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Omen Working with Women Against Alcohol December-January 1978-9 Lesbian Organization of Toronto 342 Jarvis St. Toronto, Ont. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenin.as. 960-3249 omen Working With Women Against Alcohol Amethyst Is a precious stone, lav· friends don't realize the problem of Why the difference? Nancy points ender Is colour, believed to have drinking and even encourage the to the lesbian bar scene as one properties which prevent lntoxica· habit. reason: there are virtually no tlon. The Greek root of the word, In the lesbian community alcohol­ alcohol-free social settings for Amethustos, means "not drunk." ism has reached near epidemic women to meet in. What's more proportions. A study conducted in being a woman and a lesbian in ~n San Francisco concluded that one often hostile world isn't easy. out of three gay people may be al­ Sometimes the shit is so heavy we coholic, compared with one out of feel like diving right into the beer ten of their straight counterparts. Alcoh?I - insidious, seductive, mug, let alone drinking from it. destructive - words we have heard Whatever the reasons, lesbians so often they begin to lose their are letting their drinking get out of meaning. Or do they? Not to the hand. Most don't believe they have a women who meet every Tuesday problem. The women of Amethyst night at Jarvis St. to talk about them· What's the counselling feel self-deception is the drinker's selves and their drinking - women Collective Up to These worst enemy Interestingly, they whose lives have turned around compare coming to grips with al­ since joining Amethyst. Each week Days? coholism with coming out as ales­ they get together to talk about their bian. Alcoholics experience the feelings, the difficulties getting same reluctance to cope with a through the previous week sober, LOOT's Counselling Collective major part of their lives and the and each other. They are a diverse has recently considered starting same fear of being dumped on if group of women and each came to self-help groups for women who they deal with it openly. And also, Amethyst to get a handle on her would like to gain increased self­ how do you know for sure that drinking. Bat their stories are re· awareness. Since most ccllective you're an alcoholic? Maybe it's just markably different, members do not as yet feel qualified a phase ... Nancy decided the time for action to start such a group, eight Anne says there is no way she had arrived after she experienced a concerned women on the collective could have stopped drinking (two series of blackouts. She would wake have agreed to participate in their sober years with a couple of sips) up some mornings, check to see if own self-help group, to gain without the women of Amethyst. All her car was in the garage, and experience for future use. of them insist they could never wonder how on earth she got home. They are also considering s.imply "go it alone." Amethyst pro­ Anne for years refused to believe orientation meetings for women vides a warm and supportive atmo­ she had a problem. In the end, a who would like to become involved sphere for lesbians who need that close friend laid it on the line - get with LOOT and the community, but extra strength to combat booze. If help or get out of my life. For Liz, feel insecure and uncertain about you think you drink too much, go to there was no single triggering event. what to do. Collective members one of the meetings. There will be She knew deep down that booze was would like to meet with new women no lecturing and no pressure. They distorting her feelings and the way at specifically arranged times and won't insi~t that you quit drinking, she related to people and that some­ places (outside the house) and but they will give you some insight thing had to be done about it. For explain to them what LOOT is all into alcoholism that you may not Karen, the truth hit more brutally. about; if they are interested, the col­ have now. You have nothing to lose, Breakdowns, hospitals, and suicide lective would bring them into the and these women can show you just attempts all pointed to the house. The hope is to reach and how much you have to gain. Tuesday crunching need to stop drinking. help as many lesbians as possible, nights, 7:30pm, at 342 Jarvis St. For Ironically, even Karen's doctors both those active and those not yet information call Nancy 537-5707, or never suspected that alcohol was at active in the lesbian community. Karen 961-1768. the root of the problem. So often our by Valerie Edwards New Year's Dance: drums (newly acquired) provide the "umph" that makes Mama Quilly ll's dearlibby and Mama Quilly II music eminently danceable. Maxine Walsh and Susan Marcus will add a September 15, 1978: A quickly as­ nice touch on New Year's with their dear libby ; sembled group of women, known conga drums. for the last couple of months my lover has generically as "The band," The women perform some original been feeling very listless and out of sorts. i impressed 250 lesbians at a benefit material, but most of their songs are suggested ex-lax but that didn't go over dance. December 30, 1978: The well-known rock and blues tunes. too well . she says her life has no purpose same five women, with over 40 prac­ They don't pretend to have any pol­ or meaning, that something is missing. tices under their belts, will unfold at itical message, although Susan Cole well, last night she found the missing St. Paul's Centre as Mama Quilly II, a claims her "life mission is to take piece. she wants to have a baby! great women's rhythm 'n blues/rock 'n the violence out of rock and rol I"). mother, what should i do, libby? i love roll band. The group is anchored by They simply love good music, and this woman, but a baby? i'm not ready for pianist/vocalist Susan Cole, whose have adopted a perfectionist the responsibility: i don't want the re­ voice is well-suited to the blues. approach to it. They intend to stay sponsibility. not only that, it means get­ Linda Robitaille, a professional together after the New Year's dance ting some man involved. yuk. musician for 12 years, and Anne, an to perform locally. Don't miss Mama irresponsible hedonist acoustic guitarist, back up Cole with Quilly II at LOOT's gala New Year's some fine harmony. Donna celebration! dear hedy; Marchand's bass, and Linda Jain's first of all , becoming pregnant does not necessarily have to involve a man. for more on this check amazon quarterly, and have a drink and chat, and this vol.2, issue 3, 'radical reproduction' (also Travel - New York could be more promising if you are on your own. reprinted in the lesbian reader) . now in If you're thinking of going to New dealing with your other problem, have a Another club you might like to try, York for a few days you will defin­ is the Sahara (Manhattan). This bar talk with your lover. tell her you aren't itely want to check out some of the prepared yet to accept the responsiblity is 95% female, with a bar and a bars there. The number of clubs for lounge on the main floor, and a bar and fulltime commitment a child entails. women in New York is one of the volunteer yourselves for some overnight and a dance floor upstairs. The at­ largest, compared to other major mosphere is quite nice, and gets a babysitting assignments, even some centers around the world. weekend ones (the mother will love you) . good crowd. casual, with a down to earth crowd, There are a number of other clubs if by this time she hasn't changed her who are quite easy to meet. The mind, get her a kitten . for women In New York. If you'd like single person, 1 wouia recommena to find out more about these bars, or the Duchess, which is a small, all clubs in other cities you may be send all letters to dear libby, c/ o loot, 342 women's bar (males and straights visiting, you can call me, Isabel, at jarvis; toronto, ont. all letters confidential. screened out at the door) right in 265-2001, or drop us a line at Greenwich Village. The dress is Mercury Travel, 404 King St. E., casual , with a down to earth crowd, Toronto, M5A 1 L4. who are quite easy to meet. The dance floor is quite small though, so by Isabel if you're looking for a place to go dancing - Nitelife (formerly known books for, by, and about w.omen as La Femme and also in the Village) has a very large dance floor, but you non-sexist children's books may want to go to this bar with 2 women's records, posters, buttons friend or group of friends. The setup Christmas Dance is such that the dance floor takes up most of the space with a single line December 16 TORONTO 922-8744 of tables and chairs running around 8:30-3am the outside of the room, making it difficult to "get around." There is a Children's Christmas WOMEN'S separate bar area, where you can sit Party BOOKSTORE December 17, 2-Spm FREE, everybody welcome.
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