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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1986)
cam paign, as an “out” Lesbian, for a seat on the S a n Francisco Board of Supervisors (our City Council). A s a Black Lesbian, she is c o m mitted to the well-being of women, ethnic minoritie, and lesbians and gays. A long-time activist, progressive, and leader in civic affairs, Pat has received m any awards for hum anitarian service and achievem ent M s. m agazine designated her one of the "W o m e n to W atch in the ’80s.” In 1982 she received the Bay Area W om en’s Leadership Award. Pat is also a homeowner, a neighborhood leader, a m other of four, a grandparent of two, and a Navy veteran. S h e will offer a w orkshop Su n d ay m orning. Lesbian Community Project Update The Lesbian C om m unity Project presents Portland’s first Lesbian Conference, entitled Building Community: Common Ground for the Future, w hich happens Novem ber 8th & 9th at Portland State University in Sm ith Center. A d m issio n is sliding scale, suggested d o nation: $ 10-$40. N o one wili be turned away for inability to pay. Registration is Saturday from 8 3 0 -1 0 :0 0 a.m. and Su n d a y from 9 3 0 -1 0 :0 0 a.m. The Conference is Saturday from 10:00-6:00 p.m. and Sunday, from 10:00-5:00 p.m. Party C o n fe re n c e Kick-off Dance with the Blues Sisters Nov. 8th, Saturday 8:00 p.m .-12:00 Echo Theatre, $5.00 1515 S E 37th Ave. Friday, Novem ber 7th, P.S.CJ. 730 M elanie Kaye/Kantrowitz will present a reading from the recently released Sinister W isd o m book, The Tribe o f Dina: A Jewish Women's Anthology. The book focuses on the diversity of Jew ish w om en’s identity. A form er Portlander, Melanie taught hum anities and w om en’s studies at P.S.U. F ro m 1972-1979. S h e w as also active in m any w om en’s com m unity projects. C u r rently, sh e is editor and publisher of Sinister W isd om , a quartelry lesbian/feminist publi cation and a teacher at Verm ont College. K ey N otes Julia Penelope Keynote Saturday m orning 10-11 a.m. B alroom Julia is a longtim e lesbian/gay and feminist activist, writer and taecher. In 1959, she was Lost lesbians found: Or what community? by Katharine English I consider m yself to be an “old time dyke." M y friend, Grace, would object After all, she’s been a dyke 3 0 years longer than I have. To her, I’m just a ‘‘baby dyke." W h ich raises the question: “But what is a d yke ?” The m orning after I first slept with a w om an, I put on m y lavender T -sh irt drove to sch o o l at 7 0 m iles per hour, raced up the stairs of m y crim inal law class, and yelled joyously to m y horrified classmate, “I’m a dyke!" M y friend, Chris, disdained me. “Pshaw, you aren’t a dyke!" she opined, “and you sh a n ’t be accepted into the com m unity until y o u ’ve been a no-het-sex politically cor rect dyke for five years." Saddened, but un daunted, I circled the date every year, and planned for the 5th year a Celebratory Feast (vegetarian, of course). It’s been ten years, but am I in “the com m unity" yet? W h ich raises the question: “But what is the com m un ity’? " A nd now, after years of w on dering whether I’m in or out of it (“the co m m unity’ that is), there is going to be a confer ence Novem ber 8 -9 at Portland Stalte U ni versity to bring together scores of lesbians to talk about ‘community.’ I, for one, have a hundred questions craving answers: W as there ever a com m unity ? Says w ho? W hat w as it, then, and where did it g o ? O r did / g o ? If so, w hy? D id I walk out? W as I thrown out? Trashed out? Burned out? Is there still a com m unity ? A m I in it? Are there rules? D o we even need a com m unity? W h y? In what form ? A n d w ho cares, anyway? The num ber and substance of w orkshops which will be offered boggles the m ind with anticipation and excitem ent Interestingly, the conference has no rigid prem ise already de fined — we will have the opportunity to define for ourselves the issue of where we fit into the concept of a lesbian com m unity — if it is a viable concept at all. _______ Just Out, November, 1986 Pat Norman expelled from Florida State University for being a lesbian. Sh e then spent time in her ow n words, as a “bar dyke" and a “kept butch.” S h e w as a m em ber of Daughters of Bilitis, one of the first Lesbian organizations in the U S, and a contributor to its magazine, The Ladder. In the early seventies she was a founder of the Southeastern G ay Coalition and the Lesbian Herstory Archives. Julia will also offer a Saturday w orkshop called How We Talk to Each Other. Pat N orm an Keynote Saturday evening 5-6 p.m. Ballroom Pat N orm an is conducting a city-wide 1 will be conducting a w orkshop — Lost Le sb ian s Fo u n d — in which I hope to discuss from both a personal and an analytical per spective w hy ‘the com m unity’ has or has not developed, what brought so m any of us to gether and where did we go, is there a need for (a chance for) another com m unity? Is there a place for u s? A ll of u s? Even Republi can d yke s? Even dykes w ho w orship the G o d d e ss? D ykes w ho invest in South Africa? D yke s w ho eat red m eat? Use hairspray? Pay their em ployees m inim um w age? W hat about dykes w ho sleep with m en (shouldn’t we draw the line som ew here?) D ykes who hate children (Even girl children)? W h o love children (even boy children)? T he conference m ay not have a premise, but I do. F o r me, personally, the ‘com m unity’ of years a go developed serendipitously, with out c o n scio u s design. Loneliness, lack of family, need for stimulation, and anew polti- cal fervor drew m e to w om en who were m ore intellectually and sexually exciting than any tw o-legged creatures I’d met before. A s time passed I began to understand, however su b tly, that our ‘community,’ which offered me su ch positive affirmation, gave m ore affirma tion for som e things than others and, in fact, gave no affirmation, or ‘constructive criticism’ for certain behaviours. We had rules, expecta tions. And I began to not fit O f course, others began to not fit — but we didn’t talk about it, kept it in the closet C ould I guiltlessly admit to m y collective that I happily ate Kentucky Fried C hicken? To m y politically correct friends that I wanted to invest m ost of m y savings in Benjam in Franklin rather than the Fem inist Credit U n io n ? I had becom e a lawyer, hated vegeta rian cooking, thought collectivity didn't work, longed for m onogam y, and had two sons, one of w hom was nearing 12 — the age of exclusion from w om en’s events. Age had crept up on this child of the '60s. Mortality reared up on its hind legs and slavered. “I'm g o in g to get you, Katharine, when you retire, penniless, dying." The econom y took a fast leap off a high cliff. I got scared. Not for you. W Novem ber 1st through November 30 we will donate 2 5% to the Oregon Symphony for every pound of coffee sold. Y am hi l l M a r L et D ance to the rhythm & blues, soul and funk so u n d s of the Blues Sisters. A w om en- only dance. Sponsors! W ithout the consistent generous and pa tient support of P.S.U. W om en’s Studies and P.S.U. W om en’s Union, the Conference would not have been able to achieve its present scope. T hey have been true partners in its manifestation. Bridgetown Realty Policy! Because of state law the conference can not exclude anyone. M ost w orkshops are open to anyone. However, som e w orkshops are designated "lesbians only.” W e appreciate your cooperation. o: the lesbian ‘community,’ or ethnic m inori ties, o r the w orking class — for me. Me. All of w hich com bined to m ake m e a great big foot in a teeny shoe. I limped away, dragging the offending foot behind. Well, damnitall, that great big foot can kick a sexist pig in the butt just as good as any other. It can walk a mile against racism and trespass on nuclear power plant property. And it gets m e to w ork every day where I earn the m oney I give to goo d causes. Should I slink hom e and soak it in acid because it wears sh o e s m ade from the hide of an endangered sp e cie s? You tell me. W ebster defines com m unity’ as a “unified body of individuals with a com m on interest" I haven’t found a definition yet that calls it "a body of individuals who are required to be lieve the sam e thing and w ho rate each other accordingly.” I think that’s a definition of tyranny. W here m y first lesbian com m unity’ formed a s a delicious surprise, it is m y thought that another ‘com m unity’ can happen organically — we plan it conceive it carry it give it life, and raise it With the sam e acceptance and nurturing good parents give to their children with genetic, biological, and characterologi- cal differences. With the sam e patient instruc tion, education, and freedom to m ake good or bad choices, to learn from experience. In defining our ‘com m on interest' we can m ove away from believing that our sexuality is the bond which m akes us all the same. We can m ove to know ing that our sexuality gives us only one truly com m on interest — the belief that all persons, regardless of sexual preference, should be treated equally, with dignity and respect T his is our commonality. From there, we can accept each dyke’s c o n tribution, large or small, to the elimination of bigotry and inequality. If we start there, can we build a com m unity that has several streets, m any houses, alter native families, and people w ho d o n ’t have to m ove out of the neighborhood because the lawn isn ’t m ow ed? I think so. I believe so. Let’s talk about it. 57 ,900 P erfect for Room m ates 3 Bdrm, 2 Baths. Home in excellent condition on oversized private lot. Storm s, Alarm System, Built-in Vacuum. 5 2 ,5 0 0 Super Rose C ity A rea 3 Bdrm, 1-2/3 Baths. Large Living Room and Formal Dining Room, Big Kitchen w/Enclosed Back Porch. Home needs some work, make offer. Thinking of Listing your H om e! Call for your free Home Analysis. 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