Herlandvoice-1991-07-v8-no07_ocr.pdf
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JULY, 1991
AND WE WERE
PROUD IN '91 !
RE-TREAT YOURSELF
IN OCTOBER
The fourth annual Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade of Oklahoma
went off Sunday June 23 without a hitch. There were a few fanatical
Bible quoters yelling through the loudspeaker in their truck and no
article in Monday's Daily Oklahoman, but what else is new? Why
can't those fanatics come up with something constructive to do with
their time? This is something they can't seem to find in the Christian
Bible. Perhaps they should look closer.
Anyway, Debra Couch estimated attendance at 650 and she
should know-she's been to all of them and been involved in the
planning. The type of work that she, Cindy Bookout, Jerry West,
Candy West and so many others do for the lesbian and gay
community is so much more attractive than any hate-mongering.
We must focus on that. Community. Working together. Coming
out. Not putting up with homosexual jokes. The list goes on and on.
There is nothing like marching in a Lesbian and Gay pride parade
in Oklahoma City. The best part is that traffic is blocked and cars
have to pile up waiting for us to go by. Thirty-ninth and
Pennsylvania is a busy intersection, after all. Also, there's a strong
camaraderie with the bystanders who come out of their houses to
watch and offer the support of recognition.
The culmination of the march comes as the 3/4 of a mile long
parade marches past Penn onto the strip. The street is lined with
those who for whatever reasons can't march. They cheer the
marchers as the heroes they really are. It's equal opportunity
cheering. Courage brings out the best in people.
The groups represented at this year's parade were many. There
were the AIDS Coalition, P-FLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays), Oasis, Herland, ACT-UP, Y.O.U.T.H. (Young, Organized, Understanding, Talented Homosexuals), OGLPC, OUGLBA,
and more. The local clubs had queens and floats (the Porthole was
doing some smooth sailing) and of course there were convertibles.
Harris Ford donated four cars for the day.
Honored guests included Dr. Louise Young and Vivian
Armstrong of Dallas, the Human Rights Commission of OK, L. D .
Nowell, P-FLAG, and ASP/The Winds House.
Logistics Coordinator Cindy Bookout was pleased with another
successful parade and said "We were glad to have lots of people
from out of town [Tulsa, Dallas, etc] and invite more from
surrounding areas to participate next year."
Don't let next year's parade pass you by. You don't have to say
anything. Showing up takes care of that. That is the main statement
to make- show up. If every gay and lesbian in the greater metro area
showed up, do you realize that we would have a parade of about
50,000? (Low estimate!) Seeing a group of lesbians, gays, and
supporters lined from Classen Boulevard almost to Pennsylvania
will show that you are not alone.
Special thanks go to co-chairs Jerry West and Keith Porter,
secretary/treasurer Richard LaMonyon, and Logistics Coordinators Cindy Bookout and Paul Thompson. All participants, in front
of and behind the scene-our hats are off to you!
•
"I loooved the tie dye!" "The best blueberry pancakes I have ever
had . . . " "Women's community ... music and dancing .. .
friends vacationing ... the pot luck Saturday night was doubly
lucky ... "
Yes the 13th Herland Retreat at Robber's Cave State Park near
Wilburton, Oklahoma didn't fall prey to unlucky superstition.
Rather it lived up to all the fun that the retreats have always cracked
up to be. This is not one of those pie in the sky, airy type of reviews.
It's just retreat stuff. Those who have been know, those who haven't
have another chance in October to find out.
Imagine a cool evening, sitting around the campfire, listening to a
woman's pretty voice singing as she strums the old Silvertone guitar.
Or what about a hot card game in the main room? If you're having
some problems that need discussing, a listener is close at hand. Being
alone is just a trail away. These are just a few scenarios to expect
Friday, October 11 through Sunday October 13 at Red Rock
Canyon State Park just an hour west of Oklahoma City.
It's set in October just for the purpose of capturing the beautiful
fall of this red dirt state. Made for women to enjoy the countryside
with a group of current and soon-to-be friends, a common interest
to bind the spirit.
It will follow the familiar pattern of Friday gathering, Saturday
leisure and workshops, nighttime pot luck dinner and evening
music. Sunday is clean-up and head for home. The park itself won't
disappoint hikers and general nature lovers.
Spread the word. Mark your calendars. If you've never been to a
retreat, treat yourself. If you have, re-treat yourself! See you in
October.
•
VOLUME 8 NUMBER 7
•
HERLAND SISTER RESOURCES
DONNAD.~
cJ:J
AND THE
Herland Garden Party
~ And Bar-B-Que
,.,
SATURDAY, JULY 20th
~~f 2312 N.W. 39th
-~
6:00 P.M.
~.
$5.00 DONATION
(MORE IF YOU CAN, LESS IF YOU CAN'T)
•
2312 N.W. 39th, OKC, OK 73112
•
(405) 521-9696
IDA WELLS BARNETT
1862-1931
Ida Wells-Barnett was a woman of incredible courage and strength .
Her parents died of yellow fever when she was 14, leaving her to raise
the family on a teaching salary she earned while pretending to be 18.
She moved to Memphis in 1884 to teach in a black urban school, and
while traveling on the C&O Railroad, was forcibly thrown off the
train when she refused to move to the "colored" car. She sued the
railroad, winning the case in circuit court, only to have the decision
overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1887.
Using the pen name "Iola," she began writing articles for black
newspapers. She criticized the inadequate schooling available for black
children in Memphis, and as a result, lost her teaching job. She bought
a one-third interest in the Memphis Free Speech, launching a full-time
journalism career.
When on March 9, 1892, three black men were lynched for
allegedly raping a white woman, she investigated and published her
findings. The victims had been operating a successful grocery store in
the city, to which white shopkeepers were losing business. WellsBarnett published a series of articles in which she exposed the familiar
pretext of sexual misconduct as justification for lynching, which she
cited as the newest tool for enforcing an economic caste system in the
South. In an editorial, she admonished perpetrators that: "Nobody
believes the threadbare lie that Negro men rape white women. If
Southern white men are not careful, they will overreach themselves
and public sentiment will then be reached which will be very damaging
to the reputation of their women." Shortly after the publication of the
expose, the offices of the paper were burned down.
Wells-Barnett was in New York City at the time and her life was
threatened if she returned to Memphis. She launched a one-woman
crusade against lynching, giving testimonials and lectures, and traveling
to England where she was instrumental in establishing anti-lynching
societies and committees to combat racial segregation.
Her trip attracted national attention in America, and her crusade
became an international one, helping to break the determined silence
of some influential American leaders.
An uncompromising militant, Wells-Barnett distrusted whites
fighting racism, but worked with white women in the suffrage
movement. She belifved in woman's suffrage because blacks would
benefit from women's votes. She founded the Alpha Suffrage Club,
the first black women's suffrage association, and she marched with
the delegation in the 1913 inaugural eve parade. In 1916, she was to
lead the Chicago delegation in a parade of 5,000, but was told that she
had to march in a special "colored" section at the rear of the parade,
because of pressure from southern suffragists. She disappeared until
the parade was underway, then stepped off the sidewalk and joined
the ranks of the Chicago delegation.
Ida Wells-Barnett's life stands as a tribute to one of the strongest, most
•
uncompromising voices opposing racism in our nation's history.
Kay Killgore, M.Ed .
Woman to Woman Counseling
1010 N.W. 45th
Oklahoma City , Oklahoma 73118
(405) 524-1062
Stranger than fiction ...
ESTHER WILLIAMS ASKED TO
LEAVE COUNTRY CLUB
Los Angeles (June 5) - Actress Esther Williams said she was asked to
leave a Los Angeles Country Club benefit for wearing trousers to the
event-at which she was to have been the guest of honor.
Ms. Williams, 67, explained that a man instructed her to don a skirt
kept on hand for dress code offenders or to leave. She was wearing an
Oscar de la Renta outfit of black silk trousers, a matching camisole and
floral jacket.
"I thought he was kidding, I really did," the actress said.
The MGM studios' "Bathing Beauty" of the 1940's said she took the
microphone and told partygoers at the Childhelp USA fundraiser, "I
haven't done anything to offend anyone here tonight, except that I have
silk on my legs and they want my legs bare."
After making her announcement, Ms. Williams said she left the club.
The country club Wednesday did not return a message asking for a
comment.
•
NEED TO TALK?
NEED COMMUNITY INFORMATION?
CALL
842-GAYS
The Gay & Lesbian
HELPLINE
Hours: 7 p.m. - 1 a.m. Wednesday - Monday
Volunteers Needed: Leave a message with
a current volunteer if you are interested.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Ink 'Well 10vinttng
TERI HOELTZEL
SUSAN BROOKS
Owners
(405) 942-5693
501 N. Meridian, Suite 107
Oklahoma City, OK 73107-5701
According to the May 1, 1991 Washington Spectator, which was
devoted to the "progress" of the American woman, more women
were abused in 1989 than got married. The official rate of assaults
against women aged 20 to 24 has risen 48% since 1974; a woman is
battered every 15 seconds in the United States. Domestic violence
now results in more injuries among women than auto accidents,
rapes and muggings combined; and it is the crime least likely to be
reported. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence now
estimates that 3 to 4 million women are beaten by their husbands or
partners annually.
•
Inf from In These Times, May 29.
2 HERLAND VOICE JULY 1991
HI! DO YOU NEED A PLACE TO WORKon
RECYCLING UPDATE
Herland has been encouraged by the tremendous interest that the
community has demonstrated in recycling; unfortunately we are also
a bit overwhelmed. We will still maintain our recycling center for
those of you who will otherwise trash your recyclables, and remember that aluminum cans represent a (little) income for us. But we are
now asking that when possible please take all other recycleables
elsewhere.
Pratt's grocery stores are no longer accepting recyclables, but
Recycle America, located o n N.W . 4th between MacArthur and
Portland , will take aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, newspaper,
glass, plastic - HDPE (milk, juice, water jugs ) and plastic - PET (soda
bottles) as long as everything is clean, clear of caps and rings and glass
is sorted by color. They will also take certain kinds of office and
computer paper, but you need to be aware of contaminants; a full list
of these can be obtained at their office.
Wal-Mart has recently begun placing bins outside their stores for
plastic, newspaper and aluminum. Yo u might call the store nearest
you to see if a bin is in place.
And if you 're moved by the spirit, contact your local civic leaders
and politicians and encourage them to develop a recycling program
•
for the metropolitan area! It's time we had curbside recycling!
TREAT YOURSELF TO THE "TOUCH OF GOLD...
Treat your special someone, too, for $10 off her Massage!
ooucfi of Qold
HEALTHFUL • STRESS RELIEVING MASSAGE
~,,
Special
J1sroun£s
tJt 11Jilc.lh/L'
"Portable"
Melanie ~· McKiddy
massage
cable
a ..iailahlc
for ~our
MASSAGE THERAPIST
all
Her/and
lo
360-6945
rt?aders'
L·nnt •t:'Tlience.
ECOLOGY CONFERENCE
The St. Louis Area Incinerator Network and Gateway Green Alliance
will present "Don't Waste the Midwest! Incinerators & the Fight to
Stop Them" on July 12th and 13th, 1991, in Eureka, Missouri.
Friday evening: Talk by Waste Not editor Dr. Paul Connett. Saturday:
Bad Fumes Rising video festival; concurrent workshops on strategies
to halt incinerators and technical issues of incineration; slide show
and more. Eureka High School, 829 Highway, Eureka, MO.
For more information, call ( 324) 72 7-8554 or write Gateway
•
Green Alliance, P.O. Box 8094, St. Louis, MO 63156 .
Ofhce Hours
Tues · Thurs 9-3
Friday 10-6
Sat by appointment
(405) 843-328 l
PUBLISHED BY: Herland Sister Resources, Inc. 2312 NW 39th,
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE:
Margaret Cox, Deborah Fox, Pat Reaves
CIRCULATION: 750
GENERAL INFO: (405) 521-9696 (leave message)
SUBSCR IPTIONS to the Her/and Voice are free upon request.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
UNDER PRESSURE
Lesbian and gay organizations across the country and around the
world are uniting to put pressure on Al to vote for inclusion of
homosexuals as prisoners of conscience this summer. Utilizing
Amnesty's own strategies of letterwriting and petition, Queer Planet
(the international focus group of Queer Nation SF) has designed a series
of postcards questioning Amnesty's refusal to include sexual minorities
in its mandate, and demanding the adoption as prisoners of conscience
those imprisoned solely on the basis of sexi;al orientation, gender
identity, and / or HIV status.
"Amnesty has been working on this for 17 years," says Julie Dorf, co-chair
ofIGLHRC. "A positive decision must be made at this 1991 conference, not
another call for another report. Let's hope that they vote for inclusion this
year for the sake of gays and lesbians around the world."
"When will Amnesty International realize that we need and deserve
their advocacy?" wonders Mark Duran of Queer Planet. "It's a simple
fact that sexual minorities and the HIV positive often receive severe
persecution at the hands of their own governments."
The question of inclusion of homosexuals as prisoners of conscience
has been unresolved for the past 17 years of Amnesty lnternational's
history. In 1974, the Danish Amnesty introduced the issue; in 1979 the
International Conference decided to include in its mandate individuals
arrested for advocating homosexual rights as prisoners of conscience;
however it did not include individuals arrested for being homosexual. In
1987, the issue was brought to the international conference again, and
they formed a task force to review the mandate and report back at the
1991 International Conference, which is taking place this August/
September in Tokyo.
To voice your opinion, write immediately to both: Director of Al
USA, John Healy, 322 8th Ave., NY, NY 10001; or lnt'l Secretariat, Ian
Martin, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X80J, England. For postcards or
more info: Mark Duran, Queer Planet, 1046 Florida Street, San
Francisco, CA 94110; (415) 648-5155 OR Julie Dorf, IGLHRC, 2978
Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94110; (415) 647-0453 .
•
366-09'23
VJSA & MC accepted
We lile insu rance.
Z'~. Z'~ ~- '8~. 'if:.P, .. Z'.Z'.S.
...
Comprehensive Dental Care
'f
that art or craft project, etc., or space for a darkroom? If the answer is
" yes!" please phone me at 787-6784 or 799-7450. Ask for Susan.
5009 North Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 103
Oklahoma C ity, OK 73112
HELEN HOLGATE
Certified Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
Counselor
HERLAND VOICE JULY 1991
3
THOMPSON DENIED
GUARDIANSHIP
Sam L. Nicolosi, D.V.M.
On April 24, Karen Thompson was again denied guardianship of
her lover, Sharon Kowalski, who is severely disabled as a result of a
brain stem injury sustained in an automobile accident. Despite
overwhelming testimony by medical professionals that Kowalski's
interests would be best served by moving her home to St. Cloud to
live with Thompson, Judge Robert Cambell awarded guardianship
to a "neutral third party," Karen Tomberlin, a friend of Kowalski's
family. In response to the court's decision, Thompson's attorney
has initiated the appeal process.
A national "Let Sharon Kowalski Come Home" hotline has
been established by a coalition of organizations to pressure
Minnesota Governor Arne Carleson to intervene on behalf of
Sharon Kowalski. Each call to the 800 number will generate a letter
to Governor Carlson, demonstrating the level of national outrage
surrounding this case and the recent decision. The hotline number
is 800-325-6000, ID #9860. The charge for each call is $6.25, a
portion of which will go to the Karen Thompson Legal Fund.
The organizations coordinating grassroots mobilization to overturn the Campbell decision include the National Organization for
Women, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Human
Rights Campaign Fund, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education
Fund, the National Center f~r Lesbian Rights, the National Lesbian
and Gay Health Foundation, and Southern California Women for
Understanding.
•
M. COLEEN WOODY
MARILYN D. BEST
NICOLOSI ANIMAL HOSPITAL
4015 N.W . 23rd
Oklahoma City
by Appointment
Phone (405) 947-5545
In August 1985, at their last visit, Sharon typed, "Karen, help me.
Get me out of here. Take me home with you." While at Leisure
Hills, Sharon's typewriter was removed, she was fed only through a
feeding tube and she did not receive appropriate rehabilitation,
causing a drastic deterioration in her condition.
1987 • 1988 - Thompson filed a new motion asking that
Kowalski be legally restored to capacity, and thus receive decisionmaking power on her own behalf. The intent of the motion was to
force competency tests for Sharon (a previous court order
requiring annual testing had been consistently ignored). Judge
Robert Campbell did order testing and the results showed that
Sharon could communicate her wishes, understand the communications of others, and that she had asked for Thompson. The
report stated that Kowalski's social and psychological well-being
had been adversely affected by three years in the nursing home
and that she should be moved immediately to a facility where she
could receive communication and physical therapy.
ATTORNEYS-AT -LAW
General Practice
1518 N.W. 29th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
405-525-2174
THE HISTORY OF THE SHARON
KOWALSKI CASE
1983 - 1984 - In November 1983, Sharon Kowalski sustained
multiple disabilities resulting from a brain stem injury received
when the car she was driving was struck by a drunk driver. Karen
Thompson, Kowalski's life partner of four years at the time of the
accident, was the major force in Kowalski's daily physical therapy
which resulted in Sharon's ability to communicate via an electric
typewriter, make hand gestures, eat, wash and brush her teeth .
Thompson filed for guardianship of Sharon, but agreed out of
court to Donald Kowalski's (Sharon's father) appointment in
return for court ordered unlimited visitation rights, access to
medical records and input into Kowalski's care.
1985 - 1986 - Donald Kowalski successfully petitioned the
court for unconditional guardianship which he used to remove
Karen Thompson's rights to see Sharon or have any input into her
care. He also immediately moved Sharon to Leisure Hills Nursing
Home (a facility three hours away from Thompson) which was
previously determined to be unsuitable for Sharon by the court.
4
HERLAND VOICE JULY 1991
1989 - 1990 - In January 1989, Kowalski was moved to MillerDwan Medical Center. On February 2, Thompson was permitted
to see Sharon for the first time since August 1985. Thompson
reported that Sharon's condition had deteriorated, but that she
was alert, happy to see her friends, and was responsive to the work
of her therapists. In August 1989, Thompson filed a new petition
to be named guardian. Donald Kowalski sent a letter to Judge
Campbell asking that he be removed as Sharon's guardian.
Hearings in the guardianship case were held in early November
and December, 1990.
1991 - On April 23, Judge Campbell awarded gurdianship of
Sharon Kowalski to a "neutral third party." Thompson's attorney
has initiated the appeal process .
•
PROTECT YOURSELF &
YOUR RELATIONSHIP
If you have the least doubt about how your wishes
might be carried out should you become unable to decide
for yourself, take action now.
Establish a durable power of attorney to designate who
you want to care for you if you are ill or injured. The book
A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples provides
recommendations for protective documents your lawyer
can execute on your behalf.
~x---B.Y.O.B. (Paint Brush) to Herland on July 6 and join in the old
fashioned barn raising. Actually we aren't building any barns but we
will be giving Herland a much needed bright new coat of paint. The
action will start about 10 a.m. and we'll end up with a backyard
pot-luck. So bring your paint brush and overalls and come on down
and enjoy the fun! . .. . .
DON'T MISS DONNA D. AND THE HERLAND GARDEN
PARTY.July 20th, 6:00 p.m. Music, bar-be-que, volleyball, croquet.
$5 suggested donation (more if you can, less if you can't) . . .. .
COME BY ANY WEEKEND and enjoy Herland's back yard. The
new green lawn is the result of lots of hard work by volunteer Chris
L. The regular mowing and trimming is donated by the McMow
Sisters. Thanks to these women, Herland's yard has become a
beautiful, woman-friendly space .. . . .
MADWOMAN PRESS IS ACCEPTING MANUSCRIPTS by,
for and about lesbians. Novel-length fiction, cartoons and comics
which depict the upbeat, the tale of triumph over adversity and the
story of pride in being lesbian are being sought. For manuscript
guidelines send a stamped self-addressed envelope to: Madwoman
Press, P.O. Box 690, Northboro, MA 01532 ... . .
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Venus Press is seeking single-panel
cartoons, strips, and cartoon stories for New Dyke, a book anthology
of cartoons by, for and about lesbians. Cartoons can be fantasy, soap
opera, humor, sci fi, feminist satire/ politics, explicit sex, stories
about growing up, coming out, romance, aging, etc. Deadline is
12/1191. Send submissions and SASE to Venus Press, 7100 Blvd.
East, Guttenberg, NJ 07093 . . . ..
THE 13TH NATIONAL LESBIAN AND GAY CONFERENCE and the 9th National AIDS / HIV Forum will be held July
24-28 in New Orleans, LA. This year's conference will feature
presentations dealing with issues such as: volunteer management,
lesbian and gay health, mental health, substance abuse, and lesbian
and gay youth issues. For registration information call (202)
994-4285 ... . .
WOMEN UNDER ATTACK
by Pat Reaves
The U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the "gag" rule
forbidding health professionals in federally funded family planning
clinics will drastically impact Planned Parenthood of Central
Oklahoma and other family planning clinics receiving federal funds.
The decision forbids even answering a patient's questions regarding
abortion. A woman who asks about abortion must be told that the
clinic doesn't consider abortion "an appropriate method of family
planning."
The ruling effectively denies poor women the right to information
about their legal right to a safe abortion.Justice Harry A. Blackmun
in his dissent from the five to four decision wrote, "Both the
purpose and the result of the challenged regulations is to deny
women the ability voluntarily to decide their precreative destiny.
For these women, the Government will have obliterated freedom to
choose as surely as if it had banned abortions outright."
Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma's clinic annually
receives about $2 71,000 in federal Title X funds. These funds allow
for a sliding fee scale for family planning services and help to support
educational programs. Planned Parenthood must decide whether to
continue to provide all clients with information about all their
options and lose federal funds or to stop providing women with
information about their options and keep federal funds.
The choice seems clear to me. Planned Parenthood originated
from the work of Margaret Sanger, who believed poor women
should have information about contraceptives and went to jail for
providing that information. We need Planned Parenthood to stand
for what is right in the face of a government which attacks the
reproductive rights of women. Planned Parenthood needs those of
us who believe women have the right to control their own bodies to
help financially suport their activities. My check is in the mail. How
about you?
(Contributions can be sent to Planned Parenthood of Central
Oklahoma, 619N.W. 23, OKC, OK 73103.)
•
848-5429
DID YOU KNOW the Herland Voice is now printed on recycled
paper-our small contribution to the welfare of the planet. You can
do your part by recycling what you can ..... .
PHYSICIANS COMMITTEE FOR RESPONSIBLE MEDICINE
has declared a new way to categorize the four food groups: grains,
legumes, vegetables, and fruits . Meat and dairy have been demoted to
"Options" status. the idea is to eat fiver-rich plant foods instead of
foods laden with cholesterol and fat. We might add that it's an
ecologically ethical choice as well, to eat foods lower on the food
chain .
WOMEN'S WRITING
CONFERENCE
Also: Light hauling,
painting; inside & outside
Kiser Lawn Care
& Etc.
K.D. Kiser
SHIRLEY M. HUNTER, M.Ed.
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
Emphasis on the problems of gay people.
PENN PARK OFFICE COMPLEX • SUITE 102
5009 N. PENNSYLVANIA• OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73112
524-3915
The International Women's Writing Guild presents "Writing &
Higher Values II," the 14th Annual IWWG Summer Conference, at
Skidmore College, August 9 - 16, 1991. Nearly 50 workshops are
featured exploring a wide range of topics from fiction, non-fiction,
poetry, feature writing and publishing. Many topics also explore the
writer's inner journey as well as personal expression. The conference is open to all women, regardless of professional portfolio, and
attendees need not be members ofIWWG. For further information
on the IWWG and for conference registration, contact Hannelore
Hahn, c/ o IWWG, P.O. Box 810, Gracie Station, New York, NY
•
10028; (212) 737-7536.
HERLAN D VOICE JULY 1991
5
OPEN LETTER TO A RAPIST
The following letter was written by a woman living in McPherson,
Kansas. Her accompanying letter to Herland read, in part: "McPherson
is a small town (about 14,000), and up until 1989, folks thought it was a
fairly safe town. Unfortunately, this town has to put up with a serial rapist
who has victimized five women since 1989. A few weeks ago, a group of us
were sitting in the cafeteria talking about the latest "news" of the rapist.
We were advised to be cautious, to walk in groups, and so on. I was glad
that we wanted to take precautions but at the same time I was furious that
one man, through his stupid, needless actions, has been able to dictate the
actions of the entire female population of this city. Keeping that anger in
mind, I wrote [the letter below]."
Dear Mr. Rapist:
I just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks.
Thank you for your special brand of violence that has robbed too
many women of their right to choose where, when, and with whom
they want to express their sexuality.
Thank you for the fear you've instilled in many women who don't
even know you (and if they did, they probably wouldn't want to), and
for making it impossible for me to take a walk around the block at
8:30 pm. like I used to do.
Thank you for making me lock my door during the middle of the
day, and for making me sleep with the lights on and the closets
checked in the home that I paid hard-earned money for.
Thank you for the rumors about you-where you are now, how
many women you've conquered, what type of person you are, when
you were caught, and so on.
Thank you for the lack of trust you have so graciously given us. I
don't know what I would do if I wasn't able to look at every man on
the street and wonder if he was the one. I'd probably lose my mind .
Thank you for confusing the police department. Every now and
then they need a good scandal to keep them on their toes, and by
golly , you've really got them going.
Thank you for adding the necessary fuel to an already raging fire of
ignorance; for the stereotypes that continue to chase after the victims
of your "selfless" habit because they just had to live in that house and
they just had to go to sleep at that time in that four-piece floor-length
flannel pajama suit with mud packs on their faces and curlers on their
heads .
Thank you for causing us to lose the support of our families and
friends who just can't understand why a person like me could let
herself be raped.
Thank you for a court system that allows you more rights than it
allows your victims, for the security in knowing you will be out on
probation in a year's time to pick up where you left off, and for
making me so frustrated that I could kill you if I saw you (which,
actually, I couldn't, because guess who would go to jail?).
Thanks for nothing.
Sincerely, An Unadoring Fan
~usie
fr
outhwell,
M. Ed.
COUNSELOR
2912 N. Clauen, Suite 1 0 2 - - - - - - - .
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73106.__ __
Telephone: (405) 556-4105
6
HERLAND VOICE JULY 1991
ENCODINGS
Volume 1, No. 2
NEW POETRY AND ARTWORK BY WOMEN IN HOUSTON
Leslie Lopez, Carol Snyder, Cathy Stern,
Sharon Stewart, Monica Vaughn, Fabian Worsham
AT YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSTORE, OR WRITE:
LIAUD: A Women's Press
P.O. Box 6793, Houston, TX 77265-6793
$4.50/copy
THELMA AND LOUISE - A
REVIEW
by Rhonda Smith
I almost didn't go see this movie because the review I read about
it in our local newspaper gave it such a thumbs down. The
reviewer said it was vaguely entertaining but that most of the
situations were not believable and that the movie was weak. Upon
seeing the film for myself, I am going to venture a guess that the
reviewer (a man) was uncomfortable with seeing women stand up
for themselves and bond together, and in all fairness, there really
aren't many positive male characters in the film. (Hey, Jack,
welcome to the world of unfair portrayals.)
Susan Sarandon (Louise) and Gina Davis (Thelma) portray two
women who decide to get away from their respective male partners
for an innocent weekend of fishing. Thelma is so cowed by her
relationship with her jerk of a husband that she can't even find the
courage to ask his permission to go, so she just leaves a note and
goes (Yay!).
Beginning with Thelma being rescued from rape by Louise and
Louise's violent answer to the rapist's insolence, you know that
this is not going to be such an innocent weekend after all. The
consequent situations in which the women find themselves
involved bring about a transformation in both of them-a coming
into their own, taking their destiny into their own hands, knowing
what it is to be awake.
My only difficulty with the movie is the over-consumption of
alcohol. But overall, there are poignant moments of pain, fear,
strength, humor and courage throughout the film, and the ending
is ... different.
•
REQUEST FOR SUBMISSIONS
Rape is not a private issue but a public one. It is a problem that
concerns all men and women because it violates our personhood,
disrupts our trust of one another, and closes down communications. It
is estimated that 80% of all women who have been raped knew their
attacker. Yet acquaintance rape is least likely to be reported due to the
myths that shroud it in acceptance, or view it as the victim's fault.
An anthology of writings about acquaintance rape is being compiled .
If you want to share your story, send prose, poetry, journal or letter so
that others will more fully comprehend the depth and urgency of
acquaintance rape. Write to P.O. Box 4624 , St. Paul, MN 55104. (Feel
free to remain anonymous or to use a pseudonym.)
The patterns and consequences of rape will only change if the perception of
rape by society and the law undergo a massive reconsruction . This reconstruction cannot begin until women speak out and describe their experiences with
rape. Our voice needs to be that of the educator.
•
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Hemorable date s in Ju ly :
• Emme l ine Pankhurst, 1858 - 1928; born July 14.
• Woody Guthrie, 1912 - 1967, born .July 14.
• Storming of the Bastil le , .foly 14, 1789.
• Sandra Day O'Connor the fi rst and so far only woman
appointed to the United States Supreme Court; July 7, 1981
Sunday
Monday
t
Tuesday
\\lednesday Thursda~'
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CoOA, 6:45 pm
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1875 - 1955
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AT HERLANO All Welcome!
FOURTH
Marshall
born 1908
MARY
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in Cone:.ert. in
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SISTERS
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SWING al the
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Ralificalion
of lhe 19th
Amendment.
In 1920
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COOK-OUT
al Herland
CoDA. 6 :45 pm
al Herland
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PEGGY
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at. POETS
57.'5 South
L!niversily •
in Nori~an ;
8 - 11 P .111.
31
30
Music lovers get luc ky 1n Jul; ' lats G· Peggy &Mary;
Ma ry alane 1 Miss Brow n Ta Yau, ~ Th~ Sisters of Sw in g;
plus Donna D at the Ju ly 20 tn Coak -GG : at Herland.
al the
COYOTE CLIJB
8 - 12 pm
Edwina V. Johnson, D.D.S.
"Catering to Cowards needing Tender Care"
in Comprehensive Dentistry
Mowing • Fertilizing • Trimming
• Light Haullng •
"We Are Insured"
KAY
SANDIE
794-0081
794~
5009 North Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 103
(405) 840-5410
Night & Sunday practice by appt. only
Emergencies welcome
Insura nce accepted
HERLAND VOICE JULY 1991
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