HerlandVoice-2014-08-v32-no03_ocr.pdf
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- HerlandVoice-2014-08-v32-no03_ocr.pdf
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Serving the womyn~s
community
since 1983
Her/and Voice
Herland Fall Retreat Approaches ...
Eufaula State Park, Eufaula, OK
October 31-November 2, 2014
AFTER THE OKLAHOMA
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE RULING
Even though the heat of summer is upon us, it's time
to start looking forward to the Fall Retreat, which is
being held at Eufaula State Park from October 31
through November 2, 2014. To celebrate Halloween,
we will be having a party and costume contest for both
by Sandy Ingraham, J.D .. MS. w.
Things are changing FAST!
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of Marriage Act (DOMA) was invalidated by
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the US Supreme Court (hereafter SCOTUSSupreme Court of the United States) in United States v
Windsor, 133 s ct 2675 , 570 us 12Fs, L Ed 2d 80 8 (2013)
(hereinafter Windsor) . At that time , SCOTUS indicated it was
not then taking a position on the validity of state laws
forbidding same-sex marriage. Since Windsor, twenty (20)
federal trial courts have ruled against state same-sex
marriage bans. Oklahoma was among those courts.
Oklahomans Mary Bishop, Sharon Baldwin, Susan
Barton, and Gay Phillips, th rough their attorney Don
Holladay and his Oklahoma City law firm, Holladay and
Chilton , PLLC, (along with co-counsels James Warner and
Joseph Thai) litigated Bishop, et al v USA, 04-CV-848-TCKTLW (hereinafter Bishop) in Oklahoma's federal district
court. In Bishop, US Di~trict Judge !errence. C ~ern (Tulsa)
struck down Oklahoma s conservative const1tut1onal
provisi.on denying same-sex couples the right to le~ally
marry in Oklahoma and have legal same-sex marriages
performed in other states recognized in Oklahoma . Holladay
and his legal team worked tirelessly and without
compensation to defend the Oklahoma ruling in the 10th
Circuit Federal Appeals court in Denver, co (covering
Oklahoma , Kansas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah and those
parts of Yellowstone National Park which extend into
Montana and Idaho), where it was argued along with Utah's
similar case , Kitchen v Herbert, No. 2:13-ev-217, 2013 WL
6697874 (D Utah Dec 20, 2013) (hereinafter Kitchen). Both
Kitchen and Bishop prevailed , making Oklahoma's 101h
Circuit Court of Appeals the first federal appellate court to
Continuedonpage9 .
retreat gets closer. we will still have our traditional
S
aturday evening potluck before the party, so be
thinking about dishes you might like to bring. We
especially need entrees, both vegetarian and carnivore.
As always, we need volunteers to help get groceries,
help with registration , transport tubs of "stuff," build
campfires, manage meals and clean-ups , AND pack
and transport items back to OKC. Be thinking of your
turn to volunteer too.
**Please make note of a couple of changes. First,
anyone who brings a dog to the
Continued on page 2.
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Medea Benjamin cofounder of
I CODEPINK, will spe~k to the public at
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I Ch h 0 f th 0 A 3 131 N
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urc
. e pen rms,
I Pe.nnsylvarna Ave, OKC, at 7 P· m. on.
. . .
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I Friday, September 12th .. C~DE~INK is a women-1rn~iated
grassroots peace and social JUst1:e movement working to I
Ie~~ us.funded wars and occup~t1ons, to challeng~
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I m1l1tansm globally, .and to red1.rect our resourc~s mto
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health care , education, green Jobs, and other llfeI affirming activities. Herland Sister Resources is one of the I
I sponsors along with Americans Against the Next War, the I
I Peace House, and Church of the Open Arms. The event is
free and open to the public . b.
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The Herland Voke is a publication of Herland Sister Resources, 2312 NW 39th Street, OKC, OK 73112. Our bookstore/lending
library is open the second and fourth Saturdays from 1-5 p.m., but please call before you come by just to be sure we are open.
Call us at (405) 521-9696 or e-mail us at herland@herlandsisters.org. Visit us on the web at www.herlandsisters.org.
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SUPPER CLUB DATES
August 9-The Big Easy, 359 E Main, Yukon 73099
@5:30 p.m.
September 13-Potluck @ HSR, OKC @ 6:00 p.m.
October 11-lngrid's Kitchen-October Fest, 3701 N Youngs
Blvd, OKC 73112@ 5:30 p.m .
November 8-Swadley's BBQ, 4000 N Rockwell Ave (near
NW 39th), Bethany, OK 73008 @ 5:30 p.m .
December 13-Dirty Santa Party & Traditional Holiday
Potluck! @ HSR, OKC @ 6:00 p.m.
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: : :i:lugus~ . .
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: •Sunday 3rd Frie~dship Day . . .
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• . Tuesday-Sunday 5th-10th MichiganWomen's Music Festival ... •
: Saturday 9thH$R open· 1 ~5 p.m; & S~p Club · The Big Easy •
• Sunday 17th4p.m. HSR Board Meeting ·
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• Friday 22nd Be an AngelDay .· . .• · ·
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• •Saturday 23rd HSR open 1-5p·.m~
: Tuesday?6th OKC Special Elections? a:m.-7
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Octobe1·
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If you have a restaurant to suggest for a future
Herland Supper Club, please e-mail us at herland@
herlandsisters.org. We welcome your ideas.ti
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: Friday 1st All Saints' Day
• Saturday8thHSRopen 1-5 p.m. &Supper Club@Swadley's
: Saturday'8th 27th Annual Peace Fest from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. @
• >.• Civic Center Halt of Mir.rors .....
• Tuesday 11th Veterans' Day
: Saturday 22nd HSR open 1~5 p.m.
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• Saturday
13th HSR open t-5p.m.
& Traditional
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• iSpringRetreat 2015:-May
: Fall Retreat 2015-0ctober
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August3
International Friendship Day is a day for celebrating
friendship. The day has been celebrated in several
southern South American countries for many years,
particularly in Paraguay, where the first World Friendship
Day was proposed in 1958. Initially created by the greeting
card industry, evidence from social networking sites shows
a revival of interest in the holiday that may have grown with
the spread of the Internet, particularly in India, Bangladesh,
and Malaysia .
Those who promote the holiday in South Asia attribute
the tradition of dedicating a day in honor of friends to have
originated in the US in 1935, but it actually dates from
1919. The exchange of Friendship Day gifts like flowers,
cards, and wrist bands is a popular tradition of this
occasion .
Friendship Day celebrations occur on different dates in
different countries. The first World Friendship Day was
proposed for July 301h, 1958; on April 2ih, 2011, the
General Assembly of the United Nations declared July 30th
as official International Friendship Day. However, some
countries, including India, celebrate Friendship Day on the
first Sunday of August. It's one of the most popular events
of the world especially to the youth community who want to
dedicate this complete day to their most special friends by
sharing friendship day quotes. [selected portions from
Wikipedia] !:::..
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• Saturday 11th HSR open 1"5 p.m. &§up Club@ Ingrid's
• Monday 13th Columbus Day/Native American Day.
: Sunday 19th 4 p.m.· HSRBoard Meeting
• Saturday 25th HSR open 1-5 p.m. · ·
•• Friday
31st Halloween
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• · Friday-Sunday 31st-Nov 2nd Retreat at Eufaula State Park
.:iUpconllng;2015 Events:
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Retreat ... Continued from page
retreat must sign a form stating that
they are responsible for any damage
or injuries their dog may cause. We
have had incidents in the past and
need to make sure that the retreat is
safe and fun for everyone. Also, for
this retreat only, boys aged 11 and
under will be allowed to attend. This
is a slight departure from our traditional rule of 10 and
under. This change is only effective for this upcoming
retreat so that parents with slightly older boys can
celebrate Halloween with their children .
Registration information and workshop offerings
will be announced in the coming weeks, so stay alert
for the details! !:::..
2
Marian Wright Edelman
in OKC
Founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund
will speak on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, at 7:30 p.m . at the Henry J. Freede Wellness & Activity Center,
NW 27 St and Florida Ave, OKC, OK.
Marian Wright Edelman, founder
and president of the Children's
Defense Fund (CDF), has been an
advocate for disadvantaged
Americans for her entire
professional life. Under her
leadership, CDF has become the
nation's strongest voice for children
and families. The Children's
Defense Fund's Leave No Child
Behind® mission is to ensure every
child a Healthy Start, a Head Start,
a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a
Moral Start in life and successful
passage to adulthood with the help
of caring families and communities.
Mrs. Edelman, a graduate of
Spelman College and Yale Law
School, began her career in the
mid-60s when, as the first black
woman admitted to the Mississippi
Bar, she directed the NAACP Legal
Defense and Educational Fund
office in Jackson, MS. In 1968, she
moved to Washington, DC, as
counsel for the Poor People's
Campaign that Dr Martin Luther
King, Jr, began organizing before
his death. She founded the
Washington Research Project, a
public interest law firm, and the
parent body of the Children's
Defense Fund. For two years, she
served as the Director of the
Center for Law and Education at
Harvard University and in 1973
began CDF.
In 2000, she received the
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the
nation's highest civilian award, and
the Robert F. Kennedy Lifetime
Achievement Award for her writings
which include: Families in Peril: An
Agenda for Social Change; The
Measure of Our Success: A Letter
to My Children and Yours; Guide
My Feet: Meditations and Prayers
on Loving and Working for
Children; Stand for Children;
Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors;
Hold My Hand: Prayers for Building
a Movement to Leave No Child
Behind; I'm Your Child, God:
Prayers for Our Children; I Can
Make a Difference: A Treasury to
Inspire Our Children; and The Sea
Is So Wide and My Boat Is So
Small: Charting a Course for the
Next Generation.
Marian Wright Edelman is
married to Peter Edelman, a
Professor at Georgetown Law
School. They have three sons,
Joshua, Jonah, and Ezra, two
granddaughters, Ellika and Zoe, and
two grandsons, Elijah and Levi. The
speaker series event is free and
open to the public, but seating is
limited. For more information, call
(405) 208-4596.1:1
• - • - • - • - • - • - • - • - • - • - • - "I
!
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Are you affected by
someone's drinking?
Al-Anon or Alateen may be able to 1
help; information
1
. at http://www.alanon.alateen.org
1 or locally in OKC
j (405) 767-9071 and
http: I I
! okcalanon .org b,.
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Message from Michigan Women's Music Festival
Sisters, Friends, and Comrades!
Summer is officially here, and it is the week of the gathering of our tribe
in the woods of Michigan. If you haven't made your future plans, next year is the year to do it! Gay pride is glowing all .
over the world in June, but August each year, we shimmer and shine in the celebration of our most beloved community-a
unity of sisters from all walks of life and loves strutting the broadest expression of female you can experience anywhere
on the planet! Give us a call at (231) 757-4766 to talk to a friendly voice or visit michfest.com/tickets. We so look forward
to being with you under warm August skies each year. D.
}lugust 22 is :National
<.Be an }lnge{©ay.
Here are 22 suggestions to bring more light,
love, and laughter into our world.
1. Plug random parking meters.
2. Give more hugs.
3. Plant a tree.
4. Pick up litter while you are are out and
about.
5. Print bookmarks to leave in random library
books.
6. Be a ginger [reference to hair color].
7. Mow your neighbor's lawn.
8. Say hello.
9. Send thank you notes for no reason at all.
10. Give flowers to strangers
11. Let someone go first.
12. Clean up after yourself
13. Drive courteously
14. Adopt a pet.
3
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15. Be less judgmental.
16. Buy school supplies for a teacher you
know.
17. Tip 100%.
18. Deliver cookies to
firefighters.
19. Visit a senior center.
20. Secretly buy cupcakes
for coworkers.
21. Return a shopping cart.
22. Be polite online. t:;.
What's New at Herland?
Periodically, every organization needs to revisit the way it operates and to
make thoughtful changes. We've done that recently and want to tell our readers
about the changes we've made. One of our most important changes, and one we
are very excited about, is the addition of General and Voting Memberships. Over
the years, we've been asked many times, "How do I become a member of
Herland?" Now we have an answer for you-fill out an application! If you would like
to be a Voting Member and help select new Board Members, we have two ways
you can do that: either pay an annual membership fee or volunteer a certain
minimum number of hours during the year. Watch for more news on memberships
and our annual meeting in the last quarter of 2014. Please ask any current board
member if you have questions about these changes.
The table below highlights the major differences between the previous (2002)
and newly-revised bylaws:
Election to Board of
Trustees
Board of Trustees Term
Limits
Officer Positions
2002 Bvlaws
Elected by current board
None. Serve until
resignation or removal.
Sister I, II, Ill; Start at Sister
Ill and rotate up one
position every six months.
New Bvlaws
Elected by Voting
Membership
2-year terms limited
to 3 consecutive (or 6
year total) then must
stay off board for 3
years.
The Welcoming
Project
Rainbow Flag
In 1978, Gilbert Baker
designed the rainbow flag for San
Francisco's Gay Freedom Celebration. The
original flag consisted of eight stripes: pink
for sexuality, red for life, orange for healing,
yellow for the sun, green for nature, blue for
art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit.
Since then, the design has undergone
several revisions but the most common
variant consists of six stripes, with the
colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and
purple. The rainbow flag has been adapted
by Greg Gomes of Gay Flags of the World
to represent US states and countries
around the world . The colors reflect the
diversity of the LGBTQ community. [from
www.thewelcomingproject.org]
The rainbow flag is the most recognizable
symbol of LGBTQ rights and LGBTQ pride and
is used as a welcoming and supportive symbol
toward the LGBTQ community worldwide. !::i
Chair, Vice Chair,
Secretary, Treasurer.
2 -year terms and only
1 term in any specific
office.
L _ __ ___J
General Membership
None
All who support
Herland's mission may
apply for membership
and will be reviewed
and approved by
Board.
Voting Membership
None
Members may acquire
voting rights by
paying annual dues or
volunteering a
specified number of
hours in the previous
year. Must be 18 years
of age or older.
Annual Membership
Meeting
None
Will be held during
the last quarter of
each calendar year to
elect new Trustees of
Board, announce new
officers, announce
proposed budget, and
announce amount of
dues or volunteer
hours for coming
year.
Decision-Making
Methods
Not specified
Use consensus as
primary means then
Robert's Rules of
Order as guideline if
consensus cannot be
reached.
Communication
Methods
Not specified
Electronic methods
are preferred
4
.JOIN 'l'DE SCOU'l'S
GO ()\TEil
'l'DE EnGE ON
AUGUS'I' 2!1
Girl Scouts of Western
Oklahoma has announced their
Give Storm Shelter campaign! This
$265,000 campaign will enable the
construction of a tornado shelter at
the Camp E-Ko-Wah property and
two buses for safe transportation of
girls. For many, one of the most
cherished Girl Scout experiences is
spending time at camp, building
friendships, and survival skills. To
maintain the safety of Girl Scout
campers year-round, a 50 x 24-foot
multipurpose shelter accommodateing up to 300 people will be built.
The shelter will be FEMA F5-rated
to withstand the fiercest Oklahoma
tornadoes, with 8-inch thick
concrete walls reinforced with steel
rebar and wrapped in a wood
exterior to blend in aesthetically.
This girl-inspired campaign is being
spearheaded by the girls and
alumnae of Norman Troop 241 and
chaired by their troop leader. Make
a sizeable donation and help the
troop go "over the edge" of its goal
and "over the edge" by rappelling.
This isn't your typical rock climbing
rappel! You can be one of the select
few who rappel
Continued on page 5.
From the desk of Anne Slater,
National Organizer, Radical Women:
A few highlights [edited] are
shared from Radical Women's
participation in the Jacksonville, FL,
week of action, "Standing Our
Ground Against Reproductive
Oppression, Gender Violence, and
Mass Incarceration."
Emily Woo Yamasaki and Betty
Maloney, leaders from the New
York Radical Women (RW)
chapter, hit the
ground running
when they arrived
in Jacksonville on
Monday, 7/28.
They brought their
energy and
political insights,
w
~
O\fEll 'l'IIE EDGE
Continued from page 4.
from Leadership Square, the 10th
tallest building in Oklahoma City.
There are only 30 spots left! Visit
http://bit.ly/Going0ver4GS for more
details.
Going down the side of a
building not your thing? Never fear,
they've planned a FREE kids
carnival for the whole family to
enjoy! You might see a troop leader
face her fears while you watch
safely from the ground and scouts
can enjoy a bounce house, high
adventure bridge, face painting,
photo booth, and cool STEM
activities. The OKC Boathouse
Foundation will also be there to help
participants make edible Water
Aquifers and experience the ERG
Simulation Station. That's not all!
Girls who join Girl Scouts for the
first time and existing Girl Scouts
who bring a friend who joins at the
event have the opportunity to win
cool prizes including Zoo passes,
Frontier City passes, Girl Scout
Fest passes, and digital cameras.
Don't miss out on this fun and free
event!! [selections from
www.gswestok.org by Elizabeth
Caldwell]!:::.
and a powerful statement from
Radical Women, "Standing against
an unjust system: Women's
freedom requires a revolution by
the grassroots." They found that
everyone was high from Monday
morning's successful march and
rally at the Duval County
Courthouse. Betty, who arrived
earliest, participated in an
impromptu meeting
with a number of
activists from
different parts of
the country to
discuss how to
continue building
support for Marissa
Alexander.
On Tuesday afternoon, 7/29,
Emily spoke for Radical Women at
a panel on "The Women's
Movement and Social Change."
The panel opened
with a presentation
by Beth Richie,
author of Arrested
Justice: Black
Women, Violence,
and America's
Prison Nation.
=~ Panelists were Mia
Jones (Florida
State
Representative), Emily (Radical
Women), Dr. E. Faye Williams
(National Congress of Black
Women), Judy Scheckman
(Jacksonville NOW), and KO
Segura (Jacksonville Planned
Parenthood). The panel was
chaired by Alisa Bierria (INCITE!).
Emily spoke passionately about
how Marissa Alexander's case
shows why systemic change is
desperately needed; she called for
a militant, multi-racial, multi-issue
women's movement that fights for
the needs of the most oppressed.
The week was a blending of
education, action, strategizing, and
culture in the fight to defend all
survivors of domestic violence and
to oppose a racist and sexist
"justice" system. Emily and Betty
stayed in Jacksonville through the
Friday court hearing that ended
Standing Our Ground Week
(SOGW).
If you can contribute to this
activism of SOGW, donate online or
mail a check, payable to "Radical
Women" to 5018 Rainier Ave S,
Seattle, WA 98118. !:::.
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5
ESTHER BRONER, A WEAVE OF WOMEN
This inspiring documentary revisits Broner's richly engaged political, artistic, and
spiritual life through archival photos, video footage spanning several decades, and
interviews with family and friends, including Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug, Grace Paley,
and other famous feminists. Drawing its title from one of Broner's celebrated novels,
the film helps explore the intersection of feminism and religion and helps answer the
question, is there room for feminism and religious tradition in a traditionally male
dominated space?
In 1975 Esther Broner and Naomi Nimrod wrote the first Women's Haggadah,
paving the way for modern Jewish feminism. For the next 36 years, Esther Broner led
the Feminist Passover Seder in New York City, with a core group of women. This film
documents the evolution of Jewish feminism. Esther Broner infused second wave
feminism with a distinctive Jewish voice. In the mid-1970s, as the women's movement
was vastly changing views on gender and equality, Broner created
continued on page 9 .
The Respect Diversity
Foundation (RDF) is an Oklahoma
City 501 (c)3 non-profit promoting
tolerance, acceptance, and affinity
through communication, education,
and the arts. For over a decade,
students throughout Oklahoma have
explored creative ways of
addressing issues of cultural
diversity, human rights, and global
peace by participating in the annual
Respect Diversity Arts Exhibition.
The Respect Diversity Arts
Exhibition inspires teachers to guide
students to explore diversity through
the arts," said Joan Korenblit,
Executive Director of the RDF. "Art
integration enhances lessons."
"Since 2002, we've launched the
Respect Diversity Arts Exhibition
with leaders in our community,"
added Korenblit.
"Diversity is our strength. The
better we know our neighbors, the
more we find ways to appreciate
their cultures and the closer we
come toward peace." Korenblit says
these issues may be addressed
through a curriculum-centered
experience such as reading .Maya
Angelou's book, I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings. Experiences,
such as the book, help the teacher
capture a "teachable moment" to
launch a Respect Diversity Symbol
project which then might be an
exhibition entry. Participants may
also learn from Respect Diversity
programs when a speaker relates a
family story of harassment or
violence motivated by intolerance.
According to Korenblit, once the
participants have received a "mind
and heart opening" educational or
communication experience, they
begin to engage in discussion, which
she believes is often
transformational.
"Student collaboration often
opens the door to create a symbol of
respect for diversity," Korenblit said.
"It might be visual artwork, a poem,
or a song and dance routine. Any
artistic expression c~n be utilized to
. create a symbol of diversity."
"Behind every entry to the Respect
Diversity Arts Exhibition is a story,"
she said. "Some displays show the
culmination of a human rights unit of
study. Others are inspired by the
study of traditions of various
cultures." This year's exhibit theme
is "Respect, Responsibility,
Resilience."
Over the past 15 years, over two
hundred thousand students
throughout Oklahoma have
participated in the RDF arts
exhibition. The collaborative arts
projects are showcased for a full
month each spring. "By collaborating
on art as they learn about other
cultures, human rights issues, and
by showcasing symbols of respect
6
for diversity, our youth are helping to
define who we want to be as a
nation," Korenblit said.
"In fact, we ask all educators and
facilitators to enter their groups'
symbols, whenever possible."
Exhibit entries are created by Pre-K12th grade students.
New this year, RDF is partnering
with the Oklahoma Center for
Community and Justice to promote
the project, "Different and the
Same." It is a child-focused initiative
that helps students identify, talk
about, and prevent prejudice. In
addition, Respect Diversity
Foundation has joined with the
Interfaith Alliance for the Beyond
Coexistence Project, which entails a
series of forums and other activities
to be held in the fall. RDF is also
partnering with Children's Theatre to
offer a civil rights panel during a few
of their Spring performances,"
Korenblit added.
"Through art, students are
teaching people that no matter what
our differences may be, by working
together we can make this a better
world," Korenblit summarized. 'What
a wonderful way to teach respect for
all cultures." For more information,
contact: Joan Korenblit at (405) 3590369, rdfrdf@cox.net, or visit
www.respectdiversity.org. [from City
Sentinel By Darla Shelden,
Reporter] /1
Why Do We Need a Pride Parade?
At the culmination of LGBT Pride Month for those of us in central Oklahoma, it is a time
when lesbians, gay men, bisexual, and transgender Oklahomans celebrate with allies in a
public display of community. When asked, "Why do we need an LGBT pride parade?" I
frequently answer, "Because there is much of which to be proud."
I'm no more proud of my sexual orientation than of my hair color or my height. It is just a
part of who I am. But I have tremendous pride in the women and men, youth and seniors who
have made and are making positive advances toward equality for all people.
As a community, we are proud of those gay men and women who served their country, all while knowing they
could be dishonorably discharged just for whom they were.
We are proud of the clergy, across denominational and faith lines, who embrace love for all people, knowing
they could lose their position for espousing their core ideals.
We are proud of the children who endured taunts and bullying to become strong adults and proud of the
educators who refused to allow bullying of any child. We are proud of our LGBT elected officials and those allies
in office who believe that every American deserves the same treatment as every other American.
We are proud of the LGBT writers and actors, architects and artists who have created books and characters,
designs, music, and art that will impact generations for centuries.
We are proud of LGBT couples who have become role-model parents and the straight parents who support,
love, and encourage their gay children just as they are. We are proud of Oklahoma employers who celebrate
inclusivity and provide same-gender partner benefits to their employees. And we take pride in the work of our
many LGBT small-business owners.
We are proud that the US government recognizes our legal marriages and treats same-gender couples with
equity. We are especially proud of those couples in Oklahoma and every other state who have risked their
savings and, in some cases, their safety to secure marriage equality.
We are proud of our lawyers and doctors, accountants and police officers. We are proud of our hairdressers
and interior designers and our landscape crews. We take pride in our fabulous drag queens and macho leather
kings, our motorcycle mamas and club kids, especially when standing side-by-side with our PTA moms and the
quiet couple from down the block.
We are proud that our history of struggle, defeat, and accomplishments is not forgotten and that it will serve as
a model for others in their quest for freedom and equality.
We are proud of the advancements we have made in equality in Oklahoma and in our nation. And we are
proud in the knowledge that we will not slow down, not give up, until equality is a reality for all people. That's why
we need an LGBT Pride Parade. Because there is much of which to be proud. [from www.equalityokc.org by
Scott Hamilton of the Cimarron Alliance Equality Center] t:..
Domestic Violence and Violence against Women
The YWCA has long advocated for the health and safety of women and girls. And, the YWCA is the largest provider
of abused women 's shelters and domestic violence services in the country, serving over 500,000 women and children
annually. Violence against women takes many forms, including domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence , and
stalking. These crimes impact millions of individuals and families in every community in our nation.
The YWCA supports anti-violence policies and programs that protect survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and work
to eradicate sexual assault and domestic violence, trafficking of women and girls, and dating violence. Specifically, the
YWCA advocates for the continuance and full funding for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and Violence against Women Act
(VAWA) and legislation that ensures employment stability and economic security for survivors of violence against women.
YWCAs around the country provide a variety of services and programs to address violence against women, ranging from
emergency shelters, support groups and crisis hotlin es. The OKC shelter has current needs for th e following:
Childcare Supplies
Pack of construction
paper
, . .. ~
Jumbo pencils
Jumbo glue sticks
Crayola markers (8
markers)
Blunt-tipped scissors
Play-dough (Please no Rose Art)
Wide-ruled spiral notebook
2-pocket folders with brads
Clorox wipes
Finger paint
Baby wipes
Reusable water bottle
Crayola crayons
Elmer's glue
Colored cardstock
3-ring 1" binder
Crayon box
Colored copy paper
Tempera paint
Shelter
New wash cloths (Desperately Need)
7
New full-sized towels
(Desperately Need)
New sheets and comforters, twin sized
(Desperately Need)
Full-sized Shampoos/Conditioners/
Body Wash/Soap (Desperately
Need) t:..
enm1nat11ng racism
empowering wo·me,
a
.
Coming Out All Over
Again: A Lesbian
Perspective on Disability
by Christa Woods
When I came out in April of 1997, my
life changed in a huge way. Feelings
that confused and frightened me
suddenly made sense; and for the first
time, I started to feel comfortable in my
own skin. My decision to be open about
who I am and who I loved came with lots
of questions from friends, family, and,
sometimes, complete strangers. I
decided early that the best way to
educate people about what being a
lesbian really meant was to simply live
my life honestly and openly. I didn't balk
at questions, even some of the more
personal ones. I wanted people to
understand that I was still a
beautiful, precious human being
worthy of her place on this planet.
I'd like to think that I have done a
fair job of that so far.
On November 30, 2010, my life
completely changed again. In
February of that year, I was
diagnosed with proliferative diabetic
retinopathy, a disease that causes
blood vessels to grow inside the eye
and pull on the retina, eventually
detaching it. I had already lost a lot of
vision in my left eye, but the right one
was still pretty good. Then, in the middle
of watching the OU vs OSU Bedlam
game, I noticed that everything in my
right eye became very blurry. A couple
of friends took me immediately to see
my eye doctor, who determined that the
laser procedure I had undergone just a
week before to prevent the blood
vessels from growing and bleeding had
actually triggered a major bleed. In the
course of less than two hours, I went
from 20/20 vision in my "good" right eye
to being legally blind. To add insult to
injury, OSU lost the game!
In the three and a half years since, I
have worked hard to deal with my new
life as a person with vision loss. I had to
relearn how to do many things, like
cleaning my apartment, cooking,
shopping, using a computer, and
travelling in the community. At times, the
challenges were so overwhelming; I
thought I would never be able to have a
normal life again. Thankfully, with the
support of family, friends, and my
Herland sisters, I found the strength to
keep going. I am three semesters away
from earning a Master's Degree in
Rehabilitation Counseling, and I am
currently working
fulltime as a
Visual Services
counselor for
people who are
deaf and blind. I
will probably
never drive again,
but I have learned
to live with it. I am
now a master of
the public
transporta-tion system, such as it is, but
I never turn down a free ride.
The strange part about my journey to
dealing with my disability is how it is
similar to my coming out journey. People
ask a lot of ridiculous questions, treat
me as if I am some alien creature from
another galaxy, and a few have even
tried to "pray away" both my
homosexuality and my blindness. During
Girl Scout Cornerstone Events
One of the primary initiatives of Girl Scout Cornerstone is to support the Girl
Scouts Gold Award Scholarship. GS Cornerstone started the council's first
scholarship fund, which recognizes and rewards scouts who have earned the
prestigious Gold Award , the highest honor awarded to a Girl Scout. Each
spring , GS Cornerstone awards two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors
.
receiving their gold award .
In March 2014, GS Cornerstone held its second annual Earn Your
Shopping Badge event to raise money for the scholarship fund, working
toward an endowment when $20,000 is raised. Earn Your Shopping Badge is
a one-day shopping event during which select stores donate 10% of the day's
proceeds to the scholarship fund . More than $3,000 was raised for the
scholarship fund this time!
While most GS Cornerstone activities are designed to support the mission
of Girl Scouts and bring professionc;il value to members, other events are
simply fun . Earlier this year, members gathered at Green Goodies for a
Cupcakes and Creative event where GS Cornerstone members completed
craft projects while enjoying delicious cupcakes made from Girl Scout Cookies.
For more information , visit www.gswestok.org. l1
8
this process, which continues today, I
have learned that, as many
misconceptions as there are about the
LGBT community, misconceptions about
people with disabilities are much more
numerous. Some people thought that
my IQ had suddenly dropped 50 points.
My family members started preparing for
the day they were sure they would have
to take care of my every need and that
my useful life was over. I have been
looked upon with fear and pity.
I decided to approach these nuggets
of misinformation the same way I
approached coming out-I simply live
my life. I welcome questions from
anyone, especially children. When I walk
my dog, the neighborhood kids ask me
about my white cane, and I explain to
them what it means and how I use it. I
move about in my community proudly,
quietly showing how I shop, bank, go to
school , or meet friends for nights' out.
Instead of hiding myself and my
disability from the world, as so many
expect, I fight to take my rightful place in
society.
I am an out and proud blind lesbian.
My first coming out experiences, in an
odd way, prepared me for life as a
person with a disability. I have resolved
to continue fighting for equality for both
the LGBT community and the Disability
community. I want the world to know
that I am not a freak, I am not useless
and that my tiny part in this story of life
is just as happy, sad, funny, and exciting
as everyone else's. I hope that, by living
my life as I choose, with all its
successes and failures, I can be an
example to my nieces and nephews. I
want to love and be loved. All I ask is for
the chance to be exactly who I am. l1
Wet tome
to the New Aae!
Herland has gone wireless, and we
can start video streaming too! Our
Herland Sister Resources building now
has free WiFi for member enjoyment! You
can use your favorite mobile device
(phones, Kindles, iPads, laptops, and so
on) and hook right into the system with an
on-site password! The password will be
provided in writing by the front door and
open to all visitors for use during
meetings, dinners, or when you just want
to come by and hang out doing some
quiet reading. A special thank you to our
Building & Maintenance sister who did the
research behind the scenes and for
making the building internet-ready! l1
Broner. . •
continued from page B.
a radically new Haggadah (the text
for the Passover service seder) that
preserved but re-imagined Jewish
rituals and culture by shifting the
focus onto women. Transforming
the male-centered service into a
powerful reclamation of women's
lives and stories, it became, under
Broner's leadership, the basis for a
Jewish feminist tradition that
continues to today.
At the same time the
documentary tells the story of
Esther Broner, described by the
New York Times as a writer who
explored the double marginalization
of being Jewish and female.
Without her, we can assume,
modern Jewish women might not
have found a worthy place in the
home, in society, and in Jewish
tradition. 6.
Spiritual Exploration
Opportunities
[We have made requests for
OKC spiritual organizations
to respond with informational
descriptions-more should
appear in the next issue.]
The Dharma Center's
purpose is to provide a place of
meditation and spiritual growth through
the study and practice of Buddhist
principles. We seek to support each
other and our community in the
development of awareness,
compassion, and peace. For
information, please e-mail us at
rkok@coxinet.net, call (405) 943-5030,
or visit 27 45 NW 40th St, OKC OK
73112. 6.
Epworth United Methodist
Church (UMC) welcomes all, and, at
Epworth, a// means ALL. Epworth UMC
is a faithful, diverse Christian
Community dedicated to the reconciling
ministries of Jesus through our
traditions of Spirit-filled worship; justice
-seeking mission and service;
purposeful faith and spiritual
development; radical, inclusive
hospitality; and intentional care and
nurture of our church family, our
community, and the world. The people
of the faith community of Epworth UMC
strive to transform the world by
throwing open our hearts, our minds,
and our doors to all-a// are welcome.
Epworth UMC is a member of
Feminism and Home Ee: An Unlikely Partnership?
If you are like· most women, you still remember "home ec" class
from your high school days. You might recall learning basic cooking
skills, how to hem a skirt, or how to manage a household budget.
And you probably also recall that the majority, if not all, of your classmates were
girls. But at its start, the field of home economics was something quite different
from what you remember. The roots of "home ec" can be traced back to Ellen
Swallow Richards, the co-founder of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, the
predecessor organization to AAUW.
Richards' goal was a simple one. A trailblazing MIT chemist, she wanted to
apply scientific knowledge to domestic work and create a new pathway for
women into higher education. Early home economics courses incorporated a
variety of scientific disciplines into the classroom and aimed to professionalize
the work of women. In addition, Richards and her fellow progressive-era
feminists hoped that introducing more efficient practices within the home would
liberate women from the drudgery of household work, freeing up their time and
energy to focus on other pursuits. In 1899 Richards organized the first of a
series of meetings in Lake Placid, New York, to lay the groundwork for a new
academic discipline. Several terms were offered to describe the work they were
doing, including "oekology" and "euthenics," but attendees eventually settled on
"home economics." The Lake Placid meetings were held until 1909, when the
American Home Economics Association was established, and Richards became
its first president.
It looks like Richards achieved her goal. According to Cornell University,
training in home economics not only prepared women for motherhood and
homemaking but also for a broad .spectrum of careers in public and private
education, business, social service, dietetics, journalism, and institutional
management. As various professional fields legitimized their specific knowledge
and talents, home economists carved a place for themselves outside the
domestic sphere.
Today, home economics is referred to as "family and consumer science," and
it's disappearing from schools. But recent articles call for a return to home
economics education for both genders. Writers lament that the course has been
dropped from many school curricula, pointing to the lack of basic essential skills,
such as planning for and cooking nutritious meals and managing a household
budget, among today's youth. It will be interesting to see what the future holds
and whether the home economics of Ellen Swallow Richards will be reinvented
yet again. [posted July 31, 2014, on www.aauw.org] 6.
Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN)
which is a growing movement of United
Methodists working for the full
participation of all people in the church.
Reconciling Ministries Network (http://
www.rmnetwork.org) mobilizes United
Methodists of all sexual orientations
and gender identities to transform our
Church and world into the full
expression of Christ's inclusive love.
The Reconciling Ministries Network
(RMN) strives to transform the world by
living out the Gospel's teachings of
grace, love, justice, and inclusion for all
of God's children. For information on
Epworth UMC, visit http://www.
epworth-okc.org or call the office (405)
525-2346. 6.
Mayflower Congregational· United
Church of Christ stands firmly on the
9
idea that the church should only reject
people that Jesus would reject-that is,
no one. We recognize that LGBTQ
people can be just as loving, just as
faithful, just as disciplined, just as holy
as all other people can be, and that
they equally share with all other human
beings the worth that comes from
being children of God. We seek to
include those who find themselves in
exile from the community of faith
because of their orientation and invite
them to share in our common
communion and work beside us as we
do justice, seek mercy, and walk
humbly with God. For information,
please visit www.mayflowerucc.org,
e-mail us at cyasunday@
mayflowerucc.org, or call the office at
(405) 842-8897. 6.
MARGOT ADLER
(1945-2014)
Margot Adler, a longtime
correspondent for National Public
Radio (NPR) who was also a
recognized authority on and a
longtime practitioner of nee-pagan
spiritualism, died on Monday, July
28, at her home in Manhattan. She
was 68. Her death, from cancer,
was announced by NPR.
Having joined NPR in 1979, Adler variously worked as
a general-assignment reporter, the New York bureau
chief, and a political and cultural correspondent. Over her
tenure, she reported on a wide array of subjects, among
them the Ku Klux Klan, the AIDS epidemic, the 9/11
attacks, Hurricane Sandy, the Harry Potter phenomenon,
and the natural world.
Margot Adler was also a self-described Wiccan high
priestess who adhered to the tradition for more than 40
years. She was the author of Drawing Down the Moon:
Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other
Pagans in America Today (1979), a book that both
documented contemporary pagan movements and was
credited with helping ignite heightened interest in them.
- The daughter of Kurt Alfred Adler and the former
Freyda Nacque, Margot Susanna
Adler was born on April 16, 1946, in
Little Rock, AR, and reared on the
Upper West Side of Manhattan. Her
father was a psychiatrist who helped
continue the work of his father, the
distinguished Viennese psychiatrist
Alfred Adler, who was first an ally
and later an ideological adversary of
Freud.
Participants for Survey
Needed
As an undergraduate OSU student, I
am recruiting participation for a research
project involving sexual minority (LGBTI)
young adults (ages 18-25) who currently
reside in Oklahoma. I am inviting young
people to participate in this research (if
Dear Friends,
If you enjoy reading the Her/and Voice bul have not
made a donation in recent years, please consider doing so
now Because of the cost involved with printing and mailing,
we must limit our mailing list to those who make some
contribution-even a small one. For those who would like to
continue reading the Voice but are unable to make a
contribution, please send your e-mail address (including
your street address to simplify the process) to
herland@herlandsisters.org and we would be happy to sign
you up for the e-mail version of the Voice. ti
Adler graduated from the High School of Music
and Art and enrolled at the University of California,
Berkeley, where she was active in the free speech,
civil rights, and antiwar movements. After earning a
bachelor's degree in political science from Berkeley,
she received a master's from the Columbia University
Graduate School of Journalism. In 1982, she was a
Nieman fellow at Harvard. Before joining NPR, Ms
Adler was affiliated with WBAI in New York, serving
as the original host of "Hour of the Wolf," a show
exploring the work of noted science fiction writers. Ms
Adler's husband, John Lowell Gliedman, a
psychologist, computer consultant, and science writer
whom she married in 1988, died in 2010. Survivors
include their son, Alex Dylan Gliedman-Adler.
Her other books include
Vampires Are Us: Understanding Our Love Affair with the
Immortal Dark Side (2014), and
a 1997 memoir, Heretic's Heart:
A Journey Through Spirit &
Revolution. Adler was drawn to
nee-paganism in the early
1970s, she said, because its
invocation of ancient
goddesses appealed to her
feminism and its ecological
concerns resonated with her love of nature. Though
witchcraft was for Ms Adler a serious endeavor it also
furnished an outlet for her constitutional puckish
humor. She drew the line, however, at the rustic,
gnarled-handled broom she kept in her kitchen. In
1991, when a reporter from The Times visited her
apartment, Adler declared in no uncertain terms that
she was not to be photographed alongside it. [from
NYT Margalit Fox 7/29/2014 with references from
"Margot Adler in 2006" by Michael Paras/NPR] ti
they qualify) and to also help me
access more participants. The study is
being conducted through an
anonymous and confidential webbased survey at http://tiny.cc/oklgbti2.
It examines potential cognitive,
emotional, and identity correlates of
non-suicidal self-harm in LGBTI youth,
aged 18 to 25 (Transitional Youth). The
purpose of this study is to explore and
understand factors that may contribute
to risk behaviors in LGBTI populations.
If you have any questions please
contact: Sue Jacobs, PhD at 405-7449895 or sue.c.jacobs@okstate.edu;
Douglas Knuston, MEd, PhD Student
at 405-459-0241 or douglas.knutson
@okstate .edu; or Melissa Hakman,
PhD at 405-208-5397 or mhakman
@okcu.edu . Thank you in advance,
Kaylie Thomas /1
10
The Diversity Business
Association (OBA) is a
collective of LG BT-owned
and LGBT-allied
businesses. Together OBA
is supporting business,
advancing equality, and
improving the economy. /j,_
rule that state bans against same-sex
before them. There is a strong possibility that among the
·F'"""";. . marriage violated the federal
cases accepted for SCOTUS review will be Oklahoma's
constitution-more rulings are expected . Bishop case. SCOTUS may decide whether to accept an
' •· Attorney Joseph Thai, a member of
appeal on this matter in late 2014 and hear the appeal in
....._,.~·"'"'! Oklahoma's legal team supporting
early 2015 (SCOTUS is on its summer hiatus until October
Bishop, said that the Bishop ruling was
2014.). Oklahoma same-sex marriage will be on hold until
"pro-equity, pro-family, pro-society and
SCOTUS decides. Pro-same-sex marriage advocates in
pro-Oklahoma." Kitchen, Bishop, and the Oklahoma are optimistic.
101h Circuit Federal Appeals Court
However, there is no certainty here. SCOTUS may not
forever changed Oklahoma law for the better. Both Kitchen
take a same-sex marriage case at this time. SCOTUS may
and Bishop allow same-sex couples to marry in Oklahoma,
deny review (certiorari) and decide to wait for additional
and Kitchen arguably allows same-sex marriages legally
appeal court rulings. If SCOTUS denies certiorari, the Appeal
performed elsewhere to be recognized in Oklahoma. The
Court ruling will stand and become the law in the states those
impact of both rulings will be delayed pending any appeal of a courts cover, making same-sex marriage legal in Oklahoma.
same-sex marriage case heard before SCOTUS.
If SCOTUS waits and all circuits rule, theoretically, SCOTUS
It is expected that the Defendant /Appellants in both
may never get involved, with the matter being decided for
Kitchen and Bishop will file an appeal and challenge the
them. SCOTUS may uphold state same-sex marriage bans.
rulings to SCOTUS. The Bishop case must be appealed
Anti-same-sex marriage advocates are quick to point out that
within ninety (90) days of its July 18, 2014, ruling.
SCOTUS placed a stay on same-sex marriages in Kitchen,
The next step is for a SCOTUS appeal (a petition for
pending SCOTUS review, and such is typically only done
certiorari) to be filed in a case or cases addressing same-sex when it is likely SCOTUS will overturn the lower court in the
marriage rights. Then it is expected that SCOTUS will decide matter it is reviewing .
Regardless of what happens next, same-sex marriage in
whether to accept one or more of the cases or not grant a
review (four Supreme Court justices must vote to review a
Oklahoma will be on hold until SCOTUS rules or decides to
lower court ruling) . In 2006, seven years before
.--------------=""_,.....,_..,,...,.,_____, not review this issue.
SCOTUS's Windsor ruling, the 81h Circuit Appeals Court
Again, pro-same-sex
(covering Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North
i marriage advocates in
Dakota, and South Dakota) upheld Nebraska's same-sex
Oklahoma are
marriage ban [See Citizens for Equal Prof. v. Bruning,
optimistic.
455 F3d 859 (81h Cir 2006).]. In an effort to avoid a legal
[Photo
patchwork of different result in various states, SCOTUS
Identification: Lead
usually grants review of Appeal Court rulings when there
attorney Don Holladay
is a disagreement between or among rulings in various
talking with Kathleen
Wallace and Beverly
Appeal Courts. This disagreement between the 81h circuit
and the 101h circuit may provide a basis for Supreme Court
Evans at a gathering celebrating Oklahoma's Bishop ruling.]
review. Since SCOTUS has signaled its willingness to take a Nothing in this article creates an attorney-client relationship or constitutes legal
same-sex marriage case from one or more of the states, it is advice for any particular fa mily or partnership. For such advice, consult with an
Continued from page 1.
.. , t:1
expected to file a "writ Of Certiorari" Which accepts the Case
for their review. By the time SCOTUS makes its decision on
whether to review, it is expected there will be additional cases
attorney licensed to practice in Oklahoma about your specific situation.
Sandy Ingraham , J.D .. M .S. W may be reached at Ingraham & Associates. P.L.L.C.,
333629 E Kickapoo Valley Rd, McLoud, OK · 74851: Tel (405) 964 -2072: Fax (405)
964-2058; e-mail sandyfoingraham@gmail.com L'.
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12