Table Of Content

WOMONSPACE our voice in the lesbian community wn this issue: Lesbiam Authors Company a Seals Can views of theo ess tems ii np arta n. 3 es of temsa ~h er own minority status ¢as a woman ina _l esbianr elationship. one - Sherry’ partner, Dorie. fiksa e Our ae provincae e. Erected on her dental plan at city hall. of thisk ind of influence, : _ This is an example of howa woman’ S private life affects her ii n allw ays. Straight couples arer egistered on ae _ other’ s benefiti plans all the time, without questioning thati t will bea llowed. My — _ co-workers at the libra yo have expressed surprise that Elaine wasn’" ton my dental _ plan (when Iw as bemoaning her pitiful — coverage and the expense of her dental a and Showsy our ven So. far,C ity employees have been Ju the lesbian denied benefits for same-sex partners, eveno e thCe oGo fE dmonton has <4 i ise ons oan ieshians Te opinionsa es any ee is “nonte cesr te ihoepi niono Ft heID irectors or the Mews lettere e uTh e events, or palee d n Bice S2a0 e pa All of Us in Wonderland: mink, rough and ready leather, “there’s How Local Lesbians Hit the Big Time no life like it” army, and cruisey Karen G casual. | am busy wondering about the (Continued from the lehruary 1994 issue woman with the handcuffs on her belt, of Womonspace News) when one of my friends grabs me. Chapter Three “What is S. doing?” she hisses Yet one more San Franciscan eve and nods towards my lover. finds us perusing our women’s club guide There she is, my own little for new thrills. My lover and our Canuck cutie, busily chatting it up companions await my careful decision. with one of the natives. They seem to “Amelia’s,” | announce, riveting all be discussing the operation of a wall eyes to me, “1s the only place to be ona mounted jukebox. The Frisco-ite 1s Saturday night.” My lover peers at me. trying to find the slot for the money “Really,” | assure her. “I know I missed and Sweetie is being most slightly on the other clubs—but trust me, encouraging. | am confused. Our Amelia’s is made for us. | know; I’ve friends are confused. The dancers are been in San Francisco before...once.” bouncing off walls to the ear bashing My lover snatches the book from sounds of live DJ's. Why then the me. “It says, “This is the place to wear concern with the jukebox? your purple velvet halter top and your red My lover returns from her feather boa.’ Dear...,° she is grinning sojourn with the locals. through clenched teeth, “what exactly “Why were you trying to help her does that mean?” turn that on?” I ask. “No sweat, I say, “wear your She answers blandly. “I never ruggers.” argue with anyone who knows what *Later* kind of feather boa to wear with a As the only two couples in the hunting knife.” entire two storey club, we feel obliged to We unanimously vote to go for a stay out of the other patrons’ way. So we pizza wedge ourselves into a corner behind the garbage can. From this unique vantage NEXT CHAPTER: The Sunday point we can watch the amazing costumed Scene—Popcorn and Puppies. spectacle before us. The dance floor is (Originally published in Womonspace hopping with curvey red satin, slinky News, April 1983.) WOMONSPACE NEWS 3 ani difranco live captivating, both under and out of control, supporting her vocals with Catherine Gutwin Yeah, oh yeah, hell yeah, | constantly driving rhythm. The few am an unabashed fan, more meditative songs on her albums are a noticeable switch from a generally fanatic, listener lover SS superlative talker of ant fast-paced tempo. But her style difranco’s rhythm-like underscores her lyrics: “I don’t like my love-like-anger, voice-like-a-personality- language watered down, | don’t like my edges rounded off.” Never shying from split-nine-ways, guitar-like-a-five piece band. political issues that make many of us difranco played to a packed house uncomfortable, her words also make us January 30 at Meyer-Horowitz Theatre cheer, and more often than not provoke on one of her not-infrequent trips the listener to think. For example, some through Edmonton, lucky us. How do lines turn around people’s generally you talk about music? Isn't that missing romantic notions of what music Is the point just a bit? Well, until you rush supposed to be about-—love, right?—-and out and buy one of her albums (ani also on our rosy-glassed view fo what difranco, imperfectly, puddle dive, and human relationships ofa ll kinds are the range—coming out this month) and actually like: experience the passion for yourself, just the thought of our bed lemme tell ya, she’s got some kinda makes me crumble voice. She produces an extraordinarily like the plaster wide range of vocal effects that do not where you punched the wall necessarily fall within the standards of beside my head classical singing technique. To put it The power of defranco’s words was mildly. She slips from grit, to sweet clearly evidenced by the audience’s pure melodic style, to spoken lyric, to reaction to the first half of the concert wordless vocal improv that leaves which was all new material from her off—leaves you——quivering. She never forthcoming album; we sat and listened stays with one sound for long, always intently, intensely, for every word, every moving between loud and soft, between chord. The guy behind me explained, fast and slow. It’s how she gets there “We're mesmerized.” In the second that’s captivating. half, we danced in the aisles, singing difranco’s guitar playing is no less along with just about every familiar 4 WOMONSPACE NEWS song, but whenever a new one came says both, “I got something to say—listen along, the quiet of concentration to me” and “I'm tired of talking—you descended again. talk.” She doesn’t pretend to be the Though difranco criticises the perfect crusader for justice, though: homophobic establishment from a ub you think 1 just saddle up my gay-rights perspective (“this is a anger girl-girl thing”), she declines, and ride and ride and ride in her songs and tn her you think 1 stand so firm recent interview on you think 1 sit so high on my trusty “Adamant Eve” steed (CJSR), to label let me tell you her sexual i'm usually face down on the ground orientation or to i'm no heroine make it ; The point, or one of the points, being that unambiguous. Her “= pe nothing is that simple or tidy, that rspective on the world 1s struggling means getting dirty and getting multiple—feminist, socialist, woman of it wrong and taking the risk of getting color, short, new yorker— involved: i've got more than one cause 1 know the biggest crime membership is to just throw up your hands to more than one club say this has nothing to do with me ...1 ve got spots 1 just want to live Ive got stripes too as comfortably as 1 can With the familiar material, most you got to look outside your eyes people at the concert seemed to say, you got to think outside your brain “Right on, you said it.” She has a song you got to walk outside your life for everything we’ve ever been through, to where the neighborhood changes but she doesn't let us just sit back being ... you got your whole life to do the audience. “It’s nice that you listen, something and that’s not very long but it’d be nicer if you joined in” she so why don’t you give me a call sang; she said “Does anyone have when you decide you’re willing to anything they'd like to say? Yeah you fight for what you think is real can dance, go ahead, dance, yeah you for what you think is right. can drum, come on up, drunt.” She Yeah, oh yeah, hell yeah. WOMONSPACE NEWS 5 Dorothy Allison Surviving Hatred After Bastard out of Carolina was nominated for a National Book Award, Dorothy Allison was invited to lecture at the University of Oklahoma City. This offer was withdrawn when Allison’s other writings—lesbian fiction and The Living Room poetry—became more widely available. Cafe Gallery “T wrote a book about being hated Carol Greenaway and surviving that hatred. ... The only When I first visited the Living thing I have to say about Oklahoma ts, Room Cafe Gallery, I knew that | read my novel [Bastard], and remember would become a regular. Located just that the author is a grown-up, stubborn, east of 124 Street on 108 Avenue, ina quite happy, lesbian.” renovated house, the Cafe provides a (Quotation from OUT, July 1993.) cosy, non-smoking environment and friendly, attentive service. Owner, Talking Orrie Berezan, does most of the Self-Defense cooking and baking on the premises. Although the menu ts not extensive, the Tip of the Month food 1s delicious, reasonably priced and Susan I’ve always been able to order at least Gals, when out One vegetarian item. Customers alone at night, consider who've just dropped in for a quick the value of wearing coffee or those who want a full meal brightly coloured outer are equally welcome. This is a very clothing. This scares most Lesbian-positive establishment. perpetrators away from Open Tuesday through Thursday, targetting you as a victim. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday The last thing they want to do is attract witnesses by 10 a.m. to midnight; Sunday Brunch 10 attacking someone highly a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to I1 p.m. for light visible. meals and desserts. 12317 - 108 Avenue. Phone 452-7450. Be visible! 6 WOMONSPACE NEWS HOROSCOPE by Reneé kulsom Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20) Libra (Sept 24-Oct 23) Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, |w onder where Try to remember that the needs and wants of that Aries is. Corny, but that’s probably what most others are equally as important as your own. of us are wondering about Aries lately. Your need (Read Aries.) Don’t let your ego get in the way for freedom is making the rest of us feel that you of what your heart knows to be true. There think you're the only one that counts. NOT! Re- must be balance in all things for it to work. member; you need us to notice your light, which is Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22) what you are really looking for anyway! You may have noticed lately that there’s a light Taurus (Apr 21-May 21) at the end of that long dark tunnel. Life seems Strong sexual feelings may be felt for someone you to be a little easier to live with. As the seasons meet. You will have known this person in the past, move on, so do you. There’s an irrisistable feel- in this life or another. Be careful of any decisions ing of adventure in the new you. Enjoy; you de- made at this time, as the stronger the desire the big- serve It. ger the karma, and desire can be deceiving. Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 22) Gemini (May 22-June 21) Those born around the beginning of their sign Discipline is the key word for you this month. will experience a greater sense of transforma- You've run out of time and excuses. You can even tion. This will be a very slow, long term pro- expect to be told as much, especially if you decide cess; years—ask a Scorpio. I’m bringing this up you'd rather procrastinate a little longer. You can because I know how much sagi’s like planning no longer ‘wait for spring’; it’s HERE. their long term goals. Something you may feel Cancer (June 22-July 23) like doing now. All should bode well in the next month, as most of Capricorn (Dec 23-Jan 20) the personal planets will be in your favour; even Don’t let your pride (ego) get in the way right Saturn (the TESTER) promises to ease up. The now. You may sense a bit of struggle with only thing that could go wrong is believing that ev- loved ones at this time but if you focus on com- erything is so wonderful nothing could go wrong. municatioann,d that it’s not a battle of will, you Your ego could be in for a surprise. may discover that really they are just a bit afraid. Leo (July 24-Aug 23) Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 18) If you were unable to follow my advice last month, If last month was rough for you, this month now’s a good time to ask the forgiveness of those should go easier. Hopefully, you will have still upset with you. Also, be careful of overindul- looked at the setbacks as a challenge to try gences, you may not feel like restricting yourself in harder, wait longer and open up more. any way. Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20) Virgo (Aug 24-Sept 23) At the end of January, Saturn moved into Pisces This could be a stressful month for you, feeling like and will travel through that sign till April 1996. nothing you say, do or feel is right. The temptation This will be felt by all, but it will be stronger for to escape from this pressure may be strong. The you. Tests will be in the areas you are inclined best and healthiest form of escape is laughter and a to escape into. Saturn will be showing you the good sense of humour. (Especially if leaving for the harsh light of reality. In essence, waking you up Bahamas is just not in the budget.) out of your self-induced dream world. WOMONSPACE NEWS 7 CALENDAR OF EVENTS * Adamant Eve. Feminist radio program broadcast on CJSR, FM 88.5, Thursdays trom 5-6 p.m. Weekly Events qt * Gaywire. A lesbian, bisexual and * GLCCE (Gay & Lesbian gay radio show on CJSR, FM 88.5, Community Centre), Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. 104-11745 Jasper Avenue. Open Monday to Friday from 7-10 p.m; * LesBiGay Front Runners. Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. and Saturday Running club meets Thursdays, 5:30 from 10-4 p.m. Meeting space ts p.m. and Sundays, 10:30 a.m. in front available, also market tables on of Kinsmen Sports Centre. Saturdays. Phone 488-3234 or 488-8378. * Recreational Badminton for * The Option Room night club. lesbians and gays, Fridays 7:30-9:30 Women’s Night on Tuesdays, with all p.m. at Oliver School, 10210-117 St. female staff. Open at 4 p.m.; country Cost is $1.00. dance lessons at 9:30 p.m.; Petra is DJ from 10:45 until 3 a.m. 10148—105 * Pink Triangle Youth Group meets Street, 423-4666. every Saturday, 8-10 p.m. at GLCCE, 104-11745 Jasper Avenue. For lesbians * GALOC (Gays & Lesbians on and gays 16 to 18 years old. Campus) meets Tuesdays, in Heritage Lounge, Athabasca Hall, 5 p.m. * Vocal Minority Choir rehearses Sundays 2-4:30 p.m. at the U of A, * GALOC (Gays and Lesbians on Room 123, Fine Arts Building. New Campus) Women’s Collective Meeting. — singers are welcome in March! Thursdays, 5 p.m., Room 2-101, Education North, U ofA . 988-4166 for * Metropolitan Community Church, more information. (Open to women from | weekly worship, Sundays at 7:15 p.m. all campuses, including GMCC & NAIT.) © 10086 MacDonald Drive. | | Tle he whe whe Whe fe * Gay & Lesbian InfoLine: 988-4018 * Lesbian Life Line: 425-0511 | 8 WOMONSPACE NEWS March Events of March 8 to 13 * Dandelion Moon at Catalyst Theatre. A powerful drama about Wednesday, March 2 women surviving violence through the * Lesbian & Gay Studies Coalition healing power of friendship. Phone U of A Humanities Centre, 4-29, 5 p.m. 431-1750. Thursday, March 3 Sunday, March 13 + * WOMONSPACE Drop in. All are * WOMONSPACE Meeting. welcome for good conversation. Everyone is welcome to attend! Women’s Building, basement, 9930-106 Women’s Building, Basement, 9930- Street, 7:30-9 p.m. 106 Street, 7:30 p.m. * Darts, monthly get-together, meets at GLCCE, 104-11745 Jasper Ave, 7 p.m. Friday, March 18 * Mikeda Silvera, reading from her Saturday, March 6 new book, in Room 4-29, Humanities * WOMONSPACE NEWS Newsletter Centre, U of A, 3:30 p.m. Meeting. Boystown, 10116-124 Street, | at noon. Deadline for April issue. Saturday, March 19 * WOMONSPACE DANCE Monday, March 7 Bonnie Doon Hall, 9240-93 Street, 8 * TUG (The Umbrella Group), p.m.-1 a.m. monthly meeting. Topic: The Media. * Boystown open until 2 a.m. after the Sunflower Cafe, 10020-103 Street, WOMONSPACE dance. 6:30 p.m. * GALOC Coming Out Support Group If you know of any events ofi nterest to Students Union Bldg, Rm 280, 6:30 p.m. lesbians, please contact Shirl (987- 2497), or leave a message on the Tuesday, March & Lesbian Life Line (425-0511). * INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S | DAY Open House, Edmonton Women’s Coming in the April Issue of Building Collective, Lower Floor, Womonspace News: Lesbian Culture. 9930— 106 Street, noon -7 p.m. Submissions are always welcome! WOMONSPACE NEWS 9 May Sarton: diagnosis of inoperable lung cancer. During her deliberations, she realizes The Reckoning of Women that the person most dear to her was Marcie May Sarton, born in 1912, is a pro- neither her husband nor any of her lific author who has published fifteen children, but a woman with whom she books of poetry, nineteen novels, ten had shared a passionate friendship dur- journals and two children’s books. Of ing her youth in Paris. Hilary and her works, the novels Mrs. Laura recognized that their mar- Stevens Hears The Mer- riages to men nourished them maids Singing (1965) and with stability, but women had inflamed them with the A Reckoning (1978) are curiously similar, although passion for life. published more than ten The relationship of the heroine to her mother re- years apart. In both novels, the mained unresolved in both heroines are forced to ex- novels, despite attempts by amine their lives and their each to exorcise the sins of relationships with women. their mothers. Interestingly, For poet Hilary Stevens of the characteristics of Hilary Mermaids, her incentive and Laura’s mothers were to inspect the past comes quite similar, for both were in the guise of an interview with writers described as beautiful, dramatic, con- from a poetry journal. The interview be- trolling, and untouchable. The similar- comes a probing retrospective of her ities in the heroines and their mothers work in which she must identify her in- can only spark speculation as to Sar- spiration or Muse for each collection of ton’s perception of her relationship poems. As she muddles “How to extri- with her own mother, and whether she cate style, the changes in style from the is reckoning with some ghosts of her life changes” she “reckons” with the own. At age eighty-two, Sarton contin- women that served as her Muses, and the frustrated love for each that fueled her ues to write novels that explore the creativity. In A Reckoning, Laura Spel- lives of women. A recent offering, man’s assessment of the essential com- The Education of Harriet Hatfield ponents of her life is precipitated by the (1989) departs from the bisexual hero- 10 WOMONSPACE NEWS