'luu:co.IJoad <Worbindividual,
couple, and
group therapy
2233 W. LINDSEY
SUITE 109
NORMAN, OK 73069
(405) 364·2545
PAGER: (405) 791·8792
Herland is beginning a community
pantry for lesbians in need. The pantry
will include non-perishable food items,
pet food, and household supplies. The
pantry will be open during Herland's
regular hours. The system is simple -- if
you need something take it or if you can,
leave something.
As you think about holiday g1v1ng,
remember your sisters. Pick up a few
extra non-perishable items (think about
the kinds of things you always need) and
bring them to Herland. Let's make sure
the pantry is well-stocked before the
New Year!
My Experience at the
Battle in Mississippi
by Diane
There is a war in this country, but it is not between states.
There is a Southern battle at Camp Sister Spirit, but it is not just
about the local aggression. There is a struggle every day with
uncertainty and vigilance, but the "soldiers" are not giving up the
cause. There are some people prepared to die, but it is the hope
that no one loses their life.
After my experience, I can only report what I saw and
what I was told by those involved directly in this struggle. Last
winter when the news reports and talk shows exploded with the
violence of racism and homophobia in Ovett, I was both intrigued
and concerned. I wanted to see for myself what was happening
there. After several letters and a couple of telephone calls, I
arranged to visit for about a week. It was a long one-day drive; it
took about fourteen hours which included gasoline and food
stops.
Of course, I did not know what to expect. I arrived after
dark on a Friday night. Camp Sister Spirit was hard for me to
find, even though as arranged I had called when I was about an
hour away. I was given specific location directions, but
landmarks were hard to identify at night and rural neighbors were
not to be trusted. It took me twice the estimated time to find the
gate; I was thankful the women waiting there were patient and
welcoming when I arrived. With some help unloading my car and
a little bit of orientation, I was glad to try to get some sleep. That
night there was a tense atmosphere for the caretakers, because on
weekends gunshots are often heard. Anyone coming or going at
night through the gate or near the road could be a target as had
happened to one camp resident. For safety, I was counseled not to
be alone away from the buildings and to carry a walkie-talkie.
Upon returning from Hattiesburg one day, I had to practice
another security procedure by calling from about 20 miles away
so that someone could meet me at the gate. At that time the gate
was a large metal pole across the drive that was chained; by now,
I hope there is a stronger gate with perhaps a security alarm and
intercom.
The routine of the day consists of construction and
maintenance. Anyone can help with THE WORK. The vision
and commitment is to an educational retreat center. To that end,
several buildings are being remodeled; a bunkhouse, a
showerhouse, a commercial kitchen, an office, and a "commons"
area have been completed, as well as several newly constructed
stora~e buildings. Skilled workers are needed, however anyone
wantmg to volunteer can be of help. As at all camps, there are
continuous duties of cleaning, cooking, hauling, mowihg,
clearing, etc. I went to volunteer for a week and worked on
different tasks almost every day. In the evenings I read, watched
television or videos, conversed with others, or worked in the
office. I enjoyed contributing to THE WORK and meeting these
"soldiers". The permanent residents (Brenda, Cheri, Kathy, Pam,
Wanda, and Arthur) and several short-term volunteers offered
views about this war and battles in various locations. I thoroughly
enjoyed these intelligent and impassioned conversations, and I
a~~reciated the sharing of experiences and emotions. From my
v1s1t, I am glad that I saw for myself what was happening and am
connected to these people involved in this struggle.
Having never been a war correspondent, I surely cannot
report the details that might be expected. I can only relate that I
was very much affected by Camp Sister Spirit and concerned
enough to be a volunteer again.
As in all wars, I know there will be loses. I do hope the
loses will not include these people, this cause, or this battle.
WHAT HAPPENED
by SONG (Southerners on New Ground)
On October 8, 1994, the bodies of Robert Walters and
Joseph Shoemaker were found off Houston Road in Laurel (Jones
County), Mississippi. This is the same county where Camp Sister
Spirit had been subjected to ongoing harassment. These men's
bodies were found by two women walking by. Each man had
been shot once, execution style. One man was shot in the temple,
the other was shot through the right eye at point blank range. The
body of Robert Walters was found partially clothed.
Despite the fact that it was known that these men were
gay, and despite the fact that the men's credit cards and jewelry
were not taken, local police concluded the motive was robbery.
The sherifrs department found "nothing suspicious" and refused
to designate this as a bias-crime. The next day when two
m.em~rs ?f a gay and lesbian community center from nearby
Bdoxt, Miss. went to Laurel to make some inquiries and offer
support, they were harassed, threatened and constantly followed.
Five days after the crime, a 16 year old African
American male was arrested. We believe this young man was
coerced into confessing to murdering the two gay men. The
different versions put forward of the events leading up to the
murders indicate that this young man did not commit the crime:
1. The police first said the young man confessed to
killing the men because he wanted to rob them of $100. When it
was pointed out that no credit cards or jewelry were taken, the
story was changed.
2. The second version was that the two men offered the
young man $20 to allow them to give him a blow job. He
allegedly became afraid they would want more and killed them.
This version was challenged as unlikely. The story was changed
again.
3. The third version was that the two men offered him
$20 to take them to buy marijuana. When the car went in the
opposite direction, he allegedly became afraid and killed them.
4. The fourth version was that the men tried (or
threatened) to rape him.
Two days ago, the defendant's attorney made a motion to
have the blood of the two dead men tested for HIV. In granting
the motion, the judge said that if the men were mv infected it
was like carrying a loaded gun. If either man's blood tests positive
for HIV antibodies, defendant's counsel will move to have the
charges dropped on grounds of justifiable homicide. The stage is
set for a dangerous precedent.
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7 Her/and Voice
December, 1994
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