Published bi-monthly by the Daughters of ONCE MORE WITH FEELING Bilitis, Inc., a non-profit corporation, at THE I have discovered my most unpleasant task as editor . . . having to remind y. 'i P.O. Box 5025, Washington Station, now and again of your duty as concerned reader. Not just reader, concern« ' reader. Reno, Nevada 89503. UDDER VOLUME 14 No. 9 and 10 If you aren’t — you ought to be. JUNE/JULY, 1970

Those of you who have been around three or more years of our fifteen years n a t io n a l OFFICERS, DAUGHTERS OF BILITIS, INC know the strides DOB has made and the effort we are making to improve this magazine. To continue growing as an organization we need more women, women . Rita Laporte aware they are women as well as Lesbians. If you have shy friends who might be President . jess K. Lane interested in DOB but who are, for real or imagined reasons, afraid to join us — i t h e l a d d e r , a copy of WHAT i w r ■ ’ '^hich shows why NO U N t at any time in any way is ever jeopardized by belonging to DOB or by t h e LADDER STAFF subscribing to THE LADDER. You can send this to your friend(s) and thus, almost surely bring more people to help in the battle. . . Gene Damon Editor ...... Lyn Collins, Kim Stabinski, And for you new people, our new subscribers and members in newly formed and Production Assistants King Kelly, Ann Brady forming chapters, have you a talent we can use in THE LADDER? We need Bobin and Dana Jordan wnters always in all areas, fiction, non-fiction, biography, poetry. We need Production Editors . . • ...... Tracy Wright Pn«j^oj^aphers and artists, and CARTOONISTS. We need you -- in any way you Secretary to the Editor

t h e l a d d e r k For you whose time and talents will not allow you any other way to help, send r : ; us money . . every dollar helps. We don’t like to ask, but as many of you know, if we did not beg, there would be no magazine. So, once more with teeling, we ask you to help us in our mutual fight for our rights. organization. Gene Damon June/July 1970

IN THIS ISSUE: ...... 4 Poetry by Gabrielle L 'A u tr e ...... J- ■ ■ ■ A thouMnd adult readers regularly receive THE LADDER a magazine In the. Air Milk Rain short story by MUler . 11 throu^out this country featuring news and views of the homo*xua^ and the homophile movement of particular interest to women This is Not For You reeieie o f Jane Ral " ¡¡ay . . . 13 Western Homophile Conference Keyno - . , ii ...... 18 Most of our readers are women 21-45 years old who have devoted a major portion of their leisure time to assisting the Lesbian to become a more L fessions of a Pseudo Male Chauvinist by Martha Shelley ...... citizen. Most of our readers believe that discrimination Bennett short story by Lemne Bosworth ...... 31 E f - “ homosexual is unfair and unjustified. To these readers your We N.-ed This Now by Lorita J. Whitehead ...... ■ • ...... 23 advertisement places you on record as an ally in their personal area of deep readers are apt to become and remain loyal customers. Charges for Nine Poems ¿>y hlsa Gidlow ...... , . . .27 single insertions of advertisement copy are given below. Ladies, Cowardice Docs Not become \on by Lennox S g • - • • • ...... ^8 The Best Women Are Thin and Rich A Guest EdUona ...... Please mail your advertising copy and check in full to: Say It Isn’t So by Rita Mae Brown ...... THE LADDER Poetry by Carol Lynk, Susan Smpadian, ...... 3, P.O. Box 5025 — Washington Station and Marion G. N orm an...... 33 Reno, Nevada 89503 Cross C urrents...... 41 ADVERTISING RATES Readers Respond...... Half Page ...... $45 . I . 11 ilANE RULE), by Photographer Lynn Inside Cover ...... $100 COVER photo and photo on page t U Quarter P a g e ...... $25 Full Page ...... $ 80 Vardeman. rR,/,/,, Inc San Francisco, California Repeated advertisements at reduced rates. Copyright 1970 by Daughters o f Bihtis, Inc., In tlie -A.ir Milk; I^ain P oet r 4 By LYNN LONIDIER by A friend of mine learned he had cancer. hair though closely cut held softly to her Gabrielle I went to emergency. The nurse had to head .she wore large earrings and .she had on ask me where it was, it was so small. The L'Autre PORTRAIT OF A LADY AS A CAMPSITE a ring that resembled an engagement ring doctor said scar ti.ssue - foreign matter but it was on the fourth finger of her right from a vaccination which had built up. I, too, would creep to your warmth. hand Carol wondered if perhap.s .some func­ It grew larger. My friend got worse. The Tent under your hair. tion of the left hand by M.D.’s made cancer spread. Invade your mouth. doctors prefer tlie right hand for their rings I returned to the hospital. The doctor Explore your apertures; the diamond was set higher on the ring than felt of it and said cyst. Carol recalled .seeing in engagement sets But these men and men have done. Was it? EXPLANATION Probably. Let them bivouac on your surface slopes. Jeanne joked to the receptionist about not Twice 1 cancelled tlie appointment while Light signal fires across your plains, operating on Carol (most cases in demia- Oh, yes, you stay quiet. imagining it was getting larger. Burrow into your trenchesi tology involve .slow clo.se examination or Keep properly to your side, My friend was taken away in a wheel mynah surgery) how flushed Jeanne became Contain your arms and legs. chair. He had a hood over his head. He was I want more: at causing laughter her neck then her checks There is room enough in the bed thirty-three years old. To tap your inner sources. then upward to her hairline Carol wondered For a gaping chasm between us. To swim in your arterial rivers. I felt the bump on my arm. Was it how Jeanne would react to intensification To breast the tides of your thought. possible I had contracted cancer from my of .some woman loving her Must you breathe? friend? We used the same bathroom and ate To swirl in the currents of your moods. I hang stubbornly to my ledge of precipice. from the same plates. To steep in the waters of your hidden depths Jeanne told Carol come in two mornings Your soft, soft breathing Till I take tone of your inner color. 1 kept the third appointment. later they agreed on 8:0(1 Jeanne said what Wafts towards me. Shape of your lost caverns. The nurse stepped out of the room. I we look for is a rising in the skin an‘a or a Impersonal as a stray breeze. Cadence of your secret rhythms. got the hospital smock on and peered at the brui.sing what we do is mea.siire it Caressing my face. remarks on the hospital chart. You stir ever so slightly. In short, 1 have heard of people avoiding going to While she .sal in a college class (iarol The covers move. I want to love you. the doctor when they had a mysterious wondered who was Jeanne’s lover Grazing my bare arm. bump on their bodies, and the bump proved Sliding along my hip. fatal. GABRIELLE L’AUTRE Carol may have dreamed about Jeanne 1 lay on my stomach. Two interns came So there is no contact to watch — one, a young man with a shaved All .she really knew was what she wanted And yet there is. head; one, a woman. Both felt of my arm Jeanne to be like Unless I arise and go, beforehand. 1 glimp.sed at tlie woman. I Breaking the invisible strands THE OUTSIDER thought of her while the needle was in my Maybe all this was just a dwelling on doctor That pull me towards you, arm. I thought of her as I felt a .surgical instead of diagnosis I know that I shall glide your way. I saw desire rise in his eyes. implement probe my leaden arm. This Nulling the void that separates us. Ignited by the sight of her olive skin woman asked me where I had gotten my Carol feared the skin test might read posi­ That I shall take you in my arms Vivid against the stark white of her dress. third right finger gold ring. tive And startle you to wakefulness Raising the blonde child in her arms Found it. With a ferocious want Above her head, she whirled slowly. Where? Two mornings later she will look at my arm You cannot or you will not or you dare Laughing, preoccupied with the child. In the ground. notate negative and tiuit will be all why am not share. His w ife, his son. I making so much out o f this yes Carol had GABRIELLE L'AUTRE His desire gone there with some .suspicion of illne.s,s For the body he had intimately possessed within her she had wanted a skin lest And smugly knew he would have again. in.stead of an X ray because slic feared Jeanne was holding Carol’s arm out­ radiation so much radiation was already in Oh, I must beat mine down. stretched Carol’s hand was lightly touching the air in the milk in the rain The desire whelming from my depths. Jeanne’s breast My desire Carol’s heart was racing ahead to tlie That must not be. Now the needle was out of the arm and moment she would be in the office with That swims in my envious eyes. Jeanne was standing very close to Carol Jeanne would Jeanne remember to eorne in That neither of them must see. Carol tried to imagine Jeanne as severe in as early as 8:00 either way was no indica­ appearance but Jeaime’s looks made it tion of Jeanne’s awarcnc-ss of Carol’s feel­ GABRIELLE L'AUTRE impossible to do so Carol remembered ings for her perhaps Jeanne wouldn’t come reading somewhere that women doctors perhaps she didn’t feel comfortable enough possessed more masculine traits than any to be alone with a girl that breathed faster other group of women but Jeanne’s dark with her near perhaps Jeanne had arranged / by her own slowness to move away from for another doctor to do the reading per­ telling her) and overheard her tell the office reeigsnized the malady il lakes a very haps her boy friend the man with the Carol this frightened her she felt hysteria secretary keep your ears open if you hear special person lo eradicate another’s aware­ shaved head and couldn’t stop the red from forming un­ me holler come running (laughter) a ridi­ ness of death and since she Imrself handled der her skin it increased it was profuse cule-laden inference Ifiat the therapist was many fatal cases she had to be wary of The clinic was open Jeanne was there not safe when alone with Carol absorption in inalignaneies Jeanne told Carol bring your purse with God you it isn’t safe to leave it around you The therapist entered where tier desk was know (undertone) the receptionist can’t be Perhaps the girl would betray her she would where Carol waited where confidential mat­ trusted deny it but how could she protect herself ters were supposedly kept (Jarol did not They were waiting for the swi'lling to go from the transparency of her own feelings reveal that she had overheard the therapist down from tin- anestlnsia. They could no Jeanne’s remark showed the receptionist had seemed so accepting so understanding longer tell wliere tin' growth was because il and Carol laughing and Jeanne turning red Uh the test shows, negative do you want it people fall in love with anyone wtio si-enis was within the swelling. on paper l aring of their thoughts In clinical language, the resident and the Jeanne led Carol into an office Jeanne inlerns tried to diagnose what tlic bump resumed the position of holding Carol’s arm Carol nodded and made appreeiation in her Carol slill loved the therapist though she migbl be before they removed it. Kaeh had outstretched the hand was again held eyes that the woman was not going to call never went hai k a differeiil theory. They agreed il was deep. against the cloth of J eaimc’s breast J canne in anyone Carol wanted to disappear under We ll lake sueh-uud-sueh incision. felt of (he spot where the needle had gone the sky Carol and Jeanne did not make a parting llereY in there was no color or raising while n’lnark the receptionist had engaged Jeanne ^o. . . Hi re. Jeanne was doing this Carol moved her Jeanne handed Carol a scribbled note and in the next patient to he seen Mow could they be so ea.siial about nol hand over the curve of Jeanne’s smock refrained from looking at her maybe Carol being certain where il was. there was electrical contact between their had never done anything sexual with a t-arol did not dwell on the eneoimler it During the e.ourse of the operation. I eyes it came and went so fast neither was woman before and was as lost from it frustrated her that she had to avoid si-eing expre.ssed my viewpoint on the war. the sure it wasn’t of protest neither could the woman again Christ how she w ished she lady intern informed mi' Ihe man operating believe Carol’s hand had sought and Jeanne When Carol was fifteen there had been a girl knew her name maybe after (iarol left tin' on Illy arm had served in the armed forces had not moved away Carol’s voice nudged in one of her classes w ho------woman had told someone what had hap­ as an VI.I). Jeanne and her eyes covered her over pened maybe tlie doelors and nurses had There was joking amongst Ihe resident Slowly their eyes told each other about had a big laugh about it it would be a and the inlerns doctor and patient Jeanne looked at Carol’s face a lace so each other this was followed by what is it long-standing juke with them Jeaiine would di.s.sented over the war (tbe advantage he intent on touch and reaction to touch and like to kiss when they were alone at one or (urn red making her vulnerability lo tbe had over me) — he had not sewn me utu it was surrounded by long blond hair you the other of their homes they kissed men doctors more appealing yet! have the urge to separate feel the fineness There was diseii.ssion of their weekend. o f then stroke then watch it fall into place The narrowness of the townspeople kept Krealh They eiieouiileri'd so many people and c^ain when Jeanne heard the sound the them from sniffing out and condemning so lunch death. Iliey could be casual in Ihe longing it made her further not move for if two girls who went together did everything Jeanne saw many patients that day she was pre.sence of .someone who bad cancer. she moved how could she have heard together and held to each other inside each careful with each one but late afternoon slie Kven after the growth was removed, the another wanting her other’s empty house but the same people developed such a headache she could not go doctor could nol say il was nut cancer. He fear what they do not know they are always to med seminar tbe re d n e ss had seemed to held up a bottle eunlaining what he had A blush started at Jeanne’s dress collar and on the verge of passing from ignorance to linger removed tis.sue lhal resembled filler-lip went upward to her hair intolerance suspicion always did exist fiber ilkseminaled by the liquid it was in. a Befon' she went to the resident ball and pimplisb core centered within, liepnlsive, Carol imagined it moving across Jeanne’s Carol and her love were coveiied by peo­ after the nurses left sbe went through the yet. nol lo be lei go of. breasts also ple’s naive overcstimation of the naivety of office files for (Carol’s name The resident look a long lime doing the two girls stilebes. I beard him say lo the interns 1 was How close they were standing Jeanne no­ Jeanne i-opied name address and noted young: il was imporlanl I not have sear ticed how the girl’s presence seemed to have But Carol had had punitive upbringing she Carol's birthday disfigurement. gotten larger as she was looking at her sought praise did well in school but through Why should I be atlraetive. Slalislies Jeaime broke from Carol moved as far away love she had gained guilt Twenty were half of all the men would be maimed as she could Carol’s head did not turn or never come back. But I didn't dare be downward but her hair seemed to wilt She left her parents left her town left love She herself was twenly-ninc Carol a girl vocal on the war while the doctor was and in college did not know what she herself a woman sewing me up. Don’t tell wanted there she turned to therapy I wasn't eertaiii hi' really was careful. He She noted in tbe remarks that in the past might want lo get even with me — his. a Jeanne held onto the table behind her she In a little office she learned that retribution (^arol had had anxiety reactions to illness eoniradietory existence. was breathing hard she was waiting to calm does not have to go hand in hand with Carol was the sort of person that every year .And 1 was going lo have lo wait a week she recognized she had wanted this close­ feelings that it was all right to love a woman or so needed reassurance she had not for the diagnosis. ness with the girl she had been reluctant to if she wanted contrac:ted some fatal disease what she But I might nol live lhal long. stop she wouldn’t betray the girl she didn’t needed was a love to sustain her from death I decided I would ask lor a TB .skin test. feel threatened by Carol so much as she did Carol expressed love for her therapist (by this was not in the records but Jeanne I was apply ing for a job which required one. 1 miglit have TB. I have sputum in my not help but equate with money A1 took Kiss me The woman intern came into the room. throat, which has continued to thrive for her places showed her a good time and yet She removed the stitches. She gave me a three-, four years. I never tried to get rid of she could not even feel as much for him as 1 will I will here skin test. She did blu^ easily and hold my it. I have a cat and a dog, and I have been for a friend she had her roommate say she arm in such a way that ray hand touched told doctors won’t treat throat infections of was not in the last time he phoned however Kiss me that part of her dress which contained her owners of fur-bearing animals. as the weekend wore on she found herself breasts. traipsing downtown with a group of nurses On your breast who wound up their evening at a movie Jeanne wishing she had not declined him Yes ooh love me Breath not caring for Al but being with him would Jeanne had been in the city for over three be better than wallowing in all that time 1 will I will here years without having found a steady lover and dwelling on the complaints of her Breath I’d rather have a woman who treats or mate often she thought it could not patients until she felt possessed of malig­ m’good, ’n a man who treats m’bad. continue much longer I will find someone nancy in the next month or two then she realized They were on top of the bed In books the penis is everything the bigger a year had passed since she started thinking Jeanne knew what it was like to have a the better in one of Faulkner’s books a man Jeanne lay on her back her arms and legs the thought and two years and Jeanne was bump that appeared on her body be fatal uses a corncob to do it with because it Is in the midst of men perhaps her failure she had felt herself consumed by the outstretched larger (that is how she thought of it) to find a slow-moving fury of the power of certain man resulted from the franticncss of the cells over others only to come out of her Carol was over her centering over the edges Might as well use the handle of a hammer hours kept by interns and M.D.’s herself dread on Monday when .she again con­ of Jeanne’s breasts and those who dated her how many days fronted so many patients she had no time The two women knew better of the imple­ had she only gotten an hour or two of sleep to dwell on her death Both caught a glimpse of something they ment had seen moving in water The times Jeanne was on a date were always Breath Jeanne had wondered when a man was in tightly wound almost desperate she didn't Carefully carefully Jeanne lifted Carol’s her what was the matter that she didn’t feel have much contact with men in other barly evening two or three weeks from the finger in between her legs in through the it more Carl had wanted it in right away professions they might not understand how time Jeanne and Carol had been drawn hairs into the wet Carol moved her finger in and Charles did not know how to get it in work kept her yet she had read somewhere toward liaison Jeanne faced Carol in a and out and knew what the woman was like and no matter how big -she couldn’t feel it that most women doctors married men in doorway inside and almost fainted upon the sound of once it was in the harder they did it the other fields woman-sounds more insensitive to it she became Jeanne (the name Carol had given her) She had come into contact with a lot of Jeanne’s face was flushed as if she had just Faster the room went Al .she could not let enter her men dying caused laughter by something she’d said In the middle of making love Carol stopped (How close you feel to the one above is Perhaps she made excu.ses for herself when They stood inside the room and looked at how much you will feel) it came to finding a man each other Do you love me As soon as Carol put her finger in Jearme Charles was less assertive in his love-making Why did you I don’t know you but I love you turning her own delicious body onto the than .she with him she found herself holding woman a rush of heat came back her thoughts and her ge.stures and I had to see you Because darkness was around them Carol a.s.suming a role of naivety whatever the could not see if Jeanne was embarrassed or Carol’s hair came down into Jeanne’s the night required to make him feel everything Jeanne’s face was burning in the dark Carol blushed but she guess it brown and the yellow mixed together made was tlie way it should be she in turn felt hadn’t turned the light on a most deep rich color Jeanne had Carol’s impatient angry and developed headaches Why do you always turn so red tongue in her mouth through it Carol was They were standing they looked at each lost to all but to ANIMALS! BREASTS! Carl too had suffered a rclation-ship with other and saw near Ask me that and that’s enough to make me coming over her great wreaths of hair loveli­ her he began to harbor competitiveness do it that’s the way 1 am my blood is near ness toward Jeanne when they were involved in You won’t tell my surface do I feel hot clinical diagnosis the resident physician Jeanne was on fire blazing and Indian she finally had to transfer him to another floor Tnist You are hot sexy hot went down to the dance of Carol’s heart all because he began to make up diagnoses to around refute Jeanne’s and insist on their accuracy All of a .sudden they took hold of each Well continue please when results from the lab proved otherwi.se other as two people might who hadn’t seen When one was too tired the other would the chief resident had called them both in each other for years like strangers remem­ Doing what and told them point-blank he must separate bering they had once been lovers Jeanne tilted her lliigh upward and Carol them They smiled knowing what was to be done spread her legs over it so the TWO And the two women mouthed each other TOUCHED so that the rivers moving be­ Jeanne’s last dale was with a man .slie could their flesh wanting out of their clothing tween them fitted together 8 They could go on like lhat and sometimes I cannot live with someone who cannot live sentence on oneself. Cancer as self-impo.sed (Lynn Lonidier writes that she is too did ’til morning brought them ’round with herself the red color of the ring came death. much involved with her work to he and went Carol waited awhile then left Both women were in myself; aspects of much o f anything but its reflection. They turned a light on smoked cigarettes Jeanne myself in both women. She lives in Southern California in a and gazed at each other’s moonflesh and One died and one lived. “tropical paradise" and admits to va­ t^arol said who gave you the ring of the ring So Jeanne lay there and died (mortification Actually, the growth proved non-malig- ried tastes including unusual foods. on Jeanne’s finger it used to be called) and Carol could not do nant; the skin test proved negative. I was Her poetry, and articles pertaining to without her healthy. The scar on my arm is only slightly poetry, have appeared in many pe­ My parents did for graduation visible to look at. riodicals including TRACE, EVER­ Carol regarded Jeanne’s ouLstretched form I want Jeanne and Carol to continue to GREEN REVIEIE, MASSACHU­ ('arol (hen saw a drop of blood ri'plai e the as lhat of the Saviour as all lovers art' to love one another for many years. It’s possi­ SETTS REVIEW, SAN FRANCISCO setting there it was as plain as though it had each other and that implied a certain ble - love above death. REVIEW, THE. HUMANIST, always been there Carol didn’t say anything amount of death but in the morning Jeanne Since these visits to the hospital, 1 have FORUM, etc., and in THE LIVING she didn't want to alarm Jeanne she tried to had to be alert to the line of patients wait­ seen the woman intern driving a car in a UNDERGROUND; AN ANTHOL kiss it off but it stayed il was like a pin ing when she arrived with clothes on in the lane of traffic opposite mine. I don’t think OGY OF CONTEMPORARY prick it was round and perfeel ami irremov­ dermatology department of the itnpttr.suliai she saw me. If she had, she probably AMERICAN m E TR Y. A coUection able hospital wouldn’t recognize me from that day in the o f her work, PO TREE, was pub­ office until now. lished in ¡967 by the Berkeley Free I like to feel the bump I like to play with it Press.) ooh are you sure you won’t ltd me rttmove it I simply can't leave it alone it’s so cute Father and Mother botli had had eaneer. It tends to run in families. I’m sure Silly Some doctors and psychiatrists maintain This Is Not For You By JA!NK ItlJCE tliat pc'opk' who are overly-busy, overly- Meany conseientiou.s, drive themselves hard, and N.Y., McCall’s 1970 are nervous, are prone toward cancer. Hrealli Reviewed by Isabel Miller

Carol knew now that they would both live Good news — our lovely bright Jane because they loved each other and could Rule has published another novel. It’s a let­ laugh about il without the burning starling ter to a girl named Esther, who is now a Do they care for you nun and will never read it. I don’t think Cove made death ch^ar up and go away anything would be cased for Esther, or My father's dead I vyrite to my mother ev­ cleared up, if she did read It, but she might ery two or three weeks Carol moved Jeanne’s hand from the liny enjoy it; it’s dazzling. lump in her flesh to between her brea.«ts Kate (the narrator) and E.sther meet as Strange that ,|eanne'’s ring had acquired a .leanne’s hand curved into the softness and students at a women’s college. They’re rich, red jewel and .she really hadn't answered stayed when they were asleep both had intelligent, serious, philo.sophical, poetic. their hands on each oth her hand slid off that was enough to awaken won’t let anything happen. She has no re­ had wired il to her conscience so it gave off and once more grasp the seeurily of round­ luctance about making love to other girls — blood (a peculiarity of her family lineage) ness ju.st Esther. An open lesbian named Sandy whenever .she strayed from their ways lakes an interest in E.sther, but Kate keeps How good to live them apart, thinking, “You are not to It was a case of mistaken diagnosis the lab­ JANE RULE spend yourself on a Sandra Mcntchen. 1 oratory had gotten Jeanne’s and Carol’s haven’t saved you from myself for that.” Kate why she doesn’t just (:o ahead and charts mixed it was Jeanne who had disease Kate and Esther travel in Europe. Kate make love to Esther. hGile says, “It s ju.st and Carol who went free to bemoan the loss picks up two men, Andrew and Peter, and not her world, not her sr^t of thing.” of the woman clear pa.s.-ied the grave The woman in my story died only be­ the four of them then travel together. Esther’s opinion is never a.sked. cause I wanted to at the lime my friend Esther doesn’t especially like Andrew and Esther asks Kate why Kate doesn’t want ,'\s though the bed were a pyre amongst all died. 1 was feeling illness all around, and 1 Peter or like travelling with them. Kate goes her. “Because 1 don’t want to want you. It’s the heat of love and neither woman had a knew too much. I knew it was years experi­ back to England, leaving Esther with the as simple as that,” Kate says. remedy for fire is the color of guilt tbrougli encing inten.se love feelings for women — men. Andrew wants to talk with Kate, but There’s a party. Esther says, “Absolute­ all centuries il has been .so in The Scarlet coupled with my father’s-, mother’s-, and she’s very closed and can’t. He asks, “Why ly everybody’s kissed me tonight but you. Letter a remnant of eonscience the mark on friend’s failing — that caused the bump to do you always run away?” “To keep from Kate says, “Then it’s probably time to go the adultre.s.s's forehead stayed on come. People can cau.se cancer to come hurting people who aren’t bright enough to home.” onto their bodies. A change in cell growth protect themselves,” Kate says. Kate says, “It’s lime you met some When Jeanne left Carol the ring turned occurs when too much unhappiness builds Kate and Sandy have a little fling - men.” (Esther is surrounded by men, but from ruby to diamond up in the system. It is a way of pa.s.sing once only, Kate’s favorite way. Sandy asks they’re all homosexual so they don’t T

count.) Esther says, "All right, Kate.” grass rap. Esther travels, sending postcards They finish school, go to England. without return addresses. She gets engaged (Jane Rule lives and works in Van­ ter Two o f AGAINST THE SEASON Esther obediently meets a creep named to a very uptight doctor named John. On couver, British Columbia. Her first appeared in the OctoberlNovemher, John, who. Kale says, “sounds like a Pen­ the wedding day, Esther and Kate kiss, be­ novel, DESERT OF THE HEART, 1969 issue o f THE LADDER.) guin Classic.” Kate is “jealous and hurt and ing “careful of each other’s makeup.” appeared in the United States in frightened,” but doesn’t tell Esther so. Esther goes off to be married, saying, “This 1965. Her short stories have been j (Reviewer Isabel Miller is the author There’s a Christmas hou.separty. Esther is how it should be. This is how you told published in magazines in Canada o f the popular Lesbian novel, A kisses Kale’s hand. Kate tucks Esther into me to do it.” and the United States. She has often p l a c e E()R (/.S’. Under her own bed and lies awake for a long time — won­ Kate, now twenty-six, goes to Greece to contributed stories to THE name she is a well known established LADDER. Her next novel, dering whether mother will go to the Christ­ work for a relief agency; she wants to save novelist. She also has contributed a mas Eve services! the world. She falls in love at first sight AGAIN.ST THE SEASON, will be ' story to THE) LADDER.) Mother has a .stroke. Kate goes back to with her boss, name of Grace, crowding six­ published by McCall’s in ¡971. Chap­ •America to be with her. Esther, later, comes ty. .After a long time, Grace, once, takes too. They play chess a lot, have talks about Kate to bed. 1 guess Kate likes it - .she philo.sophy and religion. Kate’s “mind and doesn’t say. Grace says, “I have never been body ached with obscenities of their own.” in love, except with my work.” Nothing Western Homophile Conference Keynote Address What to do but kick Esther out? As she’s about Kate changes that. By HENRY (HARRY) HAY leaving, Esther says, “You do love me — Esther gets a divorce and contemplates Introduction by Jim Kepner you do want me. Or you would have let me entering a nunnery - an enclo.sed order. (My chief function in speaking here time for it. Everybody else was afraid of come to you years ago.” “No,” Kate says. is to make an introduction. So 1 hope their shadow.' Kate goes to see her. “1 would mi.ss you,” 1 was thinking about starting a maga­ Esther lives for a year with a lout named Kale says, but doe.sn’t look at her. Esther my friend. Whom I am about to in­ Christopher. Kate sleeps one night with the troduce, won’t mind if 1 am a bit per­ zine, or a defense organization, as early enters the nunnery anyway. Now Kate is as 1942. But I didn't do it, 1 drew up night nurse, name of Mac. 1 like Mac, but verse about it. My method is perverse, in writing this letter which is not to be .sent a way. It is a little like introducing Troy some plans, talked to a few friends, but Kate doesn’t. and feeling, I guess, generally plea.sed at nothing came of it. Nothing at all. Kate and Esther go to Los .Angeles to Perry by first saying a few kind words how self-disciplincd she’s been. She’s part for Mohammedanism. One person was more persistent. In visit Sandy, who’s a concert pianist and Indian — maybe that s why she’s so con­ I want to introduce one of those per­ 1948, the dream became a bit more than cheerfully mated to a girl. Esther, who is temptuous of pain. sons who ha.s had a really revolutionary a dream, and by 1950, the spirit became attracted to Sandy’s girl, says, “Kate only Why does Kate sleep with only women effect on the homophile community in flesh and moved among us. The spirit, allows me to .sleep with men.” Sandy says the United States, and a person who the hope, the dream that homosexuals she cares nothing for or who care nothing had suppressed for centuries burst forth to Kate, You re the mo.st indecent prude for her? Why does she “protect” Esther — isn’t much a believer in reformism, so I want to say a few kind words for re­ here in Los Angeles, and travelled to San I’ve ever known.” That rolls right off Kale. poor sweet vulnerable needful Estlier — Francisco and to San Diego w'ithin a few She knows she’s being fine and noble. formism first. from herself and Sandy, but not from all Without changing the system, with' more months. The first homosexual or­ Esther takes up with a junkie/pushcr/ tho.se appalling men? in short, why does she ganization, the first mass homosexual thief named Charlie. (“At least he’s not out overthrowing the Establishment, despise lesbianism? Damned if 1 know. whatever that is, we have made a hell of organization was born twenty years ago homosexual,” Sandy says.) Kate .minds Does Jane Rule know? I think if she did a lot of progress in the last twenty years. — the first Gay Liberation Organization. I would like to introduce to you my about Charlie. She says, “His whore and his she w'ould have said. She writes so wonder­ I don^t think those of you who are un­ mate. His slave and his keeper.” “And I der thirty can begin to appreciate just very dear friend, and mentor and antag­ fully. If she’d write Establishment, she’d be onist, the man who first brought us out would have been that for you,” Esther says. one of the 1 itans. She can say what she what it was like for homosexuals two Kate touches her hand and leaves for Wash­ decades ago, and some you older ones of Egypt, if not quite over the Jordan, wants to say, and there’s room for every­ have forgotten. the father of the Homophile Movement. ington. For one of my nervous, negative thing in the wonderful loose free shopping- Henry liay.) We had no organizations of our own. ¥ * « morality, risking failure is less terrifying bag form she chose. It can go from nar- than risking success. I could more easily No publications of our own. Bars — we ation to scenes and back again without a all thv ineiniHT.s s(anGay Liberation ritual? Well, it is! It is the guilty of you. I hadn’t that kind of cour­ minder, before we start talking about you re a prude: you drive your girl to sick concluding sentence of llie New .Member age.” Joyce says, “You’re an absolutely throwing out the system, of how much Welcoming Ritual of the first Gay Libera­ men and drugs and doomt^ marriages and progress we have made. standard type, you know - the crude divorce. You make a nunnery look warm tion Movement in the linited States . . . prude.” It rolls right off Kate. It took revolutionaries to get that and yummy. progress rolling. Until the homosexual the original Mattachine Society, 1950 to Esther’s rich mother buys Esther off the cause began to be a bit respectable, it April of 1953. was only the revolutionaries that had That first Movetnctil called llomo- ourselves we’ve never talked about — even He Is existential. He IS! We Homosexuals sexuals to a brotherhood of love and trust; devotedly attempted to retain such basic TO ourselves. History knows much about us know that no Heterosexual man has ever it called Homosexuals to rediscover their principles of the MatUchine Idea as were that it doesn’t know it knows . . . but WE been able to describe, or begin to project, collective — as well as personal - self- salvagable when the root thinking (the radi­ could recognize it if wc would look. Mytli what it means to be, and feel like, a self- respect and integrity. It raised into con­ calism motivating and inspiring the original and Legend, Tradition and Folk-ways know appreciating Homosexual. To update Des­ sciousness, for the first time, the concept of vision) had been precipitated out. Adjusting much about us that has been deliberately cartes, COGITO ET .GENTIO ERGO SUM! the Homosexual Minority complete with its their sights to the more tried-and-true forms obscured by endless politically-motivated And for each of our three Minorities - to own sub-culture, with its own Life-styles. It of the middle way the new groups sought Conspiracies of Silence . . . WHICH WE stnjggled to perceive - however dimly, and know this is to make us free within our respectability rather than self-respect, par­ CAN EXPLODE IF WE WILL. As the Free selves, requires us (whcllier we like it or with little language to help it that, in liamentary individualism rather than the Generation, and the Third World, have re­ not) to move to social con.sciousncs,s, and some measure, the Homosexual Minority collective trust of brotherhood, law reform vealed beyond any possibility of longer actually looked out upon the world through foretells our .several potentials as allies in and quiet assimilation rather than a com­ denying it, our vain-hallowcd culture is the struggle for the new world a-corning. a somewhat different window than did their munity of rich diversity within the Family slowly sinking into a veritable kitchen- What.is it that we know of ourselves Heterosexual brothers and sisters. The of Man. One might say that they sought to midden of ob.sccncly-generated unuxamined Homosexual world-view surely deviated in that no Heterosexual as yet has bcguti to be exactly the same as the D.A.R. - except assumptions, learned by rote, inherited perceive? It is that we Homo.sexiials have a dimensional values from that of its parent in bed. without question, and having not one shred psychic architecture in common, we have a society . . . a world view neither better nor This is not to say that the long and fu­ of a basis for pos.siblc justification in the inferior but athwart. Dream in common, man to man, woman to tile struggle, of the Homosexual Minority modern world. That the three largest op- Rejecting the ultimately unexaminahle woman, lo r all of us, and for eaeh o f us, in Movement to wear shoes that could never pn'sscd .Minorities in the United States to­ assumptions of Heterosexual Psychiatry, the dream of Love’s cc.stacy . . . The God fit, did not have its gallant and contributive day are victims of politically-motivated mired as they were - and still are — in the descends — the Goddess descends; and for aspects. For it did — and a number of the unexamined false assumptions, sancti­ each of us the tran.sccndancc of that obsolescent modes of Ari.stotelian thinking, consequences are far-rcaching. Occasionally moniously parading as religious Revi^lations the first Movement called to its own fellow­ apotheosis is mirrored in the an.swering these managed momentarily to deodorize of our Hallowed Western Civilization, ship to search themselves and their several glances o f the lover’s eyes. FOR WE spots in our putrefying Society within should come as no surprise. cultures to find out at last “what WE are” .SHAKE THE SAME VLSION . . . Like to which the Organizations whecl-and-deal. From the marriage of Hellenistic philo.s- - “WHO we are”. It called to its member­ Like. Heterosexuals do not partake of such Also, in the larger healthier growing edges ophy and JudaeieRoman politics, projected ship to assemble these findings and then in­ a communion of spirit. Their’s is . . , of social-consciousness Homophilc organiza­ to God-head and named Christianity, wc troduce to the Parent Society that widening other. And — in this mating of like to like - tions have postulated several right questions proudly inherit through REVELATION the dimension of spiritual consciousness our what is it we seek? Not the power and vani­ . . . albeit for mostly the wrong reasons. unassailable proof that fVonien arfi inferior. contributions would bring. And finally, ties of dynasty, not wealth or protuTty, not Yet — for all that — until now, the head From the Divine Revelations of Renais­ upon the gift of such contributions, it .social contract or security, not status, nor count of the memberships throughout the postulated the integration of our Minority sance Humanism, and the Rcformational preferment, as does the Pan-nt Society. We United States was never able to equal the into the Parent Society AS A GROUP . . . Elect, we inherit the una.ssailable proof that seek union, EACH WITH HIS SIMILAR - thousands who rallied, in California alone, not a “passing” assimilation by individuals both Women and rton Whites are inferior. heart to mirroring heart - free spirit to free to the original Mattachine Idea between From the White Anglo-Saxon Prote.stant spirit! but integration by the total group . . . for 1950 and 1953. Why do the shoes of mid­ this was 1950-53 and Montgomery and “Best of all possible Worlds” we inherit the We are a Minority of a common Spiritu­ dle-class respectability and conformity unassailable proofs that both non whites ality, wc arc a Free People . . . and we Birmingham and Selma still lay in the un­ never seem to fit? Why do our essays at predictable future. and Queers are inferior. have always been .so — tliroughout the mil- right questions time and again bear witness Second-class citizens ALL . . . it .should lenia, each in his generation! No allegiance, In the scant generation between that that we postulated wrong reasons? Why is it largely non verbal THEN - and now, a host not be surprising that as oppressed and har­ no sanctions, no taboos or prohibition.s, no th at Homosexuals presumably high- ried Minorities we three learned lessons and laws have ever been encompassing enough of new scientific modes of discourse have principled and disciplined enough to join flooded us with resources, with language, share certain levels of consciousness in com­ or powerful enough to stand between us and serve the Minority’s Democratically-run mon. As with the largest oppressed Mi­ and the pursuit of our Dream. It was no and revelations, to firm up our early hesi­ Service Organizations comprise so small a tant footings . . . Ethology, Etho-Ecology, nority — Women — the Homosexual Minor­ accident, no poetic stroke of whimsy, that percentage of the Minority? Why is it that ity knows the shape and substance of Male translated our persons in the King James Bio-Genetics, Cultural-Genetics, to name a non-organized Homosexuals - in their few. Penetrating voices, speaking in these Chauvinism — we too have lived under its Testament — as “Fools”, nor translated our thousands over the years — opine smugly lash all our lives. As with the second largest vision guests as “folly”. Tradition knew us dimensions that presage new horizons of that Homosexuals kid themselves when higher consciousness for the Spirit of Man, oppressed Minority — the non-White.s, the well — “Fools rush in where Angels fear to they think they can effectively organize at Homosexual Minority knows the bitter har­ tread!” Throughout our millenia we were, have caught the ear of the new generations all . . . because they really have nothing in who would be free . . . Konrad Lorenz, vest of being the Village Nigger! and arc now, in .the faithful service to the common but their sex drives? Whv? Whv^ Women' know that no man has ever been Great Mother — Earth — Nature, and in R.D. Laing, Herbert Marcuse. And within WHY? their contexts, WE ARE THERE - if we able to describe or project what it means to loyal service to her children - the people Because . . . when the Queens of closet be, and to feel like, a self-appreciating wom­ who preserved the Great Mother’s ecologi­ will but seek at last to define and disclose rank chose to seek respectability by turning ourselves. an. Yet she does not need to be explained cal harmonie,s both psychically and ma­ their backs resolutely on their brothers and terially, in the ritual of their everyday lives. In the long years between the miscalcu­ or defended. She is existential. She IS! To­ sisters of the Street, they shut out from day Blacks are making it unmistakably clear To those of her communities who granted lations of, and the headlong flight of broth­ their perspectives the first and primary task ers from, that first dream of Liberation - that no Whiteman has ever been able to de­ us respect and acknowledged our integrity, laid upon the Minority by the Original scribe or project what it means, and feels we gave loyalty beyond ordinary measures and its rebirth in the Spring of 1969, the Mattachine Vision - the Usk of discovering many elements of the earlier Society . like, to be a self-appreciating Black. Nor of endurance . . . Le.s Societes Mattachines “What ARE we?” “WHO ARE we?” does he need to be explained or defended. of both Feudal and Monarchial France give continually grouping and regrouping . . . We Homosexuals know much about r ample testimony to that. BUT — to tyrants, be able to learn to make that redirection gations cunningly connived . . . of fili- come together in a voluntary sharing o f a and to alien usurping Gods, the clear un­ manifest. busterings and steam-rollerings . . . do spiritual outlook. We touch hearts. To­ flagging flame of our Dream was — and re­ For three hundred years, our useful eon- appear to provide a set of minimal repres­ gether we grow in consciousness to generate mains still — heresy - treason - witch-craft tiibutive past in Western Culture has been sions whereby • the random aggressions of issues, AND ACTIONS UPON THESE IS­ — the unforgivable sin. Towards the expro­ pulverized and effaced by deliberate politi­ delegates may be controlled. The sad truth priators of the Spirit of Man we Homo­ SUES, which make manifest the fleshing cally-motivated Conspiracies of Silence. In is that, because of the failure of the Spirit out of our shared world-vision. We con- sexuals are forever alien; in their eyes we this hell of Anomie, we — of the Homo­ arc forever Anathema! of Man to surface into collective conscious­ sense, we affirm and re-affirm the Free sexual Minority - have been reduced to ness in our Western Society, proce­ Community of Spirit, we acknowledge a We Homosexuals are a Minority who these sem i-conscious rudder-less wanderers, spokesman to voice our thinking when such share each other’s Dream whether we speak dures serve only to assure die continued driven like sheep to conform to social pat­ voicings seem called for. Sometimes we may the same language or not, who share a com­ domination o f the pecking order. terns which atrophied our perceptions and All this is NOT of us! these are the shoes do a thing together and so we will act in the mon psychic vision whether we share the shredded our souls, beset on every side by same cultural make-up or not, all the days which never have fitted us; these are the name of the Community. Other times we the bacilli of — to us — alien value-judg­ are, each or .several, off on our own thing of our years. Though we are bom with all shackles of alien thought that — brain-wash­ ments which riddled the very sinews of our ing us to accept a world-view through the and here we act in the name of the self-lib- the aggressive fighting instincts of our com­ Dream. But now, even in this late hour, mon humanity, the psychic architecture — WRONG window — hold us to our bondage. crated (or in the name of the group, de­ there is a light at the end of our long tun­ Our Homosexual Liberation Movement pending entirely upon the specific Group’s characteristic to our Minority natures — be­ nel. There are voices on the wind giving di­ gins to reshape and redirect these vital must consist of far-ranging Communities of feelings in the matter.) BUT — within this mensions to the freeing of the Spirit of Community — let the Spirit be betrayed, let energies with almost the first stirrings in us Free Spirits. What have Free Peoples to do Man. The time is now for our Minority to with politely-masked repressions of one an­ coercion or opportunism attempt to bind of spiritual consciousness. The aggressive begin at last to comprehend what we have competitiveness, taken for granted as an other? With coercions, or with claims-laying any of us against our will . . . and known for so long. The time is NOW for us upon one another? What have Free Peoples PRESTO, like the Faeries of Folk-lore, .sud­ eternal verity by our Heterosexual Parent to speak of, and to share, that which we Society, in us redirects, under the guidance to do with the voting principles that divide denly we are no longer there. Shame me, have hved and preserved for so long. The people from one another, or with the pre­ call me names, resolve me to a position I do of the Blueprint of our Minority nature. In reappearance of the “Gay Liberation Ideal” us, this genetic redirection transforms our tentious mounting of resolutions? Each of not share, couple me to an opinion I do not calls to each of us to stoke anew the pas­ these restrictions seeks to shame and cajole hold, vote my presence to an action against perceptions of unconsciously-inherited ani­ sionate fires of our particular vision of the mal Maleness or Femaleness into apprecia­ the many to conform to the ego-mania or my grain . . . and I’m long gone. “Once Community of Spirit. The breath-taking the wishful-thinking of the few. Have we bitten, twice shy!” tions of —nay even a Ufe-long passion to call sweep of “Gay Liberation” challenges us to forth, to call into being, the grace and ten­ permitted our perceptions to become so Our Faerie characteristic is our Homo­ break loose from the lockstep expectations atrophied that we can assume fellow Homo­ sexual Minority’s central weakness . . . derness behind that competitive strength, of Heterosexual hfe patterns so obliterating the humility and compassion behind that sexuals, or ourselves for that matter, vulner­ and, paradoxically, also the keystone of our of our natures. Even the Free Generation, able to being shamed and cajoled by brain­ enduring strength. For whether we are self- territorial ruthlessness, in our fellow sibliirgs seeking a widened angle of worldview, chal­ of the Great Mother. For grace and tender­ washed sell-outs in our midst? Being liberated, or still self-imprisoned witbin the lenges us to throw off the Dream-destroying shamed and cajoled by pressures inimical to territorial conformities of our oppressors, ness, humility and compassion are revealed shackles of alien thought that we may ex­ to us as being implicit in the aspect. . . the our natures has been the ever-pre.sent bane we Homosexuals are moved to answer hibit, at long last, the rich diversities of our of our Homosexual lifc-expcricncc; we, arc ONLY when the call is to the special char­ spirituality . . . of the Masculine Ideal, the deviant perceptions. lemininc Ideal. He who answers, she who I past masters in the arts of dissembhng, acteristics of our psychic natures. We To liberate our Minority life-styles, we answers, our call into being is our LIKE, and/or vanishing under an invisible cloak, Homosexuals arc moved to act ONLY when first must explode once and for all the ob­ our SIMILAR, . . . the one who finds in whenever such pressures threaten. the call — as heard in our hearts — is a Spirit scene unexamined assumptions by which our aspect the ideal we find in his, — that The Community of Free Spirits is not call to freedom. we bind ourselves into the obsolescent so­ ideal which we can understand in him, in just a fantasy in the minds of wool-gath­ (This address was delivered to the cial conformities . . . as for instance our erers such as I. It has a history of long- Western Homopbile Conference, held her, and cherish in ourselves, because we concern for the “Image” assumption. I con­ share its outlook in common. This shared lasting and exceedingly viable Societies out­ at the First Unitarian Church o f Los form to no Image; I define myself. WE DE­ commonality of outlook is a world-view to­ side of Western Europe (and even smaller Angeles, February 14, 15, ¡970.) FINE OURSELVES! To a people who tally unfamiliar to the accrued experience contained communities within Western Eu­ would be free — images are irrelevancies. rope) to recommend it. Anthropologists of our Parent Society. It is a view of the life Again — we assume that to govern ourselves experience through a different window. who, in recent years, have learned to per­ we must enact forcible restraints upon each SIGNS OF THE TIMES ceive societal systems as things-in-them- The Free Generation, the young Mil­ other, and that the cumulative detriment selves wholly within the context of their The following advertisement ap­ lions, now striving to perceive the dimen­ will be negligible so long as these restraints own seIfKieveloped référants, confess that peared on page 30 of the April 10, 1970 sions of the Family of Man, also seek to are patently disguised as “Democratic” pro­ individual life-styles within such systems are issue of CHRISTIANITY TODAY: achieve that redirection of the fists of ter­ cedures. In this field the great unexamined ritorial aggression into the compassionate assumption is that Robert’s Rules of Order more free than life-styles conceived in West­ The Art o f Understanding Your Mate, by ern Civilization. Our Homosexual Libera­ hand-clasp of the Community of Spirit. aiAieve a maximum of free expression Cecil G. Osborne (Zondervan, 1970,192 tion Ideal mandates such a community of That capacity for redirection has character­ within a minimum of collective restraints. pp., $4.95). Assumes that all married Free Spirits. Not for us the constrictions of ized our Minority from the beginning. We To the competitive, to the territorialists, to couples are to some extent incompatible were its proving-grounds in the processes of the ego-ridden, to the status-seekers, of our political parties, of leaders who presume to because men and women are basically natural selection. We carried — we carry, decaying Society, the parliamentary coer­ speak for us, of experts who conspire to incompatible and offers practical sugges­ through the millenia of lives-experiences, — cions of “m^ority” votings . . . of special think for us, of alliances that obligate us to tions toward a better understanding be­ the promise that one day all mankind might interest lobbyings . . . of cloak-room obU- act in the name of others or that permit tween husband and wife. others to expropriate the use of ours. We r Every time I walk out in the street, in criticize these sisters? They couldn’t get the ghetto where I live, I am subject to the that $75 a week legitimately, and now they Confessions of a Pseudo-Male,Chauvinisf open, brutal arrogance of these men. get $75 a night illegitimately. It’s better > By MARTHA SHELLEY There’s your male chauvinism laid on the than welfare, better than domestic work. I’ve always admired “masculine” wom­ into guilt feelings (which most of them still line, the reality behind the courteous smile And now that some jobs have opened lip en, despite the popular prejudice against hai^). Women’s oppre.ssion is the oldest of a bank manager who refuses to consider for black women, do you think the prosti­ women who step out of their traditional form of oppression in the world, the deep­ you for promotion. tutes can go straight now? Who will hire roles. This attitude has roots in my child­ est-rooted, the most subtle, the mo.st wide­ The charming southern gentleman, who them, women with convictions and jail sen­ hood. Somehow, inside the shy, bespec­ spread throughout the world. Blacks got the has a thousand carefully constructed argu­ tences? When black women college gradu­ tacled little girl was the vision of a woman vote 100 years ago and arc still struggling in ments in favor of maintaining segregated fa­ ates are dying to get those secretarial jobs? jet pilot — the first woman on Mars — a agony against their oppression. Women, cilities, is but the thin veneer over the lynch The psychology professor who defended woman brain surgeon — a guerrilla fighter in after oppression which goes back to the mob. He will not stoop to do the dirty the domination of the male was a man I the French Resistance. Well, 1 haven’t be­ dawn of history, have not been liberated by work — let the rednecks do it. The male admired . . . 1 craved the respect, the at­ come any of those things, just a radical lc.s- a mere fifty years of possessing the right to psychology professor who argues for the tention of the intellectual male and flat­ bian, a writer for the gay crusade - so 1 vote. (Note: many people who accept the necessity of male leadership and the im­ tered myself to think that I was considered guess I’m not'the epitome of passive fem­ notion that bigotry is brainwashed into peo­ portance of a woman building a man’s ego, superior to the average housewife. Except I ininity, even if 1 never did learn to fly a ple are the very same people who say, “Why is but a mask on the face of a rapist. And wasn’t. To those men 1 was a bit of a freak, plane. don’t blacks or women .study harder and the woman psychologist who backs him up like a talking dog - amusing, but not to be However, after I became involved with pull themselves up by their bootstraps?” and gently, deviously tells you to go back taken seriously. And down in the ghetto 1 Women’s Liberation, I began to notice This line of thinking which finds excuses into the kitchen, is our pseudo male chauvi­ knew exactly where I stood: “Hey, baby, .something about myself that embarrassed for the exploiter but condemns the ex­ nist. She’s got her Uncle Tom job — and I wanna f—?” me. 1 didn’t really like women. In bed, yes ploited, is very popular in the United States wonder what it does to her mind, to her Many educated and/or butch-type wom­ — but all my friends were men. In rejecting today. Another example: the cigarette ad­ own sense of self-esteem, to behave in a en behave just as 1 did. .Most straight the woman’s role, from knitting to cooking vertiser whose job is to get people hooked way that is so contemptuous towards her women prefer men to women as friend.“, to wearing ma.seara, I had also rejected on a slow poi.son, “has to make a living sex. and will break dates witli otiicr women at women - except for w omen jet pilots, exe­ within the system.” The nicotine addict Now before you go around beating the last minute if a man calls up. Many cutives and astronauts. .And since none of “should have more will power.” In other yourself over the head for being a pseudo butch-types of my acquaintance — includ­ my female acquaintances piloted planes or words, you should have resisted all those male chauvinist, or even worse, button­ ing myself — have expected their lovers to managed General Motors for a living, I ads that are calculated to undermine your holing some other woman and accusing her behave as housewives; in other word.s, we snobbishly.(and self-de.structively) treated resistance. If yon didn’t, it’s your fault, not of the same, remember that most of our have often oppressed other women in the women as sex objects and men as intellec­ the fellow who makes the money off your sisters haven’t had too many choices. If you same way that men oppress straight women. tual companions. In short. I was a psnido habit - and I hope you have Blue Cros.s.) want to make it on the job — even just to It Isn’t easy to become aware of your male chauvinist. It is easy to look at the kindly, intellec­ keep the job — you have to kowtow to the own oppression. It’s much easier to avoid So who’s kidding whom? By identifying tual gentlemen around me — and to forget men. Any woman who wanted to get ahead noticing a humiliating siluation, to pretend with the male oppressor cla.ss, I didn’t be­ that the leisure lime they pul into in­ in any profession has had to play the game that it doesn’t affect you — that other come male or get any more privileges than tellectual pursuits was stolen from wives of being nice to the men, trying to convince women may be oppressed by their husbands other women. An Uncle Tom in a starched and mothers who darned their socks, them that she was not a threat to their egos, or lovers or bosses, or may be hrainwa.shed shirt makes a little more money than a cooked their dinners, and worked as shop­ letting them take credit for her suggestions. black porter, but that doesn’t make him girls to put thc.se men through graduate And this sort of behavior — if you want to white. .As a pseudo male chauvinist, an school. Kingman Brewster, president of write for a newspaper, you get stuck with BACK ISSUES OF .Aunt Thomasina lesbian, 1 wasn’t expected Yale University, recently ohjecled to ad­ the fa.shion page and after a while you begin THE LAUDER to do the dishes or bring my male friends mitting more female students; he .staled to justify what you are doing — will con­ ARE AV AILABLE their pipes and slippers - but I didn’t come that it was the task of Yale to produce tinue to be necessary for most women until within light years of getting an executive 1,000 male leaders for the l.LS. every year. the consciousness of the nation is changed; Prior to October/November job. And I didn’t even get a mink. •Male leaders! — these self-assured, col­ until the new consciousness of Women’s 196B, THE LADDER was issued 1 was putting myself down by despising lege-educated lords of the earth, every one Liberation has spread across the land so monthly for the most part; we now my own .sex for the roles we have been of them brought up to believe that it is his that no woman will be unaware of what she issue six magazines a year. THE forced to play — despising the slave for be­ birthright to rule over at least one woman! is doing. LADDER year begins with the ing in chains instead of directing my anger I went to college (not Yale) with these I have walked on 42nd Street at night October/November is.sue each year. towards the slaveinaster who put her there. gentlemen, saw them in ail their arrogance and seen dozens of my black sisters walking Where available, copies of each The trap of pseudo male chauvinism was so of power - and to my shame, I admired the streets in order to sell their bodies. issue in Volumes 13 and 14 easy to fall into. It’s easy to say: “How can them and strove to be like them. As gentle­ They were well-dressed — better dressed (Oet./Nov. 1968 through April/May I talk to someone whose head is full of reci- men assured of power and status, they were than 1 was. And I have worked in Harlem 1970) cost $1.25. Individual issues pe.s, .soap operas’and floor wax? Why didn’t polite to me — nobles.s<- oblige — and I and seen the schools they went to, and I before that lime are $1.00 per -she go on to college and learn something? closed my eyes to their lower class counter­ have worked in downtown offices in New magazine. She must be lazy or halfwitted.” parts. Now the lower class male hasn’t got York City for $75 a week - offices where Not brainwashed. It never occurred to as many people to lord it over as does the they wouldn’t hire a black woman to do EVERY MAGAZINE IS NEW UNTIL me that the average woman has been brain­ upper class male. Furthermore, he is less anything but sweep the floor at night when YOU’VE READ IT! washed into passivity and subservience — polished, more direct. He doesn’t seduce no one could see her face — and do I dare just as homosexuals have been brainwashed you by candlelight. but not you. even hurt this year. If you think that you aren’t particularly How alone we arc. The Isolated Society. We Need This Now By LORITA J. WHITEHEAD oppressed or brainwashed, try this test: Being gay doesn’t make the difference; be­ pick up a copy of “Playboy” magazine and ing urban does. “Reach out toward me. look at the cartoons. Do you think they’re Care for me. Be my friend.” All together Recently on television 1 watched an in­ just read in a beautiful book (a book that funny? Now look again at how they portray now. In busses. In car-pools. In apartment terview with a few girls on the radical flank she must read). The book is Loren Eiselcy’s women — as stupid broads, cver-eager sex complexes. At lunch counters. Never any of the Women’s Liberation Movement. The The Firmament o f Time, and this is the pas­ objects. Turn on your television and watch privacy. Never any closencs.s. Always the name of the particular group I did not sage: the commercials — the ignorant housewife a.sking eyes. catch, nor the names of the girls 1 most .Some time ago, in a magazine o f con­ listening to the authoritative male voice as “Excuse me, thank you. I’m sorry, ex­ remember. This is what 1 remember, as siderable circulation, I spoke about the role he tells her which floor wax to use. Look at cuse me” DAMN! W'rong stop. Her stop. close to the exact words as 1 can recall. The o f love in human society, and about press­ a “woman’s” magazine — compare its vo­ Tomorrow is even-up-your-keel day. interviewer (CBS News) asked, “Then you ing human problems which I felt, rightly or cabulary and intellectual content to any “ Need some help? You look confused.” think that all relations between men and wrongly, would not be solved by the pene­ men’s magazine. Do you notice these insults Smile Bennett - .she’s smiling. “Wrong stop. women must end?” “Yes.” “Then will tration o f space. The response amazed me, to your sex - or do you just pass over 1 don’t function in the morning.” women turn to women?” “Yes. As sister.s, in some instances, by its virulence. I was them, assuming that the average housewife “Coffee help?” Look up. Meet her eyes rebels, comrades-in-arms.” “But what will denounced for interfering with the coloni really docs have an IQ of 35 and deserves to and know that tlierc is now a question in women do about fulfilling their nature? zation o f other planets, and for corruption be addres.sed in this manner? Would you no­ yours. What will women do for love?” “No one o f the young. Most pathetically o f all, sev­ tice if they were insults to your race or re­ “Where?” knows what woman’s nature is. And love is eral people wrote me letters in which they ligion? “.Around the eorner.” W'alk and say just a word. It doesn’t mean anything. Love tried to prove, largely for their own satis­ If you aren’t aware of the.se constant, nothing more. Feel the irony and the self­ doesn’t exist. It’s ju.st a word we’ve got to faction, that love did not exist, that parents daily insults, you’ve been brainwa.shed into mockery — and don’t swear — for Cod’s throw out.” abused and murdered their children and ignoring and accepting them. If you prefer sake don’t .swear at her. Lipstick for you “Love doesn’t exist.” She could have children their parents . . . It was all too male friends or male bo.sses, if your “re­ tomorrow, Bennett. W'hen you start getting said, “ Yes, .some of us will love women, plain that these individuals were seeking ra spect” for other women consists of opening picked up by stray people-collectors, it’s some becau.se they have always loved wom­ tionalizations behind which they might hide doors for them but despising their con­ getting bad. en sexually and will always want to, others from their own responsibilities. They were versation — welcome to the pseudo male The door is held for you and you realize because they are too bitter and resentful of in the whirlpool, that much was evident. chauvinist club. lliat you have been out-classed. She has men. And some will still love men, but ei­ Hut so are we all. (Atheneum Publishers, p. And if, after reading this article, you taken the street side of the walk. She has ther in totally open and passing rela­ I.T2) think I mean YOU — yes, you personally — seen you seated first. She has ordered. Be­ tionships or, if long-term, on an open and Who can contemplate the dazzling mir­ welcome, sister, to Women’s Liberation. fore you know it, you’re angry. equal basis which seldom exists in marriage acle of our exploding universe wilhout won­ “Now wait a minute. I’m . . .” as it is today. Others of us will love both der and awe and love? “The wonder of “Cute.” men and women. Still others, like me, will wonders,” wrote Heidegger, “is that there is So sit there. Wonder how to articulate make no tics of love with anyone, because something rather than nothing.” That is a S e n K e t t an exclamation point. Feel the laughter sex in our experience has been repulsive and statement of love. Who can really see the bubble up in her (and you!). But the eoffee love a fraud.” Something like that would miracle that is a leaf, or a .spider’s web, or have shown some comprehension of the paintings left on the wall of a cave, and not By LEANNE BOSWORTH has come and you are being ordered to con­ sume the sweet roll and informed that you range of people, the range of experiences feel wonder and love? W'e can’t unless we and needs and capacities and possibilities, are capable of wonder and love. We can’t Seeing her on the bus every day — she didn’t eat breakfast. You are going to be late for work, Bennett. some sense of the breadth and depth of love anything unless we are capable of lov­ must live outside the city. Takes the bus human existence. But what does she say? ing ourselves. We can’t love anything unless almost as far as you do. Such pretty hair — “Love doesn’t exist”! She legislates that for we are capable of loving each other. Love would look wonderful .spread out on a pil­ all mankind and womankind. That world does not exist? If that is true, then let us low. So chic — to impress all the young she would legislate for us all is a world so end ourselves, for we are dead. — But NO! execs at the office, you suppose. hollow and dead and nightmarish, I wonder Love does exist! The word does have Look down at your loafers — what the how she can keep from slitting her throat meaning! hell, Bennett, it’s a print shop. You’d break with the horror of it. A world which exists Another girl said that all pregnancy your neck. You got used to being your own Where are all the reject­ only for roving bands of, comrades-in-hate. must end, not only because of the popula­ kind of girl a long lime ago. Smile at your­ After those bands dedicated to disillusion­ tion explosion but becau.se all women hate self. Look at you, giving up your seat to an ed and hidden Lesbian and ing human beings with what they call the pregnancy, that pregnancy is hideous and old lady — not to show up the guys, but illusion of love have done their work, let us hell and that it has never been more than you’re next to her now. homosexual manuscripts? The publisher of A PLACE hope there will mercifully follow bands of that except in the myths of men. (She may “Sorry, didn’t mean to squash you.” missionaries to teach people how to commit speak for many women, but she doesn’t (Didn’t you, Bennett?) From now on you FOR US by Isabel Miller suicide as quickly and painlessly as possible. speak for me. Bearing and nursing my two take an earlier bu.s. Think about this some­ wants to see them. Bleecker Or perhaps by then such missionaries will children was a private and personal, over­ times, though, and wonder about that every Street Press, Box 625, Old be funded to build huge pri.sons or hospitals whelmingly glorious experience for me, one tenth man statistic. Are you too picayune? where we can sit in our hygicnically solitary which had nothing to do with any male Fastidious, you comfort yourself. After Chelsea Station, New York, cells and learn to be catatonic, to forget myth, or any myth.) The alternatives which Lea, what else could you be? But it’s been a N.Y. 10011. that we live in our bodies and breathe air. she sees are, of course, test-tube babies and long time — so long that the spring doesn’t That girl made me think of something 1 the rearing of all children by state institu- r I tion$. Certainly children would be better which give only a cynical damn about them, off in institutions than in homes of violent that as a culture, independent thought, Tliaß Toßms By ELSA GIDLOW clear and fresh perception and genuine feel­ conflict, of lovelessness, of neglect, which THE A R TIST unfortunately means many children now. ings have almost dropped from our ca­ pacities. Certainly in performance we seem They would be better off in institutions Let us leave off loving, my Lady, than in such homes only because there they capable of little more than mindless roving (or milling) in gangs, gangs of sheep stupor You have kissed me grey might have a chance - a very little higher And still I have no peace. than zero — of making a loving coimection or sheep hate. The girl who said from her ab.solute cynicism that love does not exist is We thought we could make the night with .some human being, whereas in such A tapestry of passion. homes, or with a single parent alone who sheep-sister to her .sheep-brother counter­ Dear lovel What a vain caprice. hates herself and them and life, they would part on Madison Avenue who has been tell­ have no chance at all. But certainly child­ ing us for years now that love, that greasy Where's the immortal design rearing in institutions is no positive alterna­ kid stuff, does not exist, that love we all We thought we had splashed on the indigo cloth? tive. Studies ranging from machinc-fed know (how long we’ve looked at his cynical And where is the cloth? rhesus monkeys to auti.stic children have wink) is no more than Gadget Sex, the reali­ Dawn is forever the cynic: given clear enough pictures for anyone who ties of which are bad breath, bacteria in the He shows us love is the flame. wants to look at the kind of automaton veg­ armpits, and — bless us — the cash-nexus. Our flesh the eternal moth. etable we could expect to emerge from such And .she believed him! Big brother taught institutions. A full-fledged human being little sister — and look! She has swallowed Lady . . . loose me and rise. which, contrary to these girls, I take to the whole putrid mess without a hesitation We are brief as apple bloosom mean a being capable of curiosity and or a gulp, down to the last .soggy corn flake. And I am shadowed by thought of the end. growth and wonder and/oiw, docs not Another victory for the vegetables, for the The hours are thieves. Time a beggar .spring fully armed like Athena from her fa­ loveless. Allies under the cloth. And we have little to spend. ther’s .skull (or from fatherly sperm in a No, the way is not to test-tubes, eu­ tort); a child must be tauglit to grow, and genics and institutions, to more and more I ache for the brush in my hand. the teacher is human love. A child gathers lovelessness. One of the right ways has al­ The thrall of the compliant pigment together his sense of identity, his sense of ready begun. It is to attack the cynical love- Governs my blood. .self-esteem, of confidence to explore and lessne.ss which sells us love as Miss America, I will paint you, my Lady, expreics him.self, from the loving eyes of and Bunny Girl, and “Super Feminine Deo­ The afterlove glow in your face; others. It is as simple as this: a child must dorant Spray,” and “Slims.” And all the I would deify you if I could have that love or he does not grow. Or he fury should not be spent just for women’s With enchantments of color. grows only into a fearful, bitter, spiteful plight. The standards of identity, of what Bind you with fetters o f terrible beauty person incapable of anything but hate. I one can expect from life, are Just as putrid Fast to my canvas forever. have been told by a psychiatrist whom 1 and cheap and empty for the men. Mo Give you the eternality God has denied you. re.spect that it doesn’t matter whether it is a human being in any positive sense of the Bind you to life with art's sacred chains father and a mother, a father, a mother, a word could emerge from the blueprints for That death cannot sever. grandmother, an aunt, a nanny, whoever — humanity presented by our media, manu­ as long as somewhere someone (or ones) es­ factured by our industries and swallowed, Love has betrayed us enough with its treacherous wonder; tablishes a deep and lasting loving relation­ in lieu of anytliing else, by millions! Is that ship with a child. We don’t need to resort to why we have become so violent as a people? Let us go now while we ache with its magic test-tubes to control the population ex­ 1 think so. Because no one is living his life! Or what is the gain? plosion. The women who do want to have The attack against Madison Avenue’s Wom­ A rt is our one immortality. babies .shall have to restrict them to two, an ha.s, as we all know, started. But once All we may win from the gods and the women who don’t want to will no that makes a dent - and even before it In exchange for our labor and pains. longer feel any moral or social compulsion does, even now — the image presented to to have children. With that compulsion men as Man, that timid, mindless corporate Elsa Gidlow gone, the numbers of children bom will be cog who fills his well-groomed slot either in EPISODE reduced to the possible level and at the the Sex industries or the Big Kill factories BEING DIFFERENT same time the many ways children can be and then goes home to the TV Football Cir­ I have robbed the garrulous streets. raised with love can open and flower in all cus and to play Bunny Boy to Bunny Girl Thieved a fair girl from their blight, In a dogs' world their possibilities. Two women together with plenty of Mennon After Shave to salve I have taken her for a sacrifice Being different could raise children — their own or some­ his sense of his own uninterestingness - That I shall make to this fleeting night. one else’s — or two men, or a woman alone, that death trap must go, too. Most men ful­ Is no distress to the cat. or a man alone, or a woman and man to­ fill that image (these cynics — they know I have brought her, laughing Should I - gether as it has been — as long as those what they’re doing) just as most women To my moon-enchanted garden. Though less elegant — children are raised in love! The answer is fulfill the one oozed out to them, but all of For what will be done there Be less wise? not to institutionalize ourselves more; chil­ them — men and women — are loveless and I ask no man's pardon. dren for decades now have been so institu­ unfulfilled and miserable! Woman, yes, Elsa Gidlow tionalized by schools, market and media (Continued Page 26) Elsa Gidlow CONSTANCY OF A CERTAIN FRIENDSHIP You’re jealous if I kiss this gin and that. INVOCATION TO SAPPHO You think I should be constant to one mouth; Odd how you entered my house quietly. Little you know of my too quenchless drouth. Quietly left again. My sister, I keep faith with lo' e, not lovers. While you stayed you ate at my table. Sappho Slept in my bed. Slster/Mother Life laid a flaming finger on try heart. There was much sweetness. free— Gave me an electric golden thread. Yet little was done, little said. souled, fire-hearted Pointed to a pile of beads and said. After you left there was pain. Psappha of Mitylene on Link me one more glorious than the rest. Now there is no more pain. sea-lapped Lesbos But the door of a certain room in my house miracle of a woman Love's the thread, my sister L ou a bead. Will always be shut. (Strabo wrote) An ivory one, you are so d e la te . Your fork, your plate, the glass you drank from. now now These first burned ash-grey - far too passionate. The music you played let me declare Further on the colors m oun^nd sing. Are in that room devotion. With the pillow where last your head was laid. When the last bead's painted viith the last design And there is one place in my garden Not light years love years: And slipped upon the thread. I’ll tie it so. Where it's best that I set no foot. on how many love years Then, smiling quietly. I ’ll turn and go across fields of the dead Elsa Gidlow While vain Life boasts her latest ornament. does your fragrance travel to me? Elsa Gidlow

Since maidenhood in brain blood by you haunted in my own armpits I have breathed sweat of your passion (Etsa Gidlow was born in England, grew magazines: VOICES, SATURDAY RE­ in the burning crotch of the lover up in a Erench-Canadian village and moved VIEW, PEARSON’S, NEW MASSES, tasted your honey to New York City at age 21, where she be­ AMERICAN POETRY JOURNAL, POE­ heard felt in my pulse came associate editor o f PEARSON’S TRY, etc., and in many anthologies includ­ day-long MAGAZINE. Her first book o f poetry, ON ing CALIFORNIA POETS, N.Y., Henry night-through A GREY LINE, appeared in 1924 (Chicago, Harrison, 1932, TODAY’S LITERATURE, lure of your song's beat Will Ransom publisher). In 1925 she mi­ N.Y., American Book Co., 1935, and that insistently echo. grated to California and for a number o f omnibus volume o f variant and Lesbian years edited a trade journal before becom­ poetry, CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN By dust of five-and-twenty centuries ing a full-time free lance writer. WOMEN POETS, edited by Tooni Cordi, not smothered Her poetry has appeared in dozens of N.Y., Henry Harrison, 1936.) by book-consuming flames of the hate-filled churchman unsilenced EXPERIENCE your fame only haloed made YO U SAY more splendid LOVE'S ACOLYTE': GIRL TO WOMAN Now you are gone I kiss your dented pillow You say you will not think of me: And wonder if it hungers like my breast Sappho, little and dark Many have loved you with lips and fingers You shut me out and count your beads. For the dear head we both have held in rest. The Beautiful. Plato called you And lain with you till the moon went out; The chaplet of your rules and doubts. (though his Republic had Many have brought you lover's gifts; But lovers never think of creeds. said once; Love alone cannot assuage grudging use for poets And some have left their dreams on your doorsd My thirst, my hunger, love has no reply Sappho, whose veins ran fire You'll fill your mind with serious things: For that wild questioning, for this fierce cry; whose nerves But I who am youth among your lovers You'll think of God, or Infinity, quivered to loves illicit now Come like an acolyte to worship. Of a lover whose last charm is gone. I said, there is no kiss can feed me now. in your day My thirsting blood restrained by reverance. Of anything in the world but me. Perhaps love is life's flower: I seek the root; My heart a wordless prayer. honored by the noblest Yea, I have loved and love is dead sea fruit. Sappho, aM roses Yet every thought will lead you back. The candles of desire are lighted, do we not touch Infinity grow far and dim, Yet I lie here and kiss your dented pillow, across the censorious years? I bow my head afraid before you, And God, with His sense of irony. A trembling girl who loves you overmuch - A mendicant who craves your bounty Will never let you think of Him. A harp in anguish for the player's touch. Elsa Gidlow Ashamed of what small gifts she brings. Elsa Gidlow Elsa Gidlow Elsa Gidlow WE NEED THIS NOW (Continued) acted theatre, sport competitions for all girls interviewed was the way they pro­ can keep me from loving a woman, so I will must have the jobs she qualifies for, the pay ages, writing competitions awarded with jected their own attitudes and needs as the not allow any law or any group ever to tell she earns, the degrees she earns, the partici­ substantial prizes and local publication, and rigid and fixed Truth for all women, now me that I should not love a man. Love and pation and recognition all her many creative the same for painting and sculpture, and for and forever. What both the advertisers and sexual patterns of people, whether homo­ and cultural contributions deserve — I music composition and performance. Peo­ the. missionaries of categorical destruction sexual, bisexual or heterosexual, are no­ couldn’t agree more, we all couldn’t agree ple’s imaginations are so starved for real need to realize is that human activities such body’s business but the people’s themselves. more — but we must realize at the same food, if it could be begun in a really vital as religion, art, .school.s, marriages, friend­ Don’t we know this by now? Can’t we have time that most of the jobs men now way even in one town or city area, I think it ships, and love are not rigid Platonic Ideas the .same toleration and respect for otliers monopolize stink and are not fit work for would attract so much interest (and money, relayed from a demon god through their different from ourselves which we have al­ human beings. While we are fighting for the too) that it would spread hke b ru ^ fire. media me.ssengers in the popular culture. ways asked for? Should 1 and the woman 1 full participation of woman we mu.st also I’m thinking of something like the Shake­ They are open-ended; they are creative; in love abandon the husbands and the children fight to create a culture that is worth par­ spearean Festival in Ashland, Oregon, which other words, they are what the people in we love and with whom we. are deep deeply ticipating in. What good have we served if I understand (and hope) depends on local them are able to make them or not make happy just beeau.se it is now being pro­ we attack Maidenform bras and then work effort, but I think of that made much them. A lot of marriages arc miserable, a lot nounced, over us that love does not exist, to help produce more Maidenform bras, broader and combined with the dancing and of homosexual relationships are miserable, a that child-bearing and rearing arc hideous, more collapsible, .souped-up cars for Bunny singing in the streets of the Carnival in Rio lot of .single people without any tie.s are and that marriage is hell? Kxchanging one Boy and Bunny Girl to (as the advertising before Lent. Not Shakespeare or Ibsen or mi.serable; but, conversely, heterosexual kind of fat cat Puritan tyrant for another goes) “escape in” (once we’re not all so O’Neill or Williams. Let all those be done people can also be happy, and many are; kind is not to improve matters. What we desperately unsatisfied with our lives, will by professional companies and by local homosexual people can he happy, and need d<‘sperately need — is to exchange we buy more cars, and that kind of cars?), players during the year; for the Festival let many are; single people can live full and lovclcssncss in all its forms for love — real more guns and rockets and firebombs for it be only locally written plays new that loving lives, and many do. CcrtaiiJy if peo­ love in all its many varieties: between wom­ Bunny Boys to play pop-gun with, pre­ year, so that people will start at last to use ple can only think of themselv<-s and others en and women, between men and men, tending at self-esteem and purposefulness their human imaginations again, use them in the popular stereotype.s, then what they between women and men, between parent they do not feel? While we’re attacking the from scratch. And poetry readings. And a do together can only be the papular stereo­ and child, hetween youth and age, between empty, loveless Image of Woman and, I market created where made or grown things type. We mu.st always keep in view our black and white, hetween teacher and stu­ hope, equally the empty, loveless Image of can be bartered, not for money but in ex­ human creativity, our human freedom, our dent, between worker and his work, •Man, we must also attack the empty, love­ change - a song or poem for a hand-thrown human range. We mu.st not dictate to each between citizen and his community, be­ less jobs. That means we must work for pot, a painting for a hand-made and per­ other. I believe with all my soul, as docs tween the human mind and the exjieriencc (not just again.st) culture in a really huge sonally designed chair, a designed and made every reader of this magazine, that women of being alive. .Nothing short of that will do. way; we mu.st all of us think together and dress or pair of sandals for a basket of have the right trr love women (and men to work to create meaningful, purposeful, grown flowers. Maybe such a Carnival, such love men) and that all covert social tyranny (Lorila Whitehead is 31, a V.S- citi­ self-fulfilling (and non-polluting) work, the a Festival, would revitalize all our activities: and all overt official law against homo­ zen now living in Vancoawr, Hritish production of objects which are of solid maybe we could restore again real “par­ sexual love between consenting adults must Columbia, She is a graduate o f Uni­ high quality (not foods full of fillers and ticipatory democracy,” like the so despera­ be struck down. But doesn’t the hetero­ versity o f Wisconsin, is married and additives and poison.s, not objects which in tely missed town meetings that once upon a sexual or the bisexual person have the same has two children. She considers her­ the making poison and which by calculation time really were meetings, and maybe our rights to exist and fulfull herself? 1 and self a “lazy hut sometimes publishing fall apart in the hand), objects which are churches so that religion could mean some­ other bisexuals have insisted on our right to poet" and has appeared in a number really useful, not just junk which only thing agian, and certainly not least, our love members of our own sex as much as o f Canadian little magazines, and in mindless and mesmerized Bunnies would .schools. Maybe education could again be­ ptircly homosexual people have. No law and the States in THE ATLANTIC buy, objects in which a woman or a man come more than school.s; maybe even we no group could keep me from loving a MONTHLY, POETRY .NORTH­ making or selling them could take pride, could learn to talk to each other again, to woman. And just as no law and no group WEST, and THE LADDER.) not just cynical contempt. We’ve got to teach others in a neighborhood square as help create a climate of widely active and Socrates and Plato did. This, anyway, is my high quality art and thought as well, so that dream. Is it impossible, hopelessly naive? there is a viable alternative to mindless Mu.s- Then tell me your dream. Let us dream to­ Ladies, Cowardice Does Not Becooie You cle Shows and loveless Deodorized Sex be­ gether and then work together to make it By LENNOX STRONG tween automatons. I think about that all happen. We’ve got to change an economy The most literate view of the Women’s DER readers are, for the most part, going to the time. Let me tell you my dream of what which depends for its life-blood on an idiot Liberation movement is not found in the watit this quarterly. we might do, and then you tell yours. level of culture, and we’ve got to change the underground papers and organizational Contributors include novelist and poet Maybe together we can find ways and be­ idiot culture which would want such an pamphlets but in the new quarterly, Jane .Mayhall, poet and short story writer gin. economy. That’s exactly the “revolution” Jean Garrigue, novelist and short story wri­ W'hat 1 dream of, which 1 think might APHRA. Published from the home of Edi­ we hope we are in, and nothing less will do. tor Elizabeth Fisher, Box 335, Springtown, ter Isabel Miller, and short story writer offer economic alternatives to psychological There is simply no point in throwing away Sylvia Berkman. All of these names are fa­ buying and to war industries and at the Pennsylvania 18081, at the modest cost of your Bunny costume only to sit and make S3.50 a year, APHRA is named for Aphra miliar as well to students of Lesbian litera­ same time be an antidote to institutional more of the same for others to be caged in. Behn, the first woman to make her living as ture, and the last three named have made anonymity and conformism, is to create in And, lastly, let me make a plea for tol­ substantial and excellent contributions to every town, in every city, borough or area, a writer. erance, for comprehension of our human The first two issues of APHRA — Vol­ the field. Indeed, Mess Miller’s story “Com­ a spring festival on the Athenian scale - range and our positive human possibilities. ing of Age in Pectoral” (APHRA, Winter with locally written and produced and ume 1, No. 1, Fall 1969 and Volume 1, No. What was finally most appalling about those 2, Winter 1970 — make it clear that LAD- 1970) might well have appeared in the LADDER. ture news in the movement. The only low Leading feminist Rita Mae Brown has a note sounded, as far as I can determine, oc­ ^ 6n t ^So By RITA MAE BROWN poem in the Winter 1970 issue, and readers curs in the Winter 1970 issue in an article will be pleased to read an essay of hers re­ called “The Woman’s Rights Movement; 3 Female Liberation in Boston has long to have a new perspective. Look at the pic­ printed from another liberation magazine in View.s” by Nora Harlow. This consists of a contained some of my favorite people in ture behind you — we are still in the gallery this issue of the LADDER, entitled “Say It collected review of three non-fiction titles the movement. Last November at the Con­ and not on the floor like tho.se women. It Isn’t So.” in the field. One of the books reviewed — gress to Unite Women the New York radi­ seems very clear to me that no woman in The by now-famous liberationist play EVERYONE WAS BRAVE by William L. cals fought side by side with our Boston this room is bound by laws made by dead BUT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME O’Neill, Chicago, Quadrangle Books, 1969, sisters to cut through some of the NOW men, made when none of us had a voice in LATELY? by Myma Lamb is in the Fall is deservedly scored for its “sexist” views. bullshit. We felt good about caeh other and government . . . laws still pre.served by rich 1969 issue. This is not pertinent here, but However, in refuting Mr. O’Neill, Miss Har­ when ten of us went up there over the white men today. To hell with tliosc rich the play is exceUent. low makes the mi.stake of misinterpreting Washington’s birthday weekend, we were white men. They are polluting our en­ On the negative side, there are a couple (to put it charitably) the life of a very elated. Our joy was short-lived. vironment atid poisoning our .souls. Our of snide remarks made about Lesbians in famous and clearly Lesbian woman, Carey Saturday night. Female Liberation pre­ struggle is against the male power system one of these issues. A small point this, but a Thomas, long-time president of Bryn Mawr. sented a panel di.scu.s.sion that divided be­ which is a .system of war and death. If in valid one in any assessment of the Women’s Whether or not Mr. O’Neill is using the tween Marlene Dixon’s endless rap on wom­ the process of that struggle wc are forced to Liberation movement. Only by fully recog­ comments on Lesbians being prominent in en’s history and Roxanne Dunbar. That in mutilate, murder and ma.ssacrr tho.se men, nizing the assistance more than available in the women’s movement as a weapon, it itself was pretty demoralizing. Ms. Dixon then so it mu.st be. But simultaneous with their own ranks and elsewhere among Les­ does not enhance Miss Harlow’s rebuttal to was at the podium entirely too long. Al­ that struggle we must also struggle to build bians. will the.se women .succeed in ob­ refute something that is quite patently true though our patience was strained by the a culture of life and love. We must respect taining our mutual goals. and, indeed, can be proven. length of her delivery, our spirits began to and love each other. To date, the women s The quality level in .APHRA is astonish­ What it amounts to is this, .sisters. Those shred when wc recognized that old pro­ movement has consistently rejected women ingly high in so young a magazine, and Miss among you who are not Lesbian would be fessorial delivery, .so popular among males who arc trying to build a new way of life, a Fisher is to be complimented for this and wise to recognize that .some of your best in our academic whorehouses. 1 don’t like life of loving other women. If wc can’t love encouraged to reach even higher. Wholly ab­ friends are, and not alienate them. Ladie.s, to be talked at. That whole let-me-lell- each other, if we can’t learn to grow to­ sent, and pleasantly so, is the shrill tone cowardice does not become you. you-.something approach reeks of male iden­ gether, then we will otdy have a rebellion sometimes found in the periodicals that fea­ tification. But in all fairness to Ms. Dixon, against the male death culture a rebellion she may not have had time to discover new which may be successful. But I think we are ways to transmit information. And isn’t it capable of revolution. To love wilhout role, TheBestWomenAreThinAnd Rich part of our oppression that when given a without power plays, is revolution. I believe “Silva Thins are like women . . . the you . . . and your husband has to show chance we will imitate the male? these arc our goals. best ones are thin and rich . . ” Feel in- you how to make coffee becau.se you’re a Silting in the big hall, obviously bored This was followed by applaiis<' from the audience and stunned di.sbelief from llie .sulted? You should . . . on two counts: as Maxwell Hou.se bride. About the best thing beyond belief, my eyes began to travel the panel. Vis. Dixon [ticked u[i on the struggle a woman and as a consumer. that could happen to a woman these days is obese gilt framed pictures of our founding I haven’t made up my mind yet if Silva to eat Cheerios because they give her go fathers. There was Admiral Preble, whoever against the death culture. Roxanne Dunbar Thins are symbolically appealing to homo­ power. And finally . . . there’s a cigarette the hell he was, and Samuel Choate, George also commented on the battle lines. This sexual males, with their aloof man who for the two of you . . . Washington and John Quincy Adams. .And was followed by an embarrassing silence. won’t let a woman near his Silva Thins . . . The problem is that it’s .so .subtle. We behind the mothers of monotonou.s mono­ Que.stions were then liiirricdly solicited. Forty-five m in u te s later, Cynthia Sun or if they feel their “hero” is the epitome can’t see the forest for the trees. Constantly logue there was the largest, mo.st god-awful Stood up and in a low. controlled voice re- of ma.sculinity. Personally, 1 find him in­ we’re bombarded with these degrading ads picture of Daniel Webster on the floor of pr’ated painfully : tolerable. Perhaps that’s because I’m neither to the point that we begin to accept them the Senate . . . body poised in a heroic I’m tired of hearing about the oppres­ thin nor rich. ourselves. Striving for identity is a hard tremble, arm thrust forward and mouth sion of women. I’m tired of hearing a slick This is the sort of advertising that nau- thing the.se days. They pick the mo.st typi­ open. It was his famous “Liberty and public relations rap that doesn’t come from .seates me. To some, Silva Thins may taste cal woman . . . put her in the most typical Union, now and forever” addre.ss. Just in the gut. Let’s look at the oppression right rich . . . others (male or female) may like kitchen . . . with the most typical ap- ca.se people couldn’t identify this stirring here in this room. You women on the panel the size. But what in the world good wom­ pUances so wc can all identify with her. scene, underneath the picture in large gold have used your heterosexual privilege to si­ en have to do with good cigarettes is be­ Rats! I don’t want a typical kitchen. letters was “Liberty and Union, now and lence the topic of love — especially since yond me, and an insult to anyone’s intelli­ And then there’s Rosemary DeCamp, forever.” Above the senators, like a chorus that topic was love between women, which gence. with the Borateem package in her left hand, of imprisoned angels, sat the women — all would seem to me to be critical to the What is this big kick that’s on to make saying, “Well, you know me . . . I like my in bonnets, all neatly attentive to the goings movement. women look like absolute fools? White clothes really white . . .” I know her? on below. What shit, I thought. W'hat real, Another stunned silence. Marlene Dixon knights are flying in and out of their win­ It’s really getting out of hand, and visible shit. At this point the speakers had allowed as how some of her best friends dows . . . marriages are about to break up despite the Women’s Liberation Front’s ex­ somewhat quieted themselves and asked for were homosexual. At this point a woman shortly before the Man from Glad enters tremist tactics . . . I hardly think they’re audience participation. 1 shot my mouth off two rows in front of us exploded with, with his lock-proof, seal-proof, water-proof, getting anywhere . . . as long as the ads with the following: “She .said it! Slie actually said it!” Laugh­ mustard-proof plastic bag . . . the most im­ keep telling us that the best women are thin Sitting here in this room, looking at all ter. Roxanne evaded the question again and portant thing a woman can do is sit around and rich. the pictures of rich white men and simul­ a card table talking about furniture polish taneously listening (I listened a little bit) to again until I yelled, “Your silence is op­ (Reprinted from THE WEEKENDER, Tra; your rap on women’s history, thing.s begin pressive. Why do you oppre.ss us?” Then she . . . if your breath is bad he won’t marry verse City, Michigan, April 23-30, 1970.) r delivered what will always be in my mind identified, half-smashed roles. one of the most incredible raps I’ve ever After the meeting, women in the au­ heard. “Sexuality is not the key issue. What dience came up to us. Many realized for the FLIES . . . I want to do is get women out of bed. first time how women tear each other apart. Poetrij Women can love each other but they don’t Many who had never given the issue a first I have watched them th o u ^ t identified with our rage. One have to sleep together. 1 think that homo­ lazily weaving through sexuality is a chosen oppression whereas be­ young woman said, “1 don’t know what I MY HEART IS STILL A SCHOLAR the summer pattern of ing a woman is the root oppression. 1 don’t am. But I do know shit when I see it and the peach tree. think it’s that important.’’ they really shit on you.” I know some day I'll mourn my utter loss What we all want to do is get women Another woman mentioned that it was Of fiery passion that you offer me. I have heard them out of bed. Sexuality is the key of our op­ absurd to try to divide oppression between And weep afresh on youth’s swift-faded gloss droning on and on pression. We arc continually seen in sexual lesbian and woman’s oppression as the two And search the earth alone and hopelessly. and wondered what terms, we arc defined by our genitals as bru­ are solidly intertwined. One woman simply I know too well that I shall blindly grope they have to talk about. tally as a non-white is defined by pigment, said, “Thank you,” hugged us and hurried And linger on half dazed and half disguised. be it red, yellow, black or brown. To ignore out. Inimical to youth and life and hope. I have seen them the issue of women loving other women, to As we went down the long, steep steps Denying love, myself always despised. round your head label it lesbianism and divisive, is to turn to the road we talked among ourselves Do not think the earth would near collapse. drink in the wine-sweat, around and define me and all my sisters in about how class split the old feminist move­ If at this moment I should quit your life forever, sweaty saltness the same manner in which women are de­ ment. Our movement is splitting over the And leave you clinging to some outworn maps of your body fined by men, by my sexual activity and “lesbian” issue, or more precisely, women’s Recalling plans we dreamed in calm despair. as you run up the sand-dunes. function. The only way we are going to get oppression of other women. We must deal My mind perceives the fate that lies in store. ourselves out of the bed is to see each other with this in a constructive way or we will be My heart is still a scholar learning more. I have brushed them away as human beings. The entire Haymarket at each other’s throats just as we were in jealously. chaos was a vivid illustration of the fact Boston. For a moment, I thought I heard Susan Smpadian that we see each other as men have taught the rustle of our skirts. Over one hundred I have run my fingers us to see. One of the panel said lesbianism years ago a meeting of abolitionists was through the golden cluster isn’t an issue unless you wear a neon sign. threatened by a mob of angry, violent white of your hair, Can anything more precisely illustrate how Luncheonette men. One of the men who was an aboli­ bathed in the deep-seaness we oppress each other? Why is fighting to tionist escaped through the window and the of your eyes, have your oppression recognized and dealt hall was filled with trapped women. At that the lonely listeners to jukeboxes, with, wearing a neon .sign? In other words, draped out over the country time, each woman took the hand of a black brushed away the flies. no one will know you are homosexual un­ sister and calmly walked down that same on endless counters, drinking less you tell. Bullshit, sisters. One doesn’t the light liquid speed of caffeine, row of long, long steps through the mob — Marion G. Norman get liberated by hiding. One doesn’t possess their courage earned them a safe passage. 1 dreaming a form on the next integrity by passing for “white.” We are looked around at my “lesbian” sisters and vacant stool, such a long lonely trying against all odds — from the male cul­ realized we were quite alone - the Female line of them in the harsh counterworld, ture and from our “sisters” in the Women’s LiBerationists had exited out the side doors, holding hard to their seats, to their songs Liberation movement — to develop a life to the place least intrusive in a dream style where there are no roles, where there (Reprinted from RAT MAGAZINE, Gold are no power plays, where a human being is March 7-21, ¡970, WITH PERMIS Carol Lynk a human being and not a collage of male- SION. I the day's dwarfed hours slept round three minutes, WITH SOLEMN EYES grey against gold, IF YOU LIVE IN THE like the clouds around MILE-HIGH REGIONS OF COLO­ CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS? I know your heart has arms for only God, the space of sky the sun RADO, you should write to DOB With solemn eyes that feast on things divine moved down. DENVER, P.O. BOX 9057, SOUTH If you are planning to move, Light split to our time DENVER STATION, DENVER, And contemplate with purity unmarred please jet us know six weeks before Upon that which will rid your soul of mine. through the clouds' hole, COLO., 80209 to find out what’s changing your address. Please send I know the latent misery and pain turning gold happening. Don’t miss good friends! your old address and your new That lies in spiteful blindness to my flesh. our vision for those moments, address, clearly marked. You MUST And all those pleasures long forgotten lain turning gold our memory include BOTH your old and new zip In vice's graveyard cloaked with virtue's veil. of the day. LOUISIANA LASSES????? codes. REMEMBER, third class mail Yet when your eyes dwell longingly on mine. We woke for a dream, we Now’s the time to help start a new is not forwardable. Send to CIRCU­ As two candles that reflect a face divine. who live in the grey, and group. You can get in touch with LATION DEPARTMENT, THE All doubtfulness has made its own decision drank the nectar them at DOB, P.O. BOX 24033, LADDER, P.O. Box 5025, Wash­ To let people come and see in them His vision. glow of one another's beauty, LAKEVIEW STATION, NEW ington Station, Reno, Nev. 8W03. But be not loath to say it is not so, turning liquid gold in the sun’s ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70124. I am your love, and all you'll ever know. last rays. Lend your support! Susan Smpadian Carol Lynk Crosscurrents

WOMAN: November 29, 1969. A mem­ sexuals for heterosexuals.” Only one of the ber of the Australian DOB group (Mel­ segments included Lesbians — the February LOVE'S FORSAKEN FOOL bourne Chapter) has sent (by slow mail) an 20th airing. Lesbians were attacked more article from this issue of this English maga­ bitterly by the heterosexual male modera­ It cannot matter if I play the part zine, entitled simply “Love,” by Maije tor than the male homosexuals were in the O f Love's forsaken fool, left lost and blind. Proops. The article is excellent in its down- other segments. The usual idiot conversa­ Who seeks in poignant places of love's start to-earth examination of a ver>' ordinary tion about what makes Lesbians took up The substance of a dream I once did find. Lesbian couple. The author quite frankly much of the air time, followed by endless But still your truant heart succeeds to stir begs the audience to realize that it is the shots of gay bars, though later the narrator The shackled memories of days that were “love” that matters, not the biological sex did comment that the~se “bar types” com­ Like scattered leaves my eyes just chanced to meet of the partners. From the general tone of prise only ten per cent of the Lesbian popu­ To grasp my mind, and guide my wandering feet. the material surrounding the article, it is lation. A brief shot of an L.A. DOB meet­ And now I cannot cry my tears of grief. clear that WOMAN,is a general magazine for ing, including shots of Rita Laporte (who For they are jaded things with no sensation. women, similar to REDBOOK or COSMO­ was imported months ago for the filming) But slowly like a worm upon a leaf. POLITAN. All the more amazing in view of and president of the DOB group in L.A., They move along a path of desolation. the acceptance registered in this article. Delia Villarreal. The purposes of DOB were Your words are echoes now, but do not fail EDWARD SAGARIN VS. FRANKLIN aired, so that was good publicity. A few To soothe this crazed heart's wince, and whine and wail. KAMENY: SEXOLOGY MAGAZINE: Feb­ shots of an atypical Lesbian couple com­ ruary 1970. This issue of the venerable and pleted the segment. Generally bad press. ' Susan Smpadian respectable magazine about sexuality in hu­ DETROIT FREE PRESS, BOB TAL­ man beings, features an excellent debate: IS BERT: March 1970. A nasty quip about GAY AS GOOD AS STRAIGHT?, with Dr. DOB in this man’s column prompted a local Sagarin on the “no” side and Dr. Kameny DOB supporter to write him a letter. It did on the “yes” side. 1 suspect even the fairly not get printed, but she did get a nice apol­ biased might well opt for Dr. Kameny. ogy in a personal letter. Wish we could de­ LEO LAWRENCE WINS, ABC LOSES: mand retractions, but that day is tomorrow. BERKELEY TRIBE: February 13, 1970. BOSTON DOB MAIDEN VOYAGE: Feast Leo Lawrence, ABC newscaster and writer, March 1970. Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon’s Summer 2 The sweetsour savor of secret taste was fired by Station KGO in San Francisco. MOTIVE article on Lesbians wa-s reprinted weaves through our lives, and leaves Following this, his union had him rein­ in this issue. This deserves very wide read­ We fought with the sun for summer, false cloths of lovely innocence stated. The day after that, the station ing, and we are looking into the possibility to drape upon our tables burning days out with the sun's flame started proceedings once again to have him set with ecstacy, to hang about us which we held at either end, fired. Their charge i.s simply that he is a and keep our hunger hidden. working it to a skein of light homosexual, and he admits it. CHANGING arourKf us, and weaving sturdy WESTERN HOMOPHILE CONFER­ YOUR ADDRESS? This is how we live, meal after meal images of ourselves within. ENCE: February 13 and 14, 1970. LOS is taken round the magic cloth, Even in the warm nights, ANGELES. This conference, .similar to the If you arc planning to deep in a mad tea party, we'd merge w ith the glow when, other regional meeting, ERCHO, was held move, please let us know six full with memory of sun, till trails of left love stain at the First Unitarian Church of Los Ange­ weeks before changing your and mix new offerings with their we burned our eyes on lights les. Twenty-two western homophile groups foreign spices, sharpening our tastes. the night threw at us, were present. Highlight of the conference address. Please send your old and our lids surrendered. was the Keynote Address by Henry Hay, address and your new ad­ Then melted heavens coursed Now we cloy our appetites in ever fear the man who founded the original MATT- dress, clearly marked. You of famine, sowing seeds as falling stars, still bursting ACHINE SOCIETY in 1950. (His address, for later feasts against the day color at our eyes, which, weighted citing the priority order of prejudice in our MUST include BOTH your the cloth wears through, leaving down by all that heavy light in dark, society, appears in full in this issue.) old and your new zip codes. us suspended round the cluttered table, struggled to see us whole KNB&TV, LOS ANGiLES. SPECIAL REMEMBER, third class mail guilt running from our eyes in tears. in the blur of the sun-wrecked season. TO THE LADDER: Reporter Lyn Collins covered the eight-part look at the homo­ is not forwardable. Send to Carol Lynk Carol Lynk sexual presented February 18 through 27 CIRCULATION DEPART­ by Channel 4, Los Angeles. This project was MENT, THE LADDER, P.O. some years in the making, and the final re­ sults were less than satisfactory. It was, says Box 5025, Washington Sta­ Miss Collins, “obvious to any gay viewers tion, Reno, Nev. 89503. that the show was put together by hetero­ of reprinting in pamphlet form for this pur­ flesh. pose. All of the other 166 men were charged geles: March 8, 1970. Rev. Troy Perry of prohibit job discrimination against homo- NOW HAS A NEW PRESIDENT: Mareh with disorderly conduct; charges later METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY .scxuals in both public and private employ­ 1970. Aileen Hemandez of San Franeisco is dropped, of course — but Diego . . . he was CHURCH led a memorial service for How­ ment. The Commission voted 11-1 to rec­ the new National President of National Or­ charged with “resisting arrest.” ard Effland, beaten to death by the Los ommend that the Board of Supervisors of ganization for Women, replacing Betty Over 200 men and women, members of Angeles Police Department a year ago. Over the city hold public hearings on the subject. Friedan. Mrs. Hernandez is an honor gradu­ the Gay Liberation Front, Gay Activists 200 people showed up for the services, held This is an excellent step in the right direc­ ate of Howard University, with a Master’s Alliance, four or five Women’s Liberation in front of the Dover Hotel on Main Street, tion, and Larry Littlejohn of SIR is respon­ from Los .Angeles State College. She has groups, the women’s RAT newspaper col­ the site of the vicious and cruel death. After sible for this action, since he requested the held a number of high governmental ap­ lective and miscellaneous members of va­ the services Rev. Perry delivered a letter to action at the Human Rights Commi-ssion pointee po.sitions, including serving on the rious other groups;, including DOB and N.Y. the Police Station demanding an end to Board meeting in November 1969. Thank L'.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Com- MATTACHINE, gathered to form a protest both entrapment and brutality. you, Larry. meesion (she wa.s the first woman and the march and marched to the hospital to keep BOOKS TO LIBERATE WOMEN: NEW MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY: second Negro so appointed). Mrs. Hernan­ what many termed a death vigil (since the YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW: March 8, March 14, 1970. According to the DE­ dez indicated in an interview in the SAN horribly wounded man was not dead, this 1970. Marilyn Bender discusse.s the new TROIT FREE PRESS, this school is taking FRANCISCO CHRONICLE that she in­ was not taken to be wholly in good taste). trend in publishing circles to “get” a book steps to stop discrimination against women tended to direct NOW more heavily into the Father Weeks of the Church of the Holy on Women’s Liberation in the works. She . . . good for them. political arena and to work to break down Apostles offered a prayer for the man, and compares it to the rush a few years ago to SISTERHOOD IS POWERFUL; NEW its all-white, middle class image. She is, as the group then returned to Sheridan get books on blacks. Some ten to fifteen YORK TIMES MAGAZINE: March 15, she recognizes, a good step in that direction Square. books are in the works now with the first 1970. Susan Brownmiller, in a generally personally. As a result- of this, the VILLAGE one due out in July from Doubleday: Kale good essay on Women’s Liberation, made CANDICE BERGEN, .SAN FRAN VOICE and a number of other periodicals Millett’s SEXUAL POLITICS. And for the error of .speaking of Lesbians as Ihe CISCO CHRONICLE: Mareh 1, 1970 finally had some good words to say about those of you patiently waiting, she cites “lavendar menace.” The “Letters” column Drama Critic Stanley Eichelbaum inter the Village gays, who have been protesting publication date of THE HAND THAT of the March 29 NEW YORK TIMES viewed .VlLss Bergen about her plans - per in ways and manners not altogether to the CRADLES THE ROCK, edited by Robin MAGAZINE contains an excellent reply by sonal and filmatieally speaking — and ob liking of the conservatives. Morgan, as due from Random House in the Lois Hart of New York’s Gay Liberation tained this comment: “I have no prospects Very ironically, on the heels of this, fall, just about one year after original sched­ Front. Right on, Lois. right now. Maybe men actually believe I’m New York City’s Representative Edward I. uling. A CURE FOR CRIME; DETROIT a Lesbian, because I played one in THE Koch accu.sed the Police Commissioner, RADICAL THERAPIST: VILLAGE FREE PRESS: March 15, 1970 and on. GROUP. I’ve been told I was too con­ Howard R. Leary, of permitting the Police VOICE; March 12, 1970. In Minot, North Norval Morris and Gordon Hawkins, quali­ vincing. I even made the cover of the Les­ Department to resume a policy of harassing Dakota, a group of young psychiatrists and fied lawyers and professors of law, have de­ bian Review” (tlie L.4DDER, April 1966). homosexuals with illegal arrests. Mr. Koch, psychologists are trying to start a montlily veloped a total cure for “crime in the true VERY EARLY ONE MORNING IN a Democrat-liberal from Manhattan, made journal, the RADICAL THERAPIST. They sense. This would involve the substitution NEW YORK CITY. SPECIAL TO THE the statement in a letter to the Commis­ hope to reach those who are no longer im- of laws governing only those things that arc LADDER: On March 8, 1970, 167 men sioner asking him to explain the arrest of pre.sscd with “Establishment” definitions of governable, with the resultant ending of the were arrested in the after-hours bar. The 167 men at the Snake Pit on March 8. mental health, adjustment to society, Wom­ vast majority of unnece.s,«ary monies spent Snake Pit. They were held inside the bar for The whole affair is bound to be viewed en’s Liberation, etc. They plan to publish in controlling non-criminal “crimes.” an hour-and-a-half after the raid on Ihe bar, with mixed emotions. The bars being raided bi-monthly, with a tentative cost of $6 per Among tlieir suggestions are the basic re­ and then arrested, herded info paddy wag­ arc pits; they arc filthy, they are unsanitary, year. They are searching for contributors moval of all laws concerning tho.se areas of ons and taken to the Sixth Precinct station. and they do victimize and use the homo- and .support. behavior that arc not, in any sense, subject It must be made clear that the police claim .sexuals who frequent them. The police have A portion of their statement includes to criminal jurisdiction. These include tlic they are trying to clear up after-hours bars some point in wanting to get rid of them. thi.s: “Therapists by training, what we have obvious ones: the ending of all laws on which are unlicensed and filthy hell-holes On the other hand, if there is even a .smell been taught is increa.singly irrelevant in tills drunkenness in public, narcotics, gambling by and large, and that they CLAIM they are of police discrimination against homosexu­ changing world. The modes of therapy we anywhere and everywhere, restriction on not specifically hara.ssing homosexuals. als as a group, this has to be stopped. were taught are increasingly revealed to us the use of Ihe laws on loitering, vagrancy There is strong evidence that this is both Deputy Inspector of Police Seymour Pine, as biased, elitist, male-supremacist and and disorderly conduct to incidences where TRUE and NOT TRUE. This particular in­ who ordered the raids, said, “Even if 1 were racist. We are expected to maintain the stat­ they actually apply, removing all restric­ cident became national news when one anti-homosexual, it would be stupid forme us quo and accept our rewards. But this we tions concerning sexual activities between young man, Diego Vinales, terrified that he to go after them because they have become are no longer prepared to do.” consenting adults, and the ending of all ju­ would be deported (he is not a national) militant and well-organized. 1 am not EEOC CITED: HUMAN RIGHTS COM­ venile court jurisdiction over juveniles in from this country for being homosexual, against homosexuals - 1 am against after- MISSION meeting: March 12, 1970. The cases involving anything for which they and apparently wanting to stay here, broke hours clubs.” As unpleasant as the news minutes of this meeting point out that would not be in the jurisdiction of the from his captors, raced to the second floor may be, the man’s remarks are extremely homosexuals would be wise to take com­ Court were they adult. Their book, THE of the station, and threw himself through a telling. We are told over and over again that plaints to the EEOC (Equal Employment HONEST POLITICIAN’S GUIDE TO CRIME CONTROL, was published recently window. He landed on an iron picket fence the only way to win your rights (says the Opportunities Commission) for arbitration. below. The fire department and police Establishment) is to take them away by MOVE TO END JOB DISCRIMINA­ by the University of Chicago. THE PUBLIC SPEAKING GRIND: worked to free him (saw him loose) from force. Why just being entitled to them isn’t TION: SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: the fence, and he was taken to St. Vincent’s enough, we do not know. March 13, 1970. The Human Rights Com­ March 12, 1970, Rita Laporte spoke at mission of the City of San Francisco gave Await High School in Mt. View, California, Hospital with parts of the fence still in his NO EXCUSABLE HOMICIDE: Los An- backing to a campaign for city legislation to to over 200 students. Questions came in faster than they could be answered. An and that the idea of homosexuality is being without the course, but that experimental the first issue of IN UNITY, new publica­ adult present commented that today’s high considered as a means of population control courses were run by the students and they tion of the Metropolitan Community school students are more aware and more and a path to equality. chose to have it. Right on, babies. Church, Volume One, Number One. Thank mature than yesterday’s college kids . . . BOSTON DOB ON TV; March 25, CHURCH FUNDS CUT FOR ALLOW­ you. good. After the “formal” session, the class­ 1970. SPECIAL TO THE LADDER: Bos­ ING HOMOSEXUALS TO MEET: POTPOURRI: WASHINGTON, D.C.; es gathered on the lawn with Rita and ton reporter Laura Robin covered the ap­ DETROIT FREE PRESS: March 27, 1970. NEW YORK CITY; DETROIT, MICHI­ The Episcopal Diocese of Detroit has cut GAN; MIAMI, FLORIDA, and on and on: teacher Tim Young, and continued the dis­ pearance of Boston President Ann Haley on cussion for another half-hour. the WBZ panel show, “On Woman Today,” off funds to the historic old St. Joseph March and April 1970. Clippings poured aired at 9 A.M. over Channel 4. The week Church and its rector, the Rev. Robert into DOB (bless all of you) from all over NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE Morrison, for allowing a homosexual group during these months, all dealing with va­ POWER OF A WOMAN: March 17, 1970. before Easter d e a lt with the topic “Sex,” and the March 25, 1970 segment dealt with to hold regular meetings in the church. Rev. rious local aspects of women’s rights, many Over 100 women marched into the offices “Homosexuality.” Guest panelists were, be- Morrison is said to have the “strong support concerning appointment of women to high­ of the LADIES HOME JOURNAL on this of his inner-city organization.” er-ranking jobs, political for the most part, dale and demanded the editor throw down .sidcs Ann, Dr. Charles Socarides of Albert Ein.stein School of Medicine in New York; SATURDAY REVIEW AND RITA and women in “unusual” jobs. Some of the his typewriter and leave . . . leave the Rev. Robert W'eek.s, minister at St. John the LAPORTE; March 28, 1970. The headlines would have sounded like science whole thing in their hands. It did not work April/May issue of the LADDER com­ fiction a few years ago: “FIVE WOMEN out quite that way, but when the dust Apostle Episcopal Church, Manhattan; and E'rank Morgan, president of the llomophile m ented on the article, “The New WILL LIVE UNDER THE SEA”; “FE­ cleared the women had won some ver>' im­ Feminism,” by Lucy Komisar in the MALE COMMISSIONER IS CHOSEN IN portant conce.s,sion.s. They were given an en­ Union of Boston. Que.stions from modera­ tors took up one-half of the program, and February 21, 1970 issue of SATURDAY DADE COUNTY”; “HAIRCUT, LADY? tire is.suf to write and were promised a questions from the audience, the other half. REVIEW. The following letter from Rita OR A SHAVE?” : “UD LAW FRAT FI­ column in each issue thereafter. More im­ Laporte ran in the March 28, 1970 issue: NALLY OPENS DOORS TO COEDS” ; portantly, they were to be paid for the writ­ Dr. Socarides monopolized the entire hour, driving home again and again his personal RE: “The New Feminism” (SR, “FEMINIST EFFORT GROWS IN GRO­ ing. This particular event was covered in vir­ Feb. 21). I wish to point out a mis­ view that homo.sexuals (and Le.sbians) are TON”; “WOMEN PILOTS?”; “NEED A tually every newspaper in the eountry, and statement in Lucy Komisar’s article, pathologically ill. Even the moderators JOB, MOM? TRY THE TROOPERS.” It be­ most of the comments were without edi- namely; “The one organization with seemed to find him incredible. Rev. W'eeks comes increasingly apparent that though toriali/.ing. but virtually all of them, at a constitution, board members, and disagreed with Dr. Socarides, saying tliat small in numbers and bolstered by onty a some point In the write-up, mentioned that chapters . . . throughout the coun­ from his experience the problems encoun­ fraction of the male population, the women .some of the women were wearing slaek.s. try is the National Organization for are winning in isolated instances ail over the tered by homsexuals were cau.sed by the at­ What we wonder is this; W’here do the writ­ Women.” There is also the Daughters country. The big headline stories tell only a titude of .society toward homo.sexuality. He ers live between stories that they do not see of Bilitis with a constitution, board small part of the real victories, for it is in .said he hoped for greater acceptance in the women all over the place wearing slaek.s? members, and chapters throughout the courts, the individual companies and future. After Dr. Socarides got in a plug for KANSAS CITY STAR: March 19, 1970. the country and overseas. Its found­ the political arenas where the irrevocable his new book, .Ann Haley got in a plug for Three members of the PHOENIX SO­ ing was in 1955, and it has published victories will be won. DOB, Boston. CIETY, Kansas City’s male homose.xual or- a magazine for women, by women, MONIQUE: April 1970. Theaters all ganiaalion, spoke before the influential eon- VERY BUSY DAY FOR BOSTON: since 1956. over the U.S. are running this movie. It may gregation of the B'nai Jehudah. Usual March 2.5, 1970. Three members of Boston What women would have the be another skin flick, but some of the com­ questions and an.swers on homosexuality. DOB spoke before the unique Brandéis Utii- courage to do this fifteen years ago? ments make it sound fairly good. WE ARE AUGUST 26, 1970: THAT IS THE versitv group enrolled in a course entitled Lesbians. We have been challenging .NOT SURE, but thought you might like to DAY. CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Sunday, THE ilOMO.SEXIJAL AND SOCIETY. This the “sex role system” for millennia. hear about it. It concerns - we warn you - March 22, 1970. announces Betty E'riedan’s course was offered by the university at the We are neither man-haters nor a menage a trois, which is a man’s idea, not propo.sal fur all American women to stage a reque.st of the student l>ody, and is the only man-lovers, which gives us a measure a woman’s, ever. sit-down strike on August 26 to bring home credit course of this nature on the East of detachment in the battle for our BOSTON ON THE MOVE; SPECIAL to men the importance of women and their Coast. (Editor’s Note: There arc several full human rights as women and as TO THE LADDER; April 1970. In the last need for civil rights. This is supposed to be such on the West Coast, and we understand lesbians. year-and-a-half, five homophile organiza­ followed by an all-night candlelight vigil at that similar courses are in the works in Feminists are labled not otdy tions have started in Boston. Besides our the “halls of political power.” Realistically, many schools across the land). The Brandéis “aggressive” and “unfemininc,” but own chapter there and the often-mentioned I giggle to think of the condition of Ameri­ group is more concerned with an examina­ — and fortunately for us — HUB (HOMOPHILE UNION OF BOSTON), can halls of business following a day when tion of homosexuality as a life preference “lesbians.” In their hostile stupidity, there is a COUNCIL ON RELIGION AND all the women quit working . . . that than as a clinical study . . . GOOD for men are giving us lesbians a helping THE HOMOSEXUAL which just began in would be some holy mess. them. It is possible that Boston DOB will hand. They are forcing feminists (at early 1970. Of extreme importance, how­ WOMEN IN REVOLT: NEWSWEEK: again speak to this group. Session consisted least 80 per cent of whom are not ever, in terms of liberalization in education, March 23, 1970. Young Helen Dudar of the of the usual questions and answers on life lesbians) to recognize, to understand, is the announcement of the formal recogni­ New York Post reported on Women’s Lib­ stvies. and to accept the most downtrodden tion by Harvard of a homophile gniup on eration for NEWSWEEK, and did a credit­ SAN JOSE STATE COLLEGE and despised of all minorities. campus. The group is formally called HAR­ able job. Unlike many such articles, she ATTACKED: March 25, 1970. Trustee Rita Laporte VARD GRADUATE STUDENT HOMO­ managed to include a few paragraphs on the Dudley Swim (known for his extreme con­ National President, PHILE A.SSOCIATION, but it is .simply influence of Lesbians in the movement. servatism) objected to the fact that San Daughters of BiUtis, Inc. another extension of the many, many loose­ .Among other things, .she quotes Robin Mor­ Jose State College has a course on homo­ San Francisco, Calif. ly affiliated groups generally called STU­ gan as source for the information that Les­ sexuality. The school’s president, Hobart The LADDER received free publicity in DENT HOMOPHILE LEAGUE existing on bians are now being welcomed as “sisters” Burns, said he would have been happier picture. Helping them is helping all of your about thirty eastern campuses and a few to receive honorable discharges on March chick” (fellow office worker?). The girls pull off an office workers’ strike. Shades of people: please do help.) western ones as well. The Harvard daily, 18 at Ft. McClellan were received by the FOLLOW-UP: NEWSWEEK: April 6, H.4RVARD CRIMSON, ran an arUcle on women and by Morris Eight. As this is be­ Betty Friedan’s August strike date. MORE VOICE; Same issue of VIL. 1970, National DOB. President Rita Laporte this on February 20,1970. ing written, we have no further informa­ L.A. FREE PRESS: AprU 1970. L.A. tion, except the pleasant information that LAGE VOICE (April 2, 1970) reviews a liad a long letter in this issue of NEW'S- WEEK in reply to the WOMEN IN RE­ DOB was featured in an article in his paper the girls plan to live in either San Francisco 1924 (right, 1924) movie ealled M.AN OF by reporter Verda Murrell, sometime, in or New York City and that .Antonitta Gar­ THE HOU.SE by Carl Dreyer, Dreycr (Carl VOLT article whii-h ran March 23, 1970 in that magazine. Text foUow.s: April 1970. .At press time, however, we had land is an English major and plaits to write Theodore Drcycr) is a little-known in this We Lesbians arc not only being not seen an issue and cannot comment be­ fiction and poetry. We wish them well and country, but this Danish director is con­ yond this mention. admire them for their courage. It takes guts sidered one of the all-tiim' great movie­ welcomed into the women’s rights movement, but, welcome, or not, WACS LOSE, GIRLS WIN, LOVE TRI­ to fight the system in public - at 20 and makers. MAN OF THE HOUSE is said to be we have been most active therein UMPHS: April 1970. Antonitta Garland, 23, it takes guts. a Women’s Liberation movie, and is sup- from the start. Though most of us age 2.T, and Sandy Hagen, age 20, joined the IMPORTANT REPRINT: COSMO- posid to be available for rent from Con­ pass as heterosexual, those of u.s who Wars last September .10, 1969. However, POLITAN: April 1970. Vivian Gomick’s su­ temporary Films (a New York firm?) on ( an afford the risk are working in tin- Antonitta enlisted in Nashville, Tennessee perlative article on W'omen’s Liberation 16mm. DOB IS lU'SY IN BOSTON: April 3. movement as known Lesbians. and Sandy enlisted in Brooklyn, New York. entitled “The Next Great Moment in His­ 1970. Tin- Bo,ston Chapter held a public dis­ Like our hi-terosexual sisl(-r.s, we Thrown together during basic training, they tory” first appeared in the November 27, raiigi- from conservatives who prefer fell in love, just like in the stories. Not too 1969 VILLAGE VOICE. COSMOPOLITAN cussion s<’.ssion on this date for members of the heterosexual eommunily, who honored to work In NOW to radicals who be­ long after they discovered their hitherto- carries it with the title, “The Women’s Lib­ long to various gay women s libera­ unthought-of life style and mutual love, so eration Movement!” This is mu.st reading, the invitation, for the most part, h\ failing tion groups. Wv bring to the move­ did Uncle Sam, in tlie form of a friendly and the magazine will be easily available to to arrive. llowc-viT, a number of members ment our unicpie strengths for the Wac sergeant. After that they suffered a lot most of you. of various other Bo.ston organizations (pri­ henef t of all women. And in turn, of harassment. Managing to take leave at COUNTDOWN 2: April 1970. This is a marily male) eaine, and the panel ol six our heterosexual sisters are hel|hng the same time, tliey just kept on going, magazine in paperback form, published by DOB memln-rs and the audi<-nee enjoyed us with our parti(-ulai- wi-aknessC': heading for California in tlic belief that “if New .American Library. Apparently this is the di.seussion. the fears and in.sn-nrili-s i-ng(-ndi r(-d they had a chance anywhere,” it would be the second issue of a continuing magazine YWCA JOINS WOMEN’S I.IBERA- by the ii(-<-d to livt- douhli- liv<-s. there. Never having known they were Le.s- which would imply the first was COUNT­ TION: UPl: April .5, 1970. Planning their Gri al as our diiferen(-(-s appi-ar. from bians before, they knew nothing of the or­ DOWN 1 (we have not seen it). This issue triennial coiivetilion in Houston. April (-on.servativ(- to radi<-al. from Li-shiaii ganizations. Their stopping place was Los contains “Women as Objects. Toys and 13-18, YW(!.\ officials annotniee their un- to e(-lihat(- to In ti-rosexiial. tin-y arc- Angeles, and they found an ad in the LOS Commodities” by Uta West, a good general ItappiiK'ss at being relegated to a bai k seat minor <-onipar(-d with tin- fon-t-s. as ANGELES FREE PRESS for the METRO­ run-down on Women’s Liberation including in W-ometTs l.iln-ration, pointing out tliey yet inort- underground than visilih-. POLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. Morris some nice words on the Lesbian element in have been in the battle since 1867. that iiniti- all woini-n. Eight, a leader in Gay Liberation in Los the movement. IIAKVAIU) AND MANY OTHERS: Rita Laporte-, National President Angeles and a member of the church, re­ WOMEN ARE 38 PER CENT OF THE NEW YORK TIMES: April ,3, 1970. Two Daughters of Rilitis. Iti<-. ceived several of the “tentative,” not-quite- LABOR FORCE: FORBES MAGAZINE: feminist groups have charged Harvard, the trusting calls the girls made to tlie church April 1, 1970. Labor Department reports tiniversity of Maryland, tin- University of THE VOICE: IS.SUE 98: April 7. 1970. before bolli sides agreed to meet and talk. indicate that between 19.38 and 1968 the North Carolina aiid the (!ity University of This Is a llollywood-ha.s(-d ent(-rlainm(-nt Mr. Eight immediately began arrange­ number of working women increased 32 per New York tiity with discrimination against magaziin- wliic-h w(- had nol seen In-fon-. 11 ments to get the girl.s out of the Wacs with cent to a total of 29.2 million working. TIiLs women in admissions, finarieial assistance, is strii lly for use- in ihe- Los Angeles are a, honorable discharges. He talked with C.H. is almost 38 per cent of the total working hiring, jrromotion and [)ay. We eoninn-nd hut after se-e-iiig it we are- wemde-ring why so Erskine Smith of Birmingham, Alabama force in the country. the action takeii. hut wonder why limit il main pe-ople- s(ie-ak ed San 1-raiie-ise-o and (the attorney in the Wac case covered in the KENT STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN to tho.se .schools? We would hi- more inter­ New York (hiv as tin-liomosi-Mial e-e-nleTs L.ADDER article, “Wacs Prevail Over ASK DOB FOR HELP (KENT, OHIO): ested in seeing a list of schools where this (if Ihe western world. In am e ase-, in this Army,” .August/September 1969); Dr. .April 2, 1970. In a letter to Rita Laporte, a diserimination does NOT exist. issue-. 1)01! gels a hoosl. and we- are- most Franklin Kamenv of Washington MATTA- group of women at KENT STATE re­ KINSEY AGAIN: SAN l-RANCISi:0 grali-ful. CIIKOMCI.E: April 6. 1970. As of this ANOTHER RYOlO SHOW: liOSfON CHINE SOCIETY, and the ACLU. On Feb­ quested help from DOB in putting together lime the well-puhlieized study of liomo- ruary 12, 1970 (Lincoln’s birthday) Eight a course for credit on Womanhood. They DOB AND ill B: April HI. 1970 I enir arranged with the Army to turn the girls wish to include Lesbianism in the course. .sexiials and Lesbians now going on in .San women from Boston DOB and one- man Franei.seo seems to be reaehing most of its from HOMOPIIII.E I \I()N of Boston dis* over to them at 1:30 P.M. in the courtyard At time of writing they have been direeted goals. However, they are still desperately in (iisse-d hoinosi-xnalily and l.eshiani.-in with of the First Unitarian Church in Los Ange­ to the nearest chapter of DOB, Cleveland, need of black Lesbian siibjeets. If you lin- two moderators on a e losed eire iiil radio. les. The girls were there, the press was Ohio. More on this later. WtiSB-AM. at Grahm jiinior Colle ge- in Bos- there. Eight was there, but the Army THE INDEPENDENT FEMALE: VIL­ in the included Bay area, are black and a Lesbian and have not been inli-rviewed, lon. The- Iwo hoiir program, from 7 to 9 wasn’t. LAGE VOICE: April 2, 1970, contains a P.M., was Ihe longi-sl .session on radio in a ■Negotiations began all over again, and it short notice of this new play now being please contact the Kinsey researehers at 771-0466. (Editorial note; Having worked ,s(-rii-s e-alle-d ■'Eni-oimle-r ' re gularly he ld at wa.s finally decided that the girls would fare written for the San Francisco Mime Troup the- si-hool. Il is fe lt that this parlii iihir ex­ best if they were driven back to their orig­ by Joan Holden. This is said to be a Wom­ several times in close eonlael with the Kin­ posure- was most liene-fii-ial for the aiidi- inal station. Ft. McClellan in Anniston, en’s Liberation play with a heroine named sey Instilule, as it is popularly known, tliere ciie-e. .sinee- il was (le ar from the- le li-plione- .Alabama. They were taken there by private Gloria who gets “fits” of independence. is little doubt but that they will do every­ e-alis from the lisli-in-rs that many of the ear. Verbal assurances that the women were Seems she is inspired by a “tough Lesbian thing pos-sible to pre.sent a fair and uuhiasi-d common misconi'cptions wen* cleared up well-educated man thinks about women, completelv in the minds of the listeners. this is must reading. The naked loathing for GROVE PRESS: .April 13, 1970. .\ any woman who does not get “all wel-ey ed M@fudl®F§ E@§p®niid number of wometi invaded the editorial of­ and reverenl over motherhood” and who fices of GROVE PRESS and raised a bit of does not "make you breakfast in the morn­ ing and nurse your kids and keep quiet lu ll. Nine of them were then earted off to Dear Gene Damon: the boy himself but rather "what he Ls when the boys drop in . . .” jail. Primarv tap;et is the denigration of rU wager that lesbian pornography fills BOIKJUETS to Laura Robin of Bo.ston. doing to her.” They know they’re using the women b> Grove in their publications and a greater need for many of us than simply boy because there’s something missing, the fihn.s, altiioutth other demands were in­ Laura has bei'ii providing Ihi' material used in this eolinnn from thi' Boston area, aiid a the one for vicaries. emotional involvement just isn’t there: they cluded: day care for children of employees; Most of us have problems with hostility im asure of their usefulness is that slie pro­ know the response is not to man as a real equal pay for women doinji the same work towards ourselves as women and as lesbians, vides about leu limes what I can ii.se in and warm human being. Confused by a as better-paid male employees — the usual towards the women we love and the world world that urges her to live out the role of terms of space and national inlere.sl. We line of protest. .As a result ol this, nine em­ at large. 1 think that nowhere is this woman as man’s love object — and man as need Ihis sort of reportage on the pidriie ployees of Grove wrri' fired, ineludin!; lead­ hostility so obviou.s as in the intimate woman’s! — which the lesbian’s instincts servile encounters your local groups have in ing editor Robin Morgan. relationships we have with other women. tell her is morally wrong, she sometimes your area . . . (ilLAPTER.’s, .\I(E )(U* .NBC-TV: April 16-23. 1970: ERANK- Many viewers of the gay scene have de­ enters into her first lesbian relationships in i.LMENINi;.' I.V I' EM ALE. program moderated b\ lielly tected the explosive elements of gay re­ this confusion which has festered into guilt NEW YORK CIIAri'ER: PL'BLIC (iroebli. fealured Dr. I'ratikliii Karnniy, Dr. lationships, and we are very defensive about and even contempt for herself and all .SPEAKING. .SPECIAL TO HIE LADDER: (diaries .''oearides. Anka Ehrliardl and Lilli this. Mo.st of us arc well-adjusted enougli to women. Surely if she despises a part of Vineenz. Diseiission on aeeeptanee ol .New y ork DOH President Ros spoke on Les- keep those elements operating on a subtle herself for having been exploitative — even homo.sexuality. with no differeuee iiidi- hiaiiism at the Ninth Annual .|ohn Hunter level, at least. But it is on this subtle level unconsciou.sly — she naturally transfers this ealed between the male liomoscMial and I'tti'lis Memorial l.eeltire [iresenleri by llte that I have discovered them to be most contempt to other women: her image of the Lesbian (despile the fact that this pro­ (.liieen Couiity Chapter of the Anierieaii energy-draining, destructive and confusing. them as a group, and individual women in gram is a daytime program, geared to and Academy of (ieneral Praetii e on .Suiidav. All of us are strongly conditioned by particular. aimed at a 90 ifier cent tVmale audience). April 12. 1970. from 2:31) to .■>:3() P.M, our cultural environment; most of us are Here is my point: in my own life I’ve Everything in the discussion and audience Other s|K'akers ineltided Dick Leilseh of not too aware of how we manifest this found it extremely easy to become sexually participation went well, though, reporlsoiir \IArT\CIHNE. N.V.. speaking on male conditioning. So many lesbians share the involved with men. 1 can even make a \Va.s|iinglon "ear and eye," Ihough Dr. liomo.sexualilv; and Drs. lsadoreRuhin(ed- history of early heterosexual involvements “pass” at a man, but never, never a woman. Socarides continued his )KTsonal vendetta ilor of.SENIH.OO MAGAZINE), \lbert that were .sad, unfulfilling and often damag­ Even if I suspect strongly she’s gay, I suffer (you may haie noticed he goes around the Ellis and Philip K. Kaufman. Dr Kaufitiati ing; we share this history with many hetero­ inhibiting guilty confusion that freezes me. country speaking with or ininudialely fol­ was narrator, and Dr Leo Wootman spoke sexual women, too. Why do some of us The moment of physical expression comes lowing repre.senlalives of homo.sexual oil transvestism and transsevnalism. O ur become repeatedly involved with men, and only after much game-playing, subtle hint­ groups), and the positive portions were the .5tlt) people heard the talks, with the ma­ why do some of us become .so immediately ing, absurdly and ill-disguised probings. All well-worn ones. jority of them doctors ¡mil their wives. This and exclusively involved with other women of it is energy-draining and destructive and AND STILL MORE RADIO E\PO- sort of presentation helps to point up the in relationships as taut as higti wires, lived breeds an atmosphere of coy dishonesty. In ,SI RE: HO.^TON DOB AM) HUH: April differences bi'tween i alegories so often con­ out on such a tense plane that only two contrast to me, 1 have found a very few 19. 1970. (iiiests on the Hob .Slerling Smith fused in the puhlii mind. exceptional, unusually compatible women well-adjusted lesbians who do not suffer (:()I.I.0(,)1IV .show on WIIDll-IAI on this MINORITY .STUDY: SPECIAL TO can handle until they’re able to surpass that such paralyzing inhibitions. It is much date were Gail l.arpenler ol Boston DUB THE LADDER: April 22. 1970. On this plane? easier for them to come to a woman with and Krank Morgan of III H. along with Rev. dale two members of DOH. N.A .. Jnlie and 1 believe that we are often negatively desire. But almost all of them have, at some Roherl Wingel from the Ghureh of Our Ginny. joined by two men from MATTA- conditioned by the hetero atmosphere. time, felt like me. Now, the times 1 have Savior in .South Boston. K.veellenl airing CHINE. N.A.. spoke to about 120 women Usually — and especially in the identified with lesbians in either literature, was made of Ihis show, since it was run at 9 and two men, all psyeliology and .sociology pre-coming-out adolescent years — lesbians movies (like “The Eox”), pliotographic A.M, on this date and repealed in Ihi' eve­ students at tlie Manhattan College of llie get only encouragement towards hetero­ sequences, 1 have experienced such ning at 10 P.M. Primary di.scu.ssion this time Sacred Heart, Purchase, N.Y. They were sexuality and all the trappings of society’s dramatic rclea.se and relief (from guilt?) was on the liberation aims of the homophile warmly received and. happily, .lulie and rubber-stamp approval of heterosexuality that it’s apparent I'm getting more than movement in general. Rev. Winget urged (iinny were asked to return to speak to aii- (hetero-dominated advertising, for ex­ vicarious experience. 1 need to read good heterosexuals not to ,s»-ek to impose the .sex­ otlier group of girls at Ihis well known ample). We all grow up with the idea that lesbian literature, and witli the inclusion of uality that feels right for them upon others. Catholic girls' college in the New A ork area. it’s right, normal and expected that men erotic scenes; 1 need to see pictures of He urged churches to welcome homosexu­ “WHO WILL LISTEN IE YOU HAVE A and women use each other .sexually. 1 think lesbians together — tasteful pictures —;and als. (This was the .second program in a sc­ CIV IL RKHITS COMPLAIN'P’’ is th.'title le.sbians often enter into early heterosexual I need to see “Gay i§ o.k.” on the screen — ries, the first having been on April 12 and of a new government pamphlet explaining involvements because they’re encouraged for my own sanity! And 1 suspect that this featuring speakers from HUB and STl - how and where to fih’ civil riglits eom- by .society, and it’s acceptable to release need has little to do with whether or not DENT HOMOPHILE LEAGUE). plainLs. This pamphlet will provide direc­ early sexual drives in experimental physical I'm currently involved with a woman. LOOK MAGAZINE: April 21, 1970. tion for those with complaints of di.serim- expressions with boys. But lesbians — and Surely if 1 lived on some American Lesbos Someone named Michael Thomas has an ination based on race, color, religion or .sex. surely many heterosexual women — suffer where gay was the rule and not the ex­ “editorial’' in this issue on “Battle of the Order by sending 20 cents to the Superin­ guilt in these relationships, guilt they’re ception, I wouldn’t need all this so strongly. .Sexes — 1970." If there was ever any doubt tendent of Documents, Government Print­ only vaguely aware of. Some of them know But even there I’d need to see my culture in any woman’s mind just what the average ing Office, Washington, D.C.. 20402. that the sexual arousal is not a response to acknowledging the validity of the lesbian out that this book was not intended to deal line groups (TANGENTS, ONE, SIR, by sheer luck I came across the addre.ss of experience, and in all Ihe usual primarily witli Lesbianism but rather with THE LADDER and DOB. It came at a time takcn-for-grantcd ways: in advertising, in MATTACHINE, S.F., etc.) tend to be apoli­ nudity. Mr. DeMartino is writing another when I really needed it. Thank you for my fashions, in positive attention from the tical on the quite reasonable grounds that book which will focus on Lesbianism and life and peace. news media, and in the promotion of male homasexuals are to be found in every which presumably will make greater use of Paula G. homosexiially awan- organisations and race, religion, age group, profession, trade and political affiliation and that they have, the material obtained from DOB .subjects. Canada causes, of marriage and legal counselling. I’d Florence Conrad primarily, only ONE thing in common, want marriage “laws” and other legal Research Director, DOB protections for individual lesbians as well as their sexual orientation, and therefore, only Dear DOB: couples. I’d need — I need! — all thi.s to feel ONE battle to be fuuglit first. Thanks again for your wise advice and like a human being, a full human being. DOB has always al.so adopted a de­ encouragement. It helped me through what .' he some little head about politics?” pretend to a definitive knowledge of the male. 1 let the intelligent male speak for do we wish to, nor do we see it as mi^ty. would find, after the main portion deling If, after a few centuries of this kind of himself while continuing to wonder at the (I leave to one side the problem of the with human needs and ri^ ts, a supple­ treatment, the male was a little self-con­ conceit that permits him, in blind and Lesbian ‘male’ or ‘butch’ chauvinist, a mentary chapter devoted to “The Position scious, a little on the defensive, and a little humorless confidence, to set himself up as minority within the Lesbian community.) of the Male in the Perfect Stale.” His bewildered about what was required of him, an authority on the female. (It was nice of Our problem is not one of aspiring to newspaper would assist him with a “Men’s I should not blame him. If he traded a little Mr. Colton to insert the word ‘male’ before become fully male, to be accepted as Comer,” telling him how, by the expendi­ upon his sex, I could forgive him. If he ‘homosexual’ in speaking of the members- heterosexual males are, but to become ture of a good deal of money and a couple presented the world with a major social only baths.) accepted as full human beings, to be and of hours a day, he could attract the girk problem, I should scarcely be surprised. It Now permit me to present the Lesbian remain WOMEN, women different from and retain his wife’s affection; and when he would be more surprising if he retained any side in this matter of sex and guilt. The other women oidy in that our emotions had succeeded in capturing a mate, his rag of sanity and self-respect. “woman with brains and ability who never lead us to love another woman rather than a name would be taken from him, and society makes the top in his [sic] employment man. would present him with a special title to ’Dr. Peck had disclaimed adherence to sphere” is, in 99 out of 100 cases, stopped Now, why are so many Lesbians still in proclaim his achievement. People would the Kinder, Kirche, Küche school of because of her sex. The males, homosexual hiding? Most certainly NOT because they write books called “ History of the Male,” thought. and heterosexual, who are above her form a have bought “the whole ugly bag of accu­ or “Males in the Bible,” or “The Psychol­ K.A. tightly closed shop to block her advance­ sations.” Some, yes, but most, no. At the ogy of the Male,” and he would be regaled Los Angeles, California ment. The “obscurity of a low-paying, risk of becoming tiresome, I must repeat daily with headlines, such as “Gentleman- drudging job” is the best that most women, once again that Lesbians are women, mem­ Doctor’s Discovery,” “Male-Secretary Wins Dear Gene Damon, Lesbians included, can find. And the Les­ bers of that oppressed majority, second Calcutta Sweep,” “Men-Artists at the Acad­ “The Uses of Sexual Guilt” by James bian, of all women, fights hard against this class citizens who are not considered emy.” If he ^v e an interview to a reporter, Colton might be dismissed as an irrelevant injustice, fights till fury and frustration persons’ within the meaning of our U.S. or performed any unusual expolit, he would bore were it not for its appearance in THE threaten to destroy her “brains and abili­ Constitution, creatures who have only re­ find it recorded in such terms as these: LADDER. The Le.sbian is starved for mean­ ty.” If she is an artist, die may have to cently in history emerged from that legal “Professor Bract, although a distinguished ingful articles about Lesbians and yet in the resort to using a man’s name. But she will class comprising children, the insane, slaves botanist, is not in any way an unmanly one publication presumably by and for and women. We Lesbians are bom with this man. He has, in fact, a wife and seven most certainly NOT blame her Lesbianism. Lesbians we must be “treated” to yet handicap — no male homosexual is. And we children. Tall and burly, the hands with No, the homosexual is not “the most another male homosexual exhortation. This must work, along with our heterosexual which he handles his delicate specimens are disadvantaged of all” for he ean enjoy the in itself would not be sufficient cause to sisters, to overcome it. Added to this as gnarled and powerful as those of a advantages of both worlds: the male and propel me to write you, for I have become the heterosexual. The Lesbian, particularly crippling heritage we bear the stigma of our Canadian lumbeijack, and when I swilled inured to the ever increasing spate of beer with him in his laboratory, he bawled the black Lesbian, is THE MOST DIS­ Lesbianism, or homosexuality, if you will. literature dealing with male homosexuality. We, intimidated from birth, also fear loss of his conclusions at me in a strong, gruff ADVANTAGED. At best she can pass as a What prompted me to break my silence voice that implemented the promise of his mere woman. She is insecure in her lousy economic security, a weak security at best is nothing less than fury, fury at the not so job. If she wants a political career, forget it. for all women. In addition, we are generally swaggering moustache.” Or; ‘There is noth­ subtle implications that Lesbians arc riddled ing in the least feminine about the home Yes, I have long known about the male more concerned than the male about hurt­ with sick guilt and that they use sex in surroundings of Mr. Focus, the famous homosexual who needs the excitement of ing our families. These two concerns, very twisted ways as outlets for this guilt. James possible discovery to achieve orgasm, so real and conscious and in no way “sick,” children’s photographer. His ‘den’ is pan­ Colton’s analysis of the problem shows his elled in teak and decorated with rude important a goal for the male. What has this keep so many of us in hiding. And I am one knowledge of male psychology in general to do with the Lesbian, for whom sex is an of these. Nor am I proud. I am more often sculptures from Easter Island; over his and male homosexual psychology in partic­ austere iron bedstead hangs a fine reproduc­ intimate and most private expression of ashamed. My justification is that, should I ular. 1 would have no quarrel with his tion of the Rape of the Sabines.” love? She hates any threat of discovery - openly proclaim myself, I would cease article had he confined himself to the male He would be edified by soleitm dis- the merest hint of such a possibility and all immediately to be able to do anything at all (thougji I would wonder what he was doing cusions about “Should Men Serve in desire to make love dies. Sexual expression in the cause for Lesbians. Keeping my job, in THE LADDER). But he tosses in a ‘she’ for the Lesbian has nothing to do with my status such as it is, and my economic Drapery Establishments?” and acrimonious or a ‘her’ now and then, thus betraying his ones about “Tea-Drinking Men;” by cross­ rebellion or conformity, conscious or un­ security is all that enables me to woik abysmal ignorance of the female and the conscious. It quite simply expresses love. underground toward that day when all of US, Lesbians and homosexuals, may live free bear this burden is something I’ll never be of fear. able to understand or sympathize with. The NEW IMPROVED!... SnONSER! Wrap — Hope Thompson hot-blooded loyalty that women are bound LyW an« ^ to display toward men (homo, hetero, bi, P ress — Rhode Island Presto! poly) is conspicuously one-sided: the men Clings to itself! Dear Miss Damon: do the taking, the women the giving. keeps your No fasteners! 1 have lately fallen into a bad humor In spite of real anger it was all the New hair-do with respect to radical activists and have York chapter could do to vote to censure beauty shop made a step backward from radical to die offenders, and there were many who fresh much longer. liberal. Convinced that our society is in proposed forgiveness on the grounds that BRANSON GIFTS we’re all in the same “thing”. What this critieal need of radical change, it is with 1619 Lincoln Place - DOB disappointment that 1 observe that those “thing” is that we’re all in, I wish someone 50 elements dedicated to change are conspicu­ would tell me. There are no grounds for Brooklyn, New York 11233 ously lacking in desirable personal qualities. alliance between Lesbians and male homo­ All the way from SDS to GLF one hardly sexuals, no emotional or sexual affinity. sees anything but psychic and moral The public is already under the impression THE LESBIAN weaklings who seek to abandon all personal that female homosexuals are merely oppo- responsibility for their existence. Curiously, site-sexed versions of male homosexuals, IN LITERATURE they all tend to look alike, as physiog- which is a nasty distortion of reality. It nomically undifferentiated as they arc seems to me that many homosexual women a bibliography serve the same supportive functions for psychically undifferentiated; in short, char­ By Gene Damon and Lee Stuart' acterless. They have little or no sense of homosexual men that heterosexual women self, and therefore no self-respect, and they serve for heterosexual men. How silly! 1 AN ALPHABETICAL LISTING BY AUTHOR OF ALL KNOWN BOOKS IN display an almost psychopathic disregard can’t help thinking that if a WLM group had THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, IN THE GENERAL FIELD OF for other’s rights. They are compulsive broken into DOB and wrecked the mimeo LITERATURE, CONCERNED WITH LESBIANISM. OR HAVING exhibitionists who will demonstrate at the there would have been heU to pay and no LESBIAN CHARACTERS. drop of a hat without any real cause that maudlin tears about loyalty and together­ can arouse public sympathy; thus, the ness. T H E L A D D E R public has grown understandably indiffer­ Gay power is a man’s thing, with a P.O. Box 5025, Washington Station, Reno, Nevada 89503 ent to the spectacle of demonstrations, sprinkling of silly women who follow along $2 plus 25c handling charge. which renders useless an important tool for on the assumption that whatever the men communication and (valid) social change. do is smart. 1 heard one girl say, “/ don’t w s e o f t h e The GLF and other similar groups have belong to GLF. I hate it.” Nevertheless, been pulling some boners lately that may most of the women who wouldn’t actually join it feel honor hound to defend any male ☆ result in reprisals again.st organized and 9^ BI LITIS unorganized homosexuals alike. New York homosexual simply because he is “one of DOB itself got a faceful of their contempt us”, a baffling identiTication. The quality of A WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE recently. Gay power was up in arms when a human relationship is the quality of the INTEGRATION OF THE HOMOSEXUAL INTO SOCIETY BY: tire police raided an illegal after-hours joint sentiments invested in it. If the men reveal operating without a shadow of a license and neither hide nor hair of a human sentiment, 1. Education of the Lesbian, enabling her to understand herself and to make arrested the proprietors and some hundred how can they be grouped with uj? her adjustment to society in all its social, civic, and economic or so male patron.s. One of the men, trying Lesbians should tend their own garden implications — by establishing and maintaining a library of both fiction to escape, leaped from a second story and stop squandering their resources. I and non-fiction literature on the sex deviant theme; by ^onsoring public window and was impaled upon an iron heard one of the girls telling about a gay girl meetings on pertinent subjects to be conducted by leading members of spike of a fence. One gay power group friend of hers who was beaten up by a gang the legal, psychiatric, religious and other professions; by providing the decided to run off leaflets to protest, so of heterosexual males. The account didn’t Lesbian a forum for the interchange of ideas within her own group. they broke into the DOB office and dam­ raise an eyebrow. J ust let them hear about a aged their new mimeo which cost the male getting beaten up! All the guns roll 2. Education of the public, developing an understanding and acceptance of chapter a great deal of money. Their excuse out in an instant. I just don’t understand it. the Lesbian as an individual, leading to an eventual breakdown of was: dire circumstances justify dire means. I guess it’s like B. Friedan says: “Women erroneous taboos and prejudices — by public discussion meetings and by An especially annoying fact is that they had don’t think they’re important enough to dissemination of educational literature on the Lesbian theme. every opportunity to ask for permission to fight for.”It makes me so mad I feel it is my use the machine and they didn’t. They duty to protest in an effort to shock 3. Encouragement of and participation in responsible research dealing with would have got permission, too, due to a women into some sense of proportion. If homosexuality. misguided loyalty I wish 1 had the power lo women go down fighting, it’s a cinch they’ll get straight. be championing a cause that is not their 4. Investigation of the penal code as it pertains to the homosexual, There is no reason why the DOB, own. proposing and promoting changes to provde an equitable handling of chapter or national, should carry men on R.B. cases involving this minority group through due process of law in the tfieir backs. Why women are so willing to New York state legi^tures. MEMBERSHIP in the Daughters of Bilitis is limited to women 21 years of age or older. Write to your nearest chapter.

THE LADDER is a bi-monthly magazine published by Daughters of Bilitis, Inc., mailed in a plain sealed envelope for $7.50 a year. Anyone over 21 may subscribe to THE LADDER.

CONTRIBUTIONS are gratefully accepted from anyone who wants to support our work. We are a non-proft corporation depending entirely on volunteer labor. While men may not become members of Daughters of Bilitis, many have expressed interest in our efforts and have made contributions to further our work.

THE LADDER and Reno Chapter: Boston Chapter: P.O. Box 5025 P.O. Box 221 Washington Station Prudential Center Station Reno, Nev. 89503 Boston, Mass. 02199

San Franciseo Chapter: New York Chapter: 1005 Market Street, Room 208 P.O. Box 3629 San Francisco, California 94103 Grand Central Station New York,N.Y. 10017 Cleveland Chapter: P.O. Box 20335 Chicago Chapter: Cleveland, Ohio 44120 P.O. Box 2043 Northlake, III. 60164 Australia Chapter; G.P.O. Box 2131T Melbourne, 3001 Australia

THE LADDER P.O. Box 5025, Washington Station, Reno, Nevada 89503.

Please send THE LADDER f o r ...... year(s) in a plain sealed envelope

to the address below. I enclose $ ...... at the rate of $7.50 for each year ordered.

NAME......

ADDRESS......

a T Y ...... State. Zip

I am over 21 years of age (Signed)......