LGBT History Project of the LGBT Center of Central PA

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Documents Online

Title: The Lancaster Inqueery

Date: July/August 1998

Location: LGBT-002 Lancaster, PA Activism Collection

Contact: LGBT History Project Archives & Special Collections Waidner-Spahr Library Dickinson College P.O. Box 1773 Carlisle, PA 17013

717-245-1399 [email protected] The Lancaster Come & Help Sat. Aug. 1, from 9am-12 Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup! We need you!

Volume 5, Issue 3 July/August 1998 compliments of the Pink Triangle Coalition Author Rita Mae Brown Will Speak at FAB 98 Rita Mae Brown, author of the ground­ with tennis star and breaking novel Rubyfruit Jungle , will be , author of Fried Green the featured speaker at the 3rd annual Fall Tomatoes. (You may also remember Ms. Achievement Benefit to be held at the Flagg as she and Paul Lynne kept it Hershey Lodge and Convention Center on under the wraps for years as regulars on November 14, 1998. Hollywood Squares.) Her recent autobiography, Rita Will: The Fall Achievement Benefit was Memoir of a Literary Rabble-Rouser, started to celebrate the central Pennsyl­ recounts a life of a woman who was instru­ vania lesbigay community and to benefit mental to the formation of the modern local gay and organizations. feminist and lesbigay rights movements. She was born in Hanover, Pa and adopted by Ralph and Julia Brown. PTC Marches in Loyalty Parade Some of her early childhood memories center around shopping visits to York. On Saturday, May 2, twelve people, The 1998 Loyalty Day Parade She came to national prominence in one dog, and the Statue of Liberty Committee’s open invitation to commu­ 1973 when Rubyfruit Jungle, published marched in Lancaster’s annual Loyalty nity groups truly expressed the theme of originally by the small feminist firm Day Parade under the PTC Banner, the parade, which was “My Country, Daughters, Inc., sold a surprising 70,000 included in the group were friends from Your Country, Our Country — 30 Years copies and demonstrated that there was a the Alliance for Tolerance and Freedom. of Patriotism.” PTC marching Unit mass-market for literature that dealt The Alliance’s Executive Director, Laura Coordinator Andy Spedden said, openly with lesbian themes. Montgonmery Rutt, said , “The Alliance “Compared to the exclusion of gay As an early member and executive been given to the Gay and Lesbian was pleased to show support for PTC. We groups from the Boston and New York officer of the National Organization of Switchboard of Harrisburg, The Central were also pleased that the crowd respond­ City Saint Patrick’s Day Parades, it’s Women, she forced the women’s move­ PA Pride Festival, Parents and Friends of ed positively, sometimes with applause.” nice to know that fairness exists in ment to deal with the open participation and Gays (PFLAG) and the Also in the group were students from Lancaster.” of its lesbian supporters. She eventually Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education the Lancaster County Academy, Eliza­ A few days after the parade, PTC left NOW and went on to help found Network (GLSEN). bethtown College, Franklin and Marshall, received a “Thank You” letter from the organizations such as the This year’s benefit will start with a and Millersville University. Academy Parade Committee, and an invitation to Radical Feminist Group, the National Pre-FAB reception, from 6 -7 PM, fea­ student Chad Davis said, “This is a good march in next year’s parade. Mark you Gay Task Force, and Radical Lesbians. turing cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with first step for me. I want to become more calendar now, and consider joining us on Her private life also was intertwined Rita Mae Brown followed by the FAB involved in PTC’s activities.” Saturday May 1,1999. A with some of the foremost icons in con- main event from 7 till midnight. temporary lesbian identity. Two of her most infamous relationships were FAB 98 Continued on the back page. WANTED: Thigh Guys

Do you get a kick out of soccer? Did for the fun of it or maybe even David says he’s got some head of an ex-lover? Benefits include: get­ you watch the recent 1998 World Cup for the Pink Cup (if there were competition lined up if he can pull ting fit, lots of delicious camaraderie, and action in France and wish you were such a trophy). together a team. “I contacted the you get to wear those cool tube socks with there? Wish you could knock a winning In the spring he distrib­ Philadelphia Falcons, the gay soc­ the vertical stripes that oft times can be goal in with your head? Wish you were uted notices to several cer team from Philly. They said stretched all the way up to your increas­ that Brazilian guy’s athletic supporter? PTC-like organizations, they’d be happy to play us.” ingly muscular thighs. Well, fantasize globally, act locally. gay-friendly churches, and David said the Philly team has If even slightly interested (experience A David Walker, a soccer enthusiast from even local gay bars. Unfortunately been together for 10 years. not necessary), contact David Walker at Hershey, has recently been recruiting fel­ the initial planning meeting in Don’t you wanna at least P.O. Box 5, Hershey, PA 17033 or call low gay soccer-wannabes from the central Harrisburg brought only one kick that smooth, black 717-566-9237. If you thought soccer PA region. His hope is to form a regional person out of the locker room and white checked ball Moms were trendy, wait until you become team which eventually would compete just closet. once? Pretend it’s the a soccer Daddy. f f This issue has been produced entirely from the generous donation of one person, f f Please do your part and donate the maximum amount you can afford.

B u 1 k R a t e U. S. P o s t a g e We NEED your commitmtent for local efforts! PAID Here is my donation of: □ $100 □ $50 □ $25 □ $10 P.O. Box 176 Permit No. 1841 □ Add me to your list Q Update my address Lancaster, PA 17608-0176 Lancaster,PA □ Remove me from your list

Other Comments: Address Correction Requested

Name Touchy Taste Address kitchenware plus

City The Lancaster Shopping Center State 1643 Lititz Pike Lancaster, Pa. 17601 Zig (717) 291-5833 Phone Michael Caballero We want to hear from you! Send any correspondence to: Mark Eichelberger P.O. Box 176, Lancaster, PA 17608-0176 hold hands on the couch.” She concentrat­ Homoscopes ed on smoothing her dress between her ARIES (MARCH 21 - APR. 19) Finish up linger­ legs. “But if my Dad were gay, I’d definite­ ing tasks. If you believe in what’s around that In Search of the ly want him to be with Andrew.” corner, it will be there. Key Word: Sweet Tarts ®spo‘ All three heads turned as the screen TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20) Change your door slammed shut. Andrew wandered out point of view and the answers will become clear. If you feel like changing your name, go ahead and with some empty boxes. do that too. Key Word: Twix “Hey, Katie Kate. Whatcha girls doin’?” GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20) Don’t put off the Bekka whispered, staring at him, “He jobs that need to be done now. Decorate with pur­ Hollister Cole’s continuing saga of life and lifeless times and having a tiny body land on her threw doesn’t look like a man that would kiss ple streamers and balloons, and the party is already started. Key Word: Crunch in this town of fruited streets. Q-Spot takes you on a her into convulsive giggles. Shauna and another man.” Lazy Boy journey of the loves, lives, and daydreams of Bekka seized the opportunity to pile on. They all giggled and ran to their bicycles CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22) Money figures people, perhaps familiar — or maybe it’s ddjd vu. prominently this month. Look for green, triangle “Tickle me Elmo,” Ty stuttered as he propped against the fence and scooted down VIII. Continued shaped logos to bring you good fortune. giggled. the ally. Kate flashed her Kool-Aid smile at Key Word: Ju Ju Bees Andrew was about to defend himself “Yeah, tickle me Kate-mo,” Bekka Andrew, waved and peddled down the half LEO (JULY 23 -AUG. 22) It’s time to negotiate when a big gust of noise came quickly joined in. grass, half gravel miniature boulevard. a deal. How many times have I told you? Never, ever wear white pumps with dark slacks. out of the night sky. “What the hell?” Exhausted, the girls fell head-to-head Continued next issue. A Key Word: Ike & Mikes Tommy shouted. looking up at the sky, breathing heavily. VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22) A job you’ve Andrew, having lived throughout the Ty tried to tickle their toes, not ready for done recently is bringing you attention. Pink city, calmly recognized the phenomenon. the silliness to end. tye-dyed chiffon surrounds you. From the Mailbag Key Word: Good & Plenty He pointed towards the nearby hospital. “Why did you move?” Shauna asked. Dear PTC, LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22) A very busy, cre­ A lifeflight helicopter was circling, com­ “My Dad wanted a smaller place. We ative time is ahead. Your big ball is ing in for a landing. It’s spotting lights used to live in a house on Fourth Street Just came back to Berkeley to find being planned complete with confetti. were hitting several points of the landing with two floors and an attic. They let me another Lancaster Inqueery in my mail. Key Word: Pixie Stix area, like a hunter spotting for deer along finger paint on my bedroom walls. Then I can’t tell you how good it is to have SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21) A good time to the Inqueery to keep me up on Lancas­ make a romantic commitment. If there is a puddle, a roadside. last year my Mom left.” you’ll find it. Key Word: Gummy Bear ter’s latest. I might be a California girl Tommy and Andrew settled into their “She just left?” Bekka asked, rolling SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) Some shingled perch, becoming hypnotized by around to her stomach. now, but I left my heart in Lancaster. work needs to be done at home. Big, furry, dog­ the whipping air less than ten rooftops “Where’d she go?” Shauna added. And yet it was disappointing to see like creatures fill your waking moments. Key Word: Milky Way away. An ambulance in flight. “Well,” Kate took a deep breath and your slam on Amish women in the inter­ began to explain as if she’d explained view with E. Substitute “Queer Girls” CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19) Learning After the last of the propeller noises about romance is a priority this month. For some floated by, Tommy said, “Wow, what a this 100 times before and wanted to get or “Black Girls” for your statement that odd reason, ragtime music plays loudly in your way to make an entrance.” the details right once again. “It’s not that “Amish Girls...simply scare me!” and head this month. Key Word: Three Musketeers Andrew shook his head acknowledg­ she stopped loving me. And she still you’d deservingly get a lot of shit. Have AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18) It’s time to buy ing the observation. He silently prayed loves my Dad. But she got lost inside some respect for your neighbors- that something you’ve been admiring for a while. Dust off those plaid, glittery gauchos, you’re that the passenger was not a little kid. and had to find herself again.” remember “we’re everywhere!” going to need them. Key Word: Kit Kats Out of a shoebox came something “Huh?” Bekka asked, wrinkling her Barb Wenger, PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20) Don’t put off any smaller than Andrew’s hand, wrapped in nose. “Do you know where she is? Do decision making any longer. Whirling dervishes Berkeley CA an old page of comics. He carefully you see her?” are your playmates this month. Key Word: Snickers unwrapped it, not quite sure what it was “This week she’s in Oklahoma. I got Ed’s Note: Although this remark was but guessing it was probably fragile. It a post card from her, um, the other day. meant in jest...your point is well taken. turned out to be the Wonder Woman pez It had a cowgirl on it ropin’ some kind of Get Out that Tommy had gotten him two birth­ dirty cow. I think she might call me Tiies., July 28, Aug. 25 and Sept 22, days ago. It came attached to a package Friday night.” Rita Mae Brown Coming 7 pm, Pink Triangle Coalition Meetings. with twine coiled around it. Tommy told Kate’s Mom, Pearl, took up driving to FAB 98 Cont’d from the front page. All welcome. Always 4th Tues, of the him the string was Andrew’s lasso of truck after her younger brother, Pete, month at AIDS Community Alliance truth. He could choose any man, rope his committed suicide at age 27. She had In addition to Ms. Brown, the Main (formerly LAP), 44 N. Queen St. Lan­ penis, and find out how the guy truly felt loved him dearly. After several weeks of Event will include dinner, a silent auc­ caster, down the hall from Isaac’s Deii. about him. The joke came about after silent grief, she packed a few things and tion, an award presentation and dancing 3rd Thur, of each month, L,G &B Andrew had a string of dates with men told her husband and daughter she had to with live music by the Headliners. Book Discussion Group, 7 pm at who seemed to like him but eventually keep moving. Keep ahead of her sadness Individual tickets are $65 for the main Borders Book Shop, across from Park stopped calling. and try and figure out why. Why her event and $125 for both Pre-FAB and City. Upcoming Books: Aug - Midnight He placed Wonder Woman, the pez, brother would jump off Chickies Rock. the Main Event. Reservations will be in the Garden of Good and Evil; on the corner of his window sill and, just Why she didn’t know why. Why she was coordinated through Table Captains. If Sept - Wonderbread & Ecstasy; for a second, imagined how the string left in the world to continue on. you are not contacted by a Table Oct - Drag Queens of New York. would look around John’s finger. Though she was only seven, only fin­ Captain by Oct. 1, 1998, call 1-800- ishing up first grade, Kate found a way 406-3321 to make your reservations. Sat Aug. k,Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup, IX. Watch Me Spin to make sense of her leaving with her FAB 98 is certain to be the best ever. 9am-12. Meet at Apria Healthcare “Hey, watch me this time,” Kate said father’s help. Don’t miss your chance to attend this Community Room, 240 Harrisburg Ave. with a grin going directly into a whirling “Do you miss her much?” Shauna exceptional event. A WE NEED YOU! The more the merrier. spin. She held the skirt of her dress with asked, picking grass with her left hand. Participants are welcome to join us after­ her forefinger and thumb of both hands. “Uh-huh. We both do,” she flipped wards for lunch at Wish You Were Here. She umbrellaed aimlessly near the alley­ and propped her head up with one hand. Resources Sun. Sept. 20, Queer-Skate, 5-7 pm. way which kissed the rented backyard of “But I think, and Dad says I’m right, that F&M College LGB’s & Allies...... 399-6192 Mark your calendar and join us at The her new home. Her dirty-blonde pigtails she’ll be back soon singin’ and dancin’ G & L Switchboard of Harrisburg...... 234-0328 Castle Rollerskating Rink, 1400 Elm Ave. which usually fell below her shoulder with us like she used to.” Interweave (Unitarian Universalist)...... 393-1733 behind the Stone Mill Plaza, Lancstr. blades rose to the occasion. Kate began braiding Bekka’s brown AIDS Community Alliance..... 394-3380, 394-9900 Sat Oct 10, Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup, The happiness that showed on her hair. Millersville Allies...... 872-3157 9-12am. Meet at Apria Healthcare Com­ face was enhanced by a cherry Kool-Aid “Well, why are you and your Dad liv­ P-FLAG of Lancaster...... 299-7043 munity Room. Last of year, honoring Nat. mustache. And by the fact that she imag­ ing with this other man?” Bekka asked, Vision of Hope, MCC...... 285-9070 Coming Out Day-mark your calendar. ined some unknown force pulling her relaxed at having her hair organized. Pink Triangle Coalition...... 394-6260 around and around. “Oh, you mean Andrew.” Send any PTC correspondence to: P.O. Box 176,Lancaster, PA 17608-0176 “Look at my shadow! Look at my “Yeah, that little bald guy,” Shauna C&C Kan Do ' aiiiiSSiON: The Pink Triangle Coalition of Lancaster is shadow!” said. a local organization whose purpose is to promote and Interior & Exterior Painting, Kate’s three playmates pointed and “He became one of my Dad’s friends support the lives of gay, lesbian, bi, transsexual and Carpentry, Electrical, giggled. “Your dress is getting fat,” a little while ago. He’s like an uncle only transgender people, and to educate the public about our Plumbing and Home Repairs community through increased visibility and awareness. Shauna said. It had taken Kate exactly better cause he reads to me and is gonna 717-548-2006 three days to make a new set of friends teach me field hockey like the high Newsletter Staff in her new neighborhood. Shauna and school girls play. He’s gay, too.” Editors: Tim Erdley, Anthony Lascoskie Apt. For Rent her little brother, Tyrell, lived three hous­ “What!?” Bekka rolled around, Contributors: Andy Spedden, Mark Stoner, 1 Bedroom Apt. in Country es away. And Bekka lived halfway up unloosening her braids. “You mean like ______Kim Werner the intersecting street. Elton John?” for Rent. Call 717-548-2006 Men's Covered Kate fell out of orbit onto the grass “Does he wear sparkly dresses?” face and mustache up. “Whew, I’m so Shauna asked. Dish Dinner dizzy,” she said throwing her arms over “No,” Kate answered matter-of-factly. Welcomes new her head. “He just likes other men better than friends to dinners DUANE D. SHUBERT, M.D., P.C. Little Tyrell, who was only five, tried women. But I don’t think he has a on Sat. Aug. 22 Adult & Geriatric Psychiatry, Medication Management, Psychiatric & Dementia Evaluations spinning, too. He held his baggy, hand- boyfriend.” and Sept. 19. Good fellowship, me-down pants as far out as he could, “A boyfriend?” Bekka said smiling. 1100 East Orange Street, P.O. Box 8616, Lancaster, PA 17604-8616 but made it around only twice before “Does he like your Dad?” Shauna great food, and Telephone (717) 399-9209 • Fax (717) 396-8910 landing on Kate. asked sitting up, waiting anxiously for fine conversation. “Tyrell, you’re gonna smush Katie,” the answer. Call Tony at his big sister hollered sternly before bust­ Kate squinted. “Well, yeah. They’re 656-0801 for ing into a laugh. Kate was very ticklish friends. But they don’t hug and kiss or more information.