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A JOURNAL FOR
GAY WOMEN
BOSTON
DAUGHTERS
OF BILITIS
'I
I
.,
Nov. '73
$.50
F' !CUS: A JOiJRlJi!J~f:'OR GA1 W
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Iler.ording Secr-otary •••• Lo13 J.
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I NT
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Boston
Daught9rs
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COVER: Claj_re Sh anahan, a merr.ber of
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and her son Eric.
See related
11Childron
article
of Bilitis".
Photo
by Torry.
June l973.
******************************************************************
*
*
IN THIS ISSUE
*
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*
*
*
* CHILDRENOF BILITIS, by Penny Perrnult••••••••o••••••••••2
*
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* POETRY by f /m/s/, 11J:im", and Desi Geshen.,.., •• ., "° .... •• ••• 4
* ENGLISH LIT. F:E-~.iC ir m D: LESBI AN PERSPECTIVES C~T
AM
*
*
NA~' .NIEf, }1AJTHO
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RN3, . by Judi ... o ~,,,., , ~ • ., • .. ••••
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*
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* WGrIBI FESTIVAL, by Gerry A~~ata. ••••• • e * •o o .... ~. , ~ ••••• 10
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PUZZLE,by Cathy Baker •••••••• •" •••• • ••••• •.• .13
* CROSSWORD
*
*
Dallas DOB
Wom~nf or Action
Bex 591-4,
4
Dallas,
Tx. 75222
*
·•
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
San Francisco DOB
1005 Ma!•kot St ., 9 Rm. 402
Sim Franc:.i.sco, Ca. 94103
Oc ,Jupant
No,r ,J orsey
Be:,,: 6 2
F,:n1
wood,
DOB
N.J.
070 23
Bc. 137
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orthwood, N.H. (this
DOi3 but do not
p ..1. that
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is Now Hampshire
on t he envelope)
GHIL:JREN OF BI LEl.1 IS
by Penny Perra.ult
There is, within the Lesbian Community, a minority ·-- largely
:1ilent,
la:r;-gely forgotten.
· These
are the women who ·a r e Lesbians and
also mothers.
I write as a ni~mber
of that minority;
and- I ada.:..~ess my.
self to the Lesbian majority
-- those without children
-- in a
hope for understanding,
consideration, ~nd a me~sure of courtesy.
threats
to custody),
three issues
that I have encountered
and spok e,~
on . freque,ntlya
first,
openness
with your children
about your
homosexuality;
second, the difficulties
the children
may encount _ with their peers abollt your
er
·homosexuality;
and third,
the .
response of .the gay com;nunity itself to Lesbian mothers.
Fir s t, let me tell you a little
abo ut myself, and about Lesbian
mothers in general.
My lover and
I each have a child,
both boys,
both preschool
age.
And both of
us are in the unusual and fortunate
position
of being able to be outspoken about our homosexuality
without risking
custody of our
children.
There are many more who
cannot be outspoken without threat
to custody; ·but who wish to participate
in activ:ities
and exchange
with their gay sisters.
The first
issue is the simplest
to deal with.
Warm and loving
affection
betwee~ people is
healthy and natural,
and can only
have a posittye
effect
on child~
ren.
The opposite,
hiding your
love and affe.c .tion for another,
being ashamed to show it, can
have a detrimental
effect.
And
those of ycu who have been around
children
are well aware that they
are the first
to sense when something . important
is being hidden
from them.
Raising children
as gay mothers
is essentially
no different
from
raising
children
as straight
mo- .
thers.
We encounter the . sa;ne problems (maintaining
discipline,
ooping with their childhood
illnesses,
keeping them clothed despite spurts of growth),
and the
same joys (helping them develop
into rounded adults,
enjoying
their spontaneity,
sharing their
pride in achievement).
Many of
us are without mates~ which for
some creates
a problem in providing a balanced and rounded lifestyle for the child and the parent.
The s2cond issue is perhaps the
most difficult.
What will the
children
do when they go to
school, how will their peers
r .eact -- and indeed children
can
be cruel,
but children
also have
a deeper capacity
for acceptance
than most adults,
If a mother
is open about her sexuality
with
the childt the child can then
deal with it,
Far better
that
the child should learn of mother'f.
orientation
from her than from
cruel remarks or whispered innuendos that leave the child in
doubt and fear.
And, too, communication
on the subject
is thus
open between ·parent and child,
which means that problems in
this regard can be dealt with
honestly
and openly.
I might add
that .I anticipate
far more difficulty
from straight
parents
than from children,
and . the experience
of other mothers ' bears
this out.
Another and very important
poin t is that the emotional health and happiness
of a
has a great
parent ultimately
bearing on the child 8 s emotional
Many gay .mothers do have one advan·
tage, however. ·That is, because
of the self-examination
and introspection
that we must do in order
to accept ourselves
and our homosexuality
fully,
we often acquire
a sensitivity
to and understanding
of others that stands us in good
stead and gives us a valuable
springboard
to understanding
our
children.
There are,
however (
aside
from
health and outlook.
W
ith t his in
mind, remembering the damage that
an emotional clos et does to any of
us, it would be a crime to hide our
se xuality
from our children.
Children can be seriously
han dicapped
by parents who lack a sense of open
honesty and self-worth,
and that
damage will i ne vitabl y be more farreaching than any damage that a
peer group could inflict.
'Th~ third issue relates
primarily
to . the le-sbian mothers themselves,
arid is a problem of lon ger duration .
'The real ·handicap ·that lesbian
mothers encounter comes not from
straight
society but from within
th e ir own ·communit y. Furthermore,
my ·experience
has shown me that
the problem comes more from gay
women than from gay men, The problem is this: · since the ma jority
of gays .do not <
have chi l dren, they
make no allowances
for those that
do. Children (understandably)
are
not welcome at · activities
such as
raps or .business
meetings,
but
atte m
pts are seldom made either
to provide · child care or to assist
in locating
child care so that
Lesbian mothers · can participate
in
these activities.
And Lesbian
mothers are in a part i cularly
difficult .bind inobtaining
child
c are, since · the traditional
source
of evening arid weekend child care-the neighborhood
teenagers
-- is
often closed to the Lesbian mother,
because of the fears of the parents
and sometimes the teen ag ers themselves.
The result
-- mothers are
unable to participate
in many activities,
and so their presence and
needs are not felt and acted upon
-- a vicious circle
which needs to
·
be broken.
There are other activities
where
c~ildren
are not pro h ibited
(picnics, for example ') ; .however,
mothers who bring their children
to these activities
·o·f'ten encounter
resentment,
;and .occasionally
open
hostility,
from thos e who do -not
have children.
. •This has ·been the ..
experience
of many mothers with
as 'well :as :my:..·
whom I've talked,
self,
and is an experience ' that ·
spans a wide variety
of gay ·
organizations
and activities.
Perh a.p s th :i_s would be be8 :ra:.") , .
le
s ave ·for one thi ng -~•. t he- re.
sentment,
the apathy . about our
meeds, comes primarily
from our
sisters,
many of whom ov ertly
or covertly
express opinions
ranging fro m the idea that
having children
was our "mistake" and therefore
we should
pay fo r it, to tho idea that
we cannot be liberated
women
and be mothers · as well, to the
myth that we cannot be true
..
Lesbians,
since we have child.:. ··
ren.
What can we f as gay persons
with or wi t hout children,
do to
improve the situation
f or . ·.
Lesbian .mothers?
First,
ahd
most important,
is a willingness
to understand and accept Lesbian
mothers as a real and important
part of our community, and as
such, worthy of consideration
rather than rebuff, · This alone
can make a vast difference
in
the isolation
from .or unity with
·her community t hat a -Lesbian
mother feels. ·
., .
Next, in planning activities
take a moment to consider what
provisions
mi ght be made to ~
allow gay mothers to participate.
(Sometimes this is as simple as,
for example, noting o~ an
announcement for a pi cnic ,.that
childr .en may attend,).
•
.
.
·Further,
ways ·ca,h and should be
·sought ,to include children
in _
a
creative
way in community activities • . T~is approach can provide learning
and growing
opportunities
for both children
and adults.
For example, at
social activit i es (especially
those held in the daytime or
early evenin g ) plan one or t wo
activities
that children
and
adults might enjoy together
-games, son gs, contests
are some.
This is far more enjoy able and
profitable
for all than is simpl e
custodia l care.
These things do
not place a heavy demand on thos e
without children,
but can make a ·
world of difference
to a gay
4
CHILDREN DILI'l'I.3 ~ C'Ct i.'.
OF
moth0r and her children --· and glve an
extra dimension to the lives of those
w'ithout children.
Think about :l.t.
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r
BEGINNINGS
BY PROXIE
the last time i sa# me
(we had mot a long time ago,
when the sand was young
and soft with our wetness)
i W:?.S the sound of ~.shes
before a fire, the color of the wind
inside the sea.
all the soundless
safety of a dream gone mad. afraid of the
contagion becoming mortal, visible ,. how could
i now explain how dead feet ran down
stars & into the moonlit streets of dawn.
a freak of light buried with
its own shadow. i didn°t know if
i needed more of that light or wanted more
of the shadow. & now we meet, again, in the
semi-summer darkness & i a,.~ surprised
by the turns, by what time has done,
what it has created from the chaos of
before.
my tremblings & needs are outside
in a world gorle insane; real,
nameable, in the warm quiet
where the shadows 9 come & be people.•
Little Loxie,
Loxie
on her toffie,
secluded
in her boxie,
unseen,
unheard of Loxie
for two years
now
bequeathes
- ahl how foxie,
her pearls
of poxie
safely.
Safe,
secluded
Little Loxie,
unseen,
unheard of self,
- 50 foxie,
bequeathes
from toffie,
from within
her little
boxie :,
the right way
by Gum!
By Proxiel
--f /m/s
pieces of sleep there, there,
on the walking/talking
side of time.
somer saulting through a million yesterdays
only to come upright/tight
at dawn, here,
where midnight has given up the siege of light.
it's here, in the parochial madness, that i wait
for you to draw a line joining the stars to the sky.
to add color to the shade, making it a
butterfly
hue of reigning sunshine.
it is for that reason
that i had wandered through the dark, looking.
can ecstasy be so normal, so ••• comfortable,
as when i catch those missing pieces
dancing in your eyes.
THE U~-VEILING
--f/m/s
Whenever I see you
and you're wearing your make-up
I long to take a
rosewster and glycerine-saturated
and run it softly over your face
to watch the freckles appear
on the lovely pale slate of skin.
--Desi Geshen
cotton
swab
ENGLISH
LIT. RE-EY, N
..
AMI ED: LESBIA
N
PERSPECTIVEON NATHANIELP.i.AW NE
J.'HOR
by Judy
Occasionally we find buried among the
classics
a work which merits particular
attention
from gay readers.
One such
work is Hawthorne's Blithedale
Romance,
a novel with obvious lesbian content
and pronounced feminist concerns.
On
one level this book presents in fictive
form the story of the ?Brook Farm Experiment: the disillusionment
of a
group of 19th-century Transcendentalist
idealists
who had hoped to create a
new style of community living,
and
whose dreams of brotherly love and
harmony are eventually shattered.
It
is a pessimistic
novel, one which examines and then rejects with disappointment a number of alternative
kinds
of human interaction
and involvement.
Just as the hope for a social,
economic,
utopia cannot be fuland spiritual
filled,
so the search for more perfect
human relationships
likewise ends in
failure.
We need not speculate over-lon g about
the nat ur e of the "unutt ered boon"
whic h Priscilla
seeks from her friend.
5
The reasons why this relationship
does
not come to fruition
are all too clear.
Priscilla
and Zenobia are presented as
diametric opposites,
and each possesses
only half of the characteristics
which
would be necessary for her to become a
woman. Zenobia,
truly woman-identified
for example, has an extremely liberated
conception of womanhood, far ahead of
her times: she has a strong sense of her
own dignity and power, as well as a great
restriction
~
anger towards socio-political
ans degradationsimposed
upon her sex.
At the same time, however, she is incapable of . forming an emotional attachment to other women, and rather seems
an escape from the humiliation
of being
female by identifying
with men and with
male ambitions.
Zenobia likewise scorns
to associate with other women who have
accepted the roles laid out for them
by society and who consequently lack
the self-esteem which she herself has
It is interesting
that one of the human developed.
Priscilla,
by way of contrast r
alternatives
explored in the book is a
is able to attach herself emotionally
relationship
between two women, and
to another woman, and deliberately
seeks
though it, too, is doomed to failure,
out a member of her own sex for the
·
it occupies a ce.ntral position in the
fulfillment
of her deepest and most instory with regard to both plot and theme. timate needs.
What is - missing in her
The intense,
and ultimately
hopeless
is the political
consciousness and
love and devotion which Priscilla
ofphilosophic foundatioh ,whi:ch would enfers to Zenobia are never given any
able her also to resnect women as women.
explicitly
sexual dimension, nor is
She never frees herself from the timidity :
her passion ever openly identified
as
passivity,
and meekness which are her
distinguishing
character traits.
Thus
lesbian -- but this is natural enough,
we see the aggressive,
intellectually
given the dat of publication,
and it is
liberated
Zenobia despising Priscilla
impossible to misread the situation.
for her socially oriented submissiveFor instance,
shortly after the two
ness, and rejecting
the love and affecmeet, Hawthorne writes:
tion which Priscilla
shyly but persistently offers her.
She went towards Priscilla,
took
her hand, and passed hor own rosy
Hawthorne has depicted two polar opposite ,
fingertips,
with a pretty,
caresshere, two women whose incompletely forming movement, over the girl's
hair.
ed feminist consciousness prevents them
The touch had a magical effect.
So
from coming together ,. With great senvivid a look of joy flushed up besitivity
a heterosexual
writer appears
neath those fin gers, that it seemed
to have recognized a vital truth about
as if the sad and wan Priscilla
relationships
between women -- namely,
had been snatched away, and another
that they must be founded on a mutual
kind of creature substituted
in her
positive regard which has both a philoplace.
This one caress, bestowed
sophical and an emotional basis.
Such
voluntarily
by Zenobia, was evidenta recognition
on the part of a 19th ly received as a pledge of all that
century New England writer is no small
(Priscilla)
sought from her, whatachievement, and Hawthornees exploration
ever the unuttered boon might be.
of the difficulties
arising when these
two basic com
ponents are not equally
present is perceptive and moving.
6
NEWS
.AROUND COUN':'R7
THE
BOSTON. "Your Placs and Mine", -o. T.,v. :
show for, by, , and . l).bout women, now
appears on WC~ Sundays 12:J0-1 pm. Format is a panel f Pllot·!ed by audience participation.
Directqr is ·Eunice West. •
.
.
BOSTON. Roosevelt Gr:ter, ex-foot.bell
tackle, was · at Jo:rdan Me.rsh's Octobe1· .
11 autographing . copies of his new book _
B._o..a_~
Grie~
~eodleRQ~t f~ M~n•
·
He feels men should be able to do
"female" things without shame. -
NEvl
YORK . The first annual Feminist
•
Olympics was held in NewYork under the
·
sponsorship of the Lesbian Feminist
Liberation.
(M,!jgritv Report,Oct. '73).
SEATTLE. A new ordinance her·e prohibits
discrimination
in city offices m1d pri:- ·
vate employment on the basis of race, _
color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, political · ideology, age, creed,
religion,
ancestry, or national origin.
(Advocate, Oct. 10, '73).
HONTREALo the 81st a~'1ual convon· At
tion of the American Psychological
Ass•n here the first week in September,
a g:;.--oup 75 people, presumeably mem-of
bers of the A.P.A., met to form an
Association of Gay Psychologists.
(Advo~,
Oct. 10, '73) • .
NEM
JERSEY. The National Organization
for Womenis trying to force the little
League to accept girls on their baseb~ll
teams. Hearings are before the N .J.
Division of Civil Rights.
(Majori_u
Report , · Oct. '73)
TELEVISION. On the October l episode
of Medical ~.!!!&!:, Dr. Annie Claymor,
a lesbian psychiatrist,
defended herself vigorously and adeptly against the
accusations of Dr~ Joe Gannon·that she
should not be handling a case involving
a teenage girl. .
, ·
NEW
YORK. WHEC-TV
·
broadcast a baseball
go.me between .the NewYorkMattachine
Society and the NewYork City police.
Final score: poiice. 16, gays o. (The
Empty Closet, Sept. •73)".
LONDON.Gay women here got Highgate ._
Cemeta:::•y
opened just for them to visit
Radcliffe Hal,l' s grave 'on October 7-, the
30th annivers~ry of her death. (Sappho, .
'
,
Sept. '73).
BOSTON. Diane Fraser, graduate student
in sociology at Duke University, reports
to D.O.B. that her stu.dy on Boston a:r.ea ·
lesbians is still in the data analysis
·_stage.
.
The interviews were done here
in 1971-7~, She also noted that the .
Duke University Library had I&.al2!:m/
Womanin the locked stacks with the
porno. So she made it required reading for her classes.
BOSTON. The :NoO.W. economic task force
would like to know if you are going to
apply or have applied for a Small
Business Ad.--nin:tst1
..ation Loan. Call
· Iris Schnitzei-- 267-9755•
·
BOSTON. In the Sept.26 J3oston Globe,
George Frazier finds it incredible -that
antidiscrimination
laws protecting gays
have not been passed by the legislature.
In eai·lier years Frazier had said that
gay liberation
was silly and unnecessary.
He still believes, however, that 11the
love that once dared not speak its name
now can •t keep its mouth shut," and
_objects to those who "come out of the
closet while slamming the door. 11
BOSTON. In the October 9 ~~ Glob~
Ann Landers replies to someone who saw
this year's Gay Pride Week Parade in
Chicago and who was "Freaked Outri,
" ••• What you de~cribe sounds like the
lunatic fringe.
Many homosexuals .are
dignified,
soft-spoken people. They
do not wear high heels or wigs. The
only real difference between them and
us is that they prefer as sex partners
membe:-s of their own gender."
.
CENSUS. There are 101}million females
in the U.S. aco·oroing to 11We the American Women"published by the U.S. Census Bureau and based on the 1970 figures.
There are 99.5 million males.
The average annual income for women
.;
who work full time is $.5700 for men it :,
is $9630.
CHICAGO~The first national news maga~,
was announced
zine for women, W2,m,!ll'l
by the 9-wcmali. professional
group that
has spent the past year planning it. It
will start as a.72-page magazine _the
size -of l.imE!, wlth an initial
subscription of 140,000. The first issue will
be ·published in 1974, with twice-a-month
editions.
7
NEWS,
CONT.
THE UN
rvERSITlES ANDTHEGAY
EXPERIENCE
is the title
of a c,nference sponsored
and men of the Gay Acaby the W'.)mon
demic Union November 23~25 in New York
City.
All persons involved in academia.
Bci.rbara Gittings will be
are invited.
on.a of th!;) keynote speakers.
There
workshops,
will be panels, discussions,
p~rticularly
about discrimination
in
acajemia, teaching gay studies,
etc.
MINNE.SOTA.
The Ci·ril L:ibe:;.
ti0s U
nion
of Minnesota is suing the Northwestern
Bell Telephone Company, a branch of the
American Telephone and Telegraph Coe,
for refusing to hire Byron Schmitz when
he revealed that his 4F draft status was
due to homosexuality.
The C.L.U. argument will be that since Bell is a monopoly and has special rights under Minnesota law, it is therefore
quasi-governmental and is subject to U.S. constitu, tional provisions for due process of law
and equal protection
under the law.
The suit i-rlll be in federal court.
' Schmitz has not been involved w"ith the
gay movement. (Advocate, Oct. 10. 0 73).
0
The conference will be held at John
Jay College of Criminal Justice,
City
University of New York, 445 West 59th
St., New York City.
Registration
is ·
11 am Friday Nov. 23 .. Cost is $10 for
the employed, $5for students and unemployed. Advance registration
is $8
and $4 from Prof. K.S. Sherrill,
Dopt.
Political
Science, Box 1479, Hunter
College, C.U.N.Y., N.Y. 10021.
NIXON: 11 ••• 'l.'hese were the considerations
that I had in mind as I considered what
man or other individual to S6lect as the
nominee for Vice President of the U.S. 11
GEORGIA. Last I1arch 9 Bosten D~O.B. distributed
100 questionnaires
for Julia
Stanley's nationwide study on slang terms used among gay women and men. Julia,
a ssistant professor of English at the University of Georgia, reports the following returns:
total sent
out by Julia
sent out by Boston
in the study
D.O~B.
to New England
40
Number sent out
Number rec~ived
to rest of the
country (via FOCUS
mailing)
back
60
450
12
5
81
%returned
Since she is still
in the process of distributing
and collecting
the questionnaires,
we urge all those who have not sent them back to do so now. Tho overall rate of
return is enco'LU"agingly high for a questionnaire,
she saye.
WORCESTER.On Saturday, October 20, the Worcester Council of Churches, Worcester
9
W0mens Center, and the Worcester Crisis Center sponsored a Conference on HomosexThe morning began with speakers Don McGaw, Ann
uality at the YWCAin Worcester.
Maguire, and Jane Graham from the Homophile Community Health Service in Boston.
Elaine Noble, scheduled to spen.k with Mr. McGaw, could not attend because of~llness.
Two films were shown regarding different
organizations
individuals
attitudes,
parental conflicts,
oppressions,
pressures,
role playing, transvestites
and transsexuals,
Various workshops included:
how to create a homosexual,
shop. The last was similar
attended.
People tried to
100 men and women attended
throughout the United States,
societal
prison life,
etc.
the gay adolescent,
religion
and the gay community,
comi;1 out, the aging homosexual, a.nd a lesbian workg
to the Tuesday night DOBrap. Many heterosexual women
understand perspectives
given from each side. About
the conference all together.
8
Dear Brothers
LET.'.rERS FOGTJS
TO
and. Sistel·s,
We are nurses in the Philadelphia area
who are active in the American Nm·se1 s
Association a~1dwho h1;1.ve
recently formed
a group called the Gay Nurses O Alliance '
(G.r- ~Ae)
T
o
Current objectives of the Alliance are:
•ovide a f arum iJhere gay nurses
to p:.:
can talk togethur; to raise the concciousness of all nurses to tho existence of
d:i..scrimination against peers and patients
who are ga~r; and to m1;1.ke
information and
cur rent llt .orati:..res abailable thc1t :refute
the homophobic, middle class~ stereoviews of homosextypic, Judeo-Christian
uality wi1icl:icontimis to cause such d,iscrm..ination and ovpression •••
In an attempt to become a recognized
ent:i.t;v:within the American Nurses' Associe.tion, the Gay Nurses 1 Alliance will
"coma out 11 in Pittsburgh,
officially
Pa., Octobct' 21-25, 1973, at the 69th
Annual Convention of the Pennsylvania
Nurses 0 Association ••• In addition to
information and consciousness raising
activities,
resolutions
aimed at ending
the discrimination
against gay peers and
patients will be presented to the Voting
Body. Wo will also be recruiting members and making plans for workshops and
conferences dm.•ing the coming year to
amaso support f 0 1· our effort to gain
natio11al recognition by the American
Nurses O Association at its Anrmal Convention in San Francisco in June 1974•••
This letter,
then, is an am1ouncement
of our existence and is also an appeal
for help and financial support ••• We also
welcome letters
of inquiry, support; ·
suggestions or other responpible com~
or
meritary. All names of contributors
other peroons associated with the G
:.N.A.
confidential
unless perare strictly
mission for release has been obtained
in writing.
Yours in gay pride,
Sh-'l.2..1.)1<1
D.O.Eo S:i..sters,
Juwt a sl10rt line to let you all know
that I r$nlly enjoyed my stey at the
dance in Beston . Fr:i.day nightt
It W/lS
really a l:ift fer me to oee n few old
faces and meet so meny new ones .
·"Coming Togethor 11 isn •t always easy for
us, but it ~an be done and usually is
once the nervousness is gcme and we can
relax in a pleasant atmosphere~ It
only raade me roalize hew much I miss
Boston,
I went to the 0 Saints"--WOWt Make sure
you all pat;.:-cmi~e this place as it i3
really a. great place.
Wi1enI lived in
Boston (net so long ago) there . was NO.
where to go! , Keep. a good thing going.
I hope to b9 in Boston ag~:L~ soon and
it 0 s really e.·great comfort to know that
one is so · welcome. D.O.B. has · certainly accomplished its main purpose!
Ge.y love,
Gette.
Dear Sisters,
First of all I 0 d like to thank all of
those sisters who voter. me in as president of D.O.B.
More importantly this letter is to
Andrea and Wendy. I need you, and D.O.B
needs you - mo1~e
than ever now. There
is ' room in D.O.B. for all ideas and
platforms if it is to expand and grow.
As I statod in my platform , I feel some..
what limited to raps and social events,
so therefore the organization needs women who are more politically
oriented
th an I.
·
D.O.B. is n9_!:,the president;
it is each
woman who cornea, joins, and works in
.her own way to fulfill
her ideas of
what tho or ga niz ation
E. Carolyn Innes,jR. N.
G. David Waldron, R.N.
Gay Nurses 0 Alliance
P.O. Box 5687
Philadelphia,
Pa. 19129
Love to all~
Sheri
means to hei:-.
LETTERS FOCUS,CONT.
TO
9
(5¢ a wor d)
Dear FOCUS,
It seems tragically
unfortunate that at
this time of need in the Gay cornrntinity
an organization such as Bostmi Daughters
of Bilitis
would elect officers by receiving proxy votes from me bers who
m
perhaps have never been to more than one
DOBfunction, and who in fact do not participate
in the re alistic
and exhausting
function of running this organization.
We cannot afford, and I for one will
a system in which we cannot tolerate,
, not and will not allow free and open
communication with straight society.
In terms of public relations
and education, an organization would be in a
sorry state if not flexible enough to
move without constant fear of exposure
and recognition.
The terms are contradictory.
We need exposure, and we must
be recognized.
We must stand up and sayand Yes, we will
Yes, we are lesbians,
will state our names, we will sign our
names, we will lobby at the State House,
we will . appear before camera men, we
will be interviewed by the media.
We must not shackle ourselves further
by electing representatives
who cannot,
or will not be open. Of course we need
raps. And of course they are in no
danger of ceasing.
Lesbians need a
"place", but not just on Tuesday nights.
We need, and deserve a place in the
world we live in too. We are more than
JUST Lesbians.
Unfortunately,
this
l ate. The election
what we deserve.
ADS
letter comes too
was fair, and we get
Member
A Saddened OOB
#######################################
AMAZON
QUARTERLY.
A special double issue, devoted to
interviews with lesbians around the
U.S. and Canada, a resource guide, and
more. $1.50 ·
Regular subscriptions
$4/yr ($5 for
plain wrapper).
: ·
QUARTERLY, Valle Vista,
554
AMAZON
Oakland, Calif. 94610.
Would like to meet gay girls from
artistic,
anywhere who are creative,
like to travel, enjoy girls' fast
pitch sof t ball, dance, books, go
junking, like music, nature, and the
quiet beautiful side of life, with
broad horizons - who are , spontaneous
and imaginative.
Write LOIS M.
ROHRBAUGH, W. Phila. St., York,
704
Pa. 17404, or call weekends 717-
843-2852.
THELESBIAN
TIDE
$7.50 a year
samples in the OOBoffice to look at
LESBIAN
1'IDE
743 S. Grandview Ave.
Los Angeles, Calif. 90057
SISTERS: ~UR CATALOGUE coming!
is
But we need you to make it .Qill: catalog.
We need info' on women's centers, projects, experiences.
We need photos, bcl
book reviews, articles,
research, advertisers,
etc. OURCATALOGUE
CO.,
6504 Pardall Rd. #3, Isla Vista,
Calif. 93017.
FEMINISTS/ASTROLOGERS.
Beyond the
obsolete sexism of Astrology:
Astroecology, first woman-created world
Introview. Charts, instruction.
duction $2e Shana Lee, Box 534,
Needham, Mass. 02192.
·
DID YOUMISS Gay American's Day? The
Boston Gay Confere~ce7 The Worcester
Conf erence7 The GAYCOMMUNITY
NEWS
tells you whatvs coming every week.
Plus lots more. First class: 10 weeks
$2.10, 25 weeks $5; third class le
weeks $1.50, 25 weeks $3,50. Now
eight pages. G.C.N., c/o Charles St.
Meeting House, 70 Charles St., Boston,
Mass. 02114.
SISTERSMAGAZINE.
Published by San Francisco DOB. $5/yr.
SFOOB,Room 402, 1005 M
arket St.,
San Francisco, Calif. 94103.
10
WOMEN'S TIV
FES AL
with this same self-fulling
prophecy.
by Gerry Azzata
We see that ostracism, not lesbianism,
Art displays, finger-painting,
impromptu is the problem." The group does not ·
poetry readings, and music were the high- merely want to criticize,
but also to
lights of the first afternoon of the MCC create a positive image for lesbians in
Women's Festival.
The festival was held this society.
They are preparing a manaul
on October 1'.3. nd 14 . at Old West Church. . t~.at will examne and anaiyze the total
a
.i
life experienc1;3s of lesbians, as it
Several local women show~d art work and
The manual
demonstrated such crafts as framing • .For relates to issues in therapy.
those of us less artistically
skilled,
w~ll also contain a "Lesbian Mental
He~lth Bill of Rights" citing these five
there were finger-painting
areas, apple
bobbing, and a 1icommunitypainting." · A . points;
poetry reading revealed that many of our
sisters are very talented and sensitive
1. Every womanhas the right to her
sexual preference.
Lesbianism is
poets.
·
not a diagnostic term.
Following a buffet dinner, the film
"Therese and Isabelle" was shown. When 2. Lesbianism is . not a legitamate cause
for determining that a womanis emthe sound track refused to play, the
otionally disturbed, or for adminisevening was saved bra womanwho provided
tering treatment involuntarily.
piano music for the now-silent film.
Attendance was good throughout the day,
averaging between 40 to 60 people • .A
3 • No womanmay be colTIIllittedto any
mental institution, ; ·hospital or .
spirit of fun a. d real sisterhood pre- .
n
11 home", or confined
in any way for ·
vailed.
being a lesbian.
·
. .
On Sunday, an open discussion at CS
}1H
4. Lesbianism cannot be cited a,;a reason
was followed by the evning service . of
to judge that a womanis mentally,
MCC. Rev. Freda Smith, pastor of Sacemotionally, or morally incapable of
ramento MCC
and first womanelder of the
caring for her children, teaching
governing board of MCC, gave a lively
·
school, or having any other employsermon to a large congregation.
ment where she is required to administer to others.
·,·
All in all, it was a successful weekend,
enjoyed by all who at tended. .
.
5 • M womenmust be trained and licenore
sed to practice in the mental health
JOINT CONFERENCEW
ON OMEN'S
HEALTH
.ISSUES
field.
This profession can no longer
by W
endy Bauman
·
be limited to an elite, predominantly
male group which has had the privilege
On Sept. 29, 1973, the National Organof access to clinical and medical
ization for Womensponsored a conference
schooling.
on women's health issues.
The days events,
held at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital _in
The group sees this bill as an inte ral
Bo=ton, inclu~ed ~~eak?rs on such top:ts
part of the Women's Mediaal Bill ofg ·
as, Health and iu nority W'
d~en, Women's Rights proposed at the conference.
Med~cal Bill of Rltgh~s? Patie.nt Advo- Copies of all available literature
from ·
cate 'Pro~ams, Alternative Therapy _:nd
a
the conference mav be read at the off"
Alternatives to Therapy, Health Problems
****************•********************~C,..~•
of Lesbian Women,Self-Help Groups; and
D.O.B. THANKSGIVING
SUPPER.
films concerning examinations by paraNovember 18, Sunday
•
.
·
medics.
5:30 ·pm ·sharp .
St. John.0 s Church, '.33Bowdoin St.,
The lesbian turnout
at the conference
Boston . (nr. Gov0 t Center, off
surpassed my own wishful thinking.
A
Cambridge St).
strong element of the conference was
..TURKEY,
ALL THETRIMMINS
1.
the Lesbian Therapy Research Project.
D.O.B. MEMBERS FRIENDS
&
.
They participated
with the premise that
50¢ members
"psychotherapy creates and perpetuates
$1 friends
a negative self - image or diagnostic label
womenonly
for lesbians and then ostracizes them
*****************************************
BOSTON
DAUGHTERS BILITIS
OF
:.f---F
CALENDAR
November 1973
MOND~YS
6·:30--7:30
~m THE WOMEN'S
SHOW.WBCN-FM
104.1 .mc.
OUTt~ Jonatha 'n Katz• documentary_ play ago).rt gay
MONDAYS pm Nov.5~-Dec~17 · COMING
8
hist _ ry, with a cast of 5 women, 5 men, directed by Nick
o
.. ,
At the ;
Deutsch, produced by .Loretta Letman. $2 do~ation.
Charles st •.· M eting Hquse, _ .Charles st •., Boston •
_
e
70
.{J;UE$DAYS7:Jb pm RAP SESSIONS ON BEING GAY, FOR WOMEN
'
ONLY. Share
•
.
. ,.
feelings
about
be;ing gay, eveeyone welco~e.
At the D.O.B. ,office,- 419
Boylston st., Beston, between Arlington and ~erkeley Streets,
n,~ar. the , Arlin:gton MSTAstop.
,
t
.
.
i..~...
~
.
WEDNESDAYS .. ,pm LESBIANMOTHERS'RAP, at the D.O.B. , office.
_
. 7:30
.
.
. .
.
\
.•
·WEDNESDAYS ~ :B:rsEXU.AL
8_,:
.RAP FOR MEN ANDWO~N, R~o~ 415 at 419 Boylston
'.-, · ·
;-·,.
... a ,. OB event).
D
·. .
. ,
.
'
: ... \.
.
\
11
t
·•
;r·•..
St , (Not
.
THURSDAYS
9--10 pm GAYWAY
RADIOPROGRAM,
WBUR-FM
90.9 mp .
..
pn°
LAVENDAR
HOUR,WBCN-FM
..104.1 me.
Saturday, Sunday, Monday 8 pm COMING
oui't -~tho
'
NOVEMBER Sunday ·, 10
4,
NOVEMBER
3,4,5,
at the c.s.M.H.
Tour info~atior_i
868-5729;
,play (see above),
,536-1719.
NOVll'JBER Wednesday, 8:30 pm (we thinkt)
7,
Homophile Conmrunity Health Se~ce
44, Channel 44 TV•.
on CATCH
'
,,
NOVEMBER Friday,-1_,
9,
is
COMING
OUT t at Univ ·. ··-of ·1-ii'ass., Boston.
Info.
868-5729.
•
NOVEMBER" Wednesday, 7:30 pm D.O.B. BUSINESSMEETING. For all members, others
14,
.
can, c_ _ · too (women). Ann , Kendal will be there at 8:45 pm
om
e
to talk about the proposed Boston Women's Center.
·
..
pm
\
.
.
.
.
NOVEMBER Sunday,5:30/
18,
D.O,B. · THANKSGIVINGINNER, for memba~ and friends.
,D
This will be an elegant affair--but
not a formal one! •rhere
dressing,
_ ill be the, usual thanksgiv:Lpg delectables--turkey,
w
potatoes,
peas, turnip, , cranberry
sauce, fruits,
nuts, pies,
coffee, tonic, tea, milk--and it is our yearly get-together
for members . particularly
so we can all get ~cquainteq and
have a good time.
Dancing after eating if · you can man-age.
- The cost is
We want you to come. So, DOB is subsidizing.
only 50¢ ~or ~embers, 100¢ for non-members (woD?enonly} .! t .
W',&:
BE THEREON TIME, 5:30 pm SHARP. THAT's WHEN EAT.
Where: St. John's Church,, JJ Bowdoin st .. .,. Boston,, near
·
Gover~ent . Cent~r and off .Cambridg~ ~t.
NOVEMBER
23-25 GAYACADEMIC
UNIONCONFERENCE,
NEW
YORKCITY.
See Nov.FOCUS p.7.
NOVEMBER Mcnday, 7:30 pm FOCUSSTAFF MEETING. At the DOB office.
26,
All D.O.B. events are open to all women. We welcome your support in our efforts
·
to reach other gay women~ to · provide raps and social events, to work for civil rights,
DAUGHTERS BILITIS
OF
419 Boylston st., Room 323
Boston, ·Mass. 02116
PHONE: 617-262-1592
H0URS: Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday,Thursday evenings.
12
. QUICK
GAYGUIDE
(from Gay Community News)
EASTERN
¥u\SSACHUSEl'TS
(area code 617)
m:5TERNMASSACHUSffi.'S
( ~rea , oode'.413) ...
Boston Gay Youth
536-619?
Amherst Gay Hot~e
(men & women)
. ..
. .. '
. ..
.545-0154
B.U. Homophile League
35) ~8758
Coming O~t (the play)
.
868-5729
.545-0883
Everywoman•s Center (Amherst)
Daugllter$ of .Bili tis · . . • . · 262-1592 · Gay .People's Radio Hour(Amherst).546-5176
Dignity (Catho1io) ,o/o 1105 Boylston st.,
Southwest Women's Center (Amherst).5450626
· ,
Boston 02215
u. Mass-Amhersi Student. Homophile League
:·
.. .
. . : 545-01.54
.
. 53&.9826
Fag Rag .
Gay Community Center ·
491- 5669 yaJ+ey Women's Center (Northampt.66'-2011
Gay Conimuni N~ws
ty
.523-8729 .
Gay Craft Guild
738-0428
ISLAND ( area code 401)
RHODE
Gay Media Action
868-5729
Gay People's Group of U.Mass/Boston
. ' · Homophile Community Health Service.· '..
( Provid~ce) · ., 274-47)7
542-6500x607
Gay Speakers• Bureau
• ..
547-1451
Metropolitan Community· church
831-377)
·
· (Providence)
Gay· Way Radio Program (Thurs eve)J53-2?90
Good Gay Poets
53&.9826 Provid._nce Gay Women
e
. ?7~0239
Harvard-Radcliffe
Gay Students · 498-3096
(area code 802)
Homophile Community Health Serv1oe266~.5477 VERMONI'
Homophile Union of Boston .· ·
536-6197
Lavendar Hour (WBCN:
Andrew Kopkind or
Gay 1n Vermont
)
· 261-8526 ·
. . . .,;
. Littlejohn
Lesbian Libera:tion
(c/o . Women's Center )
J,54-8807
Metropolit , n cemmµnity . Clrurch . 266~7491
a
Pro jeot Place ( gay hotline Thurs. eve) ·
267-9150
.
2.67-0?f::4
Fr. Paul ..Shanley
oa
· ..MEMBERSHIP
.
sUBsCRIPI'IONTo
o.o.B.
Return this · form or · a copy of it to the D.o.B. off~ce, 419 B.oylston St.;
Boston, _
Mass. , 02116• . Informatio _ .is kept strictly
n
confideri't:ial. ·
.
Enclosed is$_
. __
.
Ro~m323,
.'
.... for
DMOOERSffI.P IN D.O.B. $10/y~ar ($15 for a couple)
·• Includes one subscription to FOCUSand voting
:- privileges,
·plu-s reduced admission to some events.
NOTE:Memberships may be paid ..
by $5 'initially,
the : balance .
. Any women 18 years old or older may join.
-~
.· : .
within .2 months. Vot. ng priv:i
ileges obtain ·onl.y when fees
are fully p~id. : If'. the bal..; ..
FOCUSsub~cription.
.
$';/y~ar.~ Anyone.
ance is not ~aid within 2 .
months, the $5 becom~s a
.
donation to the organization.
CAL'filIDAR
subscription.
$1/ 6 mo. Anyone.
.
.
.
'
.·
.:
.
.
'
.er
a·
_ -· : P
.·.• ._..·. HONE(MEMBERS)
____
NAME(S)
________________
ADDRESS
______________
.....,.~ ~----~--------,~
·
SIGNATURE
(MEMBERS).am a woman 18 years of age or older:
·I
(1) ___.........
____
DAT
___________
_
.........
___________
_
(2) _____________
zipl
_
,'
by Cathy Baker
ACROSS
1 Jill
Johnston's
Book (2 words)
say yes, sh e says
8 If sh e doesn't
9 No a cc oun t abv.
11 W
here cove rt gays live
14 A s en sitive
part of one's head
15 Feminine na me (Latin)
16 One ' s partner
17 Feminine pronoun
lE Fourth scale note
?O Happy
?l Medic ine not likely
taken
by les bians
') ? ;:,, t well
o
'?3 '1 __
of My Heart'"
?6 D yo u re member when we first
o
?
1o
i
?9 ..·!i .r 1 ,.,uana
.
30 A p eriod of ti me
31 Unit of length
34 Ba d dinne r
,.
36 By 1ray of
38 iiot yet come out
t society
forgets
we are
39 '.-\i;.'1.a
40 Onp os i te of beg inning
(Answers
i ssu e).
in next
month's
DOWN
1 Opp os it e of dislike
2 Generaliz
ed type
3 Indefinite
article
4 Neg ati•e
answer
5 The __ of us
6 Single
7 How lov ing another
woman
comes to us
10 . Derogatory
term for
liomosexual
12 Stron g aff ec ti on
13 Unhappy
17 What soc iet y makes us
l ive in
19 To free
20 To split
-~ Girl
4
25 A lesbian's
lover
26 Person al p ronoun
''
2 7 "Tit f or
28 To
and to hold
fr om this day on
32 Thing
33 To all ow
35 The last part of a
relat ionship
37 Exclamati o:-i
38 Sixth scale note
The History Project
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Thank you for using the manuscript collections of The History Project.
Copyright restrictions may apply. If you have questions or wish to request removal of a
document in this collection from our digital repository, please contact The History
Project.
This PDF file contains images of an issue of the publication Maiden Voyage, produced
by the Boston chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis from
The Daughters of Bilitis (Boston chapter) records
Collection #0011
Recommended Citation:
[Item description including title, author, and date if known], Daughters of Bilitis
(Boston chapter) records, The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston.
GAY WOMEN
BOSTON
DAUGHTERS
OF BILITIS
'I
I
.,
Nov. '73
$.50
F' !CUS: A JOiJRlJi!J~f:'OR GA1 W
(
'
OhKi
J
FOCUS STAFF this
issue: W-:mdyB c?.l 4n,
"
li'.tLaura Rob:i.n (typing,
lnyo)1t, vP.'.'ittn g);
Judy ( cop;re:il ti:.1g) ; Geri Bidw,111 hnd :1:8'1~
t
Ginny Collins,
and others
(p1·cd.ud ·.:::.o 1;
.-'.l
Sheri Barden (11ewstand sales);
J - tnin e,
:
Lois J., Jan, Schel, Cath:yo Authors
of s~.gn0d articles
are crac:ited be l ow
( 11in this
issue") •
published
r.1
onthly by Boi;ton
D-mglrtoi·s of Bi ::L !.l ') Roor.1 J2J 9
:
itl
L,1-19
Dcylston St., Bo.st.en, Hass. 02l16
FOCUS is
are $5 a. yenr and a sample
Sub s criptions
is 50¢. Givo us your zjp #. If you
movo, let us know. '!'he post office
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P1 esident
~
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She1·i Barden
Vlco Presider !t •••• •,. • .Pa, _
ua Dob.ert.y
Tl' easurer. e. ~ * •• , •••••• Seri Bid.well
Iler.ording Secr-otary •••• Lo13 J.
Corresponding SacretaryLau r a Robin
3 ••
December issue:
DEADLINE for
••••••••••
possible
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9S
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in FOCUS refl ec t ths views
of the individual
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ARTICLES
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TIClt\L W N~S HIS TORYARCHIVE,
Oi'1E
I NT
n:FU\,'.'\
2325 Oak St ~, Ber ke ).ey q Cc1lif. 9:1
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it i3 avail <1- on rdo r ofil,.11 f:r.mn Boll
ble
& Howell, Woostor!)Ohi? to Octoue 'r 1971
and f.' cm the TI'JHAfrom Octobe r 1971-r
Boston
Daught9rs
of Bili tis.
COVER: Claj_re Sh anahan, a merr.ber of
D.O.D.,
and her son Eric.
See related
11Childron
article
of Bilitis".
Photo
by Torry.
June l973.
******************************************************************
*
*
IN THIS ISSUE
*
*
*
*
*
* CHILDRENOF BILITIS, by Penny Perrnult••••••••o••••••••••2
*
*
* POETRY by f /m/s/, 11J:im", and Desi Geshen.,.., •• ., "° .... •• ••• 4
* ENGLISH LIT. F:E-~.iC ir m D: LESBI AN PERSPECTIVES C~T
AM
*
*
NA~' .NIEf, }1AJTHO
HA
V
RN3, . by Judi ... o ~,,,., , ~ • ., • .. ••••
,.
.. 5
*
*
*
NE:, 3 AtlCU THE COUNTRY~••.,~••••••v•e••<>•o•••a9,.•G•&•c1>~<>6
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L~TE I~S '10 FOC1J o ••••••
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8
* WGrIBI FESTIVAL, by Gerry A~~ata. ••••• • e * •o o .... ~. , ~ ••••• 10
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* J'OINT COllJ"F CE ON 1vOJ:.
El'~Eif
:EHvs m,;i:LTH IS.SUES, b;{ W-'J dy
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GUIDE••••••••••••••••••••••••••••~••••••••••••12
PUZZLE,by Cathy Baker •••••••• •" •••• • ••••• •.• .13
* CROSSWORD
*
*
Dallas DOB
Wom~nf or Action
Bex 591-4,
4
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Tx. 75222
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*
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*
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1005 Ma!•kot St ., 9 Rm. 402
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x
N
orthwood, N.H. (this
DOi3 but do not
p ..1. that
t
is Now Hampshire
on t he envelope)
GHIL:JREN OF BI LEl.1 IS
by Penny Perra.ult
There is, within the Lesbian Community, a minority ·-- largely
:1ilent,
la:r;-gely forgotten.
· These
are the women who ·a r e Lesbians and
also mothers.
I write as a ni~mber
of that minority;
and- I ada.:..~ess my.
self to the Lesbian majority
-- those without children
-- in a
hope for understanding,
consideration, ~nd a me~sure of courtesy.
threats
to custody),
three issues
that I have encountered
and spok e,~
on . freque,ntlya
first,
openness
with your children
about your
homosexuality;
second, the difficulties
the children
may encount _ with their peers abollt your
er
·homosexuality;
and third,
the .
response of .the gay com;nunity itself to Lesbian mothers.
Fir s t, let me tell you a little
abo ut myself, and about Lesbian
mothers in general.
My lover and
I each have a child,
both boys,
both preschool
age.
And both of
us are in the unusual and fortunate
position
of being able to be outspoken about our homosexuality
without risking
custody of our
children.
There are many more who
cannot be outspoken without threat
to custody; ·but who wish to participate
in activ:ities
and exchange
with their gay sisters.
The first
issue is the simplest
to deal with.
Warm and loving
affection
betwee~ people is
healthy and natural,
and can only
have a posittye
effect
on child~
ren.
The opposite,
hiding your
love and affe.c .tion for another,
being ashamed to show it, can
have a detrimental
effect.
And
those of ycu who have been around
children
are well aware that they
are the first
to sense when something . important
is being hidden
from them.
Raising children
as gay mothers
is essentially
no different
from
raising
children
as straight
mo- .
thers.
We encounter the . sa;ne problems (maintaining
discipline,
ooping with their childhood
illnesses,
keeping them clothed despite spurts of growth),
and the
same joys (helping them develop
into rounded adults,
enjoying
their spontaneity,
sharing their
pride in achievement).
Many of
us are without mates~ which for
some creates
a problem in providing a balanced and rounded lifestyle for the child and the parent.
The s2cond issue is perhaps the
most difficult.
What will the
children
do when they go to
school, how will their peers
r .eact -- and indeed children
can
be cruel,
but children
also have
a deeper capacity
for acceptance
than most adults,
If a mother
is open about her sexuality
with
the childt the child can then
deal with it,
Far better
that
the child should learn of mother'f.
orientation
from her than from
cruel remarks or whispered innuendos that leave the child in
doubt and fear.
And, too, communication
on the subject
is thus
open between ·parent and child,
which means that problems in
this regard can be dealt with
honestly
and openly.
I might add
that .I anticipate
far more difficulty
from straight
parents
than from children,
and . the experience
of other mothers ' bears
this out.
Another and very important
poin t is that the emotional health and happiness
of a
has a great
parent ultimately
bearing on the child 8 s emotional
Many gay .mothers do have one advan·
tage, however. ·That is, because
of the self-examination
and introspection
that we must do in order
to accept ourselves
and our homosexuality
fully,
we often acquire
a sensitivity
to and understanding
of others that stands us in good
stead and gives us a valuable
springboard
to understanding
our
children.
There are,
however (
aside
from
health and outlook.
W
ith t his in
mind, remembering the damage that
an emotional clos et does to any of
us, it would be a crime to hide our
se xuality
from our children.
Children can be seriously
han dicapped
by parents who lack a sense of open
honesty and self-worth,
and that
damage will i ne vitabl y be more farreaching than any damage that a
peer group could inflict.
'Th~ third issue relates
primarily
to . the le-sbian mothers themselves,
arid is a problem of lon ger duration .
'The real ·handicap ·that lesbian
mothers encounter comes not from
straight
society but from within
th e ir own ·communit y. Furthermore,
my ·experience
has shown me that
the problem comes more from gay
women than from gay men, The problem is this: · since the ma jority
of gays .do not <
have chi l dren, they
make no allowances
for those that
do. Children (understandably)
are
not welcome at · activities
such as
raps or .business
meetings,
but
atte m
pts are seldom made either
to provide · child care or to assist
in locating
child care so that
Lesbian mothers · can participate
in
these activities.
And Lesbian
mothers are in a part i cularly
difficult .bind inobtaining
child
c are, since · the traditional
source
of evening arid weekend child care-the neighborhood
teenagers
-- is
often closed to the Lesbian mother,
because of the fears of the parents
and sometimes the teen ag ers themselves.
The result
-- mothers are
unable to participate
in many activities,
and so their presence and
needs are not felt and acted upon
-- a vicious circle
which needs to
·
be broken.
There are other activities
where
c~ildren
are not pro h ibited
(picnics, for example ') ; .however,
mothers who bring their children
to these activities
·o·f'ten encounter
resentment,
;and .occasionally
open
hostility,
from thos e who do -not
have children.
. •This has ·been the ..
experience
of many mothers with
as 'well :as :my:..·
whom I've talked,
self,
and is an experience ' that ·
spans a wide variety
of gay ·
organizations
and activities.
Perh a.p s th :i_s would be be8 :ra:.") , .
le
s ave ·for one thi ng -~•. t he- re.
sentment,
the apathy . about our
meeds, comes primarily
from our
sisters,
many of whom ov ertly
or covertly
express opinions
ranging fro m the idea that
having children
was our "mistake" and therefore
we should
pay fo r it, to tho idea that
we cannot be liberated
women
and be mothers · as well, to the
myth that we cannot be true
..
Lesbians,
since we have child.:. ··
ren.
What can we f as gay persons
with or wi t hout children,
do to
improve the situation
f or . ·.
Lesbian .mothers?
First,
ahd
most important,
is a willingness
to understand and accept Lesbian
mothers as a real and important
part of our community, and as
such, worthy of consideration
rather than rebuff, · This alone
can make a vast difference
in
the isolation
from .or unity with
·her community t hat a -Lesbian
mother feels. ·
., .
Next, in planning activities
take a moment to consider what
provisions
mi ght be made to ~
allow gay mothers to participate.
(Sometimes this is as simple as,
for example, noting o~ an
announcement for a pi cnic ,.that
childr .en may attend,).
•
.
.
·Further,
ways ·ca,h and should be
·sought ,to include children
in _
a
creative
way in community activities • . T~is approach can provide learning
and growing
opportunities
for both children
and adults.
For example, at
social activit i es (especially
those held in the daytime or
early evenin g ) plan one or t wo
activities
that children
and
adults might enjoy together
-games, son gs, contests
are some.
This is far more enjoy able and
profitable
for all than is simpl e
custodia l care.
These things do
not place a heavy demand on thos e
without children,
but can make a ·
world of difference
to a gay
4
CHILDREN DILI'l'I.3 ~ C'Ct i.'.
OF
moth0r and her children --· and glve an
extra dimension to the lives of those
w'ithout children.
Think about :l.t.
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r
BEGINNINGS
BY PROXIE
the last time i sa# me
(we had mot a long time ago,
when the sand was young
and soft with our wetness)
i W:?.S the sound of ~.shes
before a fire, the color of the wind
inside the sea.
all the soundless
safety of a dream gone mad. afraid of the
contagion becoming mortal, visible ,. how could
i now explain how dead feet ran down
stars & into the moonlit streets of dawn.
a freak of light buried with
its own shadow. i didn°t know if
i needed more of that light or wanted more
of the shadow. & now we meet, again, in the
semi-summer darkness & i a,.~ surprised
by the turns, by what time has done,
what it has created from the chaos of
before.
my tremblings & needs are outside
in a world gorle insane; real,
nameable, in the warm quiet
where the shadows 9 come & be people.•
Little Loxie,
Loxie
on her toffie,
secluded
in her boxie,
unseen,
unheard of Loxie
for two years
now
bequeathes
- ahl how foxie,
her pearls
of poxie
safely.
Safe,
secluded
Little Loxie,
unseen,
unheard of self,
- 50 foxie,
bequeathes
from toffie,
from within
her little
boxie :,
the right way
by Gum!
By Proxiel
--f /m/s
pieces of sleep there, there,
on the walking/talking
side of time.
somer saulting through a million yesterdays
only to come upright/tight
at dawn, here,
where midnight has given up the siege of light.
it's here, in the parochial madness, that i wait
for you to draw a line joining the stars to the sky.
to add color to the shade, making it a
butterfly
hue of reigning sunshine.
it is for that reason
that i had wandered through the dark, looking.
can ecstasy be so normal, so ••• comfortable,
as when i catch those missing pieces
dancing in your eyes.
THE U~-VEILING
--f/m/s
Whenever I see you
and you're wearing your make-up
I long to take a
rosewster and glycerine-saturated
and run it softly over your face
to watch the freckles appear
on the lovely pale slate of skin.
--Desi Geshen
cotton
swab
ENGLISH
LIT. RE-EY, N
..
AMI ED: LESBIA
N
PERSPECTIVEON NATHANIELP.i.AW NE
J.'HOR
by Judy
Occasionally we find buried among the
classics
a work which merits particular
attention
from gay readers.
One such
work is Hawthorne's Blithedale
Romance,
a novel with obvious lesbian content
and pronounced feminist concerns.
On
one level this book presents in fictive
form the story of the ?Brook Farm Experiment: the disillusionment
of a
group of 19th-century Transcendentalist
idealists
who had hoped to create a
new style of community living,
and
whose dreams of brotherly love and
harmony are eventually shattered.
It
is a pessimistic
novel, one which examines and then rejects with disappointment a number of alternative
kinds
of human interaction
and involvement.
Just as the hope for a social,
economic,
utopia cannot be fuland spiritual
filled,
so the search for more perfect
human relationships
likewise ends in
failure.
We need not speculate over-lon g about
the nat ur e of the "unutt ered boon"
whic h Priscilla
seeks from her friend.
5
The reasons why this relationship
does
not come to fruition
are all too clear.
Priscilla
and Zenobia are presented as
diametric opposites,
and each possesses
only half of the characteristics
which
would be necessary for her to become a
woman. Zenobia,
truly woman-identified
for example, has an extremely liberated
conception of womanhood, far ahead of
her times: she has a strong sense of her
own dignity and power, as well as a great
restriction
~
anger towards socio-political
ans degradationsimposed
upon her sex.
At the same time, however, she is incapable of . forming an emotional attachment to other women, and rather seems
an escape from the humiliation
of being
female by identifying
with men and with
male ambitions.
Zenobia likewise scorns
to associate with other women who have
accepted the roles laid out for them
by society and who consequently lack
the self-esteem which she herself has
It is interesting
that one of the human developed.
Priscilla,
by way of contrast r
alternatives
explored in the book is a
is able to attach herself emotionally
relationship
between two women, and
to another woman, and deliberately
seeks
though it, too, is doomed to failure,
out a member of her own sex for the
·
it occupies a ce.ntral position in the
fulfillment
of her deepest and most instory with regard to both plot and theme. timate needs.
What is - missing in her
The intense,
and ultimately
hopeless
is the political
consciousness and
love and devotion which Priscilla
ofphilosophic foundatioh ,whi:ch would enfers to Zenobia are never given any
able her also to resnect women as women.
explicitly
sexual dimension, nor is
She never frees herself from the timidity :
her passion ever openly identified
as
passivity,
and meekness which are her
distinguishing
character traits.
Thus
lesbian -- but this is natural enough,
we see the aggressive,
intellectually
given the dat of publication,
and it is
liberated
Zenobia despising Priscilla
impossible to misread the situation.
for her socially oriented submissiveFor instance,
shortly after the two
ness, and rejecting
the love and affecmeet, Hawthorne writes:
tion which Priscilla
shyly but persistently offers her.
She went towards Priscilla,
took
her hand, and passed hor own rosy
Hawthorne has depicted two polar opposite ,
fingertips,
with a pretty,
caresshere, two women whose incompletely forming movement, over the girl's
hair.
ed feminist consciousness prevents them
The touch had a magical effect.
So
from coming together ,. With great senvivid a look of joy flushed up besitivity
a heterosexual
writer appears
neath those fin gers, that it seemed
to have recognized a vital truth about
as if the sad and wan Priscilla
relationships
between women -- namely,
had been snatched away, and another
that they must be founded on a mutual
kind of creature substituted
in her
positive regard which has both a philoplace.
This one caress, bestowed
sophical and an emotional basis.
Such
voluntarily
by Zenobia, was evidenta recognition
on the part of a 19th ly received as a pledge of all that
century New England writer is no small
(Priscilla)
sought from her, whatachievement, and Hawthornees exploration
ever the unuttered boon might be.
of the difficulties
arising when these
two basic com
ponents are not equally
present is perceptive and moving.
6
NEWS
.AROUND COUN':'R7
THE
BOSTON. "Your Placs and Mine", -o. T.,v. :
show for, by, , and . l).bout women, now
appears on WC~ Sundays 12:J0-1 pm. Format is a panel f Pllot·!ed by audience participation.
Directqr is ·Eunice West. •
.
.
BOSTON. Roosevelt Gr:ter, ex-foot.bell
tackle, was · at Jo:rdan Me.rsh's Octobe1· .
11 autographing . copies of his new book _
B._o..a_~
Grie~
~eodleRQ~t f~ M~n•
·
He feels men should be able to do
"female" things without shame. -
NEvl
YORK . The first annual Feminist
•
Olympics was held in NewYork under the
·
sponsorship of the Lesbian Feminist
Liberation.
(M,!jgritv Report,Oct. '73).
SEATTLE. A new ordinance her·e prohibits
discrimination
in city offices m1d pri:- ·
vate employment on the basis of race, _
color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, political · ideology, age, creed,
religion,
ancestry, or national origin.
(Advocate, Oct. 10, '73).
HONTREALo the 81st a~'1ual convon· At
tion of the American Psychological
Ass•n here the first week in September,
a g:;.--oup 75 people, presumeably mem-of
bers of the A.P.A., met to form an
Association of Gay Psychologists.
(Advo~,
Oct. 10, '73) • .
NEM
JERSEY. The National Organization
for Womenis trying to force the little
League to accept girls on their baseb~ll
teams. Hearings are before the N .J.
Division of Civil Rights.
(Majori_u
Report , · Oct. '73)
TELEVISION. On the October l episode
of Medical ~.!!!&!:, Dr. Annie Claymor,
a lesbian psychiatrist,
defended herself vigorously and adeptly against the
accusations of Dr~ Joe Gannon·that she
should not be handling a case involving
a teenage girl. .
, ·
NEW
YORK. WHEC-TV
·
broadcast a baseball
go.me between .the NewYorkMattachine
Society and the NewYork City police.
Final score: poiice. 16, gays o. (The
Empty Closet, Sept. •73)".
LONDON.Gay women here got Highgate ._
Cemeta:::•y
opened just for them to visit
Radcliffe Hal,l' s grave 'on October 7-, the
30th annivers~ry of her death. (Sappho, .
'
,
Sept. '73).
BOSTON. Diane Fraser, graduate student
in sociology at Duke University, reports
to D.O.B. that her stu.dy on Boston a:r.ea ·
lesbians is still in the data analysis
·_stage.
.
The interviews were done here
in 1971-7~, She also noted that the .
Duke University Library had I&.al2!:m/
Womanin the locked stacks with the
porno. So she made it required reading for her classes.
BOSTON. The :NoO.W. economic task force
would like to know if you are going to
apply or have applied for a Small
Business Ad.--nin:tst1
..ation Loan. Call
· Iris Schnitzei-- 267-9755•
·
BOSTON. In the Sept.26 J3oston Globe,
George Frazier finds it incredible -that
antidiscrimination
laws protecting gays
have not been passed by the legislature.
In eai·lier years Frazier had said that
gay liberation
was silly and unnecessary.
He still believes, however, that 11the
love that once dared not speak its name
now can •t keep its mouth shut," and
_objects to those who "come out of the
closet while slamming the door. 11
BOSTON. In the October 9 ~~ Glob~
Ann Landers replies to someone who saw
this year's Gay Pride Week Parade in
Chicago and who was "Freaked Outri,
" ••• What you de~cribe sounds like the
lunatic fringe.
Many homosexuals .are
dignified,
soft-spoken people. They
do not wear high heels or wigs. The
only real difference between them and
us is that they prefer as sex partners
membe:-s of their own gender."
.
CENSUS. There are 101}million females
in the U.S. aco·oroing to 11We the American Women"published by the U.S. Census Bureau and based on the 1970 figures.
There are 99.5 million males.
The average annual income for women
.;
who work full time is $.5700 for men it :,
is $9630.
CHICAGO~The first national news maga~,
was announced
zine for women, W2,m,!ll'l
by the 9-wcmali. professional
group that
has spent the past year planning it. It
will start as a.72-page magazine _the
size -of l.imE!, wlth an initial
subscription of 140,000. The first issue will
be ·published in 1974, with twice-a-month
editions.
7
NEWS,
CONT.
THE UN
rvERSITlES ANDTHEGAY
EXPERIENCE
is the title
of a c,nference sponsored
and men of the Gay Acaby the W'.)mon
demic Union November 23~25 in New York
City.
All persons involved in academia.
Bci.rbara Gittings will be
are invited.
on.a of th!;) keynote speakers.
There
workshops,
will be panels, discussions,
p~rticularly
about discrimination
in
acajemia, teaching gay studies,
etc.
MINNE.SOTA.
The Ci·ril L:ibe:;.
ti0s U
nion
of Minnesota is suing the Northwestern
Bell Telephone Company, a branch of the
American Telephone and Telegraph Coe,
for refusing to hire Byron Schmitz when
he revealed that his 4F draft status was
due to homosexuality.
The C.L.U. argument will be that since Bell is a monopoly and has special rights under Minnesota law, it is therefore
quasi-governmental and is subject to U.S. constitu, tional provisions for due process of law
and equal protection
under the law.
The suit i-rlll be in federal court.
' Schmitz has not been involved w"ith the
gay movement. (Advocate, Oct. 10. 0 73).
0
The conference will be held at John
Jay College of Criminal Justice,
City
University of New York, 445 West 59th
St., New York City.
Registration
is ·
11 am Friday Nov. 23 .. Cost is $10 for
the employed, $5for students and unemployed. Advance registration
is $8
and $4 from Prof. K.S. Sherrill,
Dopt.
Political
Science, Box 1479, Hunter
College, C.U.N.Y., N.Y. 10021.
NIXON: 11 ••• 'l.'hese were the considerations
that I had in mind as I considered what
man or other individual to S6lect as the
nominee for Vice President of the U.S. 11
GEORGIA. Last I1arch 9 Bosten D~O.B. distributed
100 questionnaires
for Julia
Stanley's nationwide study on slang terms used among gay women and men. Julia,
a ssistant professor of English at the University of Georgia, reports the following returns:
total sent
out by Julia
sent out by Boston
in the study
D.O~B.
to New England
40
Number sent out
Number rec~ived
to rest of the
country (via FOCUS
mailing)
back
60
450
12
5
81
%returned
Since she is still
in the process of distributing
and collecting
the questionnaires,
we urge all those who have not sent them back to do so now. Tho overall rate of
return is enco'LU"agingly high for a questionnaire,
she saye.
WORCESTER.On Saturday, October 20, the Worcester Council of Churches, Worcester
9
W0mens Center, and the Worcester Crisis Center sponsored a Conference on HomosexThe morning began with speakers Don McGaw, Ann
uality at the YWCAin Worcester.
Maguire, and Jane Graham from the Homophile Community Health Service in Boston.
Elaine Noble, scheduled to spen.k with Mr. McGaw, could not attend because of~llness.
Two films were shown regarding different
organizations
individuals
attitudes,
parental conflicts,
oppressions,
pressures,
role playing, transvestites
and transsexuals,
Various workshops included:
how to create a homosexual,
shop. The last was similar
attended.
People tried to
100 men and women attended
throughout the United States,
societal
prison life,
etc.
the gay adolescent,
religion
and the gay community,
comi;1 out, the aging homosexual, a.nd a lesbian workg
to the Tuesday night DOBrap. Many heterosexual women
understand perspectives
given from each side. About
the conference all together.
8
Dear Brothers
LET.'.rERS FOGTJS
TO
and. Sistel·s,
We are nurses in the Philadelphia area
who are active in the American Nm·se1 s
Association a~1dwho h1;1.ve
recently formed
a group called the Gay Nurses O Alliance '
(G.r- ~Ae)
T
o
Current objectives of the Alliance are:
•ovide a f arum iJhere gay nurses
to p:.:
can talk togethur; to raise the concciousness of all nurses to tho existence of
d:i..scrimination against peers and patients
who are ga~r; and to m1;1.ke
information and
cur rent llt .orati:..res abailable thc1t :refute
the homophobic, middle class~ stereoviews of homosextypic, Judeo-Christian
uality wi1icl:icontimis to cause such d,iscrm..ination and ovpression •••
In an attempt to become a recognized
ent:i.t;v:within the American Nurses' Associe.tion, the Gay Nurses 1 Alliance will
"coma out 11 in Pittsburgh,
officially
Pa., Octobct' 21-25, 1973, at the 69th
Annual Convention of the Pennsylvania
Nurses 0 Association ••• In addition to
information and consciousness raising
activities,
resolutions
aimed at ending
the discrimination
against gay peers and
patients will be presented to the Voting
Body. Wo will also be recruiting members and making plans for workshops and
conferences dm.•ing the coming year to
amaso support f 0 1· our effort to gain
natio11al recognition by the American
Nurses O Association at its Anrmal Convention in San Francisco in June 1974•••
This letter,
then, is an am1ouncement
of our existence and is also an appeal
for help and financial support ••• We also
welcome letters
of inquiry, support; ·
suggestions or other responpible com~
or
meritary. All names of contributors
other peroons associated with the G
:.N.A.
confidential
unless perare strictly
mission for release has been obtained
in writing.
Yours in gay pride,
Sh-'l.2..1.)1<1
D.O.Eo S:i..sters,
Juwt a sl10rt line to let you all know
that I r$nlly enjoyed my stey at the
dance in Beston . Fr:i.day nightt
It W/lS
really a l:ift fer me to oee n few old
faces and meet so meny new ones .
·"Coming Togethor 11 isn •t always easy for
us, but it ~an be done and usually is
once the nervousness is gcme and we can
relax in a pleasant atmosphere~ It
only raade me roalize hew much I miss
Boston,
I went to the 0 Saints"--WOWt Make sure
you all pat;.:-cmi~e this place as it i3
really a. great place.
Wi1enI lived in
Boston (net so long ago) there . was NO.
where to go! , Keep. a good thing going.
I hope to b9 in Boston ag~:L~ soon and
it 0 s really e.·great comfort to know that
one is so · welcome. D.O.B. has · certainly accomplished its main purpose!
Ge.y love,
Gette.
Dear Sisters,
First of all I 0 d like to thank all of
those sisters who voter. me in as president of D.O.B.
More importantly this letter is to
Andrea and Wendy. I need you, and D.O.B
needs you - mo1~e
than ever now. There
is ' room in D.O.B. for all ideas and
platforms if it is to expand and grow.
As I statod in my platform , I feel some..
what limited to raps and social events,
so therefore the organization needs women who are more politically
oriented
th an I.
·
D.O.B. is n9_!:,the president;
it is each
woman who cornea, joins, and works in
.her own way to fulfill
her ideas of
what tho or ga niz ation
E. Carolyn Innes,jR. N.
G. David Waldron, R.N.
Gay Nurses 0 Alliance
P.O. Box 5687
Philadelphia,
Pa. 19129
Love to all~
Sheri
means to hei:-.
LETTERS FOCUS,CONT.
TO
9
(5¢ a wor d)
Dear FOCUS,
It seems tragically
unfortunate that at
this time of need in the Gay cornrntinity
an organization such as Bostmi Daughters
of Bilitis
would elect officers by receiving proxy votes from me bers who
m
perhaps have never been to more than one
DOBfunction, and who in fact do not participate
in the re alistic
and exhausting
function of running this organization.
We cannot afford, and I for one will
a system in which we cannot tolerate,
, not and will not allow free and open
communication with straight society.
In terms of public relations
and education, an organization would be in a
sorry state if not flexible enough to
move without constant fear of exposure
and recognition.
The terms are contradictory.
We need exposure, and we must
be recognized.
We must stand up and sayand Yes, we will
Yes, we are lesbians,
will state our names, we will sign our
names, we will lobby at the State House,
we will . appear before camera men, we
will be interviewed by the media.
We must not shackle ourselves further
by electing representatives
who cannot,
or will not be open. Of course we need
raps. And of course they are in no
danger of ceasing.
Lesbians need a
"place", but not just on Tuesday nights.
We need, and deserve a place in the
world we live in too. We are more than
JUST Lesbians.
Unfortunately,
this
l ate. The election
what we deserve.
ADS
letter comes too
was fair, and we get
Member
A Saddened OOB
#######################################
AMAZON
QUARTERLY.
A special double issue, devoted to
interviews with lesbians around the
U.S. and Canada, a resource guide, and
more. $1.50 ·
Regular subscriptions
$4/yr ($5 for
plain wrapper).
: ·
QUARTERLY, Valle Vista,
554
AMAZON
Oakland, Calif. 94610.
Would like to meet gay girls from
artistic,
anywhere who are creative,
like to travel, enjoy girls' fast
pitch sof t ball, dance, books, go
junking, like music, nature, and the
quiet beautiful side of life, with
broad horizons - who are , spontaneous
and imaginative.
Write LOIS M.
ROHRBAUGH, W. Phila. St., York,
704
Pa. 17404, or call weekends 717-
843-2852.
THELESBIAN
TIDE
$7.50 a year
samples in the OOBoffice to look at
LESBIAN
1'IDE
743 S. Grandview Ave.
Los Angeles, Calif. 90057
SISTERS: ~UR CATALOGUE coming!
is
But we need you to make it .Qill: catalog.
We need info' on women's centers, projects, experiences.
We need photos, bcl
book reviews, articles,
research, advertisers,
etc. OURCATALOGUE
CO.,
6504 Pardall Rd. #3, Isla Vista,
Calif. 93017.
FEMINISTS/ASTROLOGERS.
Beyond the
obsolete sexism of Astrology:
Astroecology, first woman-created world
Introview. Charts, instruction.
duction $2e Shana Lee, Box 534,
Needham, Mass. 02192.
·
DID YOUMISS Gay American's Day? The
Boston Gay Confere~ce7 The Worcester
Conf erence7 The GAYCOMMUNITY
NEWS
tells you whatvs coming every week.
Plus lots more. First class: 10 weeks
$2.10, 25 weeks $5; third class le
weeks $1.50, 25 weeks $3,50. Now
eight pages. G.C.N., c/o Charles St.
Meeting House, 70 Charles St., Boston,
Mass. 02114.
SISTERSMAGAZINE.
Published by San Francisco DOB. $5/yr.
SFOOB,Room 402, 1005 M
arket St.,
San Francisco, Calif. 94103.
10
WOMEN'S TIV
FES AL
with this same self-fulling
prophecy.
by Gerry Azzata
We see that ostracism, not lesbianism,
Art displays, finger-painting,
impromptu is the problem." The group does not ·
poetry readings, and music were the high- merely want to criticize,
but also to
lights of the first afternoon of the MCC create a positive image for lesbians in
Women's Festival.
The festival was held this society.
They are preparing a manaul
on October 1'.3. nd 14 . at Old West Church. . t~.at will examne and anaiyze the total
a
.i
life experienc1;3s of lesbians, as it
Several local women show~d art work and
The manual
demonstrated such crafts as framing • .For relates to issues in therapy.
those of us less artistically
skilled,
w~ll also contain a "Lesbian Mental
He~lth Bill of Rights" citing these five
there were finger-painting
areas, apple
bobbing, and a 1icommunitypainting." · A . points;
poetry reading revealed that many of our
sisters are very talented and sensitive
1. Every womanhas the right to her
sexual preference.
Lesbianism is
poets.
·
not a diagnostic term.
Following a buffet dinner, the film
"Therese and Isabelle" was shown. When 2. Lesbianism is . not a legitamate cause
for determining that a womanis emthe sound track refused to play, the
otionally disturbed, or for adminisevening was saved bra womanwho provided
tering treatment involuntarily.
piano music for the now-silent film.
Attendance was good throughout the day,
averaging between 40 to 60 people • .A
3 • No womanmay be colTIIllittedto any
mental institution, ; ·hospital or .
spirit of fun a. d real sisterhood pre- .
n
11 home", or confined
in any way for ·
vailed.
being a lesbian.
·
. .
On Sunday, an open discussion at CS
}1H
4. Lesbianism cannot be cited a,;a reason
was followed by the evning service . of
to judge that a womanis mentally,
MCC. Rev. Freda Smith, pastor of Sacemotionally, or morally incapable of
ramento MCC
and first womanelder of the
caring for her children, teaching
governing board of MCC, gave a lively
·
school, or having any other employsermon to a large congregation.
ment where she is required to administer to others.
·,·
All in all, it was a successful weekend,
enjoyed by all who at tended. .
.
5 • M womenmust be trained and licenore
sed to practice in the mental health
JOINT CONFERENCEW
ON OMEN'S
HEALTH
.ISSUES
field.
This profession can no longer
by W
endy Bauman
·
be limited to an elite, predominantly
male group which has had the privilege
On Sept. 29, 1973, the National Organof access to clinical and medical
ization for Womensponsored a conference
schooling.
on women's health issues.
The days events,
held at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital _in
The group sees this bill as an inte ral
Bo=ton, inclu~ed ~~eak?rs on such top:ts
part of the Women's Mediaal Bill ofg ·
as, Health and iu nority W'
d~en, Women's Rights proposed at the conference.
Med~cal Bill of Rltgh~s? Patie.nt Advo- Copies of all available literature
from ·
cate 'Pro~ams, Alternative Therapy _:nd
a
the conference mav be read at the off"
Alternatives to Therapy, Health Problems
****************•********************~C,..~•
of Lesbian Women,Self-Help Groups; and
D.O.B. THANKSGIVING
SUPPER.
films concerning examinations by paraNovember 18, Sunday
•
.
·
medics.
5:30 ·pm ·sharp .
St. John.0 s Church, '.33Bowdoin St.,
The lesbian turnout
at the conference
Boston . (nr. Gov0 t Center, off
surpassed my own wishful thinking.
A
Cambridge St).
strong element of the conference was
..TURKEY,
ALL THETRIMMINS
1.
the Lesbian Therapy Research Project.
D.O.B. MEMBERS FRIENDS
&
.
They participated
with the premise that
50¢ members
"psychotherapy creates and perpetuates
$1 friends
a negative self - image or diagnostic label
womenonly
for lesbians and then ostracizes them
*****************************************
BOSTON
DAUGHTERS BILITIS
OF
:.f---F
CALENDAR
November 1973
MOND~YS
6·:30--7:30
~m THE WOMEN'S
SHOW.WBCN-FM
104.1 .mc.
OUTt~ Jonatha 'n Katz• documentary_ play ago).rt gay
MONDAYS pm Nov.5~-Dec~17 · COMING
8
hist _ ry, with a cast of 5 women, 5 men, directed by Nick
o
.. ,
At the ;
Deutsch, produced by .Loretta Letman. $2 do~ation.
Charles st •.· M eting Hquse, _ .Charles st •., Boston •
_
e
70
.{J;UE$DAYS7:Jb pm RAP SESSIONS ON BEING GAY, FOR WOMEN
'
ONLY. Share
•
.
. ,.
feelings
about
be;ing gay, eveeyone welco~e.
At the D.O.B. ,office,- 419
Boylston st., Beston, between Arlington and ~erkeley Streets,
n,~ar. the , Arlin:gton MSTAstop.
,
t
.
.
i..~...
~
.
WEDNESDAYS .. ,pm LESBIANMOTHERS'RAP, at the D.O.B. , office.
_
. 7:30
.
.
. .
.
\
.•
·WEDNESDAYS ~ :B:rsEXU.AL
8_,:
.RAP FOR MEN ANDWO~N, R~o~ 415 at 419 Boylston
'.-, · ·
;-·,.
... a ,. OB event).
D
·. .
. ,
.
'
: ... \.
.
\
11
t
·•
;r·•..
St , (Not
.
THURSDAYS
9--10 pm GAYWAY
RADIOPROGRAM,
WBUR-FM
90.9 mp .
..
pn°
LAVENDAR
HOUR,WBCN-FM
..104.1 me.
Saturday, Sunday, Monday 8 pm COMING
oui't -~tho
'
NOVEMBER Sunday ·, 10
4,
NOVEMBER
3,4,5,
at the c.s.M.H.
Tour info~atior_i
868-5729;
,play (see above),
,536-1719.
NOVll'JBER Wednesday, 8:30 pm (we thinkt)
7,
Homophile Conmrunity Health Se~ce
44, Channel 44 TV•.
on CATCH
'
,,
NOVEMBER Friday,-1_,
9,
is
COMING
OUT t at Univ ·. ··-of ·1-ii'ass., Boston.
Info.
868-5729.
•
NOVEMBER" Wednesday, 7:30 pm D.O.B. BUSINESSMEETING. For all members, others
14,
.
can, c_ _ · too (women). Ann , Kendal will be there at 8:45 pm
om
e
to talk about the proposed Boston Women's Center.
·
..
pm
\
.
.
.
.
NOVEMBER Sunday,5:30/
18,
D.O,B. · THANKSGIVINGINNER, for memba~ and friends.
,D
This will be an elegant affair--but
not a formal one! •rhere
dressing,
_ ill be the, usual thanksgiv:Lpg delectables--turkey,
w
potatoes,
peas, turnip, , cranberry
sauce, fruits,
nuts, pies,
coffee, tonic, tea, milk--and it is our yearly get-together
for members . particularly
so we can all get ~cquainteq and
have a good time.
Dancing after eating if · you can man-age.
- The cost is
We want you to come. So, DOB is subsidizing.
only 50¢ ~or ~embers, 100¢ for non-members (woD?enonly} .! t .
W',&:
BE THEREON TIME, 5:30 pm SHARP. THAT's WHEN EAT.
Where: St. John's Church,, JJ Bowdoin st .. .,. Boston,, near
·
Gover~ent . Cent~r and off .Cambridg~ ~t.
NOVEMBER
23-25 GAYACADEMIC
UNIONCONFERENCE,
NEW
YORKCITY.
See Nov.FOCUS p.7.
NOVEMBER Mcnday, 7:30 pm FOCUSSTAFF MEETING. At the DOB office.
26,
All D.O.B. events are open to all women. We welcome your support in our efforts
·
to reach other gay women~ to · provide raps and social events, to work for civil rights,
DAUGHTERS BILITIS
OF
419 Boylston st., Room 323
Boston, ·Mass. 02116
PHONE: 617-262-1592
H0URS: Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday,Thursday evenings.
12
. QUICK
GAYGUIDE
(from Gay Community News)
EASTERN
¥u\SSACHUSEl'TS
(area code 617)
m:5TERNMASSACHUSffi.'S
( ~rea , oode'.413) ...
Boston Gay Youth
536-619?
Amherst Gay Hot~e
(men & women)
. ..
. .. '
. ..
.545-0154
B.U. Homophile League
35) ~8758
Coming O~t (the play)
.
868-5729
.545-0883
Everywoman•s Center (Amherst)
Daugllter$ of .Bili tis · . . • . · 262-1592 · Gay .People's Radio Hour(Amherst).546-5176
Dignity (Catho1io) ,o/o 1105 Boylston st.,
Southwest Women's Center (Amherst).5450626
· ,
Boston 02215
u. Mass-Amhersi Student. Homophile League
:·
.. .
. . : 545-01.54
.
. 53&.9826
Fag Rag .
Gay Community Center ·
491- 5669 yaJ+ey Women's Center (Northampt.66'-2011
Gay Conimuni N~ws
ty
.523-8729 .
Gay Craft Guild
738-0428
ISLAND ( area code 401)
RHODE
Gay Media Action
868-5729
Gay People's Group of U.Mass/Boston
. ' · Homophile Community Health Service.· '..
( Provid~ce) · ., 274-47)7
542-6500x607
Gay Speakers• Bureau
• ..
547-1451
Metropolitan Community· church
831-377)
·
· (Providence)
Gay· Way Radio Program (Thurs eve)J53-2?90
Good Gay Poets
53&.9826 Provid._nce Gay Women
e
. ?7~0239
Harvard-Radcliffe
Gay Students · 498-3096
(area code 802)
Homophile Community Health Serv1oe266~.5477 VERMONI'
Homophile Union of Boston .· ·
536-6197
Lavendar Hour (WBCN:
Andrew Kopkind or
Gay 1n Vermont
)
· 261-8526 ·
. . . .,;
. Littlejohn
Lesbian Libera:tion
(c/o . Women's Center )
J,54-8807
Metropolit , n cemmµnity . Clrurch . 266~7491
a
Pro jeot Place ( gay hotline Thurs. eve) ·
267-9150
.
2.67-0?f::4
Fr. Paul ..Shanley
oa
· ..MEMBERSHIP
.
sUBsCRIPI'IONTo
o.o.B.
Return this · form or · a copy of it to the D.o.B. off~ce, 419 B.oylston St.;
Boston, _
Mass. , 02116• . Informatio _ .is kept strictly
n
confideri't:ial. ·
.
Enclosed is$_
. __
.
Ro~m323,
.'
.... for
DMOOERSffI.P IN D.O.B. $10/y~ar ($15 for a couple)
·• Includes one subscription to FOCUSand voting
:- privileges,
·plu-s reduced admission to some events.
NOTE:Memberships may be paid ..
by $5 'initially,
the : balance .
. Any women 18 years old or older may join.
-~
.· : .
within .2 months. Vot. ng priv:i
ileges obtain ·onl.y when fees
are fully p~id. : If'. the bal..; ..
FOCUSsub~cription.
.
$';/y~ar.~ Anyone.
ance is not ~aid within 2 .
months, the $5 becom~s a
.
donation to the organization.
CAL'filIDAR
subscription.
$1/ 6 mo. Anyone.
.
.
.
'
.·
.:
.
.
'
.er
a·
_ -· : P
.·.• ._..·. HONE(MEMBERS)
____
NAME(S)
________________
ADDRESS
______________
.....,.~ ~----~--------,~
·
SIGNATURE
(MEMBERS).am a woman 18 years of age or older:
·I
(1) ___.........
____
DAT
___________
_
.........
___________
_
(2) _____________
zipl
_
,'
by Cathy Baker
ACROSS
1 Jill
Johnston's
Book (2 words)
say yes, sh e says
8 If sh e doesn't
9 No a cc oun t abv.
11 W
here cove rt gays live
14 A s en sitive
part of one's head
15 Feminine na me (Latin)
16 One ' s partner
17 Feminine pronoun
lE Fourth scale note
?O Happy
?l Medic ine not likely
taken
by les bians
') ? ;:,, t well
o
'?3 '1 __
of My Heart'"
?6 D yo u re member when we first
o
?
1o
i
?9 ..·!i .r 1 ,.,uana
.
30 A p eriod of ti me
31 Unit of length
34 Ba d dinne r
,.
36 By 1ray of
38 iiot yet come out
t society
forgets
we are
39 '.-\i;.'1.a
40 Onp os i te of beg inning
(Answers
i ssu e).
in next
month's
DOWN
1 Opp os it e of dislike
2 Generaliz
ed type
3 Indefinite
article
4 Neg ati•e
answer
5 The __ of us
6 Single
7 How lov ing another
woman
comes to us
10 . Derogatory
term for
liomosexual
12 Stron g aff ec ti on
13 Unhappy
17 What soc iet y makes us
l ive in
19 To free
20 To split
-~ Girl
4
25 A lesbian's
lover
26 Person al p ronoun
''
2 7 "Tit f or
28 To
and to hold
fr om this day on
32 Thing
33 To all ow
35 The last part of a
relat ionship
37 Exclamati o:-i
38 Sixth scale note
The History Project
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Copyright restrictions may apply. If you have questions or wish to request removal of a
document in this collection from our digital repository, please contact The History
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This PDF file contains images of an issue of the publication Maiden Voyage, produced
by the Boston chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis from
The Daughters of Bilitis (Boston chapter) records
Collection #0011
Recommended Citation:
[Item description including title, author, and date if known], Daughters of Bilitis
(Boston chapter) records, The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston.