Hie Em ^Qoset
NEW YORK STATE S OLDEST GAY N E W S P A P E R
I ( ) ( AI
M \\ SHRII 1 S
Q u e e r Nation
cotnes t o t o w n
By Jeff Lehigh
Queer Nation Rochester, the fifth national
chapter of thc new direct action group, met
for the fiiTit time on Sept. 16 at the Gay Alliance
\ ofthe Genesee Valley, 179 Atlantic Ave. Fifteen
people attended.
Mark Siwiec, one of three coordinator, gave
an oral history of Queer Nation, which started
in New York Ciry last April.
"Certain members of ACT-UP/New York
became concerned with the fiact that all the
civil disobedience and all the direct action zaps
were focused strictly on HIV and HIV-rclated
difficulties," Siwiec said. "Tbey realized the
need for the broad spectrum of gay-related
issues to be addressed. And they decided to
do something about it. A splinter group broke
off from ACT-UP, including Michelangelo
Signorile from Outweek maga2Jne—the individual respotisible for itiitiattr^ outing. They
advertised for the next meeting, and boom,
t h i f ^ iust started to grow and grew very raq>idSiwiec added, ''Queer Nation realizes the
importance of lobbying on behalf of HIVpositive individuals. The group simply wants
to broaden thc cange of activism to include all
aspects of gay and lesbian rights issues."
Oneof the most contTDvctsial "zap" actions
Queer Nation uses is called "Nights Out."
Nights Out arc similar to an action d o n e at the
I b p of thc Plaza here in Rochester back in thc
late '70s; one evening apparcntly-hcceroscxual
couples went dancing and at a pre-arranged
signal svvitched to same-sex couples. Most of
thc Nights Out happen at straight bars where
there has been a problem with honK^hobia.
The idea is for I c ^ i a n and gay couples to go
to chese ban; and make themselves visible.
On Sept. 23, Queer Nation Rochester held
an 'Afternoon O u t " on Park Ave.; couples
" o u t " for a Sunday afternoon walk, a coffee
or an ice cream. The Empty Closet was going
to press on that date, so details will be provided in thc November issue.
In thc Village Beat, Jeffrey Fennelly, a
member of Queer Nation NYC, said, "By using words (like 'queer') that are otherwise used against us, we are reclaiming the language
of our oppressors and we are diluting the
negative force of that language. We're also saying 'you're right, we are all those things, but
we don't feel bad about it."'
The major issue raised at the Queer Nation
meeting was thc Milicr/fcsse Helms Boycott,
which was thc cover story of the Aug. 22 issue
of Outweek magaziiM. Outweek called it the
' T»5t gay and lesbian boycott of thc '90s.' * Fbr
more information on the MiUcr/Helms
Boycott, call 1-800-666-3308-21. (Rochester
is city #21, so dial 21 after dialing 3308.)
Heaven, thc Liberty, Whispers and thc
GAGV endorse the Miller/Helms boycoct. For
more information about meetings or Queer
Nation events call 251-2460; it's a voice mail
box. so you can leave a message. Queer Nation
will be meeting every second and fourth
Thursday at 6 p.m. at 179 Atlantic Ave.
Volunteers are especially needed to help with
events for Coming Out I>ay. Anyone with cime ^
or energy to give is uiged to call thc voice mail
box.
Marlboro cigarettes are also being boycotted, since MiUcr beer is owned by Phillip Morris. Both Miller and Marlboro have donated to
pcsse Helms' campaigns and to the "Jesse
Helms Museum."
Diaing for Dollars
V. F o r s t o r y a n d
m o r e pictures, see
page 14.
P h o t o s b y T.L,
Cvetan
R o c h e s t e r c o m e s out, O c t o b e r 7-14
By S u s a n J o r d a n
"We want to achieve thc t w o m a ^ r goals
of Natiottal Coming Out Day," said H m Mains,
Rochester City Couturflmembcr and longtime
gay activist. "The first is to increase visibility
temporarily on Oct. U, and the second is to
create a climate where people fed comfortable
being ouc on a day co day basis."
Mains has coordinated a group of representativ«rs from local community otganizations
w h o have met weekly since Gay Pride Day to
devtrlop a C o m t n g O u t VHeek pfogfam of
events.
Coming Out \ l ^ k will begin with an outdoor service by Open Arms Mettopolitan
Community Church, in Manhattan Squairc Park
at 1:30p.m. on Oct. 7. Thc rain location is 243
Rosedale St.
Thc same day, Rochester Lesbian Action
Coalition (RLAC) will host a Lesbian Cetcbration picnic, with games, food acul workshops,
at 2 p m . at the Orchard Park Pavilion in Ellison
Park. Tickets are S3 for non-tnembers and S2
for membcni, and can be purchased at the
celebration or by calting 482-5694.
lliat night, gay musicians Romanofsky and
Phillips and Ijcah Zicari will be performing at
8 p.m. at the Nazareth College Arts Center
Tickets are S15 for singles and S25 for couples.
On Monday, Oct. 8, the Rochester Lesbtan
and Gay Political Caucus is holding a Candidates N i ^ t at thc Gay Alliance, 179 Atlantic
Ave, from 7 to 8:30. Candidates for election
in November will be there to discuss their attitudes to gay rights and other issuers.
After the political discussion, everyone is invited to head for Whispers, 104 Piatt St., to
*' Discover a New World.'' There will be dancing and other fun, as a benefit for the GAGV
building fund, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets
are S15.
On Oct. 9, Parencs and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays (P-FLAG) is hosting a seminar on
coming out in the Commons Room of thc Incerfaith Chapel ac che Universicy of Rochester,
from 7:30 Co 10 p.m. IWo videotapes will be
Out of tbe closet
shown ("Living, Loving and Living" and ^ said 'They're making war on us, and we need
"Mother, Mother") and a discussion will
a strategy to respond.*
follow.
" T h e r t was a spontaneous call Co leaders
Virginia Apuzzo, formerly Gov. Mario
arourkl che councry, and thc U^r Conference
CuofiM>*s liaison to the lesbian and gay comwas convened in 1988. A lot of arguing went
munity, will be the featured speaker at thc
on about w h o was atui wasn't invited, and
University of Rochw h o should have been there. There was a
be speaking on "Thc Benefits of Visibility" in
realization chat due to the urgency of che need
thc Lower Stnmg Auditorium ac 8 p.m., sponthe organizing was flawed, and not inclusive
soied by Ga)^, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Friends
enough, but everyone realized that wc were
Association (GLBFA), che UR students' group.
in a crisis and had to respond immediately."
On Coming Out Day itself, Oct. II, GLBFA
Mains said that several initiatives cfnerged,
•mriU set up a cable in thc main lounge of Wilson
such as a committment to leadership training
Conunonsat the University, from 1 co 4 p.m.,
in the Iesbian/gay commututy nationwide, and
where they will hand out gay-oricntcd
the devclc^n>ent of a computerized or voice
literature and pink triangle buccons. Wuch for
mail syscem Co communicate quickly. "One of
other special events around town that day.
che major conclusions was that we need
On Oct. 12. GLBFA will present a reception
visibility; chac our greatesc enemy is internaliz. in the Faculty Club Library at UR from 5 to 7
ed fear W? were not adequately helping peop.m., for Lambda Alumni, thegay and lesbian
ple to become visible."
alumnae from thc University. Also on the 12th,
A focus group was formed for each area of
Corrununity Health Network is sponsoring a
concem, and the visibility group, which Mains
Safer Sex Workshop at the John W ^ h b u m
joined, recommended a second national evenc
Ubrary, CHN, 758 South Ave, at 7:30 p.m. The
in che fall co correspond wich June's Gay Pride
workshop will be given by Tim Lunccford and
evencs. "Jean O'Leary, then of thc National Gay
facilitated by Craig Nenneau, and advance
Righcs Organizacion, and Bob Eichberg of Adrcgistration is necessary; call 244-9000.
vocate Experience (a personal cmpowermcnc
Lambda Alumni and GLBFA are organizing
program) agreed to co-chair Nationai Coming
an outing (not the Outweek kind) on Oct. 13
Ouc Day, to be held on Oct. 11 to comfor visiting alumni, chat will include dinner
memorace the march ignored by che media,
and a visit to one of thc local dance clubs.
and CO ensure chat it would be noted by the
The week ends as it began, with a church
media in years to come."
service; chis one will be held by DignicyThc members of the visibility group pledgIntegricy, and will be a candlelighc service on
ed to make sure that the idea worked in their
Occ. l4acSc.Luke*sSc.Simon(Cyrene)Church,
own local communities. "The Gay Alliance
17 N. Fitzhugh St., at 3:30 p.m.
had expanded Gay Pride Day into a week of
Tim Mains supplied some background inforevents last June," Mains said, "and it seemed
mation abouc National Coming Ouc Day,
to me that chac should be done for Cofiiing Ouc
which he said emcfged as one resulc of che
Day too. So rather Chan pue all chac onco the
"War Conference" in 1988.
GAGV, 1 decided to cake rcsponsibilicy for coor"The March on Washington for Gay and Lesdinating area groups to see what activities they
bian Rights was on Occ. 11, 1987." he said.
could come up with. The first planning
"Hundreds of thousaiKls of people were there,
meecing was held after che rally on Gay Pride
but che media ignored it. After no national
Day A small sCeering commiccee has been
publicity was given to thac march, and after
meeting every week, with differenc represenCwo defeats in Congress immediacely foUowtatcves from most of the nujor organizations.''
ed. due to Jesse Helms, a group of otganizers
Into tbe cauldron
r
On the r o a d
^^--^-^ilg^^
Legal s e m i n a r
A seminar on financial and legal issues facing lesbians and gays will take place O a . 24
at 7 p.m. ac Harro Ease, 400 Andrews St.
Topics to be addressed by a local flnancial
planner, investment counselor and attorney
will include property agreements, wills, Ufe insurance beneficfaries, disability insurance,
power of attorney, and health cave dcxumems.
A donation of S H is fcquested to benefic
Helping People wich AIDS, Inc.
jyewfcrielSi c o n t t o t t c d o n p a y 3 [
/
Coffiing oot storiea 41 noiore.
Seepage 6.
Betty Barcode comes o u t .
S e e p s ^ e 18.
The Triple Goddess as Virgin,
Hagge and Crone.
SeepmsitB.
^
Women's Motorcycle Festivalt
Seepfl^e i 5 .
(Plioto by Blien Mabalfy).
2
tiii imrv
CLOSET
octobet, i990'
9mP^h,}?^9, ^mwrTfy'.Q.PWi
Editorial
s t a t e a n d local news
By Susan J o r d a n
Coming Ouc Day, O a . 11, is here again. This
year conununicy groups are planning a Coming Out Week with a wide range of events,
which will hopefully involve many people and
send the lighc of cruth, healing and selfacceptance streaming through a lot of closei
doors. If so, all of us will benefit, atKl our struggle for acceptance and civil rights will be that
much closer to victory.
Last year I remember writing about how it
feels to be very out as the editor of the Empty
C/oser. During the pasc 12 monchs I've had no
reason to r ^ r e t that visibility, and much cause
to rejoice in thc freedom and self-respect that
c o m e wich having nothing co hide. (Of course,
I haven'c had to come out to any more dentists holding sharp-pointed instruments,
which is just as well.)
I also remember saying last year that Oct.
11 is my birthday, my own personal comingout day, and thac 1 was planning to observe it
by ct>ming out to my mother. This year, I want
to write about what that was like.
I drove seven hours to northern Vermonc.
glorious in ies autumn colors and fiill of
chartered busses bearing whac Wrmoncers call
(affeccionaccly?) "leaf-peepers." Afcer che inicial catching-up o n family doings, 1 handed
Mom a copy of thc EC and suggesced that she
read thc editorial first. Then 1 went off to take
a shower I was fairly sure that all would be
well, but 1 must admit that it wasn't che most
relaxed shower of my life.
Luckily for me, I have a loving, intelligent
and open-minded mother She said that being
a lesbian wasn't what she would have chosen
for me, buc chat she wasn'c abouc to disown
me, and could accept thac chis was what I had
chosen for myself.
Wc went on to discuss whac women loving
women really means; for instance, how lesbianism has been made to seem a matcer of
genical sexuality only; how it is that, of couise,
but at its best also involves just as much love,
crust, respect, commitinent and cormection on
all levels as heccrosexualicy. And sometimes
even more. . . .
Mom broughe up a memory of che cime
when, as a single woman, she worked ac a
vecerans* hospical in North Carolina. She was
dating a doctor there — the "red-haired doctor" famous in our fiunily for having preceded Dad in Mom's life One day a muse w h o also
worked at the hospital invited Mom over for
dinner. She mentioned it to her doctor friend
and he replied, "You may end up running
screaming into the nighc."
Mom was myscified and caken aback by this
cryptic remark, and it took her several hours
COfigureouc chac che doctor was implying that
the nurse was a lesbian. Nevertheless, she went
to ^he nurse's house for dinner. They had a
pleasanc, uneventful evetiing and Mom said she
never did know if the woman was a lesbian
or not.
''Supposing for che sake of argument that
she wa5 a lesbian, and chac she was interested
in you," I said, "maybe she sensed that you
wouldn't have responded to an approach ftom
her, and ouC of caution or simple respect or
both, decided not co make one."
Mom choughc for a minuce. "Not like that
red-haired doceor." she said. "I had CO fig^ hirn
off every cime i wenc out with him!"
•np
Call f o r b o y c o t t
o f Miller b e e r ,
Marlboro cigarettes
To t h e Editor:
There are times in our lives when wc must
take a stand for what is righc. Jesse Helms is
wn>ng. He is our mosc formidable foe in che
U.S. Senace. He has been che single mosc vocal
Senate opponenc of AIDS funding and education . c*ensorship-free arts funding, and the civil
rights of women, people of color, gays and lesbians. He has violated our basic human rights
as Americans, rights of freedom.
"The freedom to say and think what we
believe. To express our individuality and diversity. That's our birthright, and it's ensured by
the Bill of Rights."
Philip Morris u.ses that statement in their
promotional campaign commemorating the
celebration ofthe 2(K)th annivervary ofthe Bill
of Rights. Philip Morris ha.s made contribu-
cions to supp«>rtJesse Helms in his re-election
campaigns for che SenaCe. Philip Morris is the
single largest corporate ctmtributor toward a
museum being built to honor his accomplishments. Philip Morris recently
donated over S2(M),(MK) to thc Helms library
and museum being established in his
homecown of Monn>e. N . C , and S20,000
toward his re-election campaign.
Philip Morris i.s the parent corporation of
ehe companies chac manufacture Marlboro
cigarecees and Miller beer. These are cheir
laigcst-selling products, and are also the t w o
major products lesbians and gay men spend
their disposable income on. In its defense,
Philip Morris says that whac beneficiaries of
cheir corporace coneribucions say and do is
cheir o w n business.
<»ays and lesbians in over 60 cities across die
ruuion have joined in the boycott to show that
they don't buy it. AIDS funding by Philip Morris lists less than six percent gay-specific in
their tSince the beginning of the boycott we have
Yes, I want to D Subscribe!
n Renew!
D 1 year: $10 ($18 Canadian; $20 International)
n 2 years: $18 ($35 Canadian; ^38 International)
Name
Address
A i ) n c - y c a r s u b s c r i p t i o n i n c l u d e s 11 i s s u e s . P a p e r s a r e m a i l e d
in p l a i n e n v e l o p e s . R e t u r n t o : E.C. PRESS, 1 7 9 A t l a n t i c A v e n u e ,
Rochester, NY 14607-1255-
The Empty Ooset is published elewen times a year
(December and Januaiy combined) by die Empty Ck>sct
Pkvss for the Gay AUiaiice of Genesee ^Uey. Inc. AppronMlJlrl\ 4'UMi i:itfticy itt cacli rt»uc anr diMrihuicd tlurinfi
te first week ot the monlh fay mail in a plain sealed
cmdope. The puMicatioii of die name or phatograph of
aoy person or ocjpMuation in articles or ad«crttsiqg is IMN
an indication ot the sexual or affectional orientation
of (hat per»on or the members of that organization.
For pubiication. submit news items, letters, stories,
poetry and tm by mail office by IIK I7di of die moadi. Design services for
material not camera^ready are availaUe for an additional fee.
t^nrfurthrr Utfiamtathm: ftttfttte trritr t*t t:ittpt%' f.itiAft
t h r u fJ.4itMtiih.4rt.. «rThc Empt^' Clomi ia the official publicatkm of the
Gay Attancc of GwiwM VMIcy. lac. as fliaiod in the
by-laws of thM organizatioa. Its purpoae IS to inform
the Rochester gay oonuntmity about local aad natioaal aay-rdaicd newt aad cvcms: to provide a
fonan w r itftas aad creative «Mr1i from the local gay
oonunuaity; to help promote leadership in the community: and lo be a port of a natioaal network of lesbiaa and gay publicatioas tbat eachange ideas and
*aek to educate.
Vart ttl our purpose is to maintain a nuddle position with respiect to tbe entire community. We must
04 careful lakrescnt all viewpoints in a way that
takes into coiyirterMioii the views of att—women,
rwn. tboae a t color, young and old. aad those from
various waUu of Hfe.
Advertising Policy: The Empty Closet does not
print advertisenients that contain nude drawings or
photographs, nor does it print advertising that suggests that the person pictured in the ad is for sale or
that you will "get' that particular person if you
patronize the establishment advertised.
Advertisem*nts that are explicitly sexist, racist or
ageist will be refused; advertisem*nu from organizations or businesses that are sexist, racist, ageist or
anti-gay wilt also be refused.
The opinions of columnists a n d other COMtributlng wrHers are their own and d o mrt
necessarily reflect the coUcclive attMode of the
Gay AlUatice of Geneaee VaOcy or the Bmpty
Ctoaet.
\#* thiHx /*!•«<'»« t t m sttitMs uill he fmhttshni
MittuHtl UTii*ttit»rtHfiewlfitnHttstttH/hmt tbttiftemm.
Editor:
Susan Jofdan
Business managerst
Harlow Russell
Michael
lypesettlng/Prlntli^s
Blue Heron Type a Design Co.
derhatided that Miller address our concems.
VCfe encouraged them to tneet with us to
discuss the demands ofthe boycott—that they
go on record in the North Carolina niedia
against the Helms legac>' of hom*ophobia and
AIDS bigiHry, and that they denounce their
parent company Philip Morris for its excessive
corporate funding o f t h e Helms museum and
campaigns. It was hoped that out of discussion a resolution could be reached.
Miller responded to the boycott by ineeting
with rtrpnrsentatives on Aug. 28 in Sacramento, Calif. They parted company with a verbal
agreement to take action to end the boycott;
Miller would take issue with Helms ^attacks on
AIDS funding, gays atid lesbians, and frcedom
of speech. Further, Miller offered to donate
S 200,000 to a non-partisan voter registration
project in North Carolina and other states.
Several days later. Miller reneged on half the
demands, leaving no choice but to continue
the boyctKt. l b add itisult to injury. Miller conveyed to its distribuu>rs that the boycott had
been rtrsolved.
The boycott is not over. Ves, Miller met one
demand by making a statement denouncing
Helms' policies. But Miller and Philip Morris
still have a way to go. >X^ have now expanded
thc bt>ycott to Rtxrhester. Several oiganizations
and businessc-s have already endorsed it in the
past few weeks. Many will continue to endorse
it, with your help. Anyone wishing to endorse
the boycott or get information may call
1-800-666-3308-21. (Rochester is city #21.)
c;;orporations usually get pretty upset when
a representative does something to embarrass
their business. Philip Morris should know that
wc consider their efforts to continue the legacy
and agenda of Jesse Helms a slap in the face,
if not a threat to our very lives. Let your friends,
bartenders, bar owners and others know you
are in solidarity. Don't buy bigotry. BOYCOTT
MILLER
BEER
AND
MARLBORO
CIGARETTES.
Sinccrelyv
T i m Ltmccford
PJEC g i v e s
infomiation
to students
l b T h e Editor:
For several years Rochester Peace and Justice
Edtication Center has made information-regarding military life avaUable to students in the
Rochester schools. This information corrects
and counters the less than adequate view
presented to students by military recruiters
operating in the schools.
I regret that my recent article criticising certain aspects of PJEC's work could be imerpreted as describing a situation where no
counter-recruitment information is available
to students. PJEC has done valuable work in
this area. I hope this letter corrects any inaccurate picture that a reader might draw from
my article.
Thanks to the Empty Closet for the chance
to offer this correction.
Sincerely.
Lucinda S a n g r e e
The Empty Closet
N e w s b r i e f s , continued from pagc 1
AIDS R o c h e s t e r d r i v e
AIDS Rochester, Inc. will host a reception
to announce its second Annual Campaign on
Sept. 23, from two to four p.m. at Harro East
Athletic Club, 400 Andrews St.
Hazel Jeffries, president of thc board of
directors of AIDS Rochester, will announce
participation on behalf of the board and the
members of this year's honorary committee.
Members of the honorary committee were
chosen for their active involvement in the areas
of health and social services, local media, city and county govemment and past support
of AIDS Rochester Members include Diana
Wightman. WOKR-TV; Dr Andrew S. Doniger,
Monroe County Health Director; Tim O.
Mains, City Councilmember; Daniel M.
Meyers, Executive Director, Al Sigl Center; Rabbi Judea Miller: Police Chief Gordon Urlacher,
City of Rochester.
AIDS Rochester Executive Director, Paula
Silvestrone, will welcome the guests and announce the total amount pledged to the campaign to date.
Rain liampers gan^e sale
The Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley
Men's Group and the Bachelor Forum held a
garage sale to benefit the GAGV building fund
on Sept. 8/9. the same weekend as the
Clothesline Arts Festival.
A representative from the Men's Group said
that the sales were very good on thc first day,
but they were rained out on the second tlay.
Thc sale raised »250 for the fund. The Forum
was said to be a good location and another
such sale may be held in thc fidl. There is also
an idea to inake it an annual event.
Ithaca enacts
domestic partnership
Ithaca's c:offmK>n Council enacted a comprehensive domestic parteiship ordinance on
Atig. 1. the flrst in New \ b r k state, or on the
East Coast. The measure^ which passed by a
voce of 7-2, creattfs a legal status for lesbian,
gay and unmarried heterosexual couples that
parallels marriage. Four couples have
registered so far.
To qualify, couples must share a primary
residence and declare that they will continue
to do so indefinitely. Each partner must be 18
or older and unmarried. Couples meetittg the
qualification must rcrgister with the city clerk
for S20; they may legally absolve the relationship for S5.
Similar domestic pannership ordinances
have been enacted in Seattle, \l^ash.(where gay
activists are fighting a ballot measure to repeal
the law); Madison, Wis.; Incoma Park, Md.;
and in Berkeley, Sanu Cruz, West Hollywood
and Los Angeles Calif.
Ithaca's Commem Council is currently tak-
By J e n n i e B o w k e r
Each autumn, preceding the November
general elections, many potential voters may
wonder whether a trip to the polls is worth
their effort. Perhaps this apprehension is a
result of not trusting candidates to live up to
their promises, or not knowing whether these
futuure elected officials can provide any ser
vices pertinent to our own lives.
The annual Rochester Lesbian and Ciay
Political Caucus candidate surve>s arc an effort to u k e the challenge out of learning what
each candidate will provide in the interests of
the gay and lesbian community. The 1990
questionnaires reveal various stances on timely
gay and lesbian issues including AIDS treatment and funding, women's health studies,
domestic partnership, general civil rights, antigay violence, U.S. immigration laws, and
hom*ophobic miliury poHcies.
Some candidates are not covered here
because their surveys were twx received in time
to be reviewed and published. Candidates involved in prinurics will be included in the
November EC.
OPENLY GAY CAMPAIGN STAFF:
All of the respondents said they personally
knew gay or lesbian people. U.S. Rep. Louise
Slaughter, Sute Sen. Jack Ptrry, Family Court
J t H ^ Michael Miller and Rochester City Court
l u i ^ Theresa MUler said they have openly gay
persons on their campaign sta^. Sute Sen.
Quattrociocchi^s response was * •unsure," and
Gary Smith, challenger to Assemblyman
Stephen Hawley, did not kttow of any openly
gay or lesbian persons on his staff.
BIAS CRIMES LEGISLAnON:
The Nas^related violence bill backed by Gov.
Cuomo would increase penalties for those
code when asked if he supports the governor's
bias bill, he has a strong history of suppon on
gay issues. As a Town of Brighton Councilman,
MiUer was instrumental in securing an employment policy there banning discrimination on
sexual orientation.
ON COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL RIGHTS:
The general civil rights bill, known also as
the Omnibus BUI, was first introduced in the
Sute Legislature 20 years ago, and never has
been voted on. In his survey. Sen. Perry indicated that he would sponsor the general bill
covering New York Sute's estimated 1.7
miUion gay and lesbian persons. Assemblyman
Ciantt supports this, as well. Quattrocciocchi
and Smith's responses were that they would
neither support nor sponsor the bill. Rep.
Slaughter said she favors amending the Federal
Civil Rights Act to include sexual orienution.
ON DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP:
When asked if they sujjported domestic
partnership legislation, which would provide
access to health and bereavement benefits to
unmarried panners. Smith responded "yes,"
Quattrociocchi answered "no," and Perry was
unsure. This topic is relatively new to
lcgislaton». and many opinions of it have yet
to be formed. This bill has been introduced by
downsute Sen. Ohrenstein.
AIOS FUNDING & PUBLIC POLICY:
Although David Gantt's survey was not
received, he holds an outstanding record on
all gay issues, including AIDS poUcies. Perry's
recofd is also strong: he said he generaUy fitvors
current pubUc policy, and an increase in funding to address HIV disease Quattrociocchi
£avors current policies in fiindir^ levels. Smith
was not knowlet^eable of current HIV policy.
IMMIGRATION LAWS* THE MILITARY,
AND ARTS FUNDING:
The orUy federal level catKlidatc to respond
to date was Rep. Slaughtci; a former Sute
Assemblywonun from the Fairpon area.
Slaughter showed a supponive stance on
several issties. She supports the repeal of
discrirvurutory U.S. immigiationAuturalization
laws on the basis of sexual orientation and HIV
stattis. She does not agree with the current US.
military policy which excludes hom*osexuals.
Slaughter would "continue to oppose the
convicted of c o m m i t t i n g a violent act out of
l a n g u a g e of t h c Hcltna/Roturakkaichct- amctMi-
hatred based on race, reUgion, and other
categories including sexual orientation. Sen.
IH^rry supports this bill, and promises sponsorship next session. Several legislators w h o
voted for the bill arc Assemblyman Robert
King (150th District), Roger Robach (134th),
and David Gantt (133M). Neither Quattrociocchi nor Smith would sponsor this bill, and
QuattnK-iocchi is tbe only Democrat to have
voted against it. Sen. Kehoe is a leading opponent of thc version contaffiing sexual orientation, and has been openly hom*ophobic.
Judge MiUer demonstrated an exceUent
awareness of bias crimes, whileJ u c ^ Johnson
did not respond to questions conceming bias
crimes, citing a prohibition by the Judicial
C
ment" conceming NEA funtUng, and "supported the conqMomise agrccinetu, rather than
choose eUmirution of the 1990 NEA appropriation."
WOMEN'S HEALTH STUDIES, W.I.C.
a n d WOMEN*S BUREAU FUNDING:
Slaughter wants increased fiiruling for the
V(bmen, Infants and Children nutrition program, as well as for the U.S. Department of
Labor's Uiomen's Bureau program. She added
that woitien should be given equal inclusion,
regardless of sexual orienution, as subjects in
federally funded health studies. Currently,
many women are unfairiy excluded by regulation, and tnost health testing results benefit
men only. There has been little incentive to examine health issues unique to women.
NcyTE: This compilation of survey results is
incomplete. Many races will be covered in the
November EC.
ing up the issue of extending health insurance,
leave and other benefits to city workers and
their partners.
-Chris Nealon, Gay Community News;
Robin Kane, The VC^hitigton Blade.
Caucus surveys
candidates o n
political issues
is avaiiable at...
"A Celebration of Our Gayness"
AIDS Rochesier Inc.. Anthony's 552, Avenue Pub. Bachelor Forum Cheesy Eddie's
Gay Alliance, Genesee Co-Op. Joseph's. Uberty. Mama Tacone's. Parkleigh Paul's
Grocery. Rochester Body Club. Rosie's, Silwood Books. Tara. Video Channel' Villaoe
Oteer\ Bookstore, Wild Seeds Bookstore & Cafe. Worldwide News. Mike's State S t r ^ t
Pub. Jazzberry's Uptown. Whispers and Metro
Next year on Labor Day \veekend
Rochester will host the
THE GAY SOURCE
Gay AUiance Peer Facilitators can help you by providing;
• Information on Gay Alliance Events and
Activities
• Group Information
• Referrals to Area Professionals
• TVavel Information
• Or Just Someone to Listen
Call 244-8640 wrm
EVENING HOURS: Sun.-Thurs. 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m
Fri. 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
G o o d & b a d new^s
f o r N.Y. PWAs
By Ellen Yacknin
The good news for petsons with AIDS is that
New York Sute adopted, at the end ofits 1990
legislative sesston, a few measures favorable
to PWAs. Notably, the legislature refined its
laws concerning thc confidentiality of a patient's HIV sutus. implemented a health prox>' law, and expanded a demonstration managed home health care program which would
provide long-term home health care to disabled and chronically ill adults, specifically including PWAs. who qualify for medical
assistance.
Thc had news is that, in yet another shonsighted and mean-spirited attempt to balance
the budget on the backs of New York's most
needy, the legislature axed one of New York
State's major public subsidy programs available
to pay the hospiul costs of people with AIDS.
Buried in New York's final-hour, 69-page
1990 Hospiul Reimbursem*nt Bill was a oneline sentence which abolished the sute's
quaner-century-old "Catastrophic Illness Program." Under this program. New Vbrk paid for
a ponion ofthe hospiul expenses of residents
w h o suffered a catastrophic illness, but w h o
did not have the insurance, income, or
resources to afford the astronomical costs of
hospiulization.
The Caustrophic Illness Program permitted
a person w h o was not otherwise financially
eligible for Medicaid to spend only a certain
ponion of his o r her income or resources on
hospiulization. After an individual paid out,
for hospiul c^rc, the lesser of roughly 2S percent of his or her incotne or the difiercnce between his or her irK.n>me and the cash assistance
level. New York paid thc balance of the person's hospiul bill.
Signific*antly, single and married childless
adults comprised the primary beneficiaries of
the Catastrophic Illness Program, because
sinftk: and fnarried parents of minor chtldnm
qualify for Medicaid if they are forced to spend
more than a p o n i o n of their income and
resources on medical care. It is no great surprise that an overwhelming majority of PWAs
are childless adults. Until a childless PWA is
found to be legally disabled under stringent
Medicaid legulatitMis, he or she wiU not qualify
for Medicaid. As a result, the elimination of
New York's Catastrophic Illness Prtjgram will
be financially devasuting to PWAs w h o have
not been determined to be legally disablcrd, but
w h o must nevenhelcss be hospiulized.
Until recently. New York has becrn at the
forefront of sutes w h i ^ have implemented
enlightened pHilicies regarding health care for
its residents. By its obliteration of the
Catastrophic Illness Pnigtam. coupled with its
drive to institute other Medicaid cutbacks.
New York is quickly assuming a neandenhal
n)le among the sutes.
i •
1991 Rochester
Gay & Lesbiaii Convention
Sponsored by The Gay Alliance
of The Genesee Valley
VOLUNTEERS ARE WANTED
To help with the following Committees:
T-Shirt & Poster Sales
Registration
Hospitality
Greet^rs
We would also like to hear from you if you have
an idea for a workshop or panel.
To Volunteer please call Leigh Andrews at 232^2255
Phihp Morns Companies Inc is Ihe largest corp donor
iS200.300) tn tiodiophohic & AIDSphnhic Sen Jesse Helms
\
4
THE EMFTY CLOSET
OWI rKlot30
Ta^OJD YT«iM3 HHT
>
Octobet; 1990
THE EMPTY CLOSET
Octobci; 1990
Newsffronts
Kissing breaks out
across New England
New England lesbian and gay activists are
caUing for simultaneous kiss-ins on Oct. 11,
Coming Out Day.
The Massachusetts Coalition for Lesbian and
Gay Civil Rights and Queer Nation
Massachusetts are coordinating outreach to
groups acn>ss New England, asking them to
stage kiss-ins at centralized locations in
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
Maine, New Hampshire and \ t r m o n t , including campus kiss-ins suged by student
organizations.
Bostprincipal kiss-in site in Massachusetts. "Kissing in public shows that we'ie not afraid to be
w b o we are," said David Manin of Queer Nation Rhode Island. "It's the first exposure for
many straight people to affection between
people of the same sex."
Coalition, calling the amendment the beginning ofthe end of decency in the county, and
claiming that a pro-gay vote would flood the
area with thousands of ''chUd-molesting
hom*osexuals." South Florida's Roman
Catholic Anrhbishop Edward A. McCanhy sent
a letter to parishioners calling the measure
"morally unaccepuble."
in addition to the hom*ophobic atucks, low
turnout by liberal retired nonhemers and by
gays themselves helped to defeat the
amendment.
-Chris Nealon, Gay Community News.
G r o u p asks
e n d t o NEA p l e d g e
A bipanisan Independent commission,
crcated by Congress to review thc grantmaking procedures of the Nationai Endowment for the Arts, has recommended that no
legislative rcstrictions be placed on the kind
of an that can receive money from thc endowment . Thc commission also uiged that the NEA
no longer require recipients to sign a pledge
that the works they produce will not be
' 't>bscene.''
However, thc panel called for Congress to
Conirar>' to the expectations of activists,
include in ans legislation cautionary language
voters in Bn>ward C^ounty, Fla. rejected a pn)about the responsibility inherent in spending
gay amendment to their human rights orfederal money. Thc gn)Up said that the s u n dinance on Sept. 4 by S9 to 41 percent.
dard for publicly financed a n must go beyond
The measure would have added sexual
thc sundard for privately financed a n , and enorienution ttails considerations that go beyond anistic
pnuected against discriminatiim.
excellence.
In spite o f t h e defeat, activists said that the
John E. Fn>hnmaycr, chairman ofthe NEA,
vote marks progress for gay and lesbian rights
refused to comment on the report, but has
in Florida. "It thrills us that 71.resisted demands that he rescind the pledge.
came out and voted for gay rights in Broward
(Fn)hnmaycr will be speaking in Rochester at
<:ounty" said Btad Buchman of United
the seventh annual Ans for Greater Rochester
Citizens for Human Rights, * * 1 don't think that's Awards Luncheon on Oct. 18.)
a major defeat."
The commission suggested measures which
Although the pro-amendment campaign
would weaken the role of thc NEA's arantseemed to be going well, mid-August saw a
making peer panels, and place more authorimassive campaign 1^ the right-wing Christian
t> in the hands of the chairman and thc Na-
Florida county
rejects gay r i g h t s
tional Council ofthe Ans, the NEA's advisory
body. Until now. peer panel recommendations
have almost always been accepted by the council and the chairman.
-Barbara Gamarekian, New K>rXr Titnes.
Courts to say
Turhich artists
a r e **obscene? • >
A bill soon to reach the Senate floor would
require the National Endowment for the Arts
to recoup federal funds granted to anists w h o
are convicted by thc courts of violating
obscenity laws.
The measure, approved last month by the
Senate Labor and Human Resources Cortimittcc, would also extend the NEA's life for five
years, with S175 million in spending authority in the first fiscal year, s u n i n g Oct. 1.
The bill is supported by a broad coatitton
of committee liberals and conservatives, including Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass) and
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). The compromise
worked out would allow the couns, rather
than the NEA, to decide which works are
obscene.
Under the bill, grant recipients convicted on
criminal chaiges of violating obscenity or child
p*rnography laws would have to return their
federal grant money to the NEA within 90 days.
They would be barred from receiving further
NEA fTK>nics for at least three years.
Kennedy hailed the committee's rejection
of harsher anti-obscenity curbs on the
endowment.
-Robert M. Andrews, Associated Press.
Navy c l e a r s
Christine HUinski
The Navy has awarded back pay and
restored the good-service record of Christine
R. HUinski, a former Marine sergeant w h o lost
her assignnient after testifying as a character
witness for a lesbian colleague w h o was facing a c o u n manial.
During testimony at the 1988 court-manial
trial, HUinski said that her fonner colleague,
Sgt. Cheryl Jameson, "did a fine job" and that
Jameson's sexual orientation had not affected
her work in any way,
Afiter thc trial, Hilinsks's supervisor demoted
her and cut her pay by »220 a month. The
Corps* only justification, the ACLU argued in
legal papers, was that her supervisor believed
that HUinski showed poor judgment in her
testimony because she was "lenient in her
position on hom*osexuality"
Earlier in the same month, HUinski's supervisor had called her * 'dedicated, polished, professional and dependable." At that time, her
supervisor had also called her judgment
"outsunding."
After serving for 11 years with the Marines,
Hillinski left the service in 1989. She said she
hoped her successful legal challenge would encourage others to speak out against the
miliury's ami-gay policies.' * 1 strongly believe
that sexual orientation should not be considered in evaluating anyone*s performance,"
she said.
Iowa police, feds
raid m e n ' s festival
Some 31 local Iowa police and federal officers raided the Midwest Men's Festival on
Aug. 26, claiming to be looking for a child p*rnography ring, and arrested two men, one on
a marijuana charge and one on a seconddegree child abuse charge.
Thc raid, which took place at 7 a.m., involved FBI agents and at least one helicopter According to men w h o were prcsent. officers
wearing rubber gloves confiscated festival
rcgistration lists and questioned various men
about the presence of children at thc Elkhom
Ranch campsite.
This year on Columbus Day come and,..
"Discover A New World"
Festival participants have vehementiy
denied that tbeir evmu has anything to d o with
child p*rnography. The Iowa Civil Liberties
Union nied suit Sept. 6 on behalf of the fiestival,
demanding the return of confiscated material
and challenging the legality of the warrant used to c o n d u a the search.
-Chris Nealon, Gay Community News.
tactics of tyranny. . . how d o we figure out
what we've stolen from a culturc and what
we've assimilattrd?"
Because of the white women's angry
response, Indian women posted an atmouncement saying they were not necessarily interested in talking with white women about
the event, and directing women wishing to
discuss the issue to white women staffing a
nearby table.
-Laura Briggs, Gay Conununity News.
8,000 w^omen
g o t o Michigan;
Navy m e m o
S/M, racism issues r e c o m m e n d s
The 15th Michigan Womyn's Music Festival
drew about 8,000 women this year, between
e q u a l bigot]*y
Aug. 15-19. As in past years, the music,
workshops and other events were accompanied by intetise political debates.
Thc on-going conflict between S/M and antiS/M lesbians centered this year on thc issue of
space for S/M lesbians to camp tc^ether and
Ofganize S/M ' *play panics.'' A new controversy
erupted over the appropriation and commercialization of Native American culture by white
craftswomen.
The S/M debate seemed io be lowcrkey than
in past years, following an announcement by
festival otganizers that S/M activities would not
by women who did not want to witness them.
Many S/M women boycotted the festival, and
those w h o attended lampooned the policy and
found ways to circumvent it. The most
dramatic action was the dropping of leaflets
criticizing the S/M policy from a small private
plane.
Women of color organized u march against
raci.sm on (he land, in response to concerns
expressed by Native American wt)men abt)ul
the widespread sale of crafts by white women
containing feathers and symbols of traditional
Indian spirituality. Indian wt>men circulated
a statement written by Andrea Smith which
states in part. "White so-called feminists, unwilling to give up their n>manticizcd views of
Indians, and despite the pnnestations from the
Indian community, ccmtinue to buy what the>'
.sec as Indian spirituality Tlic result ofthis Ne\\Age cra/e is nothing less than cultural and
spiritual genocide for thc Indian people. Our
spiritnalit)- is not for sale."
VC'hitc women refused to accept thc women
oi color's triticismii. "I'm not t h t oppressor,'*
said >Xanda lltndcrNt>n. "Vthy must I alwavN
b<- the target? Wert' drawmg fn)m all cultures
C'hris Rivers said thc march "wo-s adopting thc
An intemal Navy memo advocating ftirther
targeting of wonten for discharge dtie to
hom*osexuality was recently leaked to thc National Organization for Women and Congressman Gerr>^ Studds* office.
The memo, entitled "Equal Treatment of
Male and Female hom*osexuals;* was
distributed to all commanding officers in the
Naval Surface Forces ofthe U.S. Atlantic Fleet
and was sent to NOW and Rep. Studds by
anonymous sources in Baltimore, Md. and
Norfolk. Va.
The military's anii-Iesbian and gay policy is
one ofthe primary tools used to harass and intimidate all military- women. Department of
l>efense statistics sht)w that for all the services
combined, women are three times tnore likely than men to be discharged for hom*osexuality. This memo spells out more clearly than c\'er
before the inherent sexism of the policy and
its implementation. It amounts to a blueprint
for the Navy lo witchhunt its top women
professionals.
The memo states *'. . .overt or covert
hom*osexual activit>' impacts in a ver>' negative
way on morale. . .There is a perception by
many that female homt>sexuality is somewhat
tolerated, while male hom*osexuality is dealt
with swiftly and sternly. . . Experience has
shown that the stereotypical female hom*osexual. . is more aggressive than her male
counterpart, intimidating those women who
might t u m her in. . . ."
The memo goes on to say that *'the
stereotypical female hom*osexuar' is "hardworking, caceer-oriented. willing ti) put in
U)ii^ hours on thc ii>h, anti ann>n^ tht* Command's lop pu>fessionals.*°
— .\OW
Gay Gaines
d r a w o v e r 7,500
to Vancouver
The third Gay Games, held Aug. 4-11 in \ ^ couver, Canada, drew over 7,500 athletes from
30 countries, and won increasingly positive
coverage from the Caiudian press, although
ignored by the U.S. media.
The opening ceremonies attracted a crowd
of over 20,000 spectators. Ixsbian comedian
Robin lyier emceed, and Simon Nkoli, gay
South African activist, was among the
speakers. Nkoli, a double marathon runner,
was unable to participate t>ecause of the ban
on athletes from South Africa. Nkoli supports
the ban. and said that he h9pes to compete in
1994 as an openly gay and free Black South
African representing his country.
The sports events itKluded swimmir^, track
and field, tennis, volleyball softball. basketball, wrestling, ice hockey and physique
competition.
Mike Mcaliffe, 51, of West Hi>llywood. broke
world records in the seniors master division
l<>r the 50 and 100 meteis butterfly. The Games
having been internationally sanctioned, the
records will go down as having been set at the
Ciay Ciames.
New Yorker Bruce Hayes, a former U.S.
Olympic swimmer won sevetal gold medals.
The swimming events were capped off by a
"pink flamingo relay" in which swimmers
dressed as mermaids, witches. C^armen Mirandas. Ninja Turtles, etc.. carried plastic pink
flamingos strapped to their heads as thc>' swam
acn>ss the pool. Team New York, with around
51) members, brought the speciator*> to their
feet w ith their pack of Mario Thomases as
"That Ciirl."
In addition to the spt>rts, the Games featured
a cultural festival (with concerts, films, craft
fair etc.), non-stop parties and a Gay Pride
Parade which proved to be the largest in Vancouver's history. After the parade 750.0onUM>kers enjoyed an intemationai fireworks
competition. During the week numerous fundraisers and parties were held for PWAs and
their friends.
The city of Vancouver for the most p a n
welcomed the Ciames participants, no doubt
parti) because thc event brought an estimated
S15-20 millitm to thc city. Many gays and leshians wert^ Harassed iin ther strCtrts, but ri^htwing fundamentalist pnitcsts proved to be
minimal, and unti-gay graffiti spray-painted on
B.C. Place Stadium was removed by city
workers within hours.
One Canadian TV station chose to show only the croquet competition as an example of
wtiat the Games were all about, and sevefal
papers overplayed thc insignificam right-wifig
opposition. But as the week wem on. c o v e r s ^
seemed to improve as respect for thc achievement of holding the Games began to grow.
Vancouver otganizers had in fact pulled off
this large intemationai sporting event with
remarkable success, and very few complaints
werc heard about housing or other services.
Thc only flaw was a $ 140,000 debt left at the
end of the Games; otganizers are trying to raise
the funds from the city of Vancouver, and asking for donations to help defray the debt.
Closing ceremonies dramatized the pri4le
and satisfaction felt by the athletes, and t h e
bonds they had formed during the week. Bob
Isnor of the Vancouver swim team summed
it up by saying * *A lot of gay people don't have
a good sense of identity. Coming to an event
like this gives us a great sense of gay pride. This
is where gay people Icam to love themselves."
The Intemationai Federation of Gay Games
announced to the accompaniment of "New
York. New York' that thc 1994 Games will be
held in NcH- York City.
-Peter Medoff. Oay Community News; Bill
Strubbe, The Weekly News.
FACT c a m p a i g n s
against H e l m s ,
NEA c e n s o r s h i p
The First Amendment Crisis Team (FACT),
a recently formed independent campaign expenditure committee in San Francisco, announced on Sept. 14 the launching of its campaign to preserve the National Endowment For
The Arts (NF.A) and frce it from censorship,
while simultaneously targeting thc NEA's arch
enemy Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) for defeat in
November's election.
FACT has initiated a massive advertising
campaign using a combination of television,
print ad\ ertisetnents. direct tnail and outdoor
advertising to urge Americans to express to
their CThegn)up has contracted with U.S. Sprint for
a "900 " number which, when dialed by concerned citizens, will enable them to send a
lelex directly to tVicir representatives in Congress. Thc number to call, which will be opera. tional inly until Oct. 5, is I-90O-230-HELP.
David A. Bischoping
Richard Fenwick
CONTRACTORS
Older Home Specialists
WHISPERS
Design • Orywall • Painting
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The Gay Alliance, 179 Atlantic Avenue
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—>—.• ".t^^^aMH—r^i-n^nM
THE EMPTY CLOSET
'..*^-\..a>«ki«Kj j«C> »-»i'««
iMBH»~rMl[ir»i'T»«iriini—i
M B U I I II • i
October, 1990
WK*lW<-*"«^-*-
' ••^^^*.
•*>.»'--b---;ff^ilWll'HWWiWlua.Wi • fc-*- 1.1111, , . , - > . , M ^ ^ ,
j-i-i
ooc: .• j^o?-*
October, 1990
INTERVIEW
Lori M a t o c h a
on coming out
By S u s a n J o r d a a
Ftict and activist Lori Matocha. co-owner of
Wild Seeds Bookstore and Cafe, stopped by the
Empty C/oser office to talk about coming out.
LM: I never had to come out thc way some
people might; because my family had fallen
apart and I never had to come out to them —
it wasn't an issue. My family epitomized thc
word • 'dysfunctional;' For that reason it tends
to be hard for me to really understand why
people have a hard time coming out to their
families and fear refection by them.
My first lesbian relationship was in hig^
school, but I didn't realize I was a lesbian; I
lust didn't know what was going on at that
point. When 1 got to college and met women
at thc women's center saying they were
lesbians—that was it. I knew that was for me.
I can't even describe it. It was like a great
weight being lifted. Ever since then I've been
a very loud lesbian feminist activist.
I d o read all those coming out stories. It's
a situational thing. I can't imagine that people d o n t know I'm a lesbian, and when they
assume Tm hctcr^iscxual it just kills mc. I was
in a gym working tm some Nautilus equip*
ment, and a man I know there asked tne. '*Dyour husband work oul?" I said ''HiMslKmd?'"
and he said, "You mentioned kids, and I
xssumed you had a husband." He went on to
say, "Your significant out?" I said "My significant tMher is a woman
— I'm a lesbian!" That was OK with him, but
this old man next to us on a treadmill looked
like his eyes were about to bug out.
It's a decision you have to weigh. It's
dangen>LLs to come out. But I've always figuted
they're going to bash me if I'm quiet and
they re going to bash mc if I'm loud, so I might
as well stand up for myself My oppression as
a woman has helped me tt> recognise that. I've
had incidents of harassment and violence, but
that just makes mc want to fight more rather
than hide.
SJ: Oo you think thc Coming Out Week is
a gcMHl idea? What events d o you think will
The Final Closet: The Gay Parents' Guide tbr
be most eifective, and what kind of events I encourage people to take risks in all levels of
their
lives,
and
maybe
they'll
be
surprised
at
Coming Out to Their Children. Rip Corley,
would yt)u plan if you were oiganizing
the
results.
And
maybe
not.
.
.
(laughs).
But
it's
Editech Press, $8.95.
something like this?
worth thc risk. For mc, breaking my o w n
This book is well-organized, addressing in
LM: I think it's gn»u. It would be nice to have
silence
about
sexual
abuse
and
being
a
lesbian
t
u
m
such issues as attitudes, legal concems,
a s|>eakout t>r rally or something to unite all
has
made
mc
happier
and
freer,
and
1
recomadult children, and AIDS. Has a good section
the different groups w h o will be going to thc
nieiid
that
everyone
start
telling
thc
truth
sd>out
on
resources.
various events.
their lives.
Revelations: a Collection of Gay Male ComI like to suppon everythit^ gays aiKl lesbians
For
people
who
arc
isolated,
I
can
hardly
iming
Out Sttyries. Ed. Wayne Curtis, Alyson,
are doing. Even if sotne things aren't perfea,
:
^
n
e
how
difficult
it
might
be
for
them.
I
$7.95
at least it shows we're working on it. VH? want
know
how
hard
it
was
for
me,
starting
to
talk
Itstimonies: a Collection of Lesbian Comto do something at Wild Scetb. That Friday wc
about
sexual
abuse.
In
certain
situations
you
ing Out Stories. Ed. Sarah Holmes, Alyson,
d o have Monica Grant, w h o is a lesbian
do have to weigh your safety But they might
$7.95.
feminist.
be surprised if they came out to friends, at their
Diverse collections of first-person accounts
SJ: Obviously you support outing in some
responses.
Give
people
some
credit.
of
coming out. Great if you like to compare
sense, since Wild Seeds co-sponsored
SJ:
Until
wc
come
out
in
large
numbers
and
your own experience to other peoples'.
Michaelangelo Signorile's visit here in June.
get
visibility,
we
won't
be
able
to
end
oppresThe Original Comity Out Stories. Ed. Julia
What form d o you think outing will take in
sion.
Yet
until
we
end
oppression
and
the
thc future, and do you think it will play a itjic
Penelope and Susan J. Wolfe, Crossing Press,
threat of violence, people wil! continue to be
in changing things?
$10.95.
too
scared
to
come
out.
How
d
o
wc
resolve
This revised and enlarged editton is a
LM: It's really one of the few issues I don't
a
bind
like
that?
Yet
we
absolutely
have
to
at
wonderfiil
collection of stories and poems
have decided, emphatic opinions about. Thc
some
point.
about the coming-out experience and its
more I read thc more concerned I am about
LM:
It
could
be
that
so
much
of
thc
movesignificance,
during four decades of lesbian livit being a viable tool. Signorile's lype of outing
ment's
energy
is
taken
up
fighting
AIDS
and
ing
and
loving.
Readers will rect>gnize many
I fmd kind of enjoyable, and I know that a lot
violence
against
us,
that
coming
out
might
of their favorite musicians and writers, such
of lesbians and gays like knowing about
have
to
be
a
secondary
priority.
But
ifs
always
as
Alix Dobkin, Minnie Bruce Pratt, and Judith
famous gays and lesbians — like, "Oh, I didn't
there.
Peopte
w
h
o
are
out
keep
saying
to
the
McDaniel.
know John Ihtvolta was gay!"
cU>seted,
you
have
to
come
out
and
join
me
Diflerent Daughters: a B€X>k by Mothers of
Thc issue of privac*y concems m e as a
in
doing
thc
dangerous
work.
But
it's
Lesbians. Louise Rafkin, Cleis Press, $8.95.
feminist. I feel thc secrets of patriarchy arc
something
that
might
take
an
evolution
of
conThis is a very well-put-together colleaion.
respcmsible for most ofour opprcssion. All of
sciousness,
rather
than
a
revolution.
and
very affirming. Mothers eloquently speak
thc abuse that women sustain, and have susof their struggles to accept and share their
tained throughout history, that's denied, hushdaughtei?'
lives.
ed up, trivialized. The privatization of
Like Coming Home: Coming Out Letters.
women's lives, secluded in suburban houses
Ed. Meg Umans, Banned Books, $7.95.
with n o contact with other women or thc
wReal-Hfc letters home, to kids, patents, and
to feel ashamed of ourselves and isolated.
Coming out to friends, family and co- friends. Reading through these lettens reveals
Hiding our .sexuality is part ofthe denial ofour workers can be a long and often overwhelmthe difficulty gay and lesbian people have of
realities that patriarchy makes us go through. ing process. What foUows is a brief summary
"getting thrtjugh ' to those we love, A nice
Sometimes I feel like asking, when did it of current literature that addresses this issue.
seleaion, and some good ideas for your next
become a law that we have to keep our sexual
letter
home.
Thetr^s Somethmg I 've Been Meanittg to Ttll
identity secret? Heterosexuals arc proud of
Are Yt>u Still My Mother? Beck, $7.95.
You. Ed, Loralee Pike, Naiad Press, $ 9 9 5 their sexuality and I think it would be nice if
A first-person account of a suburt>an mom's
This is an antholt^y of first-person narwe could be I'm not personally going to out ratives, weighted towards white, middle-class joumey from denial to acceptance of her gay
anybody as a tactic, but from what I hear and lesbians, most of them coming out of
son. Vtry affirming.
read, a k>t of younger, more revolutionary peo- hetcrosexuai relationships. A bit narrow in
Now That You Km>w: What Every Parent
ple in the miwcment may decide it's focus, but from the heart.
Should KntAv Abtjut Homtisexuality Fairchild
worthwhile.
Parents Matter Ann Mullcr, Naiad Press, & Hayward, $8.95.
Addresses many of the myths, misconcepSJ: What would you say to someone w h o
S9.95.
tions
aiMl stereotypes surrounding lesbian and
is completely closeted and feels unable to
Helpful guide for lesbian daughters, gay sons
ci>me out to anyone?
and their families. Very supponive, and helps gay life It provides some p r a a i c ^ ways parents
LM: I think everyone has to struggle to betbridge the gap between us and our families of can deal with their own lack of undemanding
A good choice for Mom and Dad.
ter themselves, wherever they're starting from.
binh.
Coming out books
From New Mexico
to the U. ofR.:
a continuing joumey
By Ken Maidonado
For mc coming out was very gradual. I, tike
many tnher members of thc gay and lesbian
community, was aware of my sexuality at an
early age. I cant remember exactly when it was
that I realized that I was indeed "different" as
far as my sexuality was concerned. It was just
the way it always was and would be. However,
by thc time I entered middle school and puberty set in, I became more awarc of that *'difference'* and actuaUy knew what it was called. Having to deal with all thc turmoil that the
onset of puberty and tbe beginning of
adolescence bring to one's life was one thltig.
But to have to come to terms with a difference
in sexual preference on top of everything else
could I survived those turbulent two years of middle .school, and by my sophom*ore year of high
schl I had seven friends w h o had come out
to me. In return, their honesty and trust in me
led to my coming out to them. I the way I have developed as a gay pciMin to
being able to identify with other gay and lesbian teenagers, and an early age, and during
what is noted as one of the most trying times
of one's adolescent life. I wish everyone could
have been as lucky I really feel it has made a
difference in my life.
Before meeting my gay friends, I had that
all-too-familiar feeling that I was alone in the
world in the way I felt about myself What a
surprise and feeling of relief when you Hnd
ochers like you who arc experiencing the same
things. The only probtem at this point is that
living in nonhwestcm New Mexico, that*$a7/
you have. lik> be one of a gay community of
eight, in the middle of the desert in a town of
less lhan 19,000 people, is very frigtitening.
After graduating from high school I moved to
Kochester to attend thc University of
RtKhester. and f v e been here since.
Rochester was a welcome and refreshing
change that brought many new exf>eriences
and a new awarcness of myself 1 could finally
identify with an entirc c*ommunity and not lust
a handful of gay frictuls. A complete social network was finally in existence that was made
up of tndividuais like mc. I was amazed that
oiganizations existed with missions of helping thc gay and lesbian community in areas of
legal services, civil rights, advocacy, etc It was
also surprising to leam of organizations that
had been set up to deal with the devastating
AIDS epidemic that 1 had heard so little about.
The first four years here in Rochester were
spent coming out of the shell that had been
built around me by living in an excluded gay
community during my high school years, and
by growing up in a conservative, catholic,
hispanic family. 1 had no prototypes o r experiences on which ttj base simple iuc^cmcnts
in life. My only salvation was my attendance
at the U.of R. To be in a university atmosphere
fostering an educatton. an identity and an
awareness of my sexuality, was to become one
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T H E EMPTY CLOSET
7
of the most significam milestones of my life.
Now, abnust two years after graduatiiig ftom
thc V. of R., my coming out and coming to
terms has reached new heights. I have a very
close straight friend who accepts and loves me
for w h o I am. Many other straight friends
know about me and have n o problems. My coworkers and members of my board of directois are also in the same boat. It just doesn't
matter much any more. I have rK> problems By Eric B e l l m a n
with my sexual orientation, nor with anyone
I took a year off between my Junior a n d
knowing of my sexual preference. It is a part senior college years. In fact officials had enof me that 1 can not and will not ignore, be forced a separation, etKouraging mc to resolve
cured of, o r hate.
anti-social behaviors: I had been caught stealing. It was hoped a year's worth of intensified
I know coming out is not all that easy. It
therapy might enable mc to resume progress
wasn't for mc. It doesn't matter how ideal the
toward my career.
situation o r h o w many opportunites you
Shamed and unwelcome at home, I elected
receive, it is still difficult w h e n you grow up
to remain in Buffolo, and found two part-time
in a society that will not educate its members
jobs: in the afternoons I was a library clerk,
about hom*osexuality. No matter how much
a short order cook at t u ^ t . Without the shelter
support I had, therc was always somebody
w h o would still hate, still bash, and continue of a student exemption, however, I was
notified within six months ofmy Seleaive Serto spread thc fear and hatred about something
vice induction and took the obvious recourse
that they didn't understand.
for self-protection: I conucted a psychiatrist
Comir^ out is a continuing process, and will
w h o would, after my interview, provide m e
never end. I will constantly be coming out to
with
a document cenify'ing my undesirabilivarious members ofthis community. Whether
ty for govemment service.
it\s to my co-workers, my friends, the person
w h o runs the c o m e r market, thc dry-cleaner,
I told the doctor lwas queer He asked many
1 will always be coming out. Sometimes it will cjuestions in an impersonal manner; I felt
be easy, and sometimes it's goir^ to really hurt.
awkward being so direct with a passive
I just told my family three weeks ago, so now stranger I remember little ofthe session other
I'm going through thc whole process again.
than feelings of guilt and shame. 1 paid S75,
And this time thc hurt is greater as well as the
took the letter and left. It was in a sealed
risk.
envelope addressed to t h c Selective Service
1 d o know that with e\'ery "coming out" Board. 1 steamed it open. U said I was a compulsive obsessive hom*osexual and there wcrc
that I accomplish, my life is that much easier
no indications for change and I was, therefore,
and less complicated. I do have faith that evenunfit for military duty.
tually enough ofthe hatrcd and ignorance will
be stifled n> allow me and other members of
I resealcd the envelope and a few days later
this community to live in peace. I feci that each
reported for my physical. Despite my interest
* coming out'' brings more visibility to the gay in men's bodies that day was a nightmare;
and lesbian community. And that with visibili- ever>'one seemed homely and nervous. Wc
ty wc will aid in decreasing the ignorance, thc stood in our jocke>' shorts in lines on worn
fear, and the hatred.
linoleum floors in large drab green rooms for
I believe that wc can do something positive various tests and exams. All the while I clutin this world by coming out of our closets. 1 ched my envelope. Shortly before niKin it was
taken from mc. At noon the group was dividencourage exery member of this community
to do so, but I also support your right to d o ed up and the unwanted werc pulled aside, left
it at your own pace. I just h o p e that you d o to sit in silence and then told to leave. I was
free.
eventually make that choice. Trust mc when
I say it feels great!
Coming out to
a psychiatrist
and to Uncle Sam
A
The LIBERTY Is Closing!
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8
THE EMPTY CLOSET
October, 1990
October, 1990
The Triple Goddess as Virgin
By S u s a n J o r t l a n
The woiship (^ the European Gteat Goddess
probably goes back to thc Paleolithic era. when
images of cosmic fetnale personages werc
carved oti cave walls, out of stone, or on bone
or antler ancfacts. The primeval Goddess of
this pre-agricultural time, judging from thc archaeological record and from beliefs of European shatnanistic societies of historical times,
seems to have been perceived as creator of the
world, mistress of beasts and spirits, and ruler
of the elements.
Alexander Marshak, in TTie Ro(Hs of Civilization, describes Stone Age bones which are
carved with calcndrical records of the cycles
t>f thc moon; they may have been used to
calculate women's menstrual cycles. The cyclic
Triple Goddess ofthe moon is probably a very
ancient ftgurc. As new m o o n she is thc
MaidcnA^iigin: as full m o o n thc maturc
woman or Midsummer Hagge, and as waning
crescent the Cronc/Winter Ilaggc.
As centuries and millennia went on. and
humans developed agriculture, the Cioddcss's
contn>l of wild plant life and wild beasts was
extended to domesticated crops and animals.
She continued to be seen as ruler of the
clcmenul forces: wind, waters of heaven and
earth, fire, and all aspects of the planet itself,
as well as mEach of her three aspects had special powere
and attributes. The Virgin is the youthful lady
of the sea, thc waxing moon, thc sun and the
stars. She can either be the Mer-Maiden ofthe
sea or the Virgin in the Underworld, who bears
the sun-child at winter solstice. The Virgin
then emerges from the underworld on May
Fve (Beluin in Celtic terms) and brings the
spring and renewed life back to the upper
world.
c:eltic scholar Jean Markale traces the Latin
yitgf> to Celtic/Indo-European terms for "great,
powerful," and to Greek words for "energy,
action." Feminist etymologists Susan J. Wolfe
and Julia Penelope connect maiden (Old
English maegdan) with "magic," "mage,"
"mighty/powerful," "to fight," and Old Persian/la^/na-zan, "Amazon."
An English bestiary of 1607 says that "the
Virgin lives with the Phairies ofthe sea," and
much Celtic folklore associates virgins and
iwtrniaids with enchanted sepulchral islands,
where they Uved in sistcrhtKKls of seven or
nine. The records of the Roman general Pomponius Mela refer to an island at thc mouth of
thc Loire river where nine priestesses lived,
and where no man might set foot. They served their community by prophesy, herbal healing, weather and water magic, and navigational
advice. Celtic mythology, wliich is generally
felt to incorporate beliefs and practices t)f ancient prc-Indo-European cultures, is full of
references to thc Islands of Women, called
Blessed or Fortunate Isles. Ceruin islands off
Ihe western coast ofthe British Isles, especially
thc Scilly Isles off Cornwall, conuin a high
percenuge of megalithic tombs.
Throughout the Dark Ages which followed thc defeat of goddess-centered paganism,
legends persisted in associating virgins with
islands, as in the myth of St. Ursula and her
1 lOO sea-faring virgins w h o were said to have
sailed the seas for centuries before being killed by Huns at Cologne. Ursel or Orsel was
originally a moon gtxldess. The numerous
"Virgin Islands" of the world refer to such
legends. In the Middle East, -many Virgin
love/birth-dieties such as Astarte, Aphrodite,
and Isis were connected with the ocean and
with waters of life. The Virgin Mary, a form of
the ancient Hebrew birth goddess
Mariam/Asherah, wears a bltie cloak aiKl is hailed as " s u r of the sea."
The Vligin is also the lady of light, whether
ofthe moon, sun or stars. Grainne is the Irish
sun goddess and lUran the Etruscan goddess
of the sun. Aranrhod of U^es, a birth goddess
connected with islands, is the "Silver Wheel"
of surs, especially the Corona Borealis, her
Spiral Castle where, as Robert Graves writes,
the spirits of hen>es go at death to be reborn.
The Tlee of Life or Cosmic Axis is often connected with virgin goddesses, such as Erigonc
and Persephone of Greece. Sacred virgin-trees
include birch, rowan, asoka (an Indian tree
which becomes fertile when it is touched by
a Virgin), almond, apple, ivy, pomegranate,
vine, cherry, palm (thc southern birch tree),
and silver fir (the northern birch tree). Roses,
lilies and spring flowers belong to the Virgin.
Thc Viigin's beasts include unicorn, dragon,
dolphin, seal, otter, cat, swan, dove and all
watcrbirds. She represents emotions, creativity, fluidity, inception.
The Hagge (I use the old spelling to remove
the negative connoution put on thc word
"hag" by men) is the mature woman, thc full
mtMin in the lunar triad. She is either thc
Amazon/Valkyrie, thc woman warrior w h o is
connected with horses, or the Winter Hagge
who lives with her sisters deep in the forest
to which they arc bound; this aspect may also
be called the Crone.
"Hag" (KX'Ufs first in English literature in
1225 as hegge. According to the Oxford
English Dictionary, it is derived from Old
English haegtesse, haehtissa, etc., meaning,
"Fury, witch, hag." The "ulterior etymology
is unknown," which means that it could be
derived fnim a pre-Indo-European root. It can
be traced back to Old Teutonic hagatusfon,
"Spirit, demon or infernal being in female
form." Thc word hag was applied to witches,
Furies, Amazons, Harpies, wild woodwomen
and all thc "faeries" encountered by the
Teuu>nic patriarchs, Indo-Europeans w h o
associated women and Nature with everything
that is "evil," "repulsive" and "dangerous."
Hagge has related meanings, such as "a kind
of light .said to appear at night on horses' manes
and human hair;" "a white mist accompanying frost;" and "H:^ge, a flame of fire that
shyneth by nighl." Clearly thc reference is to
the Amazon Hagge, thc Winter Hagge and their
ritualistic mix>nlight rides. The 12th-century
writer John of Salisbury mentions "a ceruin
w o m a n w h o shines hy night, or
HenKlias. . . (who) summons gatherings and
assemblies. . ."The 11th-century "Corrector"
of Burchard describes women w h o ride by
night with Diana, thc Roman name for
Artemis, tireek goddess of moon and forest;
Diana's daughter Aradia is "Henxlias;" both
are forms of thc White Goddess.
But the basic connection of " h a g " is with
thc earth and forest, as in Old Norse hagi,
Swedish and Middle High German hage. Old
English haga and so on, with such meaninRS
T h e C r o n c / W i n t e r Hsigge, b o t t l i n g h e r mstgical d i s t a f f s m d stsmtUng o n a s a c r e d
stone.
as "enclosed field." "pasture." "hedge,"
"thicket of underwood," "wooded enclosure,
coppice or copse.* * Old Norse hagg 2nd English
"hack'' mean ' 'a cutting blow or stroke.'' such
as that ofa double axe. An agricultural survey
of Berkshire defines'' hag'' as " remaitK of ancient oak forests. . which have grown into a
kind of copse, or what is termed in Scotland
hag W^HKIS." A Yorkshire glossary has "Hags,
hanging woods or woods in general."
A glossary for Whitby, Yorkshire, describes
something as * 'built on the face of the hag (old
local stat«:ment)." "Hag" here means thecliffe.
Scots dialect hag and Old Norse Tiogg denote
' 'gap or ravine in a mounuin,* * and * *chasm in
a crack or a cliff," such as myths say were
created by the foot or hand of a Hag or
Giantess, or by the hoof of a mare.
Thc OED also says that " h a g " had thc connotation of "moss ground that has formerly
been broken up. . . marsh or bog. . . heathery
spMM of firm ground in a bog. . .overhanging
shelf of peat cutting.. . the shelving margin of
a stream." Pictish carvings from Scotland oficen
show a riding hagge associated with a symbol
for a bog.
"Hag" is also a verb, meaning "to witch,"
or "to torment, trouble or terrify" (thc
enemies of the Goddess). Thc word "haggard," in Ireland and the the Isle of Man,
originally had the meaning of "a wild female
hawk caught in her adult plumage;" the saying went "Live a haggard still therefore/And
for no luring care.* * Haggard came to mean * *a
wild and intracuble woman. . . not to be captured. . w h o rejects men. . .wild, strange,
forward. . .unsociable. . .incompatible." It
was said ofa falcon " w h o preyed for hcrselfe
long before she was taken." Owls too were called haggaitis, which has thc connotation "wildc>'ed." Obviously "haggard" was a m c u p h o r
for lesbians.
"Hagging" is "thc meeting of hags or witches." The OED gives as examples, "The witches . . . their hagging, their riding in the aire,"
and "He would spie unto what place his wife
went hagging."
Hags
in
Celtic
folklore
are
"old. . .wise. . .possessed of supernatural
powers." The Great Hagge, called in Ireland
and Scotland thc Cailleach Bheur, was the ancient British Artemis, goddess of the
wildemess, of w h o m Katherine Briggs writes,
"the variety of aspects in which she is
presented is itKlicative of an ancient origin and
widespread
cult."
and
'*giant-like
Hags. . . seem to have been the last shadows
of a primitive nature goddess, the Cailleach
Bheur, Black Annis, or Gentle Annie."
The Hagge can be the Midsummer Lady of
love and battle, w h o rides her swift marc or
is drawn in a chariot by elks; s h e ' 'sets up her
chair in the hills in thc season of
heatherfoloom" (Midsummer) and presides
over summer solstice rites of bonfires Ht on
thc peaks of harvest hills and earth-mountains.
She, or her TVee Virgin aspect, presides over
the harvest rites of Lammas (Aug. I)
At Halloween, however, she transft)rms into the Winter Haggc/Cronc, and goes about
smiting the earth with her distaff to blight
gn)wth and call down the snows. During che
winter she roams the forest, protecting thc
wild beasts; it is said that the deer are her cattle. ( )n May Eve she relinquishes her power to
the returning Virgin and throws down her staff
under a holly tree or gorse bush, transforming into a sunding stone or into the Virgin
herself.
Thc Hagge's shrines are caves and gnivcs,
especially those close to healing springs. Her
worship was stn>ng in Ireland and Scotland,
where she was revered as the builder of moun-
tains (pebbles fallen from her apron), Ukes and
may also be ancient, in the sense that decay
islands. She is found in England and Wales as
and corruption give birth to new life, as gteen
the Giantess Black Annis/Cat Aruia; the witchshoots grow out of mold and as the fires of the
hags of the Fens; thc Nine Hagges of Caer
Crone Brimo gave re-birth to the Virgin
t o y w, led by Gorddhu daughter of Gorwenn,
Piersephone in the ELeusinian Mysteries.
"the Hag from the Ends of Hell;" Miltons
It is interesting that Old North French
"Blew, meager hag;" Chaucer's "loathly hag"
c a r o g n e m e a n s * 'a c a n t a n k e r o u s or
from The Wife Of Bath's Title, and so on.
mischevious old woman," ie. one w h o defies
Eleanor Hull writes, "These ancient
patriarchal
rules. Some other more or less
hags
belong to a very old stratum of belief
related words are "crane," the bird sacred to
and seem to be indigenous."
Rhea. Aife aiul Kali; "croneclc," an obsolete
A Welsh Ule describes St. Samson of D o l s
T h e M e r m a i d / S t a r Vifgln
form of "chronicle;" "crony;" crvo, Gaelic
encounter with a hagge dressed in red and car"sheepcote" (the ewe again); "croon,'* to sing
rying a trident, whom he meets in a wood. Thc
or chant; "crt>od," to make the murmuring
hagge explains that she and her eight sisters
sound of a dove; 'cranberries" which were
live with their Mother in the forests to which
otK'e "cronebcrries;** **ciook," meaning hook,
they are bound. Hull's version of the story
barb or trident, or staff used for herding sheep;
makes the hagge say that she and her sisters
"crow;" "corona/cranium/crown."
are "morally perverse sorceresses,'' which no
The Golden Bough records widespread
doubt means lesbian witches. TTicy "stoutly
dtsuffs and wheels; act as midwives and prowinter/death expulsion rites, "Battles of Winter
The rowan or mountain ash, tree of light and
refuse Xo come to any accomodation with the
phets; sweep away the sins of humanity with the quickening of life in the Dmidic tree calenand
Summer,"
in
which
the
Virgin
defeats
the
saint," and the hagge slays his young niale
their bnH>ms.
Crone and is symbolically reconciled/reunited
dar (described in Graves* The White Gtxldess)
companion.
The Crone represents transformation,
with her. The message is the essential harmony
. is also called quickbeam, cwicbeam, witchen,
Hagges served as guardians of the
changes and exchanges; she is the severe face witch-wand or "the witch." It is connected
and interdependence of Virgin and Crone,
wilderness and young animals, protecting
of winter and fate, but also the eternal source with the Celtic firc feast of Imboic or
summer and winter, life and death. In a typical
them from greedy hunters and leading them
of
life's rebirth on the planet. Her trees are Candlemas, Feb. I, one o f t h e four great firc
rite held in an English village, the Seelie Court
to forage in deep snow. Celtic myth makes it
elder, willow, blackthorn, ash, reed and yew; feasts, the others being Halloween (Oct. 31),
ofthe Virgin, playing flutes and violins, meets
clear that they also served tjhe community as
her beasts (in addition to the Winter Hagge's Beluin (April 30) and Lammas (Aug. I).
the LInseelie Court ofthe Crone, playing tongs
foster mothers and teachers i>f children, trainbeasts)
are the ewe, goose, hen, crow and
and cleavers. ("Seelie" is an ancient word
The word "witch" is also linked with
ing them in martial and magical arts. The hagcrane. She is "Mother Goose" and is visible in
meaning "holy, blessed," which was turned
"wilUjw"
and "wicker." And the OED defines
ges t>f Caer Loy w raised the hero Pcrcdur, and
rhymes like "There was an old woman w h o
by the patriarchs into "silly"). The two courts
"witch, wych or wcach'* as "a type of tree havthe Amazon witch-queen Scathach of Skye
flew in a basket/17 timers as high as the
fight a mock battle and the Virgin is ransoming
pliant branches." such as wych-elm. witchtutored the Irish hert> Cuchulainn, to name onmoon/hut where she was going no m o r u l
ed; then the two sides sit down to a feast.
alder
or witch-hazel. The wind, moving in the
ly t w o of numerous examples.
could tell/for under her arm she carried a
In the Slavonic area of Ungarisch Bnxl,
pliant branches of sacred trees, inspired poets
bnHjm.
The Cailleach Bheur of Ireland may be the
Moravia, girls dressed in green traditionally
and
sybils to prophetic utterance
most well'prcscrvcd of the ancient hagge"Old
woman,
old
woman,
old
woman,
said
danced around a May tree, and a greenclad girl
Thus, "witch" could conceivably mean
figures. She was connected with the forest,
I/Whither, oh whither, oh whither so high?/To "Changer" or "Life-bringer" — fitting titles
drove away one dressed in white, symbolizing
wild beasts, crops and megalithic stones.
sw€?ep thc cobwebs fnim the sky/But I'll be for the priestesses ofa religion which stresswinter The crone-impersonator returned
Katherine Briggs says "A whole book rather
with
you by and by!"
dressed in green, and all the girls danced
ed the intenronnection of humanity and
than a chapter might be written about the
And "There was an old woman lived under nature, and the innate sacredness of life cycles
tt)gether In Lusatia, Poland, (near the shrine
Cailleach Bheur and the crowd of variants
a hill/And if she's not gone she lives there still T' and of all living thinK!»ofthe Black Virgin of Czechstokowa) "women
which sum>uhd her," and Eleanor Hull writes
The Hagge and Crtme are often identified
alone are corKcmed in carrying out death. and
Sources
"Her age is years and centuries and her
with the figure ofthe Witch. An investigation
suffer no male to meddle with it." They made
Adler. Margot. Drawing Down the Moan.
children are tribes and families."
of the etymology of that word is also ver>' ina white-robed effigy holding a scythe and
New York; Viking Press, 1979.
The Hagge embodies the cycles of birth.
structive. It comes from Old English wicce,
bn)om. and carried it in a singing procession
Briggs. Katherine. Encyclof>edia of Fairies.
gn>w(h. death and rebirth; seasons and
wycce. wychye. and is also a verb, meaning "to
to the forest, where they tore the puppet to
Ne\v York: Banum Books. 1977.
elements. She represents the natural order of
witch" or "to bewitch." These words in t u m
pieces and cul down a tree which they dressDaly. Mary. Pure Lust: Elemental Feminist
harmony and equilibrium with nature, in
derive from Middle German wicken, wikken.
ed in the white robe. This they carried back
Philosophy. Boston: Beacon Press. 1983.
which she pn>vides sustenance, protection,
which thcOED says is "of obscure origin.*' Like
to the village rejoicing.
Evans. Arthur Witchcraft and the Gay
con.summatihagge, witch may also come from the
Such rites became pervened with thc
Counterculture.
Boston: fa*g Rag Books, 1978.
holly, oak, hazel, alder, heather, gorse, aspen,
language(s) of Eunjpc before the arrival of the
ukeover of the patriarchal consciousness
Gastcr, Theodore and James G. Frazer The
and poplar; her beasts horse, hound, wolf,
patriarchal Indo-Europeans.
(whether pagan or christian) which turned
New
Golden Bough. New York. New
deer. pij«. yoat, ram, snake, fidcon, hawk, owl.
them inti> excuses for terrorism of wHowe\'er. some derive "witch" from an
American Librar>-. 1966.
eagk'. magpie and raven. She is at thc heart of
especially crimes, by b a n d s of n>vinjt males.
lntl*>-Eu«>pcan nxjt, wie. weik. w i t h m e a n i n ] ^
Craves, H**>cTt T h e Vt'hite Ciocldess. Neww
everything, and only when she retums to her
The essential unity of Virgin and Crone was
such as "to l>end, t u m . twist, change, weave,
York: Farrar. Straus & Giroux. 1966.
central position can harmony be restored to
forgotten, and when people danced around
bind together" This, as Margot Adler writes,
Hull. Eleanor Folklore in the British Isles.
humanity and thc earth.
the blazing bonfires they shouted no longer
would make thc witch one * skilled in the craft New York: Folcroft, 1974.
Tlic ( n m e is also the Winter Hagge. She is
praises to the Goddess, but "Bum the witof shaping, bending and changing reality."
.Markale, Jean. Women of the Celts. New
the Spinster-Fate of the Waning Moon, the
ches f"
There may also be a connection with wick.
>brk: Ciordon & Cremonesi, I9"'6.
Foasi and the Underworld. As Mary Daly has
The Crone is the lady of wisdom and
wic meaning "alive," as in "the quick and the
Marshak. Alexander Tbe RIHHS of Civilizasaid, the Cnme is the Survivor. She comes inultimate magical pt>wer She draws down the dead." In Lincolnshire. England, a tbiklorist
tion. Ne%\ York: McGraw Hill, 19^1.
to power at Halloween and rules until the
mn and unites with the lunar diety; with her interviewed an old forester w h o said that ir is
Neumann. Erich. The Great Mother
return of thc Virgin from the Underworld in
cnmies .she turns willow snags into giant
neccs.sary to "ask the Old (ial's leave" before
Princeton >i}: Princeton L'. Press, I9''2.
spring
snakes and races about on them in the waters cutting an elder tree (tree ofthe Crone) while
WoUe, Susan J and Julia Penelope.
Old Dutch c m n e means "old ewe," and thc
ofthe Fen country. Cn>nes are found in covens it was still "wick ' or alive. The correct for"Linguistic
problems with patriarchal
OED connects this with words meaning' carof l^, nine, seven, three, or as soliUries; they mula was to say "(iive mc some of thy wood
reconstruction of Indo-European culture: a litrion' and carcass" — on thc face of it. inguard the innocent and the waters of life; hea! and I will give thee some of mine, when I grow
tle more than kin, a little less than kind."
sults heaped on old women by men. But the
the sick; raise the dead; destn>y evil and bar- into a tree." Dead trees and logs which were
Women's Studies International Quarterly,
connection of death and decay with the crone
renness; spin past, present and future on their not " w i c k " d i d n o t require permission to cut.
1980
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M O N D A Y
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M O N D A Y
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" S p o u s e W a r s . " Open Arms M C C
discussion series. 7 : 3 0 - 9 p m , 2 4 3
Rosedale St. 2 7 1 - 8 4 7 8 .
Support G r o u p for Wives of Gay
o r B i s e x u a l M e n . First of six Monday
evenings. Call Vickijo CampanaroCummings, 3 2 5 - 4 0 9 0 .
G A G V Gala Auction Committee
M e e t i n g . 7 p m , OAlGM Community
Center, 179 Atlantic Awe.
F R I D A Y
B e n e f t t t o F r e e B e t t y l y s o n . Music
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Us Are Blond; poetry by Chan. McKenzie. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
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Update on Betty's case. Sponsored by
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7:30 p m . Wild Seeds Bookstore and
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NY. ( 5 1 8 ) 4 6 3 - 4 7 4 1 .
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h o t i i n e , S u n d a y - F r i d a y 6 : 3 0 - 9 : 3 0 Park. Rain location 2 4 3 Rosedale St.
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Romanovsky a n d P M U ^ M concert,
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Minor White: the Eye That
couples.
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21
October. 1990
C a n d i d a t e s ' N i g h t . Sponsored by
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Caucus 7-8:30 pm. Gay Alliance Community Center, 179 Allantic Ave. Call
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" D i s c o v e r a N e w W o r l d . " Benefit for
GAGV building fund, Whispers, 104
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M o n i c a G r a n t . Original comedy and
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Ave. 2 4 4 9 3 1 0 .
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Bill. 3 2 3 - 2 4 1 9 .
L a m b d a A l u m n i . Reception hosted by
GLBFA for gay and lesbian alumni of
University of Rochester. 5-7 p m . Faculty Club Library
S a f e r Sex WorlcsliopL Presented by
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Community Health Nehvork, 5 7 8
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S ATURDAY
13
THUR
SDAY
18
C e n t e r s o u n d s . Blues and soul, featuring Joe Beard, Miche Fambro and Promise. Fbur-night musical fundraiser to
benefit homeless and runaway youth;
sponsored by Center for \buth Services.
9:30 p m - l : 3 0 am. Jazzberry's Uptown,
5 0 East Ave. 4 7 3 - 2 4 6 4 .
F R I D A Y
19
M a r y S m i t h . Paintings. Deaf Ariists of
America, 8 7 N. Clinton St.. Suite 4 0 8 .
I 3 2 5 - 2 4 0 0 (TDD) or 1-800-421-1220.
C e n t e r s o u n d s . Circus rock by Colorblind James; original humor by the
Cowboys. 10:30 pm-1:30 am. Sponsored by Center for Vbuth Services to
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Jazzberry's Uptown. 5 0 East Ave.
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Lambda Amateur Radio Club.
Meeting & dinner 5 : 3 0 p m . Call Dave,
359-3337.
Rochester T h e a t e r O r g a n C o n c e r t .
Call Scott, 2 8 8 - 8 9 1 4 or B o b .
442-7185.
L a m b d a A l u m n i o u t i n g . Lambda
Alumni and GLBFA will host a dinner
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G u a t e m a l a , G u a t e m a l a . Multi media
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Pyramid Arts Center, 2 7 4 N.
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Commons Room of Interfaith Chapel,
Featuring Ixim Wawina, Guatemalan
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l ^ a c e D i v i d e n d l o w n M e e t i n g . 10
Rochester. Sponsored by Gays. Lesara-2
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bians, Bisexuals and Friends (GLBFA)
Rochester, 150 S. Clinton St.
of U.R.
Rocliester Women's C o m m u n i t y
C l i o r u s . 7:30 p m . Clalvary St. Andrews C e n t e r s o u n d s . Youth Talent Contest,
Church (comer of Averill and Ashland). ail welcome: 1-5 p m . Rock with Folk Explosion, with the Fugitives, Woody
C o m i n g O u t Day. Come out, come
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out, wherever you are. . .
pm-1:30 am. Sponsored by Center for
G L B F A I n f o m i a t i o n B o o t h . 1 4 pm.
Youth Services to benefit homeless and
main lounge, Wilson C o m m o n s ,
C a n d l e l i g h t s e r v i c e to close Coming runaway youth. Jazzberry's Uptown, 5 0
University of Rochester
Out Week. Sponsored by Dignity- East Ave. 4 7 3 - 2 4 6 4 .
T h e L e s b i a n a n d G a y 9 0 s . New
Integrity. 3:30 p m , St. Luke's St. Simon E m p t y C l o s e t d e a d l i n e . CameraYOTU Staie Chapter of Nationai Associaready ads, photographs. 2 4 4 - 9 0 3 0 .
ICyrene) Church, 17 N. Fitzhugh St.
tion ot Social Workers Conterence.
T U E S D A Y
9
WEDNESDAY
10
THURSDAY
11
SATURDAY
20
S U N D A Y
14
C e n t e r s o u n d s . Tapestry (string
quartet), John laleska arid other acoustk:
guitarists, a capella quartet, big band
jazz: 2-6 p t n . Bone Dippers (reggae):
8-11 pm. Sponsored by Center lor Mxilh
Servtees to benefit homeless and
runaway youth. Jazzbeny^s Utstown. 5 0
East Ave. 4 7 3 - 2 4 6 4 .
M O N D A Y
22
Empty Closet layout a n d paste u p
o f N o v e m b e r I s s u e . 5-10 p m , 179
Atlantic Ave.. 2 4 4 - 9 0 3 0 .
October. 1990
F R I D A Y
O N G O J If G
26
B o o l i s i g f t i n g . Meet the authors of
" T h e Caregh«rs' Joumey: When Nbu
Love Sonteone wtth AIDS;** Melvin
Pohl, M D . and Deniston Kay, Ph.D.
Free, 8 : 3 0 p m . Wild Seeds Bookstore
snd Cafe. 7 0 4 Unh^rsHy P t ^
Etmpfy C l o s e t nuriHtig p a r t y i Mailing the November Issue. 7-9 p m . 179
M a n t i c Aft/e. 2 4 4 - 9 0 3 0 .
SATURDAY
27
T U E S D A Y
23
M a s q u e r a d e B a l l . To beneftt AIDS
Rochester. 8 pm-2 a m . Hant> East. 4 0 0
Andrews St. Tickete $2Sr 2 3 2 - 3 5 8 0 .
Empty Closet layout a n d pasteup
of November issue. 5-10 p m . 179 Atlantic Ave. 2 4 4 - 9 0 3 0 .
T U E S DAY
30
WEDNESDAY
24
l e s b i a n l e g a l issues. Talk by local attorney. Lesbian Resource Center, & : 3 0
pm, GAGV, 179 Atlantic Ave.
l e g a l a n d f i n a n c i a l issues seminar.
Local attorney, financial planner & insurance counselor discuss disabilty insurance, wills etc., for gays and lesbians
7 p m , Harro East. 4 0 0 Andrews St. Requested donation $15, to benefit Helping People with AIDS.
" C l a i m i n g i d e n t i t i e s . " Ari videotape
relating to gay/lesbian issues. 8 pm,
Pyramid Arts Center. Village Gate. 2 7 4
N. Goodman St. $ 2 members, $3
non members.
G A G V Gala Auction Committee
M e e H n g . 7 p m , 179 Atlantic Ave.
' * A I D S 1 0 1 . " Volunteer workshop at
AIDS Rochester, 2 0 University St. 6-9
p m . To register call Lynn. 2 3 2 - 3 5 8 0 .
WEDNESDAY
31
H a l l o w e e n . Blessed be all Seelie Witches and Radical Faeries!
THURSDAY
1
/'Confronting
Disease."
Art
videotape on gay and lesbian concems.
8 pm. Pyramid Arts Center, Village Gate.
2 7 4 N. Goodman St. $2 members. $3
non-members.
THURSDAY
F R I D A Y
25
A d a m a n d r h e E x p e r t s . Play about
the AIDS crisis, produced by National
Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)
8 p m , Oct. 2 5 - 2 7 ; 2 : 3 0 pm Oct. 2 8 .
Robert F F^nara Theater, Lyndon Baines
Johnson Building, Rochester Institute ot
Technology. $ 5 admission ( $ 3
students). Tickets available Oct. 15;
NTID
box
office
475-6254
(voice/TDD).
.*....
" O p e n i n g the Closet Door."
Workshop k>f professionais working with
lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Presented by Betsy Armes, CSW,
ACSW. and Scott E. Miller. CSW. 9
am-4 p m , Logan's Party House, 1420
Scottsville Rd. Registration deadline Oct.
2 2 . Call 2 4 4 - 9 8 2 0 .
S U N D A Y
people with AIDS or A R C or w h o are
H I V posttlve. AIDS Rochester. 2 0
Universtty Ave.. 7 : 3 0 p m . Second and
fourth Monday. 2 3 2 - 3 5 8 0 .
Gay
Women's
Alcohoiics
A n o n y m o u s , St. LukeVSt. Simon
Cyrene
Church,
17
S.
Fttzhugh St.. 8 p m . 2 3 2 - 6 7 2 0 .
Rochener Gay Men's Chorus,
Cavalry St. Andrews Church. 6 8
Peh\and St. at 9 5 A « r i l l A i « . . 7:30 p m .
235-2473.
Sexual Compulsivea Anonymous.
For those desiring their own personal
sexual sobriety. For time and place call
244-8640.
M o r e U s h t S u p p o r t G r o u p h r gay
and lesbian people and frienck, 1 2 : 3 0
p m , second and fourth Sundays.
Downtown Untted Presbyterian Church. ^'
121 N. Fitzhugh St. 3 2 5 - 4 0 0 0 .
381-0739.
Q u e e r N a t i o n . Second and fourth
Thursdays, 6 p m . GACV. 179 Atlantic
AMe.
G A G V H o t l i n e . Thursdays. 8-11 p m .
Gays. Lesbians. Bisexuals and friends, U.
o l R. 2 7 5 8 3 4 1 (x5-8341).
Metropolitan Community Church,
2 4 3 Rosedale St., 6 p.m. 271-8478.
G a y M e n ' s C o o k i n g Groups 7 : 3 0
pm. Fourth Sunday 2 4 4 - 8 6 4 0 .
Rochester B i s e x u a l W o m e n ' s N e t w o r k nr>eeting and poHuck supper. 6 : 3 0
pm. Second Sunday- Location, info: .
244-7159.
M e n ' s G r o u p meeting, Gay Alliance.
8 p m . First a n d third Sunday.
244-8640.
M O N D A Y
Rochester Lesbian Action Coalit i o n , Gay Alliance lounge, 713 Monroe
Ave.. 7 pm. Third Monday. Tanya,
256-1202.
F r i e n d s S u p p o r t G r o u p . sponsored
by AIDS Rochester Inc. kfr friends df
THURSDAY
E D G E (Educatfaig t h e D i s a b l e d I n
a G a y E n v i r o n m e n t ) , Second and
fourth Thursdays For time arxl place call
D i 9 B k y / i n « e 9 9 M ) i v St. L u k e V S t .
Simon Cyrer>e Church. 17 S. Fttzhugh
St., 5 p.m. 3 2 8 9 7 5 8 .
Lesbian a n d Gay Youth of
Rochester ( L G Y R ) . Group for people
16-21, meets Sundays 3-6 pm, G ^ H V .
179 Atlantic An/e. 2 4 4 - 8 6 4 0 .
G L B F A . Gays. Lesbians. Bisexuals and
friends of U. of Rochester, Sundays, 7 : 3 0
pm, Morey 4 0 2 .
P o s i t i v e l y Sober. 7 : 3 0 p m . For location call 4 2 3 - 0 6 9 0 , 3 2 8 - 2 2 2 0 (days)
or 442-8134 (evenings).
Rochester Lesbian and Gay
P b l M c a l C a u c u s . Every second Monday, 7 pm. Gay Alliance, 179 Atlantic
Ave. 2 4 4 - 8 6 4 0 .
Support g r o u p for parents a n d
friends of Jewish lesbians a n d
gays. First Mondays. For time and kxafion call Michele Ruda at Jewish Family
Service. 461-0110. or Elaine Elkins,
244-4837.
T U E S D A Y
Rc»chester R a n g e r s social club,
business meeting, 8 p m . Second
Tuesday.
Lesbian p a f e n t i n g groups for current
and
prospective
mothers.
3 8 5 - 4 4 9 6 . Meetings at GAGV, 179
Atlantic Awe., begin Sept. 5. Every fourth
Wednesday.
G a y A l c o h o i i c s A n o n y m o u s , closed. St. L u k e V S t . S i m o n Cyrene
Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.. 8 : 3 0 p.m.
2326720.
Rochester Historical
Bowling
S o c i e t y , Clover Lanes. 2 7 5 0 Monroe
Ave.. 8 : 3 0 p m . 6 5 4 - 6 4 6 1 .
Men's Writing G i o u p (Gay UMtes).
8 p m . Gay Alliance, first and third
Thursdays. For more informatfon call
2 4 4 - 8 6 4 0 and leave a message for Jeff
Lehigh, or wrtte to Cay Writes, care df
GAGV. 179 Atlantic Aye.. Rochester N Y
146071255.
SATURDAY
G a y A l c o h o l i c s A n o n y m o u s 8 pm.
Genesee Hospital, 2 2 4 Alexander St.
Gay/Lesbian
Al-Anon,
First
Unitarian Church. 2 2 0 S. Winton Rd.,
7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
G a y A l c o h o l i c s A n o n y m o u s , First
Unitarian Church. 2 2 0 S. Winton Rd..
7 pm.
R o c l i e s t e r R a m s B a r N i g l i t . Every
third Saturday. Bachelor Forum. 8 pm-2
am. 2 7 1 - 6 9 3 0 .
L e s b i a n W r i t e r s G r o u p . 4 p m , every
third Saturday. GAGV. 179 AHantic Ave.
A f f i r m a t i o n , gay/lesbian Mormons.
544-0043.
Saturday N i g h t Socials. G ^ Alliance
Communtty Center, 179 Atlantk Ave. 8
Rocliester Women's C o m m u n i t y
C h o r u s , rehearsals. Pinnacle Place,
919 S. Clinton Ave.. 6 : 3 0 - 8 : 3 0 p.m.
Gay Alliance board of directors
meeting. Gay AUiance, 7 p m . Second
Wednesday. 2 4 4 - 8 6 4 0 .
M e n d i n g H e a r t s , AIDS bereavement
suppori group. 7 : 3 0 p m . Our Lady of
Victory Church. 2 1 0 Pleasant St.
6 7 V 3 7 7 7 or 2 4 g - 3 7 8 0 .
p m - m i d n i g h t , Septeniber t h r o u g h May.
Die Friends of Tim Mains present a special concert featuring
Rbmanovsb&PhilliD
NTID E>epartment of Performing Arts p r e s e n t s :
N,
with Special Guest
Adam a n d the Experts
a n e w p l a y a b o u t AIDS
X
Leah Zicari
•^^•-
Written by Victor Bumbalo
Directed by James B. Graves
m
Open Arms Metropolitan Community
Church opening Church setvice
Manhattan Sq. Park I ;30 pm
RLAC Picnic Ellison Park 2-5pm
Romanovsky & Phillips and Leah
Zicari Nazareth Arts Center, Spm
liQIgEM^'OCIOlMP^MIK:' -" ''GAGV "Explore a New Worid"
Fundraiser at Whispers 9pm to 2am
f.
October 25-27, 1990
8p.mOctober 28, 1990
2:30 p.m.
Robert F. P a n a r a Theatre
$ 3 for s t u d e n t s , $ 5 for all o t h e r s
/
'£ I
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Lyndon Baines Johnson Building
Post Office Box 9687
Ftochester. New York 14623-0887
Natkxial TechnteaJ ti^sf^ie fcx IhB Deal Q coltege of Rochester Instftute of Technology
Virginia Appuzo, former NGLTF Exec.
Dir. speaks on The Power of
Visibility" - Lower Strong Auditorium
8pm, sponsored by UR GLBFA
lifestyle and » " 2 ^ ' ^ « v e H as elucidate.
S h t . to entertain « ^ ^ ^ e c o r d s Pulse
V
///
Rochestsr Instttute of Tschnology
Coming Out SeminarPFLAG
UR Interfaith Chapel 7:30pm
National Coming Out Day (I
Varied activities by many groups
All NTID performing a r t s a n d guest artist productions
are for b o t h deaf a n d hearing audiences.
This Material wmm produecd through an mffetmeni betwweu
v
g.-s*«
NTID Box Oflace op>en weekdays 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
beginning October 15. 1990. For reservations
or more Information call the NTID Box OfBce
4 7 5 - 6 2 5 4 (voice/it>D).
Rochester hwtltate of T c c h n o l o ^ and tbe U. S. Depsftsietit oT Btfocatloii.
V
13
Presbyterians f o r Lesbian a n d G a y
C o n c e r n s , 6 : 3 0 p m . First Thursday.
For locatfon call Rat. 2 4 4 - 8 9 6 3 .
I ^ r e n t s a n d F r i e n d s of Lesbians
a n d Gays» St. LukeVSt. SinKK) Cyrene
Church, 17 S Fitzhugh St.. 2 : 3 0 p m .
Last Sunday. 8 6 5 - 0 1 2 0 .
Gay
Men's
Alcoholics
A n o n y m o u s , St. Luke*s-St. Simon
Cyrene Church, 17 S Fitzhugh St.,
8:30 p m . 2 3 2 - 6 7 2 0 .
THE EMPTY CLOSET
L e s b i a n R e s o u r c e C e n i e i ; Gay
Alliance. 7 : 3 0 p m . Fburth or lait
WHnesdavs. 6 7 1 - 3 2 9 4 or 2 4 4 - 8 6 4 0 .
O u t a n d A b o u t Scnioffs GtotupL
Various activtties Brita. 6 4 7 - 9 1 4 1 .
G a y A k o h o t t c s AnonynMNM. 7 pm.
Unttarian Church. 2 2 0 Winlon Rd.
Join Us Sunday Night, October 7 t h
Nazareth Arts Center, 8:00 pm
tickets: $ 15 a piece or $25 for two. Benefactor prices also available
Dont miss this one; call 232-6825 to reserve your tickets for the show.
Uof fTs Gl-BFA hosts a receptk^n for
their Lambda Alunmi
John Washtxirn Library of CHN hosts
a Safer Sex Workshop 7:30pm
enrollment Is Nmited; pre-register t>y
calling 244-9000
Ck>sing church service
3:30 pm St. Lukes / St Simon Cyrene
A service of celebration
Dignity / Integrity
M
THE EMPTY CLOSET
Ociobci; 1990
October, 1990
Making
t h e Scene
THE EMPTY CLOSET
15
m. the road
to the Women's
Motorcycle Festival
In August, 237 women motorcyclists spent
four days traveling 25,460 miles on group
rides, a 156-b4ke, 18-mile parade route and
a competitive team event entitled "The RoUing IWvia Dice Run,'' during the Women's
Motorcycle Festival in thc Alleghany
Mountains.
Countless other miles were accrued by
women w h o chose to create their own individualized routes from the suggestions in
their program books or as they competed in
thc field e\'ents at the Five Ring Riding Circus.
These thousands of miles were in addition to
the many miles women traveled to and from
the festival site, as they came from 19 different
states, two Canadian provinces and Australia.
Women won 25 trophies in 15 different
categories. Eight workshops were presemed
and the gathering enjoyed performances by
Alix Dobkin, Leah Zicari. and the Ladies
Against Women C^omedy troupe.
Organizers Gin Shear and Sue Slate see
motorcycles as vehicles thai allow women to
have fun and to see their world in ways that
arc both challenging and memorable. The>'
hope that an event such as this wil! show
women that not only can they ride and fix
moiorc\cles. they can do anything.
Dining for
Dollars V:
2,000 revelers converge
o n MidtOTvn
By Lily Rivers
Dining for Dollars V blasted off on schedule
on Sept. 15. According to chair Bob Sperr,
annind S5(>,(KK)gn>ss had come in as this issue
of the fmpfy C/osef went to press. "About 19
dinnen» still have to repon in," Sperr said, "and
judging fn>m last year checks will keep coming in the rest of this month. Also, the giant
canvasses created by John Haldoupis are going to be sold, whicti will bring in still more."
About 95 dinner* preceded the event at Midtown Plaza, which was attended by a crowd
Sperr estimated at around 2(MH) people. "I
think it was a very well-attended and successful event," he said. "Thanks to everyone
listed in the pn)gram—oiganizing staff, Joe Bonvissuto from Edwards,
who coordinated the desserts from restaurants
and food iserviccs all over town, and John
Haldoupis. who did a wonderful job. When
he said he was going to d o something, it got
done. It was all great.*'
To this reporter's taste, thc highlights ofthe
evening were the champagne, the little
raspberry eclairs, and the hot and dynamic
LatirK> baiul, Quantito Mendez. TViple Exposure, playing rock standards, was also very
good, and when I left at 1:30 a.m., hundreds
of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and straights were
stilt having what appeared lo be a bibulous
Abarcs Ihtadjag to tbcmttsic ofQustntHaMeodcat, Above l^ft: SiteBhtckJstck tabics
i a tbe<:a9iao.
P b o t a s b y T.L. Cvctsut
lime.
Fabrics & Findings
M i k e ' s State Street Pub
& Ashley St. John
FABRIC WAREHOUSE
R
N
A CALVALCADE OF STARS including
A TREASURE-PACKED WAREHOUSE OF
FASHION FABRICS AT CLOSE-OUT PRICES
Morgan - Miss U . S ^ . , Miss Uf^state New York
Aggy Dune - Afiss RLAJk., • Jamie Blue - Miss Empnre State
Maria del Rey - Miss Sweet Hart • Nicki DuPrue - Miss Chubby Rochester
C y b i t ' Miss Gettesee Vattey • Onyix • Kim Sierria
Chirstie • Cftattttett • and matty more!
Remnanis • Piece Goods • Mill ends • Decorator Fabrics • Foam
Custom Made Upholstery • Drapery • Slipcovers
Shop at Home • Free Decorator Service
ROCHESTER
SO Anderson Ave. 461-2820
Corner N. Goodiiuui_
Show Dates: October 20th
October 27th (Costume Contest $50.00 prize)
November Srd
3 Big Shows each Night! 9 pm, 11 pm & 12:30 am
N O ADMISSION CHARGE
Mike's State Street Pub • 139 State St. • 546-1314
The Party Bar with the Private Ctub Atmosj^here
After 8 pm please use rear entrance.
« = 4$$$4itm%wnwn»t^
I
' • < * , .
lIHiOH
I
N
G
ALARMS
O
T
E
C
T
i
O
N
BUdCKPORT
PLUS
INC.
15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
TOTAL SECURITY FOR ALL
244-0360
Personal Service By
Gary J . McLean
80 Clinton St. 637-9187
(On ibe Canal)
Enjoy O u r Patio
For Diiung
A n d co*cktails
BACHELOR
Dinner Monday-Thursday 5-10 pm
Friday & Saturday 5-11 p,a
Open Stmday 4-11 pm. Light menu UftlH 6 pm
Entertainment on Saturday nights.
40 South Union Street
#«••«••••»•••••«*••<
Number One
bl Rocbester
Since ie73!
Home of the Rochesier Rams
Bar Night 3fd Saturday
every month!
Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30-2 pm
i.'^;aiJk«J'^ur«Jii.*««Jk< • * • • • m « » * *
24 HOUR SERVICE
w
A
present
A HALLOWEEN BLOWOUT
FREE ESTIMATES
670 University Ave
271-6930
WEEKLY SPECIALS!
MONDAY:
Monday Night at the Movies ^
THURSDAY:
8:30 & 11 pm
^^ Night—Beer, Wine; Schnapps!
TWO for TUESDAY
SATURDAYS
10 to 2, Beer & Liquor Only
2 for 1 — 3 to 9
WIOMISDAY:
^. ^ •*?!P**^
I
.^Bjoosbc:§it.gCCffl
>nm»«ta.^«M
16
THE EMPTY CLOSET
October, 1990
Columnists
Groviring u p :
(I've l o s t ) t h a t l o v i n g feeling
By Erie B e l l m a n
i once concluded a City Newspaper personal ad with "I don't carc ifyou arc short or
tall, blue collar or a hairdrcssen but you must
be a l>enKKntt;* because I believed I could face
anything across the pillow in the moming except a Republican. I needed then to believe that
in forging a rclationship values should weigh
more than sex. My jaunty tone notwithstanding, I was desperate when I w n n e that ad,
willing to consider ;in>' package if the contents
would pn)ve worthy. I was convinced identifying needs, holding fast to liberal ideals, was
critical and I was unwilling to shelve those
values as 1 sought companionship.
Initially a hetero phenomenon (and an
unsettling one—the first ads in Screw
magazine were shocking) personal ads werc
sanitized by the time they appearcd in smaller
cities. Thc idea tk hold; by then the trend
had been adopted by gays. 1 liked that on
se\*eral counts. There is a societal nearvalidation to simply being in print. There it is:
black and white, sanctioned in ways that contrast, one hopes, with the furtiveness of
scrawled bathn>om graffiti.
This modern mechanism, sensible for busy
times, is practical and only temporarily
unromantic. and divides into four distinct
segmenis: writing the ad. re-ading responses,
making contact, and the rendezvous. Each activity requires different attitudes and talents
uctivatingdifferent feelings: separate loops of
a roller coaster ride.
Writing is a challenge; one can be clever,
sincere, subtly pnjvocative. You may list every
hobby, skill or attribute, or adopt instead a
minimalist posture, and strive to create a blank
invitation to which all are welcome.
Baby Jane opts for generic: "GWM seeks
same." rea.s(ming that a tight-mesh net will
snag many tish. Besides being .smart, Jane is
'.irniimcnvM Vshc SAVCS <>\d ^rcctin^ C3IT<1S> anti
loves getting mail. I mail her clippings from
the Nztionai Enquirer or the Star, especially
ghastly un-rctouched color close-ups of Lucille
Ball just before the end when Lucy was sealed
in pancake, lipstick and mascara—for all we
could tell already dead (the Ettquiter does quite
a job on Liz. too. but it's Lucy Jane loves).
Jane shudders when I suggest listing political
affiliations or dietary peculiarities in my ad.
and snaps, "tt doesn't matier if they like Rita
Hayworth, have been to Paris or eat worms!
What matters is whether they read and lick
stamps!" Jane is right; a generic ad gets thc action. Everyone understands "GWM seeks
same." She received a letter written on half a
napkin in green crayon once and didn't seem
upset. She filed it under maytye-minus.
However when I have rcad thrce responses in
a niw indicating the potential suitor "likes
quiet times together, walks on the beach and
listening to Hall and Oats. . ." I growl and reinvent confetti.
Jane has backlash fits of bizarre creativity
and once placed an ad. with my encouragement, in another now defiinci city weekly that
permitted racier, more explicit language:
"Bn>ken TV., needs knobs adjusted, antenna
straightened." We had ti> pay a modent fee for
each letter collected and as the toll mounted
we lost enthusiasm for our prank, unsure if our
disinterest was because of cost or from reading
the truly eerie responses fn>m very strange
men.
At any rate the payoff is the mail slot clink.
Cietting mail is the most satisfying aspect of
the venture, a quick fix for unresolved desires.
Reaching for the manila envelope 1 think
"Who wants to be my Valentine?" And how
many?
My politically focused ad drew more replies
than Jane pniphesied: two photo copies of
voter registration cards and several writers
w h o ignored the issue, including one exuberant man •wht> wrote, "Hev man, w^ho
$lO/ANTYOm
^ © 1 9 9 0 REAL PEOPLE. LTD. • 95c PER MIN. • $2.00 THE 1ST MIN. • YOU MUST BE 18 OR OLDER i ^
m
votes? I don't, but I sure want to meet you*"
Heanwarming, yes» but why, I wondered? And
why, too, I wondered as I read my mail did
these insistently cheerful, balanced and active
men elect to answer ads? They seemed so complete in their hobbies and outlooks. They were
optimistic, healthy, independent, caring and
discreet to the man, and that was paragraph
one. Whatever did they need? I observed,
among other things, that there seemed to be
a contingent who polish an up-beat sales pitch,
and while they pay p o p lingo lip service to
needs and goals, they seem to have developed
an armadillo hide of denial; one can find no
point of contact, no anxiety or longing in their
letters. One realizes one is playing a game and
its rules arc being revealed in the process.
One is wise to employ a sorting/rating
sysiem. Jane does Yes-No-May be. 1 prcfer
1-High to S-Low with pluses and minuses, little check marks and smiley faces. N^pus points
for trying and demerits for i's dotted with
circles. My penchant for the odd undermines
my system: I'm a sucker for a hand-printed
letter—misspelled words, upper and lower
cases mixed, carefully adhering to a notepad's
blue lines. Responses will include a phone
number or an address, occasionally a post office box number POB's are daunting; one
speculates the writer is shrewd and has his own
screening system.
When meeting top qualifiers ("You've been
selected for one of thc following prizes. . .")
well-lit. public access locations arc preferred.
Restaurants work. It's a nice mid-day break,
too. One can talk about the service or menu
and toddle onward after an hour without
betraying more horror than a lousy meal
deserves. I was charmed by a man w h o suggested we meet at the polar bear cage at the
zoo. Kevin was darkly handsome, tattooed.
Alas he seemed to have two names; while he
signed his awkward note Kevin, he regularly
reterred to himself as Keith as we talked. The
mix of ztM>. tattoos, and multiple personalities
induced light-headed whiplash, a giddiness
more ominous than romantic. Kevin/Keith was
tempting and smiled a lot and said he'd phone.
He did not. I was relieved.
BUi Medleyf t h c t a d l R i g f t t c o u s B r o t h e r .
This raises a potent topic: men lie. One must
be prepared for married men who. at noon,
in smart suits, calmly explain the sadness of
a no longer fiillfilling domestic situation. One's
gratitude for answered prayeis turns sour; one
leams new rules, draws lines. In the process
I grow to understand what is reasonable in this
life and what is not.
Pressed by Jane, w h o senses my growing ambivalence. I answer her that what I testily want
(other than Bill Medley, the ra// R i ^ t e o u s
Brother) is a friend w h o will drive (which I
hate to do) and sargue. Jane fnjwns.
Some meetings are duds, some show only
promise. Basic realities remain: life cannot be
controlled. Some men seek a mirror image, all
they want is themselves. A few seek their antithesis, some want only to charm. And
precious few admire independence. The
troubling thing is that all parties concerned
have decided they want something they do not
have. Most ofus don't know how to go about
adding the missing ingredient in our particular
stew: the spice that will give it zing.
I don't think it's sex. I feel about sex the way
I feel about my closets full of clothes.
Sometimes I want to go to TJMax with a shopping bag full of clothes that I thought I wanted
when I bought them and just leave them there.
It has never crossed my mind to wonder it
Bill Medlev is a DemtK'rat.
Octobet; 1990
T H E EMPTY CLOSET
17
-K'^
P e r s o n of t h e m o n t h : Radclyffe Hall
By T h o m a s Krolak
She was called **Johti;* and had hair cut as
s h o n as a man's, wore tics, men's socks, broad
shoes, and smoking jackets. Shefeklike a man
in a woman's body.
But had ^ e been a man there would not
have been the classic novel of lesbian love, Tbe
WHI ofLottelitiess. A courageous book for its
tfanc its author was a paradox. She was the sexual rebel w h o believed strongly in "God and
Runiiy.'
Her o w n hunUy's instability drove her t o
find emotional anchots in the form of lovers.
Maiguerite Radclyfle Hall Qohn) was bora in
Bournemouth. England to rich parents on Aug.
12.1880. Before then her father, called 'Rat,"
had deserted his wife, Marie. TWo years later
she divorced him. His father's will forced him
to leave a trust fund for John. After he went
away to live a life of idleness she rarely saw
him. But John always felt she got her
rcsdessness and temper from Rat. Like him she
would have periods of depression.
Her rclationship with her mother was stormier. Marie had tried to abort John. She would
scream at and beat the girl, who reminded her
of Rat. As John's sexuality became apparent.
Marie found another reason for anger.
By thai time Marie had re-married. This
union would also be turbulent (marital discord
would be in all ofJohn's novels). Her $tcp£uher
neglected John and stole from her trust fund.
When 21 she was rescued by her grandfather's estate, which enabled her to move
away. As a shy, sickly child she had written
poems. In 1906 her first book of poetry, TWixt
fiarch and Stais. was published, at herexpetise.
its verses spoke of thwarted desire, an omen
of her prose. Four other books of poems
followed in the next nine years.
The incentive for some of this writing was
John's fiist intense love. In 1907 she met Mabel
Batten, aged 50, called "Ladye." Her
aristocratic beauty charmed John. In her poem
Ode to Sstppho her desire for Ladye was implied. In The Scar John wrote of pride in her
lesbianism. Ladye dubbed her "John," pertuq^s
after a Hall ancestor whom the poet resembled. She converted to the Catholicism of Ladye
and was influenced by her to be conservative.
She initially saw Ladye as a mother figure, but
Mabel was indulgent and often ill. Taking care
of Ladye made John feel that her creativity was
b c i t ^ stifled.
J o h n was ripe for a change by 191$ when
she met Ladye's cousin, Uiu Itoubridge. Una,
28, was caught in a failed marriage. Their
rcmiance caused guilt feelings forJohn. She still
lived with Ladye and felt some affection for
her. In May 1916 John returned home after
spending a night with Una. An aigumem began
with Ladye who accused John of abandoning
her. That eventng Ladye had a stroke and died
days later. John felt ic^>onsiblc for her death.
That year John began sjpcakktg to her exlover through a medium. Una joined these
seances, which were frequent for at least two
years. Soon, the couple became involved with
the Society for Psychic Research (SPR). They
wrote a paper about their experiences with the
medium which John read to the society.
While in the SPR. Una sei^u^ated from her
husband, who knew of her love for John. Convinced that John was using the SPR to have an
evil influence over his wife, he persuaded
another member to accuse John of immorality because of Ladye. The resulting slander suit
was won by John in 1920.
Although during the trial John's private life
was not discussed, the meaningof "immoral"
was apparent. The episode prodded her into
being more honest about her sexuality. She
masculinized her appearance and acquired
morc lesbian friends. She took the role of Una's
husband. The>' regarded themselves as married on the day in 1922 when John's periods
stopped. But the memory of Ladye would remain so strong with John that she would
dedicate her novels to "Our Three Selves"
(herself, Ladye and Una).
Her interest in clairvoyance was less intense
after she began writing fiction. John resigned
from SPR's council in 1924, when her first two
novels. The FOtge, and The Uttlit Lamp, were
published. They sold well, and got good
reviews. This success continued in 1925 with
A Satutxlsty Life. It and Lamp had brilliant
heroines who were forced into wasted lives.
These stories, according to a biographer,
Michael Bakei; reflect John's amNtion clashing
with her guilt about Ladye. The spiritual element in Life is carried further in Adam *s Breed
(1926). A very successful novel, it ^ron l^R^o
literary awards.
Now at the zenith of her career. John felt
confident enough to write about lesbianism.
Only l a n ^ had touched upon the subjea. S i e
had written a short story. Miss Ogilvy Fittds
Herself. It expressed her feelings of being a
social outcast due to her sexuality and her yearning to be male. Soon she b e ^ m t o work on
a new novel, named by Una TTie WsU o f
LtmeliBess. Its main character is modeled
partly after Ogilvy.
Wanting this work to rcflect her belief that
lesbianism is inborn, she coaxed the sexologist, Havelock Ellis, imo writing a
foreword. Building on chaiacters from
previous novels and her friendships, she wove
a plot around Stephen Gordon, a lesbian w h o
has several love affairs. Steffen is not based
entirely on John. But like her she feels like a
misfit, and acts like a husband to her lover
Viewed from our perspective the story is dated
and pessimistic. Stephen begs God to give lesbians "the right to our existence!" She is a martyr, most other gays and lesbians in the book
are tragic. But Well dieered from other British
novels in that it did not depict lesbianism as
iust an adolescent phase.
When it was published in July 1928, the
book was praised by most critics while they
disliked its plea for lesbians. But in August the
editor of the Sunday Exptess denounced Well
as a threat to morals and demanded that it be
banned. The publisher defended Xf^ll to the
paper, while telling the government that he
would drop it if necessary. That month he
stopped printing it after being threatened with
an obscenity chaige. But the type molds were
sent to Paris wherc publication of VPU/ continued. From there, many copies werc smiqtgled into Britain. After some were seized the
publisher and London bookseller were tried
in November.
Meanwhile John received tons of fan mail
about Vf^ll. But a tnajor disa{^>ointment was
the lack of support from other writers. An exception was E. M. Forster who circulatcdapetition for her But John was angry when she saw
that his letter was a protest ^^ainst the ban and
said nothing about the book's greatness. He.
Viiginia Woolf and other prominent people
(25 of them writers) agreed to testify for the
defense.
John too, v ^ u l d have spoken in court but
was advised not to. Seething in frustiation she
saw the judge bar all but one ofthe volunteers
from testifying. The defendants weie fined a n d
the verdict was upheld o n appeal.
The contfoversy had caused sales of WHf t o
soar. The same was true in the U.S. where it
had been released that October In February,
the publisher was tried in New York, but t h e
conviction was overturned.
These battles achieved John's goal of bringing lesbianism beforc the public. The mail
favoring her stand kept potuing in, but some
lesbians thought Stephen's main affair in WtU
was too much like a traditional marriage Jtjhn
had very mainstream views about the fsunily.
But she and Una werc now intolerant of any
lesbians w h o appeared to be closeted. Feeling
a sharp sense of betrayal from friends w h o had
not stood by them, they left London to live in
thc country.
Beforc then. John was offended by a car^xxi
that showed her nailed to a cross. It inspired
her to write her next novel. The Master of the
House (1932). It was about her concerns with
martyrdom and compassion. While writing it
she had mysterious pains and red marks in her
palms. The book failed, as did her next two.
Her private life also began to decline. The
time spent writing Master had come between
her and Una. whose health weakened. In 1934
Una hired a nurse, Evgenia Souline. She was
32. Russian, and ignited a hot passion in John.
From then on. Evgenia exerted a hold over
John's emotions and money. Childlike, she
aroused John's protective instincts but knew
how to manipulate her. Strangely. John had
pleached lesbian fidelity.
Una was deeply h u n but suyed loyal. She
and John spent much time in Itsdy wherc they
became ardent supporters of Mussolini. In
1939 John blamed Jews for the war that drove
them back to England. But she was disturbed
by reports of the Holocaust.
Soon she was fighting her own war against
a series of diseases that ended in cancer. She
endured it bnn^ely. fedii^ that suffering brings
inner peace She died in October 1943 and was
buried in Ladye's crypt in London.
Una was to be interred with them but rests
in Florence where she died in 1963- Due to
her persuasion, VftU was published in Britain
in 1949 without trouble.
Quote from John: "For me to sleep with a
m a n . . .would be an outrage against nature."
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18
THE EMPTY CLOSET
October, 1990
Bi-Lines: in which Betty Barcode outs herself
B y C y n t h i a Van N e s s
It sure is h a r d t o retire s u c h a m e m o r a b l e
p s e u d o n y m , b u t after h e a r i n g Michelangelo
Signorile s p e a k i n j u t i e , I pn>mised m y nM>mm a t e (hi, A n n ) that I w o u l d publish m y n e x t
Bi-Lines u n d e r m y o w n n a m e . O m s i d e r it
done.
W h e n I wn>te t h e inaugural Bi-Lines t w o
yeare a g ^ I w a s a chickensh*t about signing m y
o w n n a m e b e c a u s e t h e E m p t y Clt>set c o m e s
t o t h e library w h e r e I w o r k , a n d (horn>rN) m y
co-workcris m i g h t read it. Ttnlay, my a t t i t u d e
has evi>lved tt» t h e p o i m w h e r e I h o p e my c o workers are reading it, becattse it's a fine p a p e r
a n d m a y b e they'll l e a m s o m e t h i n g . And I wish
my gay a n d (especially) lesbian c o - w o r k e r s
w o u t d c o m e o u t t o m c . I k n o w wh€> y o u a r e
anyway, a n d MI d o m o s t «>f o u r non-gay c o w o r k e r s . >%)ur closets have b i g w i n d o w s . No,
I'm np r e t e n d i n g . OK? Next t i m e you see m e in t h e
hall, menticm that y o u read this c o l u m n .
So, hco" I a m , g o i n g o n public record as a
feminist, an artist, u writer, a vegetarian, a
registered lX'me d u c a t e d Caucasian, a natural blonde, u nailbiter, a s(K>n-to-tum-5<) year old, a w i m p at
heart, a n d a bisexual w o m a n . I h o p e y o u are
curiiius ahout my c o m i n g o u t pixxrcss, tWcause
Tm going t o use this c o l u m n t o talk a b o u t
outing in general a n d myself in panictilar I also
want to respond to Karen KirchofTs thoughthil
and challenging essay in la.st m o n t h ' s EC, "A
Feminist Opposes Outing." Karen deserves applause and appreciation f o r c o n t r i b u t i n g a
leminiKt perspective t m t h e issue, a perspective unheard in all t h e d e b a t e thus far
Why a m I c o m i n g o u t now> W h y d i d
Signorile have this effect o n me, w h e n Barbara
(irier, of Naiad Press, w h o s e c o m i n g o u l
speech I a t t e n d e d at t h e University o f
RtKhester in April, d i d not?
Part of my motivation c o m e s fn>m m y
awareness ol" t h e heterosexual privilege acc o r d e d m e because I a m in a m t m o g a m o u s
ix'laticmship with a m a n . J c a n . a n d d o , pass
xs straight, a n d it b o t h e r s m e . So I d o w h a t I
can to compensate. I express pnj-gay o p i n i o n s
at work, I c o m e o u t t o my su|>ervisor I a t t e n d
gay e \ c n t s regardless of w h e t h e r t h e straight
media will be p o i m i n u cameras at people, a n d
I stay involved in t h e sexual minorities c o m munity. Okay, s o I have several m e n in my
n>mamic history, a n d only o n e w o m a n , b u t
ifi can't publicly o w n that same-sex relationship, t h e n I a m p a r t of t h e problem a n d n o t
part o f t h e solution. My relationship w i t h h e r
may have e n d e d , b u t that dmy relationship w i t h t h e gay/lesbian c o m munity must e n d .
Signorile talked mostly about privilegtrs;
h o w gay elites p o s e as heterosexual t o pn>tect
their o w n privilege. He asked w h y low-paid,
b u m e d - o u t gay leaders pnrtect wealthy,
powerful celebrities, describing rich a n d
famous closet cases as o u r Uncle Ti>ms. I suddenly saw it as a class issue: wealth buys
privacy. Privac7 is hardly a right, as Kirchoff
reminds us w h e n s h e recounts recent gaybashings. For example, if you ever have t o apply for Nubsidi/ed. l o w - i n c o m e h o u s i n g , you
must a n s w e r s o m e appallingly invasive questicms. Ditto if you ever gWhy s h o u l d t h e rich a n d famous enjoy all
t h e benefits of gay liberation (exclusive clubs,
an easy supply o f would-be lovers, lots o f
liscretBonary i n c o m e for entertaining, etc.)
while risking nothing? Lots of H o l l y w o o d
celebrities marched o n Washington to s u p p o r t
women's repniductive freedom, but n a m e o n e
well-knpi (Goldberg) w h o participated
in t h e I9H7 March o n Washington for (iay &
Lesbian Rights, s o m e o n e w h o said. " I ' m gay,
too." When
w e come
knocking—
surprise—they're never, ever h o m e .
Yet I w o n d e r e d about t h e limits of claiming;
if t h e rules were different for bisexuals. So, I
.sttMKl u p d u r i n g t h e question a n d a n s w e r
period and askcxi Signorile something like this:
As a fairly o u t bisexual, can I claim an o u t lesbian if I've l e a m e d that she has a m a n in t h e
closet? What if I found o u t that city c o u n cilmember Tim Mains, w h o is a relatively
powerful out gay m a n , had a secret affair with
a w o m a n ? (Rest assured that this is purely
hypas a bisexual? Signorile m i s u n d e r s t o o d my
questitm, w h i c h w a s pn)bably pKirchoff makes a gcMKl point w h e n s h e
writes, " O u t i n g insists by its practice t>n t>wnxny, people." T h e t>nty pr*>b(em is. t h e r c is a
long feminist tradition of this. Think of Sapp h o , Virginia Woolf, Eleanor Roosevelt, a n d
all t h c iHher w o m e n w c claim as lesbian o r
bisexual henniKs. Are w e claiming, outing, o r
o w n i n g these wtmien? D o tfiese three tertns
all m e a n tfie same thing? W h e n feminists d o
it, is it always anti-patriarchal, a n d w h e n
Signorile d o e s it, is it, as Kirchoff implies,
always pn>-patriarchal? D o I sense a d o u b l e
standard?
This Ic^ds m e t o a n o t h e r motivation for
w r i t i n g u n d e r m y o w n name. I have
t h o r o u g h l y enjoyed reading all t h c recent gay
gossip about various celebrities. W h e n Ann
a n d I g o g n K c r y s h o p p i n g , a n d t h e tabloids
have a gay/Iesbtan/hisexual headline, w e |ust
love it. Sure, t h e National Enquirer is hardly
o n o u r side, b u t they're m a k i n g hom*osexuality as ordinary as a Liz 'I2kyU>r wedding. It would
f>e highly hypcK-ritical of me, by continuing t o
write u n d e r a pseudonym, t o deny anyone else
t h e pleasure of gossiping about m e . So,
w h i s p e r away, library workers!
AtKHher motivation was ego, pure a n d simple. T h o m a s (reller recently published a small,
hard-tt>-nnd bot>k titled Bisexuality: A Source
Book (Times Change Press, cl99<)). In it, h e
q u o t e d fnim my first Bi-Littes, w h i c h I w r o t e
xs Betty Barcode. I've m a d e it into an
a n t h o l o g y — a big event for an aspiring
w r i t e r — a n d i t ' s u n d e r a p s e u d o n y m . Anytme
can claim my wtirdsf
Careful readers will ntxe that in this column
I have " t i w n e d " my relationshtp with a wt>man
and I have " c l a i m e d " my previous writings,
I used these wt>rds deliberately a n d as a
feminist, t o demtinstrate that c m p o w e n n e n t
(to u s e t h e current jargon) can result from these
actitms. Yet K i a h o f f s denial, " W e will not b e
o w n e d , " rings in my ears.
Feminism itself can b e seen as a pnicess t)f
claiming, taking back w h a t ' s ours: ourbtKlies,
t>ur self-tespect, o u r a u t o n o m y . t>ur history,
o u r values, o u r b o n d s with o t h e r womtm, a n d
st) o n . Feminism can even be seen xs a glt>balscale territtirial dispute. For p e o p l e w h o won't
be o w n e d , w e sure dt) a lt)i t)f tiwning. In o u r
pursuit o f " h e r s t o r y " w e have claimed t h e
d e a d , wt)men like Sappho, Woolf, a n d
RtKJsevelt. w h t ) arc n o Itifjger a n i u n d tt)
discuss o u r assertions t)i'their hi )m()-or hisexuality. At !ea.Ht pn»p<>nentN of uutinj^ are usually
claiming tlic living, w h o arc p e r f e a l y capable
of giving their side of t h e story (but w h o will
also have t o deal w i t h any c o n s e q u e n c e s ,
unlike t h e deceased.)
K i a h o f f s best argument, because 1 a m living proof of it, is that w e m u s t n ' t insist that
everyone b e asforalong in thc cotnii^-out process as w c are. I W o years ago, I started as an
a n o n y m o u s writer in t h e E m p t y Closet. Last
year, I w a s an organizer a n d t h e c o - e m c e e of
Rochester's fiist Pride March, a n d today 1 write
from m y tiwn identity. Perhaps 1 s h o u l d
rcmcmfKrr this w i s d o m w h e n e v e r I get
frustrated w i t h my timid co-workers.
FeeUng f r e e :
as m e n !
By Timothy Schapp
For over four years I have b e e n privileged
t o work w i t h a g r o u p of m e n w h o have taught
m e a great deal. During o u r journey t o g e t h e r
I have l e a m e d tt) love m e n even m o r e a n d appreciate t h c kind of cltiseness m e n can have.
O n e of t h e gniup's memf>ers o n occasion
w o u l d look at m e a n d say, "You've got that
smile," indicating t h c look I'd get witnessing
m e n supptirting a n d fx:>ing thcie ft>r each other.
And though this gn>up is a gay m e n ' s s u p p o r t
gn>up, I c a m e t o realize tn'er t h c years that
m u c h of w h a t I was witnessing w e r e issues of
gender, ntH sexual orientation. I c^amc tt> realize
that a latge part o f o u r jtHimey together involve d m e n .supporting, c o n f n m t i n g . disclosing,
feeling, etc., with tithcr m e n . I realized even
mt)itf that it is in t h e ct)ntext t)f o u r g e n d e r xs
male that w c try a n d ftirmulate o u r identity
as gay. H o w d o m e n feel and share their feelings? H o w iio m e n " d o " tntimacy a n d all its
facets?
On t h c heels of realizing mtire about t h e
gender comp*;ment t)f tiur Ufe as gay m e n , I fortunately stumbled u p o n Bill Mtiyers' interview
t)f Rt)bert Biy in a PBS broadcast last January.
Titled "A (Jalhering of Men," this interview
further stimulated m y considerations t)f
gender in gay life. Ctinsidering my o w n gender
p n i g r a m m i n g as ! grew up. I r e m e m b e r "girl
adjectives ' as being " w a r m . lt)ving. nurturing, caring, gentle.'' etc., and girls xs being exsy
rt) talk to. O n t h e o t h e r hand, my p r o g r a m m ing had * 'boy adjectives" such xs "competitive,
stronj*. in contn*!. tough, aggressive ' i-tc . anti
hoys not hein^soea?sy t o talk lo. So what h a p -
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9S/MIN4ITE
^0
O c t o b e r , 1990
pens when you put two of these "boys" in a
committed relationship? As I listened to BIy's
comments I could not help but think of my
own gender issues and how infrequently I
think about them.
A poet and teacher, Biy invites men to join
him in what he calls * 'a descent into thc soul.''
What are men feeling? What do men want? According to Biy, what emerges is not so much
a clear set of answers but a flotxl of longsuppressed emotion. As gay males, which of
us is not familiar with the themes of longsuppressed emotion?
What do we find when we |oumey past our
tough male exteriors into our own emotional
underworld? Probably we find a place where
we stockpile everything from wild joy to
furious rage to d e ^ sadness. And while the
therapy profession has struggled for years to
direct men to delve into their inner worid, men
can still be immobilized by the pull ofthe collective male opinion.
Ely feels that men have become so isolated
firom each other, and from the mythology that
guided men for centuries, that a deep feeling
of inadequacy has become "thc primary experience ofbeing male in America today.' * And
so men Uke Biy, along with Jungian
psychologist James Hillman, storyteller/
philosopher Michael Meade and others are encouraging men to fill their emotional
voids.
Biy and others in thc rnen*s movement have
taken on a task that has challenged generations
of pyschotherapists, namely, getting men "in
couch" with their feelings. Men have established a notorious repuution for being reluctant
participants in therapy. Statistically, women
utilize thc benefits of psychotherapy far more
than men. St) where do we go to get help for
our own emotional integration?
Thc m e n s movement has taken a different
tack from therapy to help men rediscover their
emotional lives, by returning to what Robert
Biy calls "the original therapy"— using myth,
poetry, music and dance to awaken men frt>m
their emotional slumber. A participant at one
of Biy's weekend gatherings for men once said,
"I had never felt myself as especially male. I
remember walking into my first group and
thinking, 'everybody here knows how to do
it and I'm just faking. "
1 confess a personal fascination with the
men's mtnemcnt. But even more I claim a pcrst)nal interest in men. And therefore I realize
that an important part t>f my own journey with
men necessitates gender introspection. I
believe strongly that this is also an essential
undertaking for thc gay male community. 1
think that it is impt>rtant for us all to undet^
tand t)ur feelings for men.
If we aren't supposed to cry or show
"weakness," how d o wc deal with pain or
vulnerability? What dt>es it mean to us if our
mate makes mt)re mone\* than we dt)' How
much can we trust a man — or ourselves? How
well d o we know the language ofour hearts,
and is it alright for us to speak that language?
Do I feel connected with my male-self and
thereafter with my male friends, mate, aiidgay
community? These and many more questions
thrive within us. Our joumey to find thc
answets may take many forms. 1 encourage you
to find your^. I'm looking for mine.
AIDS U p d a t e :
are you?
By Jeff Kost
October is "AIDS Awareness Momh." All
across the country, events are scheduled, agencies arc gearing up, and educators are grasping this opporttmity to bring HIV education
and its messages to millions of Americans.
The messages are many HlV/AlDS is no
longer hopeless. Know your o w n HIV status
and the status of your partner(s). Learn riskreducing methods ifyou are engaging in risky
behaviors. Support agencies which are involved in medical treatment or research, support,
andcducatitm. lO/unreer.'And many more. . .
Five major cities will be participating in a
natitmal display of the NAMES Projea AIDS
Memorial Quilt, from O a . 6 - 8. In Atlanta,
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and
Washington, D.C, memorial panels will be
simultaneously unfolded once again in a
gracious tribute to those we have lost to AIDS.
The tribute is called "Common Threads: An
Uncommt)n Response."
"The Quilt is a symbol of the 'common
threads' that bind us in the fight against AIDS
and strengthen us against the parallel
epidemics of ignorance and hopelessness. Thc
Quilt is also an example of the 'uncommon
respt>nsc' t>f people across America to the uncommon challenges of AIDS."
A Volunteer Orientation Workshop will be
held in conjunctitin with "AIDS 101" at AIDS
Rochester on Oct. 30, from six to nine p.m.
Volunteer t)pportunities will be presented and
discussed for all xspects ofthe agency by Lynne
Hamiltt)n. vt)lunteer ct>ordinator HIV/AIDS
educatit)n, transmissit>n, prevention and riskreduction will be uught by Georgia Lcmcr,
health education ctiordinator. Call Lynne at
232-35HO tt) register.
A safe-sex wt>rkshop will be hosted b>' Community Health Network's John Washburn
Library and S.P.I R.I T. group on Oct. 12, at
7:30 p.m., with Tim Lunccford, assisted by
Craig Nenneau. There will be a limited number
of nu'n accepted for this workshop, it promises
to be "electrifying, sexual, and cducatit)nal"
Make ytjur reser\'atit)n with Sidney t)rjt)hanna at CHN by calling 244 9(HK).
AIDS Rt)chester will ht)st The Masquerade
Ball tt) benefit AIDS RtKhester, Inc. on Oct. 27,
UC0«SB) MORTGAGE BANK^ • NYS BANKING DB>ARTUENT
exc
mor
1200 A. SCOTTSVILLE RD.
ROCHESTER. NY 14624
LOANOFRCER
HOME: (716) 302-8664
PAOER:(7m 4644646
C71Q 266-7666
FAX:(7iq31fr«166
F YOU ARE HIV POSITIVE
DON'T GET AIDS
GET MEDICAL CARE
at Ham) East Theatnr, 155 Chestnut Street. The
evening will feature a DJ, dancing, desserts,
coffee, and apple cider A cash bar will be
available. Thc place to be seen this night will
be thc Harn> East Theatre* Show your support
for AIDS Rochester. Tickets are available at
AIDS Rochester, Parkleigh, Village Green, and
Wild Seeds Book Store for S25 per person. Call
232-3580 for more information. Tickets will
also be available at thc dtx>r
"In thc Face of AIDS" is thc name of an exhibition scheduled to open on Nov. 7 at the
Uptown Gallery at Ja2a±)erry*s, 50 East Avenue.
The exhibit will include art expressing many
facets and reaaions amidst thc AIDS crisis.
Susan Plunkett, owner, and David Kwasigroh,
curator, hope to bring forward some of thc
realities and responses necessary to confront
thc disease. Artists, pcrforrpers, and musicians
interested in participating should c o n u c t
David at 235-6444. The exhibit is scheduled
through mid-December.
Jeff Kost is Ditector of Public Relations and
De\'elopment for AIDS Rochester, the
designattxl Community Service Prt>gram for
Monroe andsexen counties. Ifyou bave informatitm to contribute to this report, please contact him at AIDS Rochester
AIDS e x p e r t s :
blood heating
doesn't i¥ork
Hyperthermia, thc heating of blotxl in an
attempt to kill the AIDS virus, is not effeaive,
acct)rding to Dr Anthony Fauci ofthe National
Institute t)f Allergies and Infeaious Diseases.
In faa, Fauci said, a panel of govemment
AIDS experts has determined that thc process
may aaually increase the activity ofthe virus,
making thc disease worse.
Dr. Kenneth Alonso of Atlanta used the process six mt)nths ;^(o t)n a man with Kapt)si's
sarct>ma, which he claimed was cured by
hyperthermia. The proctfss was thtm used on
two others, one of whom died. The medical
investigators said that they doubted that the
man claiming tt) be cured t)f Kaposi's ever had
thc skin disexse in the first place. They noted
that both survivors of the treatment are still
HIV positive and have suppressed immune
systems.
Alonso saitl thai he v^oulU continue his
research into the controversial process,
pt>ssihly in Latin America or EuropeDavid Barr of the Gay Men's Health Crisis
said that the group was critical of those, both
in medicine and the media, who raise false
ht)pes ft)r people with AIDS, tfspccially when
the treatments are expensive and dangen)us.
-Philadelphia d a y News
T H E EMPTY CLOSET
19
AIDS d i r e c t o r y
Free testing for HIV exposure is available
from New York State: call 1-800-541-AIDS
(1-800-541-2437). Other organizations which
provide AIDS-related services are as follows:
AIOS Rochester, Itte., 20 University St., provides education, referrals to appropriate service agencies, client and family services, advocacy for people facing HIV-linked
discrimination, and other services, including
financial assistance and a public education
speaker bureau. 232-3580 (V/TTY) or
232-4430 (V/TTY).
Helping People with AIDS. Itte. raises money
to fimd agencies to meet the needs of the
AIDS/HIV-positive population. 987-1853Gay Alliance of the Genesee VaUey peer
facilitators can provide referrals to physicians
and service agencies. Person on duty Sunday/Friday 6:30-9:30 p.m. Message machine
other times. 244-8640.
AIDS Coordination Pro/ect of Monroe
County, run through Monroe County Department of Health and AIDS Insdtute of New Yotk
(State Depanment of Health) provides information, education and training, and maintains
a resource library. Sue Cowell, 274-6114
(V/TTY).
Community Health Networkjnc. (CHN),
758 South Ave. HIV testing; medical, experimental and pentamidine treatments; John
Washbum Library; support groups; social
work and case managcttient services. Emphasis on early intervention for all aspects of
HIV and AIDS. 244-9O00.
Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency provides medical literature and newspaper clippings as well as demographic and statistical
data for use in developing health cate services.
461-3520.
Greater Rochester AIDS Interfaith Network
(GRAIN) provides lay and professional carc
through healing and memorial services; training of friendly visitors for visiting homes,
hospitals, hospices and prisons; information
about pastoral resources and advocacy on
behalf of people affeaed by AIDS.
Monroe Community College maintains an
AIDS Resource Library in thc Leroy V. Good
Library. 1000 E. HenrietU Rd. 424-5200.
Strong Memorial Hospital provides a comp l a e range of HIV medical carc, including access to experimental treatment protocols, and
HlV testing. Mso provides psychiatric support
and counseling, and training of health trare
professionals. Infctnious Disease Clinic,
275-0526. Department of Psychiatry,
275-6741. AIDS Training Projea, 275 5693
Mending Hearts, AIDS bereavement suppon
group. Mtfets Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., at Our
Lady t)f Victory- Church, 210 Pleasant St.
671-3777 or 248-3780.
Cook Accounting Services
Accounting & Income
Tax Preparation
Personal • Partnerships
Businesses • Corporations
235-2674
Buy 6 Long S t e m Roses
And Get
1 Long Stem Rose "FREE
99
April Flower S h o p p e
173 State Street
Rochester. NY 14614
Phone 546-7250
Community Health Network I n c
7 5 8 S o u t h Ave. a t C a r o l i n e St.
(716) 2 4 4 - 9 0 0 0
Across/rom I B M
16 E. Main Street
Rochester. NY 14614
Phone 325-4770
Reynolda Arcade
a not-for-profit health ctxre facility
•m^^}yi^^i?^•};:>K;:;f«^;;;..:...:.::;;.::"
•";'^"•'"•^•""'•
ndt'
•"r<'-»»^<»> ^•-S
20
^ «*«^r«« « * v
c^v^ry*
*\r%t^ *
THE EMFTY CLOSET
» K ->••• * «
^>
Oadbet, 1990
Gay Groups
sermcm series about an Old Tcsumcnt fish I Valley, 179 Atlantic Ave.
story: **J(mah - The Runner" will be explorLesbian Writers last met on Sept 8. Rclationing thc lessons that Jonah had to leam and thc ships were defined, described and praised, in
A few yeais ago, a parent of a lesbian
hard way he went about learning them. Thc thc written and spoken word. Whether thc
daughter contacted Jewish Family Service of
first part of the series was on Sept. 30, but the focus was on a slim, sexy lady with hauntingRochester about thc possibility of a support
second and third parts will be on O a . 7 and ly blue eyes, a brand new mountain bike, or
gnxip Ibr parents and friends of Jewish lesbian
14 at the regular worship time of 6 p.m.
a computer to write songs with, wc, as usual,
and gay children. In answer to that need, JFS
The
discussion
series
focusing
on
different
werc not at a loss for words.
o f ^ n i z e d such a group.
aspects
of
relationships
will
continue
at
its
- O n the first Mtmday regular time on thc first W e n e s d a y of each
||l0up. Parents and Friends ofJewish (iays and
month fn)m 7:30 - 9 p.m. This month, O a .
Leshians, meets In the homes of members to
3, thc discussion "Spouse Wars" will center
dlictiss mutual a m c e m s , to hear IxMh fn)m
The October mcetini of ^the Lesbian
an>und
how to discuss, negotiate, or "fight"
ortM^t^ coping with this tunity matter, as well
iteAOunre Center, oft Oct. 24 at 7T3O p.m.. will
with your partner and live to tell about it* Next
as tNv>fcssionals w h o deal with gay and lesbian
fefatme a presentation by £Ilcn Yicknin, *' Lestnonth, on Nov. 7, as the holidays approach,
clients andA>r their relatives and friends.
Man Rights as the Decade Begins; Legal Issues
"Holidays— (^heer?* orjccfs?" will focus on
According t o u n e ofthe gn)up's facilitators,
Affecting Lesbians."
how to survive the holidays and maybe even
JFS community outreach cYacknin is a staff attorney for the Greater
enjoy them!
Ruda, * * New membets are alwa>'s welcome and
Upstate
Law Prt)>ea, a member of the board
A special video presentation entitled "(iod,
confidentiality is respected."
of the Gay Alliance, the National Lawyer's
(iays, and (iospel—This is Our Stt)ry," will
Those interested in moa- information
Guild, Thc Bar Association for Human Rights,
follow the worship service on Nov. 4. The
should call co-facilitators Hlaine HIkins at
and
thc 1990 Thursday night softball champs,
video movingly tells thc .story of the
244-483" or Michele Ruda al Jewish Family
WICS or Women In Comfortable Shoes. A
Metropolitan Communtty Churches and is also
Serv;cc. 16I-OIU).
question and answer period will follow the
a stirritig afllrmation of gay spirituality and
presentation.
love. The video will be shown at 8 p.m.
There will also oe a short business meeting
In addition to these special events. Open
and
getting-acquainted session.
Arms has worship each Sunday at 6 p.m.
By Jeff Lehigh
The
LRC. an organization that provides opfollowed by coffee hour on thc first, second.
(iay Writes, thc Men's Writer's (in)up, mcx'ts
potunities for lesbians to stKializc, leam, and
and fourth Sundays. On the third Sunda> of
every t'trst and third Thursday at thc (iay
compare
notes, meets on the fburth or last
each month a hearty potluck dinner follows
Alliance of the (icnesce Valley. 179 Atlantic
Wednesday of thc month, at the new (iay
the worship service. Also, a special social acAve., at 8 p m.
Alliance
builing, 179 Atlantic Ave. Watch the
tivity is planned each month. Further inforIf you aa* a writer or poet w h o ts feeling
Empty cutset calendar for each m o n t h s date.
mation about these and other church activities
writer's bli)ck, or having in)ubk' writing that
All leshians, and especially those w h o are
is available by calling the church office at
great .story that you know you have—come
new to the community, are invited to join us
27I-H478. or you may receive the church's
join (iay Writes. We are presently lat the Lesbtan Resource Center. For more inmonthly newsletter by sending your name and
writers and poets who want to IHT part of
formation, contact Anne Seale, 671-3294.
address to Open Arms M(;(;, 243 Rosedale St.,
Rochester's first gay anthology of local arti.sts.
Rochester, NY I462().
So d o n t be a blank page, come and join (iay
Writes
Jewish parents group
LRC
Gay Writes
O p e n A r m s MCC
By T e r i ^ Keister
Open Arms Metropolitan (-ommunity
Church invites the community lo a variety of
activities in the coming weeks.
Re\*. (^athv Flliott is pa'paring a three-part
Men's Chorus
t o p e r f o r i n at
C i t y Hall A t r i u m
The RtKhester Gay Men's Chorus will be
performing a free concert Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
in the Atrium of Rochester City Hall.
This marks the first time thc Chorus has
been imited to participate tn the Atriimi Scries,
which is presented by the City of Rochester's
Downtown Tmst Fund. Interim Music Director bruce d. mcclung will c o n d u a the Chorus
in works fiom its permanent tepertoixe, as well
as a sneak preview from thc ('horns' upcoming Holiday Concert.
Rochester (iay Men's Chorus has enjoyed a
warm relationship with the City, having been
invited three times to perform at the annual
Festival of Lilacs, Rochester City Council
honoa-d R(iMC and the Toronto (iay Men's
Chorus by pn>clamation last June when both
choruses |">erformed at the Nazareth Arts
Center.
Thc upcoming concert which will open thc
City's Atrium Series is supported by public
funds from thc New York State Council on thc
Arts. In Monroe County, the I>ecentralization
Program is administered by Arts for (ireater
Rochester. Other concerts made possible with
this grant have included performatices at Temple B'rith Kodesh (April 1), Festival of thc
Lilacs (May 22), and Highland Bowl (June 12),
and SlfNY College at Bmckport (Sept. 21).
Lesbian Writers
By Mary Kaye K e e n e h a n
In Octt)her, the theme for the Lesbian
Writers (in)up is "er«)tica." As my imagination
focuses on that, my heartbeat quickens, and
1 tlnd myself smiling. . . Hope to see you Oct.
13. at 4 p.m., at ihc(iay Alliance of the(ienesce
A Night of
Remembrance in Memory
of Louie White
HDLIDAY CALENDER DF EVENTS
XX.XXX:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX2XXXXXXXXX
ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNER
..DATE.. SUNDAY NOV.. 11. 1990
PLACE! 40 SOUTH UNION
TIME' TPM rn 8f^M
in^tCL- %7.0Q PER PERSON
i^Bf^ING A CANNED
- rnUD ITEM AND
GET $L00 DOLLAR
DFE AT THE DOOR.
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY
DATE.
SUNDAY DEC. 9. 1990
PLACE'ARENA'S BANQUET CTR
MENU'
CHOICE DP 3 DINNERS
COSTi
$40 PER PERSON
\ LIMITED TO 150 PERSONS
m M m nn m TK m m f e m ya^ m m m
REDEEM
REDEEM m
REDEEM THIS COUPON »
rUOD/CASH DONATIONS TO
GO TO GARSON-MEYER SR. CTR.
^
TICKETS DN SALE AT A L L
^k
AND SAVE $5.00 OFF
«
ADMISSION PRICE.
*
m
!m
^K.
^R
^K
"
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^K
JK
^k
^k
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LOCAL. ESTABLISHMENTS
DR BY CALLING THE ROCHESTER RANGERS HOTLINE
251-2122
Roman Catholics - Episcopalians
Other Gay Christians
Join Us!
Come join us on
Saturday, Nov. 17, 1990
at the Allen Sf. Club
Fmm 9 pm to 2 am
D i g n i t y - I n t e g r i t y / R o c h e s t e r is a n e c u m e n i c a l organization open to
e v e r y o n e who w i s h e s to w o r s h i p in a p l e a s a n t , n o n - t h r e a t e n i n g
a t m o s p h e r e . W c invite you to join u s for o u r weekly celebration of
thc E u c h a r i s t , followed by a social hour, or o n e of our m a n y speciai
e v e n t s such a s a pot luck s u p p e r , picnic, retreat, etc. A Roman
Catholic m a s s is c e l e b r a t e d each S u n d a y of t h c month, except for
t h c fourth Sunday w h e n m a s s is c e l e b r a t e d in t h e Episcopal
tradition.
PastomI and Paer Counseling is also aymili^le
Sunday Schedule
Liturgy-S.OOp.m.
Social Hour-6:00 p.m.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
17 S. Fitzhugh St.
(between Main St. & Broad St.)
For More Information Call
Phone 328-9758
458-3894
dignity-integrity ^H rociiester
October, 1990
FLOS
The permanent lepcrtoite which the Chotus
will perform is culled from past RGMC performances and is chosen by the Choras
members themselves. The selections ran the
gamut from thc Renaissance motet of Hans Leo
Hassler. Cantate Domino, to Cole Porter^s ter's
Do It. Included in this selection is RGMC's
signed version of Kumbaya which was the surprise hit ofthe lS>86Gay and Lesbian Association of Chonis (GALA) international festival in
Minneapolis. Since then, other chorases in
N o n h America have requested copies of thc
arrangement and the work has been widely
perfomicd.
Rochester Gay Men's Chorus is a commimity
chorus which involves not only singing
membefs but non-singing volunteers. If you
would be interested in joining the Chorus or
would like more infonnation, please call Thc
Chorus Line at 251-2077. Thc Chorus is aaively seeking a new artistic interpreter to sign performances for thc hearing impaired. If you
would be interested in this position, please
krave your name and number with The Choms
Une.
Finger Lakes Outreach Socials (FLOS) is
open to all gay men, lesbians and bisexuals in
thc Finger Lakes region, roughly the area from
Syracuse to Rochester and Lake Ontario, to
Binghamton, Coming and everywhere in
between.
V(^ schedule social gatherings to meet new
friends and neighbors once a month. VC^ had
a wine tasting tour in September and are planning a Halloween Ball in October and various
activities for thc holidays. For morc information, contact F.L.O.S., Box 578, Newark, NY
14513.
Gay/bi m a r r i e d m e n
& w^ives' g r o u p s
Suppon groups for gay/bisexual married
men and straight wives married to gay/bisexual men will resimie their meetings as follows:
the w i ves on Oct. 3, and the husbands on Oct.
1- 5. All group meetings are confidential.
Is drinking
a problem
in your Ufe?
AA can help.
Call 232-6720, 24 hours a (Jay.
Or come to Gay AA
at St. Luke's Church
on Thurstlays at 8:30 p m .
Downtown
United
Presbyterian
Church
11 am Sunday
121 North
Fitzhugh St.
325-4000
TTY
423-1559
We are a
More Light
Congrq^tion
ALL
WELCOME!
Sign language interpreted,
last meeting of the month.
For gay women only:
Mondays at 8:30 p m .
For gay men only:
Sundays at 8:30 pm
Gay Al-Anon
Saturdays at 7 pm
Unitarian Church
WHITE SPRUCE
A
S
S
O
C
I
A
T
E
The husbands'individual groups, limited to
12 men each, have included 150 men since
beginning in October 1984. Each group includes two trained facilitators and meets six
Monday evenings. The facilitators provide information and feedback to group memt>er5
about coping with thc complex aspects ofbeing gay or bisexual and also married to a
woman, and being a father as well.
The womens'group, under thc direction of
Vicki)0 Campanaro-Cummings of Medical Ans
Psychotherapy Associates, provides similar
support services to assist wives of gay and
bisexual men in dealing with personal issues
related to their unique marital situations. Mrs.
Cummings can be reached for information at
325-4090.
Charles Piersol, a retired clinical social
worker, can be reached at 442-3506 for discussion of gay/bisexual married men's group
applications.
Jean Schaar Gochros, Ph.D., of Honolulu,
Hawaii, did some of her research in Rochester
in 1981 with couples in mixed sexual orientation marriages. Her book. When Husbands
Cotne Out ofthe Closet, published by Haworth
Press in 1989, is a major resource of support,
encouragement, and practical advice for
husbands and wives in such marriages.
Out a n d Al>out
For (X-tobcr, Out and About plans a
weekend cabin party on Fourth Lake in Old
Foige in the Adirondacks, Oct. 12-14. The fall
colors should be right for this favorite and
popular trip, which this year will also include
a boat trip and shopping trips in town. Won't
you join us? Cal! Bill 323-2419.
For those w h o cannot get away, there wil!
be a rhcater ofgan concert on thc Wurlitzer at
the Auditorium Theater on O a . 19. Finally, we
have a new Seniors Group forming to dt>
various activities 647-9141.
It is not too cariy to start thinking about skiing plans. Some of you buy season tickets and
may want to get a group together Ifyou have
any thoughts
Men's G r o u p
Oct. 7 marks the start of Coming Out Week
in Rochester Following Open Arms MCC's
opening ciiurch service, get in the spirit for Na-
Relationship problems
WUliam KcUy, CSW, CAC
M a r t l i a M . H o w d e n , CSW, CAC
Credentialed Alcoholism Counselor
Certified Sex Therapist
Steven IX Davis, CSW, CAC
Credentialed Alcoholism C(xjnsek>r
Credentialed Alcoholism C o u r ^ o r
496 White Spruce Blvd.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
CoiuUdaies'Niglu
a i i h e Community C e n t e r
M o n . 9 O c t o b e r Sih^ 7 p m
^
OF ROCHESTER
Wishing all a Happy
and Healthy New Year
Commuted to BqumUty.*
Cemnatted to YOM
ficcJ'ostcr Lesbian & Gay
Politic il Caucus
f..:r.o... t r .ill • * dt-r..it ICI-.!'
:(,[-,^-V •''-^
J
•(;.•>'.'.
•-• c u n n c ^ o t i r
1 M " - I ("•
f i t " ' - ' '
ruil-t'.
.1 y-'-^i r« •'•-•••>
••
tt.
For more information:
Beth Bloom 442-3363
or write:
P.O. Box 18053
Rochester, N.Y. 14618-0053
New and former Rochester Lesbian Action
Coalition members are looking forward to an
exciting event to kick off thc new season. A
ROPES course is being offered to members free
of chaige as a privilege of membership in thc
organization.
Thc ROPES course involves physical activities designed to enhance group trust
building. The instructor for thc event is Martha Howden w h o teaches at NTID. Thc course
will take place on Oct. 14 at RIT. ifyou would
like to become a member and experience this
physically challenging day with RLAC
members, call Tiinya at 256-1202. Enrollment
for thc ROPES course is limited.
RLAC issponsoringa "Lesbian Celebration"
to help kick off Coming Out Week. There will
be games (bring your football, softball, frisbee),
food (chicken wings, hot dogs, hamburgers,
chips, salads, non-alcoholic beverages), "howto" seminars on natural tic-dye (bring some
dye), sign language introduction, facial
massage, fun and lots of WOMEN! Thc
festivities begin at 2 p.m. on Oct. 7 at thc Orchard Park pavilion in EUison Park. You can
purchase tickets (S3 non-members, 92
membeis) from RLAC members, at thc cclcbratishine).
1^"^
I nW
™
1
Lesbian support group '
please caU if interested
R U T H Af. W I L L I A M S , M . & E d .
Psycliotlierapist
Offering Therapy for Individuals,
Couples and Groups
Proficient in Sign Language — Adjustable Fee
3 8 5 - 4 7 3 5 Vor TTY
IP
::«>
1
#::
Michele lb£aiiy
E d . D . N.C.C.
WELLESLEY
CENTER
Offers: Individual • Couple
Family • Group Counseling
to persons living a gay»
lesbian or bisexual lifestyle
Lesbian & Gay
Therapists offer
individual, couple &
group counseling in a
discreet setting.
A G r o u p J o r Jewish Gays
a n d Lesbians
rnLitn
RLAC
Southview C o m m o n s , 100 White Spruce Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14623
(716)475-1120
272-7210
D^ya
tional Coming Out Wfcek by attending the
RomancTVsky & Phillips and Leah Zicari concert at Nazareth Arts Center. Ticket information is available elsewhere in this issue of the
Empty Closet. Those interested in having a
gathering for the Men*s Groupprior to the conc e n should call Lee at 442-5117.
During Coming Out Week, a safe sex
workshop with a nationally-recognized sex
educator is planned. For lurther information
about date, time and locatton, call Lee at
442-5117. This should be a very worthwhile
event for learning to be safc while having fun.
Don't miss this!
On Oct. 21, wewill haveadiscussion o n codcpcndcncy. Leam about this issue from a skilled facilitator.
Thc Cooking Group continues to meet on
the last Sunday of every month. Plan to attend
our meeting on Oct. 28.
Counseling & Psychotherapy
Providing individual, couple & fanuly therapy
Sexuality &
gender-related concems
21
S c o t t E, Miller, c s w
Addressing the needs
of gay, lesbian &
bismcual individuais
& their families
S
Alcoholism &
co-dependency issues
THE EMPTY CLOSET
ADJUSTABLE FEES
458-0533
L
J
442-2986
Barbara Debes, M.S., C.A.S.
Horace Lethbridge, M.A.
J
22 -TH^ ilKi>W CLO^fct*" bctWgiV, «>#y y ' J
Octobec; 1990
CLASSIFIED ADYERTISING
Classified ads cost $ 5 for t h e first Ml
words a n d $1 for each additional 10 wonls.
Send check o r m o n e y order a n d ad, typed
o r written legibly, to: E.C Press, 179 Atlantic Ave., Rochester, NY 146071255. Ads will
not b e accepted over the telephone.
The Empty Closet will n o t a c c e p t
classified ads by mail unless tbey are accomp a n i e d by a n a m e a n d telephone n u m h e r
Tbe n u m b e r will ntH b e published, but w e
will call to confirm the a d placetnent.
VPfr accept personal ads, but the advertiser
must use bis o r h e r o w n box n u m b e r o r address. We publish p e r s o n a l a d s from
prisonets o n a .space-available basis. If you
have a p r t M e m with a /yen pal, let us icnow.
The Kmpty <;ioset cannot h e held respimsihle for any financial loss o r physical injury
(hat may resuU from any correspondence.
Announcements
P e e r faclHtaior—Answer the (iay Alliance
hotline on a regularly scheduled hasis, both
evenings and during daytime hours. C*oi>d
listening skills a must! Will train. If interested, call the p.f. line 244-8640, leave a
message tm the tape. A peer facilitator will
get hack to you.
R e p o r t e r s for thc Empty Closet. Must b e
able to cover news stories, dwrite in Associated Press style. Call
244-9050.
R u b b e r stainps—Reas«>nahle p r i c e s ,
custom, novelty, o r address. LSASE gets
catalog. Home business o p p o r t u n i t i e s
package—send $2 to cover costs. DYADIC
MERCHANDISING-. 127 Lincoln St., Wayland
NY 14572-1415.
GAGV B u U d i n g R e n o v a t i o n P r o j e c t
n e e t t s y o u l Skills necdcdf Carpenters,
mastms, drywall expert, plumber, electrician, general ctmtractor. window contractor.
If you can help, call 244-8246.
HIV s u p p o r t i v e t h e r a p y g r o u p . R>r all
persons with HIV. Decrease anxiety, depression, a n d isolation. Strong Memorial
Hospital, HIV <;Hnic in Psychiatry. 27S-3379.
Lesbian a n d Gay I b a s t m a s t e r s Club.
Tttastmasters is an effective xuM fun program
to ifnprtwc speaking skills. Let's have a club
for lesbians and. gays^^ Call Lcc at 442-S117
for infi>rmation.
H e l p Wanted
AU N e w Gay D a n c e C l u b needs bar & dpersonnel and DJs. Also female impersonators and show directors. No resume required. Name and phone numher to: P.O.
Box 1597, Rochester, NY 14603.
Send resume, names and p h o n e numbers of
three references, and o n e legal writing sample hy Nov. 4 to William B. Rubenstein,
Director, ACLU Lesbian and Gav Rights/AIDS
Projects, 132 West 43td St., New York, NY
10036.
Personals
G a y XXX P h o n e F a n t a s i e s ! Over 200
choices, gay male or lesbian, all scenes. Five
full-play stories only •9-95- Use Visa/MasterCard/AmEx. Call (303)595-0051.
Black p r i s o n e r , search to establish a true,
honest relationship with that special someone. Size o r shape don't make a difference. I'm just lonely and need someone
in my life. Age 2 5 , my birthday is Feb. 2,
1965. Brown eyes, 178-180 lbs., 6 ' ! ' .
Lawrence Collier, 190-268, PO Box 45699,
Lucasvillc OH 45699-OOOL
Y o u n g , e d u c a t e d & l o n e l y , reaching out
to touch that special someone. 26, 5 ' i r \ 156
lbs., red hair, blue eyes, clean shaven &
A m e r i c a n L e a t h e r H o t l i n e . For MEN w h o b o y i s h l y h a n d s o m e . Willie S a m p s o n
hang lough. Call 1-900-990-HEAT. 9 9 #211550, PO Box 120. Lebanon OH 45036.
cents/minute (1.99 first).
3 2 - y e a r - o l d m a l e , interested in anyone
C r o s s d r e s s e r s H o t l i n e . TV/TS and those w h o would want to correspond for friendseeking them. Call 1-900-990-4528 9 9 ship. If you have the time to write, and you
enjoy writitig letters, I would love to hear
cents/minute (S1.99 first).
fn>m vou. Al Jackson, 192-102, PO Box
D o y o u k n o w y o u r H I V status? C>)m- 45699. LucasviUe OH 45699-001.
munity Health Network, 244-9000.
F e m a l e B o d y b u i l d e r . Accomplished,
massive female college student needs help
with expenses. I'm attractive, feminine and
discreel. Please write and offer suggestions.
Reply to M.c;., PO. Box 27, Avon. NY 14414.
F e m a l e t o F e m a l e : White feline, early 30s,
large-framed, a bit shy. Seeks warm Caucasian cat w h o meows the truth, has been
declawed and enjoys cuddling. She doesn't
need ti> be a slender cat. o r a youitg kitten.
Mail m c your paw print, a n d we can purr
over a bowl of milk together. City
Newspaper. Box 3813, 250 North CnHxlman
St., Rtichester, NY 14607.
I'm y o u n g , e d u c a t e d a n d Black! Reaching
out to that sfxecial someone in the hope of
establishing a true, sincere and honest relationship. 26 years old, 5 ' n " , 165 lbs., light
brown complexion, clean-shaven, boyishly
handsome. Associate degree in business and
accounting, also degree in hairstyling. Will
answer all. Please write me. Larry Cash,
150-946, P.O. Box 45699, Lucasvillc, Ohio
45699.
Vtn 2 8 , single, 5*11*' a n d 165 l b s . I have
hn)wn eyes and hair. My hobbies include
weightlifting. football, boating and music. I
am presently attending college, majoring in
culinar>' arts. Please write so that wc may
share ideas and experiences. Gzell BUnim,
B o b a s k s t h e n u m w h o a n s w e r e d his ad Jr.. 173-963. P.O. Box 456S>9, Lucasvillc,
in the March Empty Closet but w h o left n o Ohio 45699-mM)]
name, address, tir phone number to call Bob
at 232-1475. He is available after 4:30 p.m.
weekdays and m4>st times on weekends.
W o m a n t o W o m a n . LtH>king for a woman
35-45- Likes candlelight dinners, animals,
children and movies. No drugs or alcohol.
Must play n o head games. L(M>king for
friendship and possibly a rclationship. Must
be honest and sincere. C.J.T, P.O. Box 591,
Newark, NY, 14513Gay B l a c k Male, 39. creative, into t h e a n s ,
seeks gay male for friendship and possible
n^lationship. P.O. Bt>x A52, Rochester. NY,
14603.
When You Need
Someone
SPECIAL ...
Black Male, 3 0 , 6*1**, l i g h t b r o w n s k i n ,
light green eyes, seeking a man understanding of my situation and willing to visit. I
am interested in a meaningful and real
friendship that could become a loving relationship. My heart is gold. My mind is pure.
My love stands alone. John M. Pannell,
192-059, P.O. Box 45699. Lucasvillc, Ohio
45699 0001'.
Lonely Black I n m a t e , to be released next
year, seeks a o n e on o n e relationship. Vm
loving, caring and serious. Is there o n e real
gay male out there w h o is ready for someone
young, fresh and special? Only the sincere
should reply. Will relocate. Fred Lucky. 787
Mendford Road, 156-525, Lucasvillc, Ohio
45699
MR. RIGHT
A Unique New
Concept in Dating
Services for
MEN ONLY
GENE HAYWORTH
TYPE & DESIGN
436-3266
Roommates/
Housemates
logos • brochures
pamphlets • resumes
business cards
& more
Rochester, NY
THE ROOMMATE NETWORK INC, Looking for a n)omniate or a place to live? Give
us a call—we can help! We are Rochester's
n>ommntc referral servicef 325-4643.
GWM/GWF w a n t e d t o s h a r e large furnished apartment in downtown Buffalo. Nonsmoker, clean, neat and responsible. 5375 includes utilities, cable, basic phone. Security
and references. 1-885-2180.
716 • 244 • 7009
ROCHESTER CUSTOM LEATHERS
CUSTOM LEATHER WORKS & NOVELTIES
VILLAGE GATE SQUARE • 274 N. GOODMAN ST., ROCHESTER. NY 1606 • 716/442-2323
Maturc Male, seeks place of residence. 1 am
a non-smoking t)wner of a well-behaved cat.
1 enjoy the company of a roommate but
alieady have a lover. Robb. 473-OOI2.
CALL TOLL-EREE 1-800-836-9047
*^ Jackets ^^ Vests «x Chaps »^ Shorts
«^ Custom Leatherwork »^ Shirts ^ E t c .
For r e n t
P a r k Ave. A r e a . Modem 2 bdrm. Eat-in kitchen. Pantry. 2 spiral staircases. Skylights.
Some carpet. No pets, S650 plus. 244-0068.
See Our Backroom - Chock FuU of Exotk; Leatherware^
A Wide Variety of Vicleo Tafjes, Magazines, Aromas and Much More
Buddies 'n' Pals
•n" Partners"'
Th»*1 e a r DaHng Smrviem tor Itf 9 n
Now covering all
major cities in U.S.
and Canada
Open Mon. to Thur& 11 am-8 pm. Fri & Sat. 11 am-10 pm, and Sun. 12 pm-5 pm
Our goal is to help you meet someone compatable, both socially and
sexually, as a friend or a lover.
One block North of University Ave. on the right.
Gay Owned and Operated
Take 490 East to ttw Goodman St. exit, tum North (left)
GWF, 27, seeks a dyke, 25-35, to love and
make very happy. Only dominant dykes
need aK>ly. 442-5013GWF l o o k i n g j u s t f o r f r i e n d s h i p of OF,
30-40. Need to get out more. Interested?
Write me. LJP, 138 Mc<:all Rd., Rochester. NY.
14616.
All N e w W o m e n ' s D a n c e C l u b needs bar
& d(M)r personnel. Also DJs and promotion
people. No resume required. Name and
p h o n e nurhbcr to P.O. Box 1597, Rochester,
NY I4603
GWM wants a man. I'm 29. attractive, fun
& intelligent. HIV positive but healthy Are
you a hopeless romantic w h o takes health
seriously? Wrile lo PO Box 356, Rochester
NY I4603.
ACLU Staff Lawyer. Responsibilities include
litigation and policy ^vork cm a wide range
of lesbian and gay and AIDS-related issues.
Significant litigation experience required.
Thc following prisoners a r c lonely and
seeking correspondence with anyone
w h o will w r i t e :
CAUFORHtEE
APPUCATION
1-800-344-PALS
104 PLATT ST
262-6200
• LUNCHES
Monday through Friday
11 ain-4 p m
t'M'-
for MEN who hang tough
American
LEATHER HOTLINE
Hear hot tops and bottoms tell vou what turns
them on and give you their private numbers.
1-900
^STi
r^v
Touchtone Choice
• NOW SERVING
Discount Prices
Dancing 10 pm-2 a m
NO COVER
Friday Fish Fry
4 pin-9 p m
• FRIDAY & SATURDAY
• co*ckIAIL HOUR
lUesday tiuough Friday
Dance to t h e Sound
DJ Hector & henry
10 pm-2 a m
4 ptMk'7 p m
• SUNDAY
•1JJES3MS
C^pen 7 am-2 p m
Wdmen's Night
Danidiiig 10 piak-Z a m
W(peldy Drink Specials/No Cover
'•>•
" ^ ^ ^ ^ H A 1 \ %^
THURSDAY DEPRESSION NIGl
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JUSTICE
The new woman's dance club and networking alternatiTe
Supersonic Stereo Sound System
%
j ^i
T'V*
Hwrsdays:
Fridays:
Sahirdays:
Sundays:
No Cover Charge ~ 2 ftr I - 5 0 * olF Beer
Li|» Syne Contest (V/omen Only) «25 Rrst Plaee
<2 Cover - Rist Drink Free
«S Cover •- Rrst Drink Free
*2 Cover — Fsniele Impersonator Show at 9 p.m.
No. 219
October 1, 1990
Rocbester, N.Y.
N E W Y O R K STATE S OLDEST G A Y N E W S P A P E R
Hours: 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
We are ^raiting for our Uquor license ~- Hease call 454-IIOTT after
October 16th for the date of our grand opening party
(Tentative opening: Friday, October 19th)
9 0 Liberty P^le 11% Roehester, NV —
2B2-5070 (Offiee)
4 S 4 - H 0 r r (Het Line)
The Cha c n a Oaiace
Where You Get More For Your Dollar
No Admission Charge
D J & Dancing To Our 5 , 0 0 0 Watt Mega Sound System
WBdnesdays:
Tttursdays:
Fridays:
Saturdays:
No Cover
$ 1 . 5 0 Night - $ 1 . 5 0 Bar Drinks & $ 1 . 5 0 Molsons
No Cover
2 for 1 co*cktails -- 5 0 0 off beer
No Cover — Drink Specials
No Cover ~ Drink Specials
Hours: 8 p.m. t o 2 : 3 0 a.m.
We are waiting for our liquor license - Please call 454-HOTT after
October 1 6 t h for the date of our grand opening party
(Tentative opening: Friday, October 19th)
88 Liberty Pole Way, Rochester, NY
232-5070 (Office)
4 5 4 - H O r r (Hot Una)
Let t h e sunshine i n
'•"ST- -iX.". •*• - i i f ^ " * " ;
y
