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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1986)
LCP workshops hit homophobia by Dot & Lauren Suzanne Pham head of the National Les bian Task Force & Caucus of the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, facili tated two workshops on “Internalized Homophobia" sponsored by the Lesbian Community Project in May. Suzanne has pre sented homophobia workshops to various audiences across the country and is an active participant in the women’s movement and the lesbian movement Suzanne designed the series of workshops to be about “setting ourselves free, about loving ourselves and each other, about personal growth and political organizing." The major block to these freedoms, and hence the need for the workshops, is hom o phobia — both external and internal. Accord ing to Suzanne, “It makes us choose invisibil ity — closeting — which then makes us un able to know all of us, our numbers; unable to work together in our own behalf for our own rights; and unable to get the support of non lesbians because they don’t know we are les bians. Homophobia can lead to our hurting ourselves and hurting others." The need to confront homophobia is great and must be done in order to survive personally and col lectively; We must break free of the restraints and damage of homophobia. We must free ourselves to organize for survival." To start us thinking on the effects of homophobia, Suzanne began the two ses sions by asking us to imagine a world free of homophobia. What would be different? and why? Th e answers ranged from unlimited freedom in dress (no more "dress for suc cess”) to complete openness in choice of lifestyles (without fear of loss or pain) to further acceptance and support of art and artists (creativity in general). Each point was questioned and explained and debated. Suzanne took the visions one step further when she asked us to imagnie a world with out gender roles. The primary answer was that there would be no homophobia; there fore, "to work against homophobia is to work against violence against all women" and to work for an end to our oppression. Th e major difficulty in eliminating homo phobia is that most of us are victims of in ternalized homophobia. The majority agreed that the dividing line between the external and the internal is often blurred and not easily separated. There are some justified fears We've got what women are looking for . . . about the uses of homophobia against us, such as loss of families, jobs, homes, children and even lives. Suzanne believes that “the separating line comes when we individually and collectively come to believe that others are justified in their prejudices, when we be lieve there is something wrong with us, when we feel we do not deserve equality and free dom , when we take in the world's view and suffer from low self-esteem and self-hatred." Som e barriers to dealing with our own homophobia are the manifestations of inter nalized homophobia. These can include drug and food and alcohol addiction, depres sion, destructive relationships, self-blame, closeting and passing. Difficult as it may sometimes seem, we must confront and eliminate our own homophobia in order to be free and to work for our rights. “What we must remember," Suzanne em phasized, “is that despite living in a homo- phobic world, we gay and lesbian people keep on being, keep on going. We are all miracles of survival and should be proud of it— Many of us suffer from (internalized homophobia) in some degree. Those who have the least are those who have worked hard to remove it from their lives. To remove it, one must first develop a consciousness of it." We have work to do — but we have sur vived this far. Most of us left these sessions with our thoughts already working on strate gies to meet our goals. • • • • • • • • • • Women's Books Records and Tapes T-shirts • Art Jewelry Stoneware Cards Lending Library Resource Room Referrals Find out for yourself A WOMAN'S PLACE 1431 NE Broadway Portland, O R 97232 (503)284-1110 T I C K E T O R D E R F O R M : More than 1 person per envelope • use an extra stamp per person At Gate, tickets S 10.00 more • CASH only ZIP TERESA TRULL RH IAN NON ALIX DOBKIN MARY WATKINS DIERDRE McCALLA KAY WEAVER KAREN MacKAY SWINQSHIFT LUCIE BLUE TREMBLEY THE WASHINGTON SISTERS KELLIE GREENE GAYLE MARIE HUNTER DAVIS JUDY FJELL PHRANC COMICS KATE CLINTON DELARIA A STROBEL LORI NOELLE LYNN LAVNER ROBIN TYLER KAREN RIPLEY RENO DANCE EVERY NIQHV GIRL TALK DISCO KATHERINE V. FORREST tCurious Win») LEE LYNCH (The Swashbuckler) PAULA GUNN ALLEN (Sacrad Hoop Indian) JUDYQRAHN (Another Mother Tongue) SDIANE BOGUS (Black Lesbians In Literature) MAX DASHU (Suppressed Historians Archivas) DEL MARTIN A PHYLLIS LYON (Lasbian/Woman) JO ANN LOULAN (Lesbian Sas) THEATRE GROUPS PAT BOND IAs Gertrude Stein A Lorena Hickock) OVER OUR HEADS THE CHERRY COKES IMusic/Comedy) FILM FESTIVAL! WORKSHOPS t OPEN MIKE I* you yysh to be listed in the pio qram send a snort description i>t »our AtnHsnop or it you Aisn to play an open rrntie send a tape Send tnese alonq *itn you' ticket order by Auqust 1 I S10f) - Space in cabin (very very limited) $85 to $100 Sliding Scalp 4 days (camping only) $125 RV .n o hook ups (includes 1 ticket) > $20 Additional tor workshitt substitution c $20 per 9 16 yr old woman (and 9 10 boy) o c E o $ $ $ $. $ $70 to $75 very limited Sat noon to Mon passes (camping) k_ LABOR DAY WEEKEND AUG. 29 - SEPT. 1 , 1986 <D ■O c $ ___ How many children (12 and under boys 10 and under) sex(es) and a g e (s )-------------------------------------- T c 3 <0 0> Ç Beautiful, private wooded camp in the foothills of Yosemite. Gigantic Swimming Pool, lake, river. Only 3 hours East of San Francisco. 6V2 hours north of Los Angeles. TOTAL ENCLOSED ■o T3 0) o TD c o D U 0) i/) (0 0) 0 I want T shirt larger than XL (Will send info No orders after July 20th ) CABINS C3 Smoking O Non Smoking CD Clean & Sober 1 NEED INFORMATION FROM I I Disabled Resources D Childcare I wish to contribute $ _________ to childcare program WILLING TO HELP TICKETS — 150 cabin spacies available (no showers or toilets in cabin). Cabins hold 6-12 women (bunk beds) $105,. Camping-$85— $100: 4 days sliding scale (if working, PLEASE pay top of scale). $70-$75:3 days sliding scale (Sat., Sun., & Mon — very limited) Children 8 and under free; 9-16, $20 to help defray food costs. All children must be preregistered for childcare by Aug. 1 st. U.S. currency only. NO PERSONAL C H E C K S AFTER JU L Y 20th: Money order, certified check, cash only. For tickets, send self-addressed, legal-sized, stamped envelope to: W CW M CF, 13514 Hart Street, Van Nuys, C A 91405 (818) 904-9495. PRICE INCLUDES: 4 days & 3 nights of music, comedy, crafts, sports, dancing, workshops, camping, food & fun! Showers & portable toilets provided. Everything within walking distance. A dance every night. Accessable to disabled women; Concerts interpreted for hearing impared; Food and childcare provided (N O O VER N IG H T CHILDCARE, ‘POTTY TRAINED’ only), Boys under 10 welcome. There will be some Women-Only space. No dogs permit ted, except seeing eye or hearing impared (must be registered). NAME STREET PHONE CITY STATE/ZIP I CAN LOAN OR RENT THE FESTIVAL CH Van w/lift* CD Pick up Truck CD Other I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING □ To flyer CD To be regional contact □ with ticket purchase to come early and work I HAVE SKILLS IN CD Truck driving □ Health care □ Childcare □ Electrician D Carpentry □ Auto mechanics D Disabled Resources □ Sign interpreting □ Otf n Work exchange - write detailed letter re skills & situation or call •NEEDED TO ACCOMODATE WHEELCHAIRS iFesliyai E N O S Monday 3 P M i Ju st O ut 'ulv 1986 13