THE LADDER AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, 1972 $1.25 EDITORIAL by Gene Damon VOLUÂ 16 No. 11 and 12 THE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, 1972 This is the last issue of THE LADDER. After 16 complete continuous LADDER years of publication, there are to be no more issues. Many women reading this editorial wall be upset, many wiU be sorry. None of you will be as sorry as we are to have to take this step. To those of you who have supported us by word, deed and money, as THE LADDER STAFF well as by writing for these pages, we simply wish the best in the future. For Editor ...... Genethose Damon of you who have casually read us through the years, indeed sometimes Production E d te ...... Hope Thompson intending to subscribe, but not ever quite getting around to it, we wish you Circulation Maiaeer ...... Ann P. Buck whatever you deserve and leave it to your own consciences to decide just Production A sälants...... Lyn Collins, Kim Stabinski, what that might be. Jan Watson, King Kelly, Ann Brady, Elsewhere in this issue we discuss the sale of back issues and the Phyllis Eakin, Robin Jordan impending index of all back issues. Both of these things will continue. We will Staff Cartoonist...... Ev Künstler continue to supply back issues of THE LADDER to all interested parties as Art Columnist...... Sarah Whitworth long as our supply lasts, and we will be publishing the complete index of all Cross Currents C f ito r ...... Gail Hanson 16 years of THE LADDER. (See notices elsewhere and order NOW.) The bibliography, THE LESBIAN IN LITERATURE, is still available and will continue to be sold. CONTENTS: Writers who have sent material that has not been used or previously Poem by H e a th s...... S returned are invited to write at once, sending stamped self-addressed Catholicism andAe Lesbian by Rita Laporte...... 4 envelopes for return of manuscripts on hand. All unused material on hand not Lincoln Park, by Patricia Fullerton ...... 12 asked for will be destroyed December 1,1972. Poems by Katkkm M. McKinnon and Mary Damon ...... 14 The Challenge ofEeaching Women’s Liberation FANTASY COMES BETWEEN ME AND REALITY in Jr. Hi^i SiI doI by Judy Fowler ...... 15 Phoenix, story h f Lynn Michaels...... 19 M y energy's used up in fantasy. I rest my hand on someone's knee Journeys in k r t ^ Sarah Whitworth ...... 22 And share this quiet moment Poem by BeverfyLynch...... 29 Of listening to wind Three Poems byJUckie B urns...... 30 In summer-full trees— A woman who actually Me, A hesbianl I f Betsy Jane...... 31 Is halfway across town Hanna’s Old Ixm by Carol M oran...... 33 Spending her time with another. Lesbiana by GemDamon ...... 33 My room's knee deep Two Poems by Utrgaret C la ire...... ^ ...... 36 In the powdered ashes Pratt; A Four-Sjfcble Word Meaning Nothing by Mickie Burns...... 37 Of feelings born of dreams Book Review by Mope T hom pson...... 40 That burned across my mind last night; So eager for it to happen. Interview with tebara Love and Sidney Abbott ...... 42 So afraid it won't, Tliere Are No (^*8ies in New York City, story by Susan Daily ...... 49 I pre-live our love in fantasy. First Scaet, staff by Bette-Jean D arst...... 53 If I don't watch out. Poem by Susan S u f f ...... 55 I'll have lived the whole thing through Without benefit of you. COVER: Pat fcnardi. Looking Glass. 1971. Oil on canvas. Collection of the DRAWING BY ADELE CHATELIN artisL Heather C-A.TIIOLICISM tenitory over which it ruled. It looked as as human in the Catholic and most Protes though the Church were doomed as the last tant views and in this context does not -A.3STD T H E LB SB I-A .N of the Papal States faded away and the count. It was a woman and only a woman who reached the height of saintliness. Not By RITA LAPORTE Pope was left with only the Vatican to call his own. But while this political power was only that, but the most recent dogma, It would seem that nothing is more also became for a time fearfully worried waning, power over people’s minds was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII, is that only inimical to the IsoMan than the Catholic that the Church would inhibit my capacity increasing. The heterosexual-patriarchal Mary among human beings was raised Church. More pKrally, Religion and to think, would cramp my mind and force view of human society was apparently bodily into Heaven prior to the second Lesbianism do net nix. Even heterosexual it into a straightjacket. If that were » , I established once and for ever - no more coming. To Catholics Mary is the Mother of feminism is heretiodUn Religion’s eyes. This would have to flee from it. A Religion that matriarchy, no more Lesbianism and homo God. Rather than try to comprehend con is reflected in th ew ren t women’s libera stunted that most human of activities, the sexuality as in those dreadful pagan times. torted theological explanations for this tion literature: flr bulk of it is entirely exercise of the mind, was an insult to God. In some ways this state of affairs is even strange state of affairs, I like to take it secular while ano^D^ smaller and separate, Well, Religion with a capital R is per better. Political power is merely power over literally. I do not mean to fall into idolatry, literature attempts to find a way to fit haps the most stultifying institution on people’s bodies, but this heterosexual- into Mariolatry, that so upsets Protestants. heterosexual fenññni into Christianity. earth. What do I mean, then, by Religion? patriarchal sociM power is power over The Catholic Church also finds itself em- But a Lesbian whs finds her spiritual home It is an elaborate code of behavior sup people’s minds. The Church fought hard banassed by the millions in many parts of in the Catholic ClHdi must be more than a ported by the rationalizations of male against the budding science of the late the world who still worship Mary in her little schizophrenic. During my years as an theologians. I have delved into books on middle ages. When Galileo asked some many guises, while more or less ignoring atheist I held to m carious conviction, one theology from time to time and generally Cardinals to look through his telescope to Christ. It may be that the simple peasants that struck me asnstious then and curious found them boring and irrelevant. My mind see for themselves some moons of Jupiter, of the world know something our eminent now: that if 1 c m became a Catholic it is not cluttered with theological studies, they declined on the irrefutable ground that theologians do not. It may be that they, would prove that ■ had lost my mind. I which I And something of an advantage. It Aristotle had not mentioned those moons deep down in their heart of hearts, do not became a bona fíáetaptised Catholic at the forces me to make up my own theology, and hence they could not be. The Church find women so reprehensible. This may be age of forty. Had Itost my sanity? Natural one that rests, among other things, upon has lost to Gelileo and now it is trying to only a conceit of the powerful males in the ly 1 would not ad a i to that, but 1 did have the assumption that the Lesbian is fully as hold the line against feminism. It looks as Church and those jockeying for power, the to eat those wordsmoiehow. human, as much a child of God, as anyone though patriarchy is softening up just a priesthood. It all began wifiia brief experience one else, male and/or heterosexuaL Religion, as little here and there. Some nuns and some When I say that Jesus has so far not starlit night in flie woods when my life had it looks to the outsider and particularly Catholic laywomen are getting through to been understood, I mean that the supposed reached its nadir, ■ sudden knowledge of when one looks at the Catholic Church, is a the male hierarchy. But Lesbianism? That is necessity for fitting Him into our hetero God’s existence, m intellectual meeting hardening of a particular culture. It sanc still in the future, but the Church’s stand sexual-patriarchal social structure has dis with the Being aini knows us all. It was tifies ancient so< ^ mores. It puts into legal against Lesbianism and homosexuality will torted much of what he stands for. The another seven ycM before I stood at the form what the average mentality accepts, fade away to defeat in time. And then what blanket of social mores under which He was Catholic baptismalfint. 1 will not detail the then digs its heels in to make change as will be left? bom and which He himself pierced is still particular path thMfid me there; 1 prefer to difficult as possible. Pope Paul VI pontifi The business of reUgion with a small r. held tightly over the risen Christ. Few in attempt to explakhow I see the Catholic cates against birth control, but is silent on The Church will have cleared away all that any age were aware that Jesus soared high Church and, moK generally, how 1 see spiritual matters. He elevates St. Teresa of is not religion and will at last get about its above this smothering blanket. Only re Religion. First, l e t * say that Christianity Avila and S t Catherine of Siena, both most proper business, serving people’s spiritual cently and for the first time I read an article was the last of thereat Religions 1 investi active women in the intrigues and politics needs, freeing their minds and their souls. I (Jesus was a Feminist by Leonard Swidler gated and I chose il not so much for its of their time - St. Catherine having been de have no idea what the Church will then be. in CATHOLIC WORLD, Jan. 1971) that supposed superiori^to other Religions, but facto Pope, to the Church’s highest honor. Perhaps it will be something like what it is demonstrates clearly and convincingly that because I was boniato the western world. Doctors of the Church, while at the same to me now — a growing body of spiritual Jesus was indeed a feminist. Jesus as It seemed a bit fo«bh for me to become a time warning his flock that women are to truth, the power of God in the minds of feminist puts Him into contemporary Hindu or a BudObt, when I grew up continue silent The poor fellow seems not persons. language, but what Jesus was goes l^yond steeped in Europe» culture. To become a to know what he is doing. My view is that t t t this current battle of the sexes. Jesus was a Jew seemed equaUjrfittile, having no Jewish the men who have run the Church since St. Jesus is a central figure in Christianity, complete human person; he was the ul blood that I knowrf. To become a Moslem Paul set it up have never known what they one, it seems to me, whose teachings have timate human being toward whom we may was out of the (pBtion, knowing Islam’s were doing. They do not even know Jesus; escaped theology. Another central figure in all aspire and, as such, was utterly beyond treatment of w o n * 1 allowed myself to only a few particularly wise saints, generally Catholic Christianity is Mary. Here is sexism. For perceptive people today, men drift, guided by G tf so it seemed, into the women, have. And right here is one reason another reason I chose Catholicism. Though as well as women, this is not too terribly Cathohe Church. why I am a Catholic. An institution that male theologians (the only ones until re shocking, but that Jesus might have been I had been forarany years not simply can exist for nigh onto 2000 years, de^ite cently) have made an asexual, submissive homosexual is beyond contemplating. But non-Catholic, but »ti-Catholic. An early the ignorance of its managers, must be moron of her, I do not accept this any more the mind uncluttered with any value problem to be factfiwas where my Lesbian guided by God, by Jesus, by the Holy than 1 do the other hogwash they have judgments as to the innateness of hetero ism fit in - a heiwwi Catholic sin! During Ghost - in diort by a spirituality above and invented. There are ideas in the Catholic sexual love (as opposed to copulation for that shOTt contact God there had been beyond the grasp of all but a handful of dogma that I interpret to suit myself. Mary the purpose of propagating the species) or no suggestion that» love a woman was a humanity. was the only human being bom without sin. its superiority to Lesbian love, Jesus sin. Fine. The Owwh was wrong. Since For centuries the Catholic Church was, Without going into the meaning of “born in appears, on the surface of things to be then 1 have found fir Church wrong about to the men who governed it, a political sin.” it still remains that no man was born homosexual rather than heterosexual. He almost everything,»! will explain below. I institution. What mattered was the physical without sin. Jesus is, after all, God as well gathered men around Him and was particu- mystical. For myself 1 am not sure about larly fond of SL John. He did not show Christian, then, is extremely tare. Even the mystic progresses in love for God and either philosophical or theologk^ toward any w o m this special kind of great Saints have found it difficult to toward union with God she becomes not knowledge - both seem to me closer to affection. And, m we all know. He never imitate Christ in the matter of male versus less, but mote human, mote distinct in her ignorance than to knowledge, proMbly came even dose t* aanying. He was not a female. But it is curious how, in the personality. This is something of a paradox because they are so steeped in sexism. But i social reformer in fte usual sense; He did achievement of sainthood, as opposed to for, as a human being strives to imitate emphatically agree »hat science is the low st not attempt to dtnge the social arrange achievement in les*r areas such as art, Christ, to sunender her will to God’s, to form of knowledge. Within its UimtM ments into which He was born; He trans philosophy, and science, women ate the unite with God, her progress does not make sphere, science can be a great good, but the cended them and pwe us an example of the equal of men. In a dispassionate study of her mote like others engaged in the same attempt to cast all human knowledge mto truly human p eiM living as such debite a the great saints of Christendom (not the endeavor, but brings out her true person its limited mold is sheet stupidity. I tried to plethora of cranqiing social conventions. totality of canonized Saints, some of whom ality. The great sainU are forceful and do just this for many years, secure in the Whether He w » homosexual or hetero never existed) women are second to none. unique persons, far more so than the rest of belief that science was the best and only sexual is ultimate^iiTelevant. The question They shine forth as equal or superior to the us who succumb in varying depees to social way to achieve the ultimate in the good life is relevant today a f y because ail diurches male saints. Whereas in art and science, in “adjustment.” I found them by far the for all. My fall from this conceit was total proclaim the sinMiess of Lesbianism and “glorious” achievement generally, the men most inspiring of peat women and men, far homosexuality. Agfcals to Jesus Himself on have all the advantage, this is not so in the more so than the peats in any other field of It is often said that this is the behalf of maleanileterosexual superiority most difficult of realms, the love of God, human endeavor. post-Christian eta. I think it is still pre- What is so nice about these saints - and are unwise as Jess neither spoke nor lived the calling of the true Christian. Christian. The past 2000 years have not the Catholic Church as it gives us the saints in a maimer apholfeig either. t t t been a total loss, some little progress has - is that one can pick one’s favorite. Any Why was God, horn of woman, bom a As an ex-atheist 1 realize I am treading been made. Two recent articles by Mary one of them can teach us a way toward boy and not a g i£ Theologians latch onto on thin ground when I ^ a k of the saints. (3od, but we can pick one whose person Daly (After The Death o f God The Father, this fact to prose the superiority of the The word used to conjure up in my mind in COMMONWEAL, March 12, 1971 and ality appeals to us on the purely human male over the feanle. One may also ask simple minded do-gooders who mouthed The Courage To See, in THE CHRISTIAN. moralistic platitudes any good atheist kvel. Naturally I chose a woman. While why Jesus was bona when He was and why men deliberately bar women, in aU sorts of CENTURY, September 22, 1971) are a Jew. Second passing God is a tempting practiced. Later, in a philosophy course at ways, from achieving wordly fame and evidence of progress toward a society of intellectual game, hrt I for one find it futile college, I was introduced to “mysticism,” a success, even the Catholic Church is unable people more like Jesus, a society the world and presumptuous. Bowevcr, I can play the concept my scientifically oriented mind was to close the highest of human achievements has not yet known. My quarrel with game as well as mdeflieologians. According unable to grasp. Before discussing from women - mystical knowledp. The Daly three years ago was over some foolish to the latter there «meaning in the fact of mysticism further, 1 must define the word Church has kept the Papacy for men only, ness of hers, in her book, THE CHURCH Jesus’ most lowly birth. Could it be that as 1 am using it for it has two meanings and the SECOND SEX, about oppressed but how far above Popes have the women birth as a male ia fewer than birth as a quite at odds with each other. Turning to saints soared! While men, presumably mothers turning their sons into homo female? This has a ndiculous sound to it. Webster’s International Dictionary, Second Christian men like bishops, have put ^ sexuals. She said nothing about Mom But it is no more aificulous than all other edition, definition No. 2 states: “A theory manner of impediments to personhood in making Lesbians of daughters. Presumably attempts to Kt aaen above women as of mystical knowledge; the doctrine or the way of women, neither (3od in heaven the liberation of women would do away Theological Truth, find, having dedded to belief that direct knowledge of God, of ■ with homosexuality, but what it might do not Jesus on earth has. It is perhaps a long become human aboat the year zero, figured spiritual truth, of ultimate reality, etc^ is for Lesbianism was an untouched topic. way from the heights of sainthood to the men needed an exai^ie of true humanhood attainable through immediate intuition, Daly has made a tiny bit of progress OTce mete courage to be what I am — a Lesbian, more than did wonaat. It was men who had insight, or illumination . . .” Definition then - she now says nothing about either but my distance from God is not so much puffed themselves V out of all proportion No. 4 is “vague speculation; . . . a belief Lesbianism or homosexuality. I went oyer the issue as my strength to be myself. And to the truth and tvaed to the exploitation without foundation.” The latter meaning, her articles with a fine tooth comb, looking here is where those saints who have left us of their fellow hH«ns - women. After “belief without foundation,” is the one for statements that could be used to trap records of their journeys to God continue almost 2000 years, Jesus’ example has yet most people think of when the words, her into admitting that heterosexual life to give me inspiration. Like my SL Teresa to sink into the minds of established mysticism, mysticaJ, and mystic, are used. I styles are no more authentic to humanity in her younger days, 1 need to read the Churchmen, but it is beginning to reach mean by the word, “the doctrine that than Lesbian life styles. One of the words of those whose spiritual knowledge minds outvie the hierarchy. When anger spiritual truth is attainable through illumin “embarrassing” consequences of con far outdistances mine, in order to keep and rage tempt m e» think men are simply ation.” sciousness raising in women is that more of myself mote or less aimed in the right biologically and piritually inferior to It was not until some years after my them than in the past ate discovering their women, that to edmate them out of their brief illumination that 1 came across the direction. Lesbianism. Daly speaks in radical feminist Mystical knowledge is, of course, prideful maleness m an impossible task, 1 book, MYSTICISM, by Evelyn Underhill language; she is no dilute feminist. She nothing more than “beUef without foun remember Jesus. Ifaaiy one man in all time (1910), a classic on the subject. To me it is knows that sexism is the fundamental thus far has attainedcomplete humanhood, no accident that this book, that meant and dation” for many. For me it is ultimate Reality, ultimate Truth, though 1 must get oppression upon which all others rest then one cannot say it is in the nature of means so much to me, was written by a “the rhetoric of racism finds its model in it second hand for the most part, from those things impossible. Vane answers that Jesus woman. Underhill opened up for me the sexism.” She speaks of the “ sisterhood of was, after all, God m d thus somehow not world known to the great mystics, that who have been there. The French philoso pher and Catholic convert, Jacques women” which “implies the sisterhood of completely human, this is error even :qriritual world that few have been able to man . . . a spiritual movement, because it Maritain, places types of knowledge in a according to our C ^aiic theologians. They penetrate for most of us are too lazy. It was means the becoming of women and there tell us Jesus was teklly human as well as in this book that 1 “discovered” my favorite hierarchial order, the iowest being scientific knowledge. If 1 remember rightly, philo fore of humankind.” Daly thinks that Phase God. His complete fcimanity is devoid of Saint, Teresa of Avila, and that saints are One, the “exposition and criticism of our sophical knowledge is next, then theological heterosexual and n * chauvinism, though the most distinctively human of people. male-centered heritage” has been accom- his world certain^ was not. The true They are truly persons, no two alike. As the knowledge. The highest knowledge is the made a sacrament. leadenly heterosexual. Naturally 1 kept plished and the is open now “for the who enjoy getting up in drag. And what is mum about my Lesbianism, a sly deception logical next step ic creative thinking. We the requirement of celibacy? It requires the One might brush off the whole problem of aspiring to sainthood by saying, “who of course, but one necessitated by the now have to adi how the women's priesthood to forego what many of them do Church’s own deceptiveness. I even tried to revolution can andsfeould cliange our whole not care for to begin with. Why is there am 1 to entertain so lofty an ambition?” Except for one thing. While reading St, experience some guilt over entering the vision of reality. . . . What I am discussing such resistance to married priests? Because Church under false pretenses, but the guilt here is an emergemt o f women such as has those who do not wish to be involved Teresa’s INTERIOR CASTLE one day and telling myself 1 was inordinately pre kept fading away. I held my eye on the never taken place before. . . . it will intimately with women are more likely to underlying spirituality of the situation by involve a change ia the fabric of human stand out and be objects of suspicion? What sumptuous to imagine undertaking the path to sainthood, it suddenly popped into my treating the Catechism as just another male consciousness. . . . We are called upon :o about homosexual celibacy? Is there any document and one not without value. In be attentive to whtf the new experience of such thing? What does celibacy mean? mind that this “humility” was nothing more than the rationalization of my this class with me was a young highwhool the becoming of w n en is revealing to us." Proscription of the reproductive act or woman planning to marry a Catholic and (Italics mine). Is Daly attentive to an proscription of orgasm? laziness. I broke out laughing when, shortly after having this sobering thought, St. who, I knew, was in a mentally retarded emergence of wemen who are Lesbians? From time to time I have attempted to class at school. That Catechism must have While for a CaAafic theologian she is penetrate that most impenetrable curtain of Teresa told her nuns just that - that she would accept nothing less than that they held some meaning for her, while I had remarkably attentàB to sexism, where does all, the one that makes the Iron and Other sources of enlightenment available to she stand on “hetwerxism"? Bamboo Curtains look positively porous - aspire to become saints. That left me me. It seems curins offhand that the without a leg to stand on. Sainthood after the Theological Curtain. I have written to The Lesbian bom a Catholic is apt to greatest oppressioai are the last to emerge “radical” nuns and even “confessed” my all, in its personal meaning, has nothing to do with being canonized by the Church. It have far more trouble than I. Sooner or into the public omsciousness, yet on terrible “sin” to nuns of my acquaintance. I has to do with spiritual growth, the hardest later she is pushed into what I consider a further thought thii is to be expected. The have actually felt sorry for them - so put false choice: leave the Church or deny her more total the op^ession, the more diffi kind and the one we like to excuse our on the spot to be “Christian” and yet so Lesbianism. Either way she is forced into cult it is to uneùk. In the 19th century, selves from attempting. But must I choose terrified of a creature like me. Needless to much suffering. I think that, if a choice if the women’s moviKnt followed upon the between Lesbian love and love of God? say, 1 have so far made no progress. I would must be, leaving the Church is the lesser of movement to freeaaJe slaves. In trying to SL Teresa became a nun because she do better trying to claw my way with my the two evils, for leaving the Church need help them, womea discovered their own could not abide the only alternative fmger nails through the ancient wall of not mean leaving God. Today many women slavery, but L csbw held their tongues and available to her - marriage to a man. And China. I know that Lesbianism is a “prob are finding an in between solution, women the women’s moveaent fizzled out in the with a formidable determination and after lem” in the convents, though no nun will whose “problem” is feminism, and not first quarter of tlà century. In this new many years of shilly-shallying, she suc admit to this, for it is too awful to put into necessarily Lesbianism. They are leaving the women’s movemea, Lesbians are refusing words. For the spiritually inclined woman, ceeded. She embraced the tradition of the nun and transcended it as few have. She Church considered as an organization of to be kept under tte rug. And here we face giving up hetero-sex is easier than foregoing warned her nuns against touching and men, but not the Church as the Mystical a remarkable dilenaa. Daly speaks of the Lesbian intimacy. Like many Lesbians, it against favoritism. She was right to do so in Body of Christ. Some Catholic Lesbians ate ‘cognitive minority.* those women and a has aossed my mind that I might have the context of her reformed Carmelite fmding a religious outlet in homosexual few men who are aware of the evils of made a good religious and I have found convents for a Lesbian love affair within the churches. I have two objections to these sexism. Many fcBaie members of this stories, true and TictionaL of the religious Structure of conventual life would have churches. A simple one is that they too are cognitive minority are teachers and pro life fascinating and absorbing. My identifi been disrupting. But does it follow that essentially male organizations without any fessors, in psycholaBT, sociology, theology, cation with the dedicated nun is intense. sainthood is barred to the non-celibate comprehension of sexism and the radical etc., and many of flam are Lesbians. While But in such day dreams reality eventually Lesbian? I have to answer. No, even though changes in society the women’s movement it is somewhat risl^to be a female feminist intrudes and 1 realize I am thinking of being that answer removes a handy excuse for my hopes to bring about. My mote serious professor, the threavf economic ruination a monk, among men, where the temptation slackness in pursuing sainthood. objection is that homosexual churches are a is almost total shodtt One dare to admit to to love a particular person in a manner form of copout. I have no desire to secede being a Lesbian profasor, feminist or other involving my sexuality is absent. In this line t t t I am well aware that 1 am a very peculiar from human society; I am an outcast wise. Where one w i d normally look for of dreamy imagining I have been led to Catholic, one the Pope would excom against my will and because of institution the most advancei thinking - in the question the Catholic principle that mar municate on the spot if I were an important alized heterosexual-patriarchal blindness. colleges and univerAies - is just where one riage and sainthood do not mix. Why Knowing that God’s grace is as available to looks futilely for aqg enlightenment in the should love of another human being, a love personage. But I do not recognize the Pope’s nor anyone else’s authority to ex me as to anyone else, with it I shali area of sexuality (ofler than the entrenched including sexual expression, bar one from continue to assault the Theological Curtain, heterosexual vai»^.) The order of saintliness? Perhaps the lust of the male for communicate me. I was, fortunately, spared a Catholic upbringing and was not intro t t t oppression from lact to most is: black the female is contrary to sainthood, for that Daly, in THE CHURCH AND THE males, heterosexual females, Lesbians. is the use of another person’s body for duced to the Catechism until I was 39. I expected it to be a waste of time, but some SECOND SEX, came out strongly for Nowhere is this cleasr than in the Catholic one’s own pleasure. I suspect that the male months of weekly catechism class were a women priests. In her COMMONWEAL Church. initiated emphasis upon celibacy is a direct precondition to baptism that 1 had agreed article she says, “The women’s movement There are black priests, even black result of the ease and frequency with which with myself to suffer through. 1 had already will present a growing threat to patriarchal bishops. There areiAo many homosexual the male experiences mere lust. Since this decided from my readings in religion that a religion less by attacking it than by simply priests. The Catholic hierarchy is a homo aspect of the matter must be glossed over, Catholic I wanted to be and I could afford leaving it behind." When I read Daly’s sexual sort of comaunity, though this is we find elaborate rationalizations about to put up with some stupidity to get there defense of a partly female priesthood, I was carefully hidden ftw the laity and from “detachment,” and about focussing all - call it penance. The Catechism was even of two minds. The few priests I had the consciousness of ite hierarchy itself. It one’s love upon God. Marriage then be worse than I had expected. It was almost observed seemed to be performing duties is no secret to .somcef us that the priestly comes a state inferior to the single state, totally devoid of anything spiritual and was any moron could learn to perform and 1 garb, the long dress, appeals to those men while as something of a contradiction, it is 8 their own enemy.” “The creative or re idea persists even in those who favor birth had already decifcd that the highet-upt in government. The separation of Church and bellious female” is frequently a Lesbian, far control devices and a woman’s right to the Churdi weee m far from any contact State should mean tiie separation of sin and more frequently than heterosexuals realize abortion. But, if xxual union is permitted with real human S k that, without thinldng crime. The collusion between the two is and that Lesbians are able to establish. If I in some instances as an expression of love about it, I held t e n aa less than human. I deeply felt by the Lesbian. A pox on both say that Queen Elizabeth the First was a where it is known before hand that no child found it so easy In view the hierarchy as an their houses. Lesbian, I will tun into so mudi resistance can possibly result, then upon what ground ignorant group of men without power over Daly speaks of the theological com that my attitude is ‘why bother?’ If I say is Lesbian love sinful? The Catholic Church me that I felt an anger that women were munity’s “ostrich syndrome.” Then she that a wen known living woman is a tries, on the one hand, to say that the barred. / was t e from their tragic in says that “The work of fostering religious Lesbian, I am breaking the unwritten code xxual act must always have the possibility fluences over th e te s of millions of women consciousness whidi is explicitly incom that one Lesbian does not expose another, of leading to pregnancy and, on the other, and 1 pasonally wanted no part of their patible with sexism will require an extraordinary degree of creative rage, love, that the right to come out in public belongs aUows the rhythm method. And I wonder power. On the otkrr hand, it seemed like a what Canon Law says about young married Intimate dema^ that women be as and hope.” I admire Daly’s courage in only to that Lesbian herself. And so, «idle women who have had hysterectomies? Are eligible for the gBerthood as men. But I attacking that ostrich syndrome. But, since Lesbians are everywhere in the women’s they denied all xxual contact? If mutual have veered m o s towards the “ leave it I must attack not only male, but hetero movement and are a sizable force in the sisterhood, few are aware of this fact. love and attraction underlie (or should behind” strategy. Women who a^ire to the sexual chauvinism, I find I have no stomach underlie) xxual union, then we can priesthood will maK than likely take on the for arguiiig with men. Nor am 1 qualified in Parallel to the dictum that the most oppressed are the last to venture after their dispence with the prejudice that sudi union coloration of the luerarchy, condemning the fleld of theology. I find I must tackle must be restricted to that between male and Lesbianism with m enthusiasm that will this field from scratch, making use of any human rights is another, similar, one: that the most fundamental discqiline, the source female. The sacrament of heteroxxual make the male Oarchmen seem benign in ideas of others that hold meaniitg for me, marriage is one of patriarchy’s cleverest comparison. Even if the entire hierarchy but being very careful to ground it all upon of the ideas underlying our culture, that is, Christian theology, is the last stronghold hoaxes. were replaced wiW women, from the Pope my own experience. For me CHiristianity on down, I doubt there would be much holds, hidden within, a most important against sisterhood, particularly those sisters t t t change. I still support the right of any doctrine - the dignity of the person. No who are Lesbians. Where women are con What do I understand by sisterhood? woman to be a ^iest if that is what she group or collective can take the place of cerned theology sees only breeding, not For me it is a spiritual union of aU women wants to be, but itsem s to me to be a right one’s personhood if one has the courage to love. It is so far not possible to detennine who have felt that basic, naked oppression to board a sinking dip. be. Daly is right in saying that “The courage the sex of the young foetus nor whether it that remains after aU other sorts of oppres Vatican 11 k ite d like the dawn of a to see and to be . . . expresses itself in is LeAian or homosexual. It is always sion have been recognized and delt with. new era to many af us, but 1 think now it sisterhood.” But not in a sisterhood that possible that it is heterosexual-male and Sisterhood is indivisible, while there are heralded the demis of an old era. How else attempts to swallow up the person, or as a thus the foetus, in the eyes of the Catholic many brotherhoods. This sisterhood is as explain Pope Pad Vi’s reactionary regime group of women who willirely deny their Church, has greater ri^ ts than most post yet thinly populated, but it extends ova except as a last dilth stand to preserve the individuality. natal foetuses, namely those who become the whole world and lies beneath all divi decaying shell of patriarchal absolutism? Speaking of sisterhood, Daly says that identifiable at birth as female, or later as sions of class, caste, education, nationality, Knowing how sloa% the Church changes, I while “The Christian churches have been Lesbian or homosexual The greatest race, and yes even Religion. I have not only expect it to take Inndreds of years to die fond of preadiing ’the brotherhood of reverence for life is reserved for the pre Christian sisters, but Hindu and Moslem and out in its present te n . Nor can I envision man,’ which included women inddentaUy natal state thereof. An older tradition of Jewish and atheist sistas. Some of my its future form. InWe meantime my course as baggage,” this brotherhood “b^ins by the Church and of the ancient Hebrews held sisters have been deada long timeand most I and, I hope, the iWBrse of many Catholic excluding women as ‘other’ and goes on that the waste of qietm was as sinful as have not nor ever wiU meet. women, is to leaw that which the priest fixim there, cutting off the ‘others’ by abortion. In those days the male “ seed” was Though ultimately, in agreement with hood inu^ines to tc (Aeir Church, a para familial, tribal, racial, national economic thought to represent the entire future Daly, I envision die sisterhood of military assemblage of males seeking power and ideological cat^ories.” Sisterhood is human being. Carrying foetus worship fur humankind (what she enoneously calls “the ther, I have wondered why the Church has and authentication il an organization more not the female counterpart of brotherhood. sistahood of man”), in the year 1972 I and more detached from human society. A “It implies first of all polarization for the not got round to condemning women who feel only the sisterhood ot women. While allow their ova to be flushed out month first step is to ceam dropping anything into sake of women’s internal wholeness or NOW (the National Organization for the collection phfr. The idea that a oneness — because . . . women suffer from after month. I calculate that I have now Women) continues to support minority monetary contribafran of mine should pay a duality of consciousness in their inner “murdered” some 300 healthy ova, 30 of males, as recently in its f i^ t against some some Catholic lo ltest to pressure a legis most being. . . . They want to speak and which might have become human beings (California banks, Shirky Chisholm is being lator to vote againd repeal of abortion laws act but satisfy themselves with acting had I seen to their fertilization. This does by-pasxd by the Black Political Caucus curls my hair. It is unthinkable, as well as through men. They want to be true to seem to be cairyiiig things a bit too far, but compoxd of black (Congressmen and other unconstitutional Hough 1, along with all themselves, but instead they are true to the this is where current Churchly thinking on prominent black male leaders. Since it is women, am not covered by the Con internalized image of themselves that they abortion leads me. Once more I am lead unlikely that thex men object to her color, stitution and hence need not abide by it, 1 have been .taught to believe will be pleasing back or forward to love, not breeding. it being the same as theirs, they must be firmly believe in fte separation of Church to men. ” (Italics mine). Daly seems to have A “ sisterhood” that attempts to exclude objecting to her xx. The black brotherhood and SUte and will not perform the illegal only heterosexual women in mind here. She Lesbians is one stm hung up on breeding, is male and is directed against white males act of contributing to the Church’s power says, “sisterhood implies polarization for not because Lesbians are incapable of and all females. There is nothing whatsoever to coerce our setter governments. It is tlú sake of political oneness, for the sake of having children or of being good mothers - that can overcome brotherhood except time the Church s t t e on its own two feet, achieving liberation in society. they are as suited to both as any women, sisterhood. And this deqiite the fact that hurling anathema d sinners (women who . . . Having identified themselves with but because of the deepseated and as yet the various brotherhoods now posxss 99% use the PiB, Lesbiaos who dare to love) if it the male consciousness, women have tended seldom examined idea that only male and of the world’s power. The American black must, but without t e support of secular to see the creative or rebellious female as female should come together sexuaUy. This brotherhood is presxd for time. If it cannot impossible to follow at all times, particu quickly grab a A ve of the white mate which sort of crippled her, and she had down and stated at the sidewalk in front of larly when heteroKxual “feminists” sneer power structure, ft will miss out altogether been told by her doctor to stay outdoors a her. 1 pretended to accidentally walk that at Lesbians. I have concluded that this rage in the wake of stehihood. lot and get lots of sunshine and fresh air. I way, but I purposely had to get closet. She is not altogether mi^laced. Women who Sisterhood is aot only threatened by then guessed that die had been very famous was crying! Gosh. 1 went home. belong to what I call “female brother men but by m ay women. In fact, men and 1 should be noticed by her. Being quiet 1 thought I’d never see her again, but she hoods,” that is, women who put blackness often unwittingly help to promote sister and a loner. I’d never go talk to her though, was there just as usual, almost everytime I or Religion or heterosexuality, etc^ above hood by being a blatantly sexist. It has so I just stayed around. went to the park. sisterhood must be recognized as danger become somethin of a principle among It paid off a bit, because once 1 was The way we finally got to say something feminists not to vent their rage against ously at odds with true feminism and hence running past (showing off) and went faster was, I was seeing how many one-footed women and yet 1 have found this principle ultimately anti-human. than my tegs could co-ordinate, and I fell. I hops it took to cross the bridge when this slid a bit befrae stopping and did a great job guy stopped me. He was a man about 2 0 ,1 of scraping both knees. They hurt and guess. He said he had seen me in the park a began to bleed and I felt like crying. So I lot. I nodded. He flashed a badge and said P A R K By PATRICIA FULLERTON made it to that cold water fountain and he represented the F3.I. and they needed alternately hung one leg, then the other some junior agents. He said that becauK I mm was always in the park I could be one if I over it to wash the dirt out and stop the bleeding. 1 also dripped a lot of quiet tears wanted. I WANTED. So he said aU I had to Heading for a bench to sit on (the ants, It was a hot ili^ust day, and 1 was free into the water. Then, there she was. Her do was keep my eye out for men who flies and mosquitoes in the grass tickled my to do as 1 wishetLSb, as usuaL 1 headed for hands were soft and gentle and she had a bothered kids. If 1 saw any I should tell tegs and I didn’t like it), I looked for an Lincoln Park. T hefuk stretched for miles clean handkerchief that she was getting wet him, as he’d be around, and they’d arrest unoccupied one. A bench was empty, so I along Chicago’s M e front, and generally and carefully dabbing at my knees. 1 the man. I wouldn’t get any pay, but look sat, scrunched down so my head could rest was not too croMed during weekdays. I flinched, expecting pain, but she touched how helpful I’d be for my country, and the liked beii% alone letting my imagiiuition on the back, and studied the sky. I decided her fingers to my dieek and smiled. I knew park. to dissolve some clouds. Had done it for run free. then she wouldn’t hurt me and I relaxed. I was thrilled! I immediately saw myself years. The way you dissolve a cloud is to On this day, Ac first of this memory, I \ftei a few minutes she handed me the as the most effective F.B.l. agent ever. look hard at a small one and keep on was being a g « K i. 1 walked past my landkeichief, vwung out and told me to So I watched. For weeks I suspected concentrating on i t You can blink, and favorite places: f c quiet lagoon with its fold it and press it firmly against the cuts. every male who happened to glance at me. even look away for a second or so, but your gentle curves and tempting sounds, the old Then she went back to her books. I did as Every day I met the F.B.L man and we sat mind must be on that cloud. Soon it will bridge over the fegcmn, and its rusting she said and soon I was sort of alri^ t again. on a bench and talked. Even though I had filigree supports, dte island that “no-one” begin to break up. Keep on concentrating I gave her back her handkerchief and said nothing to tell him, I went completely but myself knew A m t, the old tree, its 3 and looking hard - and before you know it, thank you. Now as I think about it, it was a through my dark suspicions of this or that thick trunks swoepag way up into a riot of it will be gone! dumb thing to do - what would she want guy. The woman was always near by, I had almost totally eliminated my first chattering sparrow and hungry pigeons. I with an old, slighüy bloody, slightly wet always reading, always alone. 1 wondered if cloud, when I felt a s l ^ t vibration through was guessing everyone was that I handkerchief. She smüed though, and she had any idea just how important 1 was. the wooden bench. I turned my head passed. I confided« the inanimate objects dropped her eyes to her book. Then to really make it great, one day as he sideways and discovered an older woman around me (as pnM ily only an only child I saw her lots after that but never said was talking to me, he picked up one of my settling herself down to read. She was old can do) just what Ae world was all about anything to her. I did look her straight in braids and said something about how thick enough to be my mother, and then some. Passing throu^A e zoo 1 had spotted an the eyes when I saw her and tried to look it was and how pretty. My hair to me was She must have been 25 or 30. In ^ ite of old man, ragged, welling, lurching, and I nice, and she always smiled, but we never hair. It got messed, and dirty, and had to be changed my coutk. He frightened me and I that she looked okay, so I didn’t get up. I taken cate of, and was just, hair. Yet this just went back to wiping out some more spoke. For a long time that is. was afraid he mM* stumble into me and One day she was there with someone. It teal man of the world thought it was pretty. then what would £ do? 1 couldn’t stand douds. Well! My days were spent in or near the park, was another woman about her age, dressed being embarrassed. 1 went around another Some mote days passed and as we talked and I very frequently wound up near that sort of like her. (Gosh, 1 guessed, another path, headed for A old rusting bridge and sick athlete!) They talked and talked, but I on the bench again, he playfully wrapped bench. The coldest water fountain was right leaning over the lapon water, looked at my stayed out of hearing range. Then I saw the braid across my shoulders and made own wiggly reftedibn and wondered who there, as was the lagoon, and some of my them holding hands! WOW! That was some dumb comment about not needing favorite hills, trees and hiding places. I he had been. I tá d to imagine him in his strange. But maybe they were sisters. 1 went clothes with hair like that. He was close and mother’s arms, stflla tiny baby. 1 pretended gradually noticed that the woman was there was looking funny. I got a little worried, almost as often as I. She never paid any on talking to a pigeon I’d found, and later to be gazing off mea the far distance, but looked back and saw them standing but but put it out of my mind, as he was a really was sneakigga poel^ the old drunk. attention to me, didn’t even seem to notice government representative and could be me. She just read things, sometimes wrote going nowhere, her books still on the He was gone howemr, so 1 looked back into bench. Just as I was going to turn around, 1 trusted. the brown water. A reflection passed letters, sometimes looked at or fed the The next day he came rushing towards squinels. So I began to play guesser about saw the two look about them (no one was behind me, and tuwng 1 saw a boy and girl, around) and then fliey kissed! right on the me and grabbed me to him and out of her. She was kind-of short, had brown hair much older than w , arms wrapped around bps. These weren’t sisters. The strange one breath said, combed straight back o tt her face and each other. I guewd he was the son of a walked away and my friend just stood there “Did you see him? Did he bother you? short. She always wore straight skirts and rich man and she «as a poorgirL fascinated looking after her. I admit I was rude, but I You poor kid.” No one had bothered me tailored blouses and loafers. So I guessed by his money ani worldly ways. 1 won just stood there too and stated, big-eyed. and I didn’t know what he meant. But he she was a woman very interested in some dered why if didn^ bother them to be seen Then when the strange one was out of sight was squashing me against him, and he had sport, and she had had a terrible accident kissing and huggingin public. (she didn’t turn back at all) my friend sat this funny warm lump just below his THE CHALLENGE OF TEACHING stomach and he b ^ n nibbing it against held me, talking soft and comforting me, me. Now I knewalittle about life. I mean a easing the scare out, until I relaxed. Then I 10 year old isn’t totally stupid, and I had an started to sob and she steered me towards WOMEN'S LIBERATION IN lUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL idea that someflaig was going on that the bench. We sat and she continued By JUDY FOWLER shouldn’t, and now I was scared. Here’s this soothing me. She smelled sweet and clean big jerk sticking his Angers in my hair, and and made me feel just as sweet and clean. I The film is over and two girls get up to bigger part of the playground. And they’re bumping the day^its out of his stomach, asked her why she said I was her daughter. rewind the film on the projector. Two more always acting like they can grab us in the or something, and fliere I was. 1 was afraid Her answer didn’t mean much to me girls open the shades and cany stacks of halls if they feel like it!” to move or talk or anything. I just stood then. I just felt that she did it because she books to the shelves while a boy passes out “Yeah, and until you talked to Mr. there feeling awM. Then SHE hurried into wanted to. some paper. When the bell rings, the boys N— , we couldn’t take print or shop.” my sight Our eyes met for a second, and I But now I am the age she was then, and go to lunch and the girls rush down to their guess she saw I was scared. She yelled as I sit here beside the woman I love, I favorite class of the week, printing. What’s With the beginning of awareness of the something at the F3.1. guy and he whirled know the love that my “park” friend felt. happening? Why are girls ruiming the pro differential attitudes toward women and around surprised. She jabbed him a few The gentle concern of a lonely woman for a jector, why are they taking printing? men, or girls and boys in junior high, came times in that soft lolge, and it went away. lonely kid. I feel her determination, imagine Women’s liberation is a revolution in strong feelings of impatience. Then she yeSed tame more and chased him her needs, her pride in her sex, and her attitudes which is profoundly diallenging “Why are the boys so immature? Why away and I remewlier one thing, she told knowledge of the rottennesses that exist and distressing to most of us. Assumptions can’t they take anything seriously? They him 1 was her d ai^ ter and he better not I didn’t see her much after that. I sort of about one's role in society, what one can listen to each other sometimes, but the show up anymoie around here. Gosh she stayed away from the park because of him. and can’t do, what one deeply believes minute we talk or give a report, they make was brave, I tbou|hf- Now 1 thank her, silently, finally, for being about herself (himselO are all coming under fun of us and laugh us out of the room,” Then she cinM me in her arms and there for me, then. question. said one of the most earnest students. Today debate and social action in the “You know,” replied her friend, “your women’s liberation movement ate spreading report Tuesday was the most interesting we outward from a small, urban elite to heard. The boys were scared, that’s what,’ suburbia and the young women in scared you would do better than they suburbia’s junior high schools. would!”
P c e ms- For the past year and a half 1 have been Conversations like this and readings an English and social studies teacher de jure bom Lucy Komisar, Betty Friedan and others comprise the kicking-off point for Lament for Jessica and a women’s liberation counselor in fact in two junior highs near Boston. Inter many of my women’s liberation discussions. Often the sessions delve into personal ex We’re growing apart mingling women’s liberation discussions I'm growing with regular curriculum, trying to be a periences, where anger is a keynote for a part that is not yours model of a “liberated woman” and pro many girls. that may never be part viding an opportunity for the girls in my “Mr. R— , our math teacher, makes my Note from the Blood blood boil. I hate him,” said one of my of us classes to take steps toward a freer self- image have been on-going goals in my most attractive and intelligent girls. Certainly, mydear, one classroom. “Why, what does he do?” I ask. I could write fou a polite note, so long The process of teaching anything in “Every day, you know how he chooses typed perhaps the two of us junior high is arduous enough. Even trickier which kids to send to the board to do for the occastM, is the process of “ consciousness-raising,” or problems? He picks the girls with the on elegantly aatermarked bond. Mary Demon making aware of each person’s potential as shortest skuts!” a human being, rather than as a fulAUer of a “Yeah,” adds a friend, “you can be Certainly, mydtar. sex-role. dumb or smart, awake or bored to death, " M y dearest Hhman: “You mean, 1 could be president of a but if he likes your legs, you’ll go to the Might I be sohonored as to request company? I can’t understand that some board.” (what? people ate telling me ‘you can do that - “And he calls us ‘sweetie’ all the time,” your hart? you’re a girl,’ ” exclaimed one of my said the flrst girl. your baBBts? students, “instead of telling me ‘you “Now he’s even letting the boys call us the wine and salt can’t’.” ‘sweetie’ and make loud comments," of youraecret darkness?) “Talking about women makes me take fumed two other girls. note of myself more. 1 see more, like . . . Kathleen M. McKinnon why do writers always say ‘he’ for ‘people’ In spite of some girls’ willingness to talk in books? It makes me realize how the and their growing awareness of differential ‘shes’s’ of the world are invisible!” said treatment, there are several strong barriers another. to effective female liberation teaching in “Now that you’ve asked, there are a lot junior high. of sexist things in this school. Boys have the In the Arst place, the kids are all adolescents (l^M years old) and thus very from the boys. Men tease women at all ages, would have given mocking reports if forced therefore equally responsible — it’s not fair much in tu m ü psychologically. This but nowhere is the teasing and ridicule so to read biographies of women.) Since the that the woman should bear the burden if means that almM anything I do or say can vicious as it is in junior high. At 13-14 kids first book reports, a number of girls have she doesn’t want to. I argued that accidents provoke hostUi^ because I am adding to often seem to be stores of cruelty waiting mentioned that they would like to go to do happen and there’s nothing to be gained their confusion A m t who they are. Both to be released upon any victim, male or medical school or law school. by punishing the mother by forcing her to girls and boys anietimes react violently female, who shows the slightest sign of raise an unwanted child. I argued that when challenged» question why boys can A good part of the women’s liberation weakness. Kids with more pimples, more movement is political. Women are running “killing a baby” is not an entirely accurate ask girls out em dates but not vice versa; fat, more “dumbness” or more anything for office all over the country and are description of a medical condition; besides, why people tI A boys are stronger than “bad” or unvalued take a lot of abuse. learning that they can become a strong many children are emotionally “killed” by girls when thoe are many facts to the Girls, who have been taught that femininity pressure group. One of my classes was powi ig up resented. These logical argu contrary; why ]H>pIe expect boys to do means a show of weakness and passivity and ments failed to take the sting out of important th in ^ â the world as well as be about to elect a representative and an acceptance of abuse take more than their alternate to the student council. They were “Abortion.” husbands and fiA rs and girls to become share because they think it is the natural proceeding to nominate - as most kids and “But, Mrs. Fowler, I don’t care what only wives and ndhers. order. adults do — a boy representative and a girl you say. O.K., you’re right. But I’m never Both sexes alA>lescence are threatened Almost invariably, for example, when a alternate. going to let anyone take my baby and kill more than adulkby the challenge to drop girl speaks to the class the boys heckle I commented on the sexist assumptions it,” fluttered one exasperated girl. the confining as|acts of traditional sex-roles unduly. Only rarely does a “ fellow” woman involved and let the girls have a few minutes “Mine either,” said another. and opt for pcMohood. Personhood is a come to her defense. to talk it over. The election proceeded, “Yeah, why should some old doctor just tough enough gadiprocess at any age, but An effective way to counter male harass hands waved frantically. go around killing ladies’ babies?” asked one at 13 it’s espoidly tough when peer ment of this sort is to advise the girls that “I nominate Jack.” of the boys. pressure creates A ts of beauty and popu turnabout is fair play. For example, one Finally I understood the fear-fantasy larity in the tradifimal sense. day three boys tried to give their report on “I nominate Jay.” “I nominate Frank.” behind many of their objections. In many Be all that as it may, there is an the population explosion. From the girls’ And then, of their minds, legalized abortion was equiv; overriding reasafo r upsetting the apple side of the room came comments usually “I nominate Sally.” alent to mandatory kidnapping. cart with adolevnts. Much of women's heard from the boys: At this, the girls looked smugly at each “A law which allowed a woman to have liberation, like gawing in general consists “Look at his hair!” other. After a few more nominations (of an abortion whenever she wanted would be (unfortunately) aatm-learning what ain’t so. “What do you mean by that?” boys) we cast votes. The final result: Sally, like a law which said a person could have a Therefore, if yoa never take on at adoles “This is so boring!” rep and Jack, alternate. Pick a good woman, tooth pulled by a dentist at her (his) cence a conflnivtfermjtion of yourself as “You’re not nervous, are you?” unite behind her and let the males divide request Just because there are dentists inferior (or supcA), you’ll have a lot less “Hey, look at his hands . . . they’re their votes — an elegant lesson in power around who are qualified to pull teeth to shuck off The premise here, of shaking.” politics. doesn’t mean they’re lurking on every street course, is that A ration for women and The boys responded “femininely” — all corner waiting to grab your teeth. It’s your men is here to A - the sooner that one three blushed, they stammered, they played The most heated discussions we have decison to have an abortion,” I explained. accepts the chaU iv the better. with their hair, and spoke more and more had were about abortion. When I asked my “You mean, it’s like a service you can softly and looked more and more at the classes why they thought women were take or leave as you choose?” a^ed the Another barA to effective conscious floor. They flnished and, mouse-like, re pushing for liberalized abortion laws, both previously exasperated girl. ness-raising is Hk unfavorable image of treated to their seats. boys and girls got very excited and highly women’s liberatian thanks to television. At “Exactly,” I replied. Since that class session, the boys’ heck moralistic at first. “Well, isn’t the woman still bad if she my first whispa nf women’s liberation, ling has been more tentative and the girls “They just want easy abortions, so they gets an abortion?” asked her friend. many kids shrieloA have become more assertive. can go to bed anytime Üiey want,” said one “What does ‘bad’ mean?” I asked. “NO!” Another serious problem in conscious “Not those holds who can flatten a guy girl. “She did sex,” she replied. ness-raising is one of providing “liberated “If a woman doesi’t want a baby, she with one Karate jdnp!” “Is sex ‘bad’?” I asked. models”. Who can a 13-year-old girl (or shouldn’t ‘do sex’ in the first place!” agreed Giggles from both sides of the room. “Women’s litation. 1 hate it. I don’t boy) look to for encouragement in full one of the boys heartily, want to bum anyte.s." “Well, it’s bad if the people don’t know personhood? (Me, for one, but I’m not “No one would ever kill my baby that what they’re doing, or if they don’t care for “Why don’t 4sy shut up and act like famous and teachers in general don’t seem way,” exclaimed one girl fervently. each other ...” said one boy. ladies!” very glamorous.) To help provide models, I “I can’t see any reason for abortions. If “I agree,” 1 said. have assigned book reports on biographies a woman is married, she’s supposed to want “And if they don’t take responsibility To the initiaed woman, visions of of women doctors, lawyers, politicians, etc. kids. If she’s not and she fools around, then for what can happen,” said a girt. Karate chops a ^ bra-burnings are not When I first announced this policy, there it's her tough luck. She could always put “What kind of re^nsibility?” 1 asked. automatically repq;nant. To kids, though, were some protests: the kid up for adoption.” “Well, being ready to give the child a whose worlds c A st of the latest eye “Why do we have to read biographies of Even girls who wanted to run for office, good home, or else taking care not to get make-up and Bans’ games, any justiTi- women? The boys can read about anyone become doctors or were by some other pregnant,” she said. cations for extreanis’ tactics are inelevant. they choose - why can’t we?” poss measure “liberated,” acted very “And if they do get pregnant, this Unfortunately, A kids’ repulsion to ex “True,” I answer, “but it’s important to threatened by the issue of abortion reform. couple . . .?” 1 asked. tremists carries ow inlo a denial of the real see what independent women can do with Faced with an emotionally-charged on “Then they should have a chance to issues involved. their lives if they choose to.” slaught of this sort, I was hard put to undo their mistake if they decide to before The third mas. source of trouble for (I did decide not to insist that boys read detoxify the abortion issue. I argued that a they have a kid they’re not able to care women’s liberatiOBtreaching comes directly biographies of women - I felt that they man “does sex” as much as a woman and is for,” she said slowly. Sirl s lit up, “Now I get it. In most of our talks, I am not so much a Women’s libeiate peopk want a chance fact-dispenser as a question-poser. I con PHOENIX tor people - e « married people - to be sider that a large part of my job as able to have o% the kids they can really teacher-counselor is to provide emotional By LYNN MICHAELS care for. It’s a ^pm sible thing they want, support and protection for kids who do try not ine^nsibkr’ to assert themselves in a more human, less “Phoenix,” she told me, “ is the Garden “That’s whalaany women say,” I said. role-confined way. of Eden!” “ I guess an .^ t i o n itself wouldn’t be In one class, a boy began to cry when I Gallup was a plot of dust with a pre-fab much fun. I doAl if anybody would just reprimanded him for fooling. (He cried house on it which they had bought sight do it for kicks,"«Bed another girl. often.) The boys began jeering, “T— is a unseen from a doctor friend, and when they With the that abortion equalled crybaby.” “T— you’re like a girL” “When moved there from Boston, she wept upon kidnapping at faal partially dispelled, we are you gonna be a man?” looking at the house. went on to disowfiie religious, ethical and I took the opportunity to discuss with It turned out to be a find for Gallup, economic reasosfiir and against abortion, them how men’s liberation groups have though, which was kept going only by the (Economic reaa«i are the ones which will been forming around the country precisely gas stations and bars along Route 66, for probably make A rtio n eventually accept to help men get in touch with feelings they drinking was not allowed on the Navajo able.) 1 said thM s number of states were learned to suppress in order to be “men.” Reservations. Her husband, bom in about to make atasion legally available to By the end of the discussion, T— seemed Ecuador, had been called to military service any woman nim wanted to end her more relaxed and less defensive about his on his thirty-fifth birthday when he became pregnancy for whanver reason. crying. In the same vein, several other boys an American citizen. He chose to be placed Apparently, 4m philosophical, relaxed gave revealing answers in a questionnaire we as doctor for the Navajos in Gallup, New discussion alloweMids to think about their had a few weeks later. In answer to one Mexico. He moved his wife and three boys personal experienn Several mentioned ac- question, “If women and men were already out. quainUnces whofcd had abortions. Then equal and “liberated,” how would that There was nothirtg for her there, noth one of my quiet « ie n ts began to speak. change your idea of yourself?” a few boys ing. She bought a Russian Samoyed dog “You know," she said, “I’ve never ventured to say: “I wouldn’t have to always whom she named CON. She joined the admitted it to aaA>dy except one friend show myself to be strong.” Samoyed Club of America, groomed the before, but a y e a r ^ (when she was 12!) 1 During every class period, there are also large dog in all spare moments between got in trouble a«fi a boy and had an DRAWING BY AOELE CHATELIN countless times for me to give support to a cooking, deaning, driving and picking up abortion. I could Aidle the religious thing, girl who is trying to perform. If I take what kids. She read up with a passion on this but being made to A l that I was like a legal “Are you into womens’ lib?” I asked she has to say more seriously than the breed of dog. criminal was alrnomtao much.” smiling. teasing she may be getting, at least I am And they went to Phoenix, Arizona, The class was A n t as she spoke. An “I feel those women are unhappy who setting an example of valuing her, her ideas when they could afl'ord it, once or twice a abstract issue hadfecome very concrete. complain. A woman’s got to decide to give and perhaps women’s minds in general. year. Blew their wad, as she put it. “I “We were twm dumb kids. We didn’t up ten, twelve, years of her personal life to Acknowledging or responding to a girl’s brought my frypan with me, for eating out be married and raise kids. I’ve learned every know what we ware doing. He sort of comments is hard, though; it’s easy for a talked me into it _ . . Nobody, especially three meals a day with three kids is hell on freedom carries with it its own re^on- ^ c h e i to not-respond if her (his) attention wheels, for the birds.” The most beautiful kids as young aslwus should be forced to sibilities. After that, she has her freedom.” is forcibly distracted by the boys who are city in the United States, she said. Wide She ground her foot into the dust at our have a baby. 1 co4fei’t have been a mother fooling or heckling. avenues, citrus trees, you should smell the feet She screamed at one of the children and still have bom a regular 8th grader. Women’s liberation issues delve deeply oranges there! Tennis courts all lit up at who was drowning his brother in the Abortion should k a legal choice. You into personality and beliefs about oneself, night, one played only at night, the day was pool . . . shouldn’t have is be so ashamed and about “human nature” and the good scorching. And so warm, eighty-five degrees . . . “And the gas! The natural gas criminal-feeling. Smm kids’ parents think society. My adolescents - even more than even in December. A man-made oasis, all there in Gallup. They were drilling all the we shouldn’t talk about abortions and sex adults - resist changing familiar attitudes green with wide rows of palm trees. (Once time; in those days, one didn’t have to do in schools, that ifSftad to trouble. Well, a and behaviors when this necessitates a she broke her foot playing tennis and they this dirty business ten miles outside the lot of kids “fo
. s*tM 1 .Iu1 >)•<■■' ■ i| "»I •• >ll •-
Pat Mainardi. Three Wonten. 1970. Oil on canvas. Collection of Susan and Martin Tepper. Tlaoias Nast. Jewels Among Swine. 1874. Engraving. 23 the editors of the Feminist Art Journal aai devoted herself to a broad scope of the has stated her views of feminist art in the political environment in which she lives April, 1972 edition of the Journal thereby evolving her paintings concerning "Feminist art is different from feminine feminism from a multi-focused perspective. sensibility. Feminist art is political propa Three Women is a presentation of the ganda art vdiich like all political art, should heritage of a contemporary woman. The owe its first allegiance to the political Japanese print in the background expresses movement whose ideology it shares, and the height of women’s traditional role of not the museum and gallery artworld bondage. The sculpture in the foreground system. Since feminism is a political of a strong and mature woman is a reminder position (the economic, political and social of those women in the past who have equality of women and men) and feminist maintained their independence of this art reflects those politics it could even be bondage. And, the mirror reflection in the made by men, although it is unlikely that at center, probably of the artist herself, is a this point men’s politics will be up to it.” woman living in the current world who < Mainardi’s paintings reflect this attitude finds herself in a society which reflects both first in style which goes its own personal these traditions. I way and does not attempt to ally itself The objects placed around the three o with a predominant male artist movement c women function in artistic terms to give the o or with the easy to paint easy to sell painting a most superb balance and formal techniques that are being pushed upon the structure but they also add to the content. art consumer by the la^er galleries. In The jug which is old and traditional is o addition, her subject matter, which it here nevertheless still beautiful and useful. The u only represented by her feminist work also steer scull, on the other hand, is the i/i includes statements on political questions >ra discarded and obsolete remains of what was c such as the events at Attica, the trial of once alive but no longer is and the fruit and Ura Angela Davis and the deterioration of our plants, which are living things, embody the c trash-ridden landscape. She has, therefore. o possibilities of recutring growth. When seen p' a>
ra c
Pat Mainardi. Copy, Titian: Venus and the Lute Player. 1968. Oil on canvas. Collection of the Artist. trilogy, Confrontation. Expulsion, Creation. deeply rooted and do not stem merely from together, the mtxlKe of the three women The story of Adam and Eve, being one of and the objects sound them express a the carrying of a banner. the most male-chauvinist concepts in Michele and Copy Titian Venus and the potential of the antemporaty woman in Judeo-Christian thought, is likewise one of Lute Player concern themselves with the regard to her groadkand strength as well as the most disparagingly anti-female con issue of the female stereotype in art. an acknowledgemes of the pressures of our ceptions in Western Art. Eve, the first Michele presents the female being as an society against ha which must still be woman, is seen as the cause of the male individual first and only secondarily as a overcome. downfall and the reason for his expulsion woman. This is a painting of a person In the covet pnting, entitled Looking from a life of happiness in Eden. In art. Eve named Michele not of an anonymous Glass, the artist rftooses again to include is the seductress who tempts humanity model. A similar work by an anti-feminist herself as a mirrat reflection. But, in this (that is, males) to their destruction; she would be more likely titled Girl Reading or case, the egg or oral shaped mirror also must, therefore, be imprisoned in every way Model Reclining on a Couch and would serves to encircle forces of Mainardi’s possible to prevent her from playing her render Michele if not in a wholly seductive world including a t easel, to mark her part. To understand fully the implications manner at least in a far less introspective creative identity, n upside-down of the story of Adam and Eve, the second alluding to her diiveement with American one. and third chapters of Genesis must be The epitome of rendering women in art politics, a column, which gives the feeling reviewed. The tree from which Eve ate was as inanimate, depersonalized objects can be of self or outside support and a second the tree of (sexual) knowledge; her seen in Titian’s Venus and the Lute Player, obscure self refleeion juxtaposed with a curiosity to gain this knowledge was a painting already discussed in this column feminist symbol punished because she defied male authority, in “Foundations of the Male-Chauvinist- It is the secorf reflection of the artist or a male god’s authority, and her sentence Nude”, A pril^ay 1971, Volume 15 No. 7 which gives validi^to the painting in terms for this crime was stated by this male god of its content. The features of the face are & 8. Mainardi’s spoof of this work strips the implicity: “Unto the woman he said, I will original painting of its virtuosity of tech in shadow and not delineated; it is set far greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy con nique in order to expose the sexism of its back in the paintiiieut of reach so that the ception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth subject m attn. Since the viewer can no viewer has troubfeleeping the face in focus children; and thy desire shall be to thy longer be sidetracked by the subtleties of without the eye nnndering to the rest of husband who shall rule over thee.’’ Titian’s palette or the deftness of his brush the portrait. This fe the self that remains Eve’s punishment, therefore, was two stroke, there is nothing more to do but unknown, always yiit slightly out of touch fold for she must not only be the sex which look a ^ s t at a woman being sexually with our consciow judgements and moti bore children, she must now do this pain Masaccio. The Expulsion trom Para vations. It is theolf that Mainardi aligns objectified in a matmer which no male body fully and above all she must at all times be dise. c. 1427. Fresco. Brancacci with the feminist *mbol, indicating that would ever be portrayed in art. ruled by and obey males. Women who have Chapel, Sta. Maria del Carmine, Flor the sources of hafeminism, which are not The parodying of traditional sexist not questioned Judeo-Christian thought are ence. at all times clear toher conscious mind are themes in art is the basis of Janet Sawyer’s
Janet Sawyer. Expulsion. 1972. Oil on canvas. Collection of the Artist. led by this image of Adam and Eve’s artist’s dreams and unconscious fears. destruction to the fear of defying male Though no less feminist, they are different authority - the idea being that further in impulse from Pat Mainardi's work which defiance will bring even more unhappiness. “owes its first allegiance to the political Janet Sawyer’s triptych contests this movement.” The impulse which directs misconception and rewrites the story of Janet Sawyer to the canvas is an attempt at Adam and Eve. In Confrontation, it is the personal revelation rather than political male who takes away the happiness of revelation. But both artists are women of a women by attempting to withhold their new era who have found that art like every freedom but Eve is persuaded by another other form of communication has been a woman not to be deceived or mesmerized vehicle of women’s suppression and have by male power. With renewed hope the attempted through their own work to make women join together in the second panel. it possible for us (as stated by Janet Expulsion, and Adam is shamed for his acts Sawyer) to “gain knowledge of what it of domination of women and banished REALLY means to be a woman. To know from their company. (The male figure in ourselves totally from the outside in, rather this panel is based upon Masaccio’s Ex than from the outside-out. To understand pulsion from Paradise.) The final scene, our biology, and with this knowledge Creation, concludes the allegory with the change our destiny and make it right.” formation of a new Eden in which women are free from male supremacy and are self-determining human beings. The secondary symbolism of the three panels is manifested by the landscape, the (Q dove and the children. The flowers and peacefully grazing animals of the first panel imply the complacency of established Designs male-supremacist conditions just preceding Eve’s confrontation with these values. Dur Stumbling across the folds of myself, ing the expulsion of Adam, the ground in the drapery that you are, changes to a dangerous array of sharp I ran through the patterns, pointed shells and Crustacea while a dark the near balanced designs and brooding sky moves in overhead. The sky clears in the final panel and the earth so close to reflection, which had only yielded a field of superficial I lost you, lost me, in the maze flowers now brings forth a more essential of our images of each other. growth of edible vegetables. Two bolts of cloth set wild, The dove, of course, represents peace our spirits unrolled to a V, and freedom and is easily understood. and you, and me, crashed However, the children are a more subtle in a clash of colors and unfurled inclusion. The young girl in Confrontation patterns, tumbling around supports the older woman who is attempt ing to persuade Eve to defy the mate. The our unwound souls. young boys, on the other hand, are fright Caught in those sacred gymnastics, ened and cry out in an effort to prevent this I struggled, you struggled interference which would eventually re to roll further, to gather move their inheritance of male supremacy. that let out together and pull In Expulsion, one of the boys imitates his it beyond one another's grasp, sister and points along with her the way to rewind it all about ourselves a freer life while the second boy must still to set it still again. be carried. And, finally, in Creation, the We wait for form now, potent male children are being taught a new understanding in a world in which along with color's excitement, tension's with their sisters, they will inherit not male design, you wait, I wait, supremacy but a position of equality for all tightly rolled on our cores women and men both. for the cutting of others' intentions, afraid to design ourselves. Confrontation, Expulsion and Creation are feminist paintings which derive from the Beverly Lynch THE 1971 W08U1SERIES ME, A LESBIAN? T U e P oe m? A celebrative d it f . By BETSY JANE I n downtown Kafeurgh By MICKIE BURNS the men of PittAagh Me, a lesbian? I was appalled two years being uneasy because, for all that I enjoyed in honor of thoafiiyers ago when 1 heard other women in Women’s the sex of it at a certain level, I knew I was to celebrate thevtam 's Liberation talking about Lesbianism as a being used, 1 felt guilty, and 1 wished for their team's possible alternative to having to depend on love instead. the big series w ia y TYPING EXERCISE men for intimacy and emotional support. I There were also some Great Loves. And in order to honar laughed at the very idea one year ago when it was clear to me that I was still single at those men of b a iM I a dose woman friend described her ex age 28 because the men who had loved me The quick red fox jumped over the lazy red hen. in downtown PMitergh perience with a lesbian relationship in col had been too committed to a male suprema The quick red fox jumped over the lazy red hen. the men of lege. 1 listened, but as though to a visitor cist view of the universe to be committed to The quick red fox jumped over the lazy red hen. in a gesture of jf us from another planet. None of that for me, a strong, articulate, reasonably creative The quick red fox jumped over the lazy red hen. unrestraint sister! “I’m as heterosexual as they come; woman who had work of her own to do in The quick red fox jumped over the lazy red hen. in order to honor the polarity between male and female is the world and who would want to do The quick red fox jumped over the lazy red hen. those players ofoAom crudal to me in a sexual relationship.” And something else with her life besides wash The gobbledy/gurwoky/ugh/ulp/ugh/ulp/gobbledy/gurwok it is said I didn't mean sex role polarity; dominant dishes and nurture a male ego. The according The hen ate up the fox. male/passive female — for that stuff had Women’s Liberation Movement was a according to always been oppressive to me and I was natural for me; finally I could come out of according to deeply involved in Women’s Liberation as a the closet of private feminist anger. rKMv urKfer in< way of struggling against and overthrowing Talk about sisterhood turned me off, of the use of mde supremacy. I meant sheer biological though, during the first months of contact whose muscles aM M ollen but polarity - not just genital sex - but the with Women’s Liberation. For one thing, 1 whose genitals aa way it is when you dig a man’s body and he didn’t want to be in a “woman only” according to aHncMt reports digs yours, and there is an incredible other organization; I was looking for a man, see, adversely affected ness; the mystery of being so different and and I didn’t want to spend much time with from the use of aaaids yet sharing together. I just couldn’t imagine another bunch of females. I was angry at in fact nj'aking love with a woman, and wasn’t men, sure; but the awful truth was that I atrophied interested in coaching my imagination to do didn’t like women. Not as a group. Women it is said are so flighty, so incompetent, so duU, etc. Hard Dames so. by some jouri One month later, I had fallen in love Of course, most of us are well-trained to be the men of Pii with another woman and visited that that way, and the rest of us are well-trained Two years ago to be contemptuous of the others. Coming after the big seritipme She worked in a massage parlor strange planet myself. The planet metaphor according to n e o ^ a ^ r accounts may seem strained, but it’s one of the few to realize why I was so alienated from most In Topeka, females was one of the heaviest discoveries in downtown P illte g h And you know what that means. images that works at all to suggest what a drug her from a c a remarkable, altogether new experience it’s I’ve ever made; contempt for womankind was just another shuck that male supremacy raped a girl Two years ago about that time been (and still is) to be in love with a while others lookoden woman who loves me as deeply and truly as had put over on me. I had believed that I clerked men were where it’s at because that’s what immediately butoMpreceeding On Fifth Avenue. 1 love her. 1 suppose 1 was scared and men need to believe of themselves, and my but following imaadtately after And you know what that means. uptight at first as Linda began to discover the series victory with me what our feelings for each other disdain for women was an infection that we naturally pick up in a male-controlled, in downtown P in ta g h But last week were; but whatever anxieties I had were male-dominated culture. Seeing myself as a as I understand it Suddenly we had the nerve to hold hands minor compared to the overwhelming sense lackey of male chauvinism made me angry from newspaper aEBMjnts for a that I was moving into something that was enough to take the plunge into Women’s the fans went wiM One hundred and sixty-five seconds' worth natural, healthy and more beautifully teal Liberation and to decide that — dammit! — drug her from a cm Warm electrocution. than anything I had experienced with men. a female passerby The storj' of my experiences with men is I was going to learn to like women no they the fans all tbvall probably like many you’ve heard before, matter how hard it was. And, of course, it went wild in doeMHen Pittsburgh maybe like one you yourself could tell. wasn’t hard at all, and there was nothing I following the decBscgame There had been the usual amount of had to do to “learn” about liking women. as I understand it newspaper accounts hanky-panky in high school and college, When there’s unfettered room for women as I understarKf it and the usual things had gone on in back together - that is, when our minds aren’t the rights of the seats of cars and in motel rooms. Nothing befuddled by competing with each other fetus thus com especially vicious had happened to me in for male approval and by being preoccupied are inviolable those casual relationships; nothing especial with men - sisterhood can really happen. I in downtown Pitidagh ly human either; just the “normal” stuff of discovered that women are groovy, strong, being with guys interested in a good lay and joyous, compassionate. 1 discovered the mind-btowing m itt which has been so case, you are probably scared. I'm sharing elaborately and «lefiiUy hidden from us: my experience in order to say that, in my that we women A n ’t really need men, that experience, actual sex with an actual we can do qidk well - better, in fact - woman was less scarey and less alienating without them. Old than anything I've ever known with a man. I continued fwassume that we do need Another recently-become-gay sister says it By C A R O L M O RA N men sexually, m i to hope that the yet- like this: my heart was with my mind ^vas dy^ENE DAMON The charm of her medieval face was empty space in a y life would be filled by with my body. dispelled by its eiratic laughter. She sat at By now you’ve read the editorial that love for and t e a a man. But that space I’m not trying to say cat^rically that gradually becanesnaller, the more rich and the far end of the table and disregarding the leads this issue and know that this is the last sex between women is automatically more Surgeon General's warning endowed our column, last appearance of the oldest full my life h— ne as I grew close to fulfilling than sex between men and women hostess with coughing spasms and cham feature of the jnagaaine. There is always too women in WLM.Wc had discussions about (although I believe that to be generally whether we neeAtf men for anything at all; pagne glasses tilled with cigarette butts. much to covet and I am always too many true). I just speak as someone whose sexual Swirling ghosts escaped through the failure books behind, but this time I carmot about how little hope we had that men ity had been exclusively male-oriented and of her finger painted full lips. She was promise to tell you about them in the would diange airthow little sense it made who discovered that the hangups and revul caught in the thicket of a conversation for to continue to attempt love with our sions I'd associated with Lesbianism utterly future, so I will simply include every book I pretending to have ears. A raven grew under oppresson; aboMt how strange it was to vanished for me when I became one of two now have on hand at the end of the column have to put brakM n our affection for each women actually, physically loving each her dying swan hair bound by a plaid shoe or along the way when it seems realistic lace at the nape of the neck. I loved her other as womenMd how much more whole other. There was a primitive level of trust that I win have no chance of completiiig life would be if uw.were free to express our that the very otherness between man and immediately, having a propensity for hodge reviewing of flie title. This will allow you to love for women aamally. woman surely prevents; and yet there is so podge women and who the hell is the find the books if you ate interested, and if By the time I was seriously involved in much otherness — a body so like mine yet Surgeon General anyway. you get misled, forgive me, and put it in the “That's her alright.'' The sputteruig of those conversriBs, they had become different; the radical mystery that depends, lap of some reviewer before me that led me serious for me huause of my feelings for not on being male and female together, but my friend's amazement repeated in my ear, to the book. Linda. We were W cy — not only because on bong person and other person in “That's her alright, Hanna's old love." A few years ago we covered the works “Who's Hanna?" I asked. My friend our feelings vwB shared and our love timately together. The wonder is ultimate of May Sarton at length, since most of her mutual — but alatecause we were brought human love - never mind whether biology ignored me as we approached Haima's old poetry and several of her novels are of love in single file, limitiiig our gestures to together in a caMkxt where women were is heterosexual interest to the Lesbian reading audience stnigglirig togethu to imagine what it Of course, I do mind, because I continue the propriety of our words. It was obvious though not, per se, to the feminist audience that Hanna's old love had only recently would be like 9 we were really free. to see sisters of mine agonized by impossi at large. Now, nearing 60, Ms. Sarton has Imagine! If we wawreally free . . . ble relationships with men or by longing for relinquished the title of Hanna's love, the published her 10th collection of poetry, A That context made us free enough - possible men or by struggling to make their bruises were still in her eyes After some DURABLE HRE, N.Y., Norton, 1972. It U despite the rrprfiwa America we live in - men more possible. These words are an tactful interrogation, Hanna's old love told one of her best, perhaps the best of all, to enter into a aAiionship which had no attempt to say to those of you who weary us she was an artist, letting each word though ITl personally stick to her earlier, brakes on it. As I4 iik back, to high school of those efforts; take heart - there are exhale as a separate creation. My friend told aO U D , STONE, SUN, VINE (N.Y., and college, I o a only wonder what it other options. Love and equality can, in her that she was a pianist. Hanna's old love Norton, 1960). Most litnaries will have would have been S i with my close women fact, dwell in the same house. And Sister was SO pleased, she blew a perfect smoke fairly complete Sarton collections and she’s friends if there’dicen a women's move hood is more powerful than most of us have ring. worth your time and trouble to go look. ment then to set «■ imaginations free. But ever dreamed. “ And you?" she asked. Probably everyone has been to get John we didn't dream af talking about Lesbian I shuffled my feet and with the agility O’Hara’s THE EWINGS, N.Y„ Random of a wooden soldier, pirouetted. ism and its possiWfes; we were too damn (Reprinted from the January 13- House, 1972, if they are going to bother at “Oh, a prima donna," she laughed and busy talking to aniabout men. January 20. 1912, issue o f VANCOU all, but we will ^ d that this is major blew an artless smoke ring as she led my To my straighs sisters in WtM: when VER FREE PRESS.) Lesbian, and typical O’Hara otherwise. you talk about Letfuiism with open minds friend away to dance. Iris Murdoch is a ^ c ia l taste and those and hearts open In each other, know just Left in the throes of rejection I tried to of you who relish her finely crafted fiction talking about it Mb up a context of new think of something profound to say to will probably already have seen AN possibilities among you. Sexual dynamics Hanna’s old love. Her smoke rings were ACaOENTAL MAN, N.Y., Viking, 1971, always go on am o« women; Lesbianism is, fading fast. I followed one as it darted back but if not, try it. Among the characters is a in a way, simply anticing what otherwise and forth above my head. Someone mis Lesbian pair, whose separation and recon goes unnoticed. TImc of you who are open took my pacing for natural rhythm and ciliation is very well and sympathetically to such new possibSies may be in a painful asked me to dance. All at once Hanna's old handled. Nice. place. Especially tfgsu have special feelings love was sending the most exquisite smoke Mostly we are puzzled by Beatrice for someone and dhn’t know what to do rings my way, and beaming like an October Lillie’s autobiography, EVERY OTHER with them. It candb> be painful to know moon. As my dancing grew more expressive INCH A LADY, Garden City, N.Y., Double that you have had it with men and that, if my partner laughed and asked my name. 1 day, 1972, for its utter lack of pertinent you are to have loans at ail, they will be sang it with the music and asked, “What's commentary. Those of you old enough to women; only it’s one thing for that yours?" know her stage work from the 30’s and knowledge to be iayeur head, another for “ Hanna," she said. even before simply must not miss reading HawcaMcaNKZMM.un«a ■trr it to be in your cagarience. And in either aumite* JUST LUCNV. lauus. 32 this, but unless are very well versed SAND, N.Y., David McKay, 1972, now haiig disbelief up for the necessary reading about who was and with whom, it’s offers fairly substantial proof of her liberation title, but in an odd sense it must be so considered. Narrator April is involved hours, this is a fun book. going to be hard relationships with Marie Dorval and Adah An Englishwoman named Dora Jessie Isaacs Menken. Naturally since women are with a much older, married man, Lawrence, It is very d iito lt to review THE GAY I Saint has been successfully turning out defined always by their relationships with > and the novel is set in Sicily to which they CRUSADERS, edikd and compiled by Kay simple, quiet, warm novels about English men, her affairs with two effete young men, have journeyed after beginning their affair Tobin and Ran* Wicker, Paperback tillage life for many years, using the Library, 1972. BMeen women and men Alfred de Musset and Frederick Chopin are in London. Lawrence, a largely oppressive and very overbearing male, deprives April of pseudonym, “Miss Read’’. Her latest novel, pronunent in the p y movement are in common knowledge. EMILY DAVIS, Boston, Houghton-Mifflin, THE AMERICAN SISTERHOOD, anything resembling a sense of identity and cluded. One pair a f women is counted as a 1972, will probably please most long-time single entry. 0nly4 of the IS are women: edited by Wendy Martin, N.Y., Harper and the journey intensifies this reaction. After Row, 1972, is a competent and very routine being seduced by a former mistress of readers and totally bore the younger Del Martin and npffis Lyon (founders of readers. We never know to what degree any the Daughters of H itis in 19SS in San collection of writings on women, by Lawrence, April takes off for parts un known, to return a few days later with writer is aware of the inclusion of covert Francisco and An , founders of this women, from the past feminist movement sufficient sense and baLunC to literally kick Lesbianism. This was especially true a few magazine in OPAer, 1956); Barbara and some current overly anthologized pieces. The bibliography is woefully in Lawrence off a cliff. Marvelous novel in years back when one could allow for Gittings, editt» THE LADDER for 3 psychological innocence. 1 rather doubt if years; and Ruth S isso n , a woman whose adequate and so badly out of date that we | terms of dealing with an ugly situation, but “Miss Read” though, was unaware of where tenure in the N.Y.OIapter of DOB was weD suspect this book was in the publisher’s pot the occasionally cutesy writing style de her plot was veering in undertaking a book under one calendar year in length. There is a long time before coming out. Will be used, tracts from the message. about lifelong friends, Dolly Clare and no question that aid Phyl and Barbara we would guess, in schools, and it’s fine LOVE SONGS by Lawrence Sanders, Emily Davis, schoolteachers who have lived Gittings well d e n a their places in this there. N.Y„ Putnam, 1972, is a not-too-surprising all their lives together. In fact, we suspect book, but one m i^ legitimately question Penelope Mortimer, who will be re effort from the author of THE Miss Read of some helpful amelioration in Ruth Simpson’s nAsion with perhaps SO membered for THE PUMPKIN EATER, is ANDERSON TAPES. The latter, while not including an unlikely bit about two World other women betterpialiiied. The personal said to have included Lesbians and male pertinent, was a very entertaining way of viewing the hysteria of mass surveillance Wat I lovers (one not to return, one to lives (to some extaM) of the crusaders is homosexual characters in her new noveL return married) lost, alas, to the ladies. THE HOME, N.Y., Random House, 1971, under which we all now live. Along the way dealt with, and interviews are well- Having swallowed that convention-oriented 1972. It’s clear we won’t have this checked most human foibles were viewed, and handled and intoP&ig. The disailection piU, the rest of the book is wonderful fun out before' this issue goes to press, so go LOVE SONGS is a combination of THE between male hoiMBCuals and Lesbuns is . . . you can see the sunlight through the soft-pedaled to sa* an extent that one find it yourself. Most libraries of ariy size LONG, HOT SUMMER and EROS RE leaves, hear the quiet droning of insects and liiight imagine the two groups worked will carry her works. VISITED. Back to her small town Maine Lesbian mysteries are no longer unusual home goes Bobbie Vander, accompanied by relish all of it including the endpaper together congenially,which isn’t and hasn’t illustration of two dear old ladies (one quite been so in some pBus. Probably worth In fact, I am extremely sure I’ve missed her accompanist, for she is a pop singer butch, the other clearly femme) walking reading if you are aaious and $1.25 is no many of them the past several years, not whose life style has led to pills and through a wooded field. major expense. having had the time to read 30-40 of them boredom (no, it is NOT a roman a clef on Back in 1959, one of the best Lesbian The Lesbian neayaper that began life each month routinely to avoid just that sort Joplin). Life in South Canaan, Maine (read novels was Marjorie Lee’s first book, THE as MOTHER, and Aanged its name to of omission. It’s a pleasure to report that PEYTON PLACE) doesn’t need Bobbie LION HOUSE. It’s as good today as it was PROUD WOMAN diAafter a single issue in Richard Martin Stem’s YOU DON’T NEED back really, especially her fat, alcoholic then, and those of you with access to larger the new format, due to lack of money. In AN ENEMY, N.Y., Scribner’s, 1972, is sister, Julie, whose ties to Bobbie are libraries might look into iL Her latest book, its place is NEW LESBIAN INFOR quite substantially Lesbian, though it is essentially Lesbian. Entertaining hammock DR. BLOCK AND THE HUMAN CON MATION SERVK^ a monthly 8-page simply a part of the story and not relevant reading, ihjn intended. After all these years of taking Marijane DITION, N.Y., Putnam, 1972, is a satirical newsletter, moAkd after SPOi^S- to the murders in the story. The Southwest Meaker to pieces (mostly under her look at the psychiatric in-group. Dr. WOMAN, but limiM to Lesbian-oriented setting is different enough to lend an extra Norman Block believes in Freud and feminist news. V o li^ 1, Number 1, May, élan. A Canadian reader did me a great infamous pseudonyms, Ann Aldrich and Vin Packer), I am forced to give her novel, “normal” and that’s where all the troubles 1972, just came ouLCost is $12 per year kindness in introducing me to the work of SHOCKPROOF SYDNEY SKATE, Boston, begin as he tries to impose his beliefs on a which is about twoAnes too high for its Patricia Moyes, in particular her title, Little, Brown, 1972, a rave notice. It is a series of resisting patients and his biggest contents, but it’s wA edited. Write Box MANY DEADLY RETURNS, N.Y., Holt, very funny book, and worth the $5.95 price rcsister, his wife Ethel. In vignettes and 15368, San Ftancisoa,California, 94115, if Rinehart & Winston, 1970, (originally pub tag (remember when hardcover novels never playbacks we learn of his attempts to you are interested. lished in England as WHO SAW HER D1E?, cost over $3.95 and that was considered “cure” his happy liappy Lesbian patient of SPECTRE, a radsui Lesbian newspaper London, Collins, 1970, and also available in outrageous?). Sydney Skate is 17, and he is her Lesbianism (she has come to him only that published aboutS or 6 issues during Canadian paperback, Fontana, 1971). Ifs shockproof to the extent that jello can so because of unusual fatigue, easily self-cured 1971, has ceased piitication. The two enough to say about this that its relevance be considered, but then, he does have by a job change); his “cure” of a male young women publidiig it have decided to is so major that to tell you anything about problems. His mother is a Manhattan homosexual (he becomes a heroin addict devote themselves to more political it would be to spoil your fun . . . not to casting director, a Lesbian, and very very instead, but he’s surely cured, no longer activities. miss. Also, unless 1 guess very wrong, most cool. His girl friend shows signs of pre homosexual!!!) and his convincing a quiet Jeannette Foster, in SEX VARIANT of you will want to read the rest of her ferring “Old Ma’’ to him, and on this new mild mannered man that his wife is a WOMEN IN LITERAWRE, was unable to works featuring the same detective. twist on an ancient dirty joke hangs the man-eater until the mild-mannered one LILACS OUT OF A DEAD LAND, by find proof of Geoip Sand’s Lesbianism, finally divorces his wife, only to discover he Rachel Billington, N.Y., Saturday Review tale. There is room for quibbling. Meaker’s simply because she dBnot have access to cannot live without her so he commits any positive reliabk material. A new Press, 1972, was certainly not intended by years as a hack show up in the occasional brittle overworking of the humor, but most suicide. Ethel, his sexually unhappy wife, biography by Samuel Edwards, GEORGE its hyper-sensitive author to be a women’s of the laughs are genuine and if you can irritates him and always has. lie has made 34 the enot of su0Mng psychiatric care to English countryside summer scene with the PRATT: A FOUR-SYLLABLE WORD her too but shegnt to a woman psychia watching eyes of the then teenage writer trist, goes back iaahool, gets a doctorate recording. We are never told, in any way, MEANING NOTHING and outshines mi her profession. She that this is the upsetting of a long-liv^ By MICKIE BURNS also buys a vibnito^ sleeps with one of Dr. Lediian marriage, but it is all there, and Block’s p a tie n ts ^ then takes on Marcia, very very weD done. One of the three or four girls in the class professor made a joke about sex. Every local women’s i^Htion leader. It’s played Lastly, two titles we won’t get in time produced a Ravi Shankar album and after body liked that. Right on. The professor for laughter, ktf the message comes to review for you. THE YELLOW being excused to go out with one of the again enjoyed the capricious good graces of through loud a rfA a r . . . marriage as it SUMMER by Suzaime Prou, N.Y., Harper boys in the class who was supposed to help his pupils. No more bourgeois nonsense. He now exists is set for male convenience and Row, 1972, is sure to be pertinent and her carry it she returned with a malfunc seemed to genuflect mentally. and psydiiatriik act as enforcers . , . probably intelligent reading. Her earlier tioning stereo portable. Then she put on the Still another fellow turned in Mi mini mental police. MLLE. SAVELLI? was a weird mystery record. mal-art interpretation of a thesis project in The child’s epe v w of the world is a novel of sorts and THE YELLOW Two other Icids brought in some the form of Xerox copies of about 50 New favorite device isB ording Lesbian tales, SUMMER probably qualifies as close to the paintings which they said they had done Yorker cartoons, not particularly centered and one of the heCKyears just appeared in genre. The other title is RUN/RIDE, by Kip expressly for the class and which of course up or having any apparent purpose or Elizabeth TaytaA collection of short Crosby, N.Y., Crossman, 1972. ITiis is a were not done expressly by themselves and connection. Toward the end, one male stories, THE DEWTATING BOYS AND first novel and it deals with current young which if they were done by the student student showed what he called a “film”. It OTHER S T O R ^ N.Y., Viking, 1972. people, including young butch Angie and puipoiting to have done them, were not was of last year’s class party. It was out of Titled simply, ^IfaA . and Miss M.” , this her high school girlfriend, Diana. It sounds done for the class in question. Then the focus. Ii was a home movie. recounts the and cruel Miss A’s like it will be very good, though certainly paintings were discussed and elaborated Finally nearly everyone had presented deserting of MiasV. all set in a pastoral not a happy novel. upon. their thesis projects for the Fall, 1971, One boy did what he called a mixed- semester in Advanced Sociology at Pratt media presentation consistiitg of himself University located in Brooklyn, New York making oinking noises and reciting protest CSty. slogans into a truly magnificent cassette It was the first time I had ^ n t time on T w o oe mç By M A R G A R E T C L A IR E outfit. At first 1 didn’t get what the other a New Yoik campus since I had been a media were since all he seemed to have student at Columbia during the campus going for him was the tape recorder. Even revolt of 1968-69. It proved to be a first with his quite expensive machine the glimpse of campuses after the revohitioiu I threw theite and landed in student still managed lots of inaudible, From what I have seen since, that evening The secpnda^B, garbled, incomprehensible and technically at Pratt was not atypical of post-revolu A minililyoipagression You really get to me shoddy abstract effects. Then he explained tionary campuses. Everyone who attended (I could nogBy, of course) sitting there, deep in thought, that the other media was poetry, that some that session just described received an “ A” But I was there. wrinkle-browed, alone, of that that didn’t come out too good was or a “B”, my friend informed me later, your fingers skipping down a page, his very own poetry that he had made up according to the grades posted on the I put a Barbara Love, Stein begins however with “Guilt is at the core of gradually enlightening the male hetero ^ c if y that they are talking about gay bars & Day, New York, W 2. the Lesbian’s life experience.” This is what sexual. in New York City, but imply that they are comes of listening uncritically to the male It is de|Hessing la this reviewer to find The authors trip over “butch/femme” telling us of gay bars everywhere in the homosexual. To be sure many Lesbians do that a book with Soffho in its title, written aspects of Lesbianism. As I discussed that United States. To one who was born in suffer guilt over their emotional orien by two Lesbians, dauld spend a major Manhattan and lived there until the age of tation, but many do not nor ever have. In matter at length in the June/July 1971 issue portion of its pags on the gay male. of the LADDER, I shall say no more here. 21 and who then lived another 30 years in the matter of guilt Lesbians differ markedly Minority women, tm only black women . . . “When a young woman begins to be and around San Francisco (the gay Mecca), from gay males as they do in every other and Chincanas and itfa n women, etc., but aware o f sexual feelings for other the whole chapter is amusing. It took me way. While the male homosexual falls short white Lesbians too seem to be slow- to women, ...” (italics mine) . . . This back to the days when, like any good New of “manhood”, the acme of human per realize that they are women first of all and may be carping on my part, but more often Yorker, I believed that essentially the fection in the eyes of society, the Lesbian only secondarily pM of one or more than not such young women are not aware United States was contained in New York tries to rise above the second class status minority groups. Thrwale establishment is of sexual feelings, but of intense emotional City and the “outback” was populated by society accords the female. She pursues fond of listing wousn's liberation along feelings that they only later on learn, from the ignorant and the primitive. The authors activities society admires and these are with various minori^malc segments of the our male dominated psychological establish imagine that the gay (or homophile) move more often than not “male” activities, population, including gay liberation, as ment, can be labelled (or mislabelled) ment began and continues in New York activities that do not generally bring on an though women we« just one more mi “sexual.” While the male homosexual City only. The truth is that the movement attack of guilt. Neither I nor most of the nority. teaches Lesbians to think in terms of sex began in California which still leads the The book is diviM- into two parts, the Lesbians I have known have suiTered guilt only, not to mention the influence of male nation in social innovation, both worthy first part, happily, beag about Lesbians. It over our emotional orientation. The latter is 40 and absurd. Whflefc New York chapter of places, with Chicago as its center. sity of New Mexico, and finally Col That, plus Father Weeks, plus Rita the National O isan tio n for Women was While many readers may be thrilled umbia University where she received Mae Brown, are the three things that displaying sickeaiv anti-Lesbianism (wcU about all the “gay pride” talk in this book, an M.S. in Urban Planning. She has eventually got us into gay liberation. described in this ■task), the San Francisco I am always reminded of “pride goeth worked in an editorial capacity for B - When Rita Mae, whom we knew from chapter was welcamg Lesbians. With over before a falL” 1 am waiting for the day several publishers including McGraw- NOW, had a meeting, a very important 60% of the San ftradsco population listed when Lesbians will quite simply accept Hill. Ms. Abbott is presently Produc meeting, of Lesbians from gay libera in the 1970 Ceaaaas single, it is difficult themselves as human beings with their tion Editor of Foremost Americans tion and Lesbians from the women’s to bring about Stonewall riots and various faulU and virtues. I get very bored Publishing Company in New York movement, we went. That was like a coming together of the gay feminists. Christopher Streetw ts of confrontation in with being told 1 should strut around filled City.) ^ that most gay ofikrge cities. New York with pride at my Lesbianism. When we - Out of the meeting that night came seems at times *> be in the vanguard come full circle, perhaps we will see signs N - How did you get into Gay Liberation? three consdousness-raising groups. Out because it is m «luch more backward carried aloft proclaiming WHITE IS Were either of you in the old homo- of one of the groups came the idea of presenting the women’s movement socially that the f c west. What is news in WONDERFUl. and HETEROSEXUAL IS phile movement? New York is old l« m San Francisco. Nor HAPPY. B - 1 was in the bats - 1 knew the with a position paper on Lesbianism. ran we pjctend tkdlonly the coasts lead in movement existed and went over to That was to become “The Woman- social enBghtenmedlThe home of women’s (HOPE THOMPSON IS A PEN NAME DOB, but it seemed very depressing. Identified Woman”. How do you get it liberation seems t*#e the midwest, of all FOR RITA LAPORTE) Not that the bats weren’t depressing to them? Well . . . they’re having this but the bars at least had intrigue! DOB Second Women’s Congress, and they was kind of terrifying to me, because screwed us on the first one. So, wham! you didn't have the covers of the loud into the Second Women’s Congress as music and the drinks — it was just the Lavendar Menace! Intervie* with sterile stark despair! I was m the B - From then on we became thoroughly women's movement very, very heavily involved in Gay Liberation. Barbara Love and Sidney Abbott from ’68 and early ’69, was working N - Where have you gone since then? with Friedan and on employment B - We were in Radicalesbians during its (XMWTHORS OF SAPPHO WAS A RIGHT-ON WOMAN. founding months, then Sidney had to LA D D ER , N A N C Y T U C K ER issues. I got very heavily involved in INKRVIEWER FOR THE NOW, then went to Gay Liberation, go to New Mexico because her mother was extremely ill. We had been in a (Barbara J. bom in 1937 in edited and published FOREMOST and eventually went back to NOW to Radicalesbian consciousness-raising Montclair, Saa Jersey, attended WOMEN IN COMMUNICATIONS, an confront them on the Lesbian issue. group for a year, but found it all Purdue Univei«l^ and then Syracuse important reference work on women S - I worked with black people as an terribly mandatory, and also I didn’t University whne she graduated in in broadcasting, publishing, teaching unpaid resource person, then was em agree with their attitude tovrard the 1959. She haslid considerable editor and allied professions. ployed by them in an OEO program. I press (I want to work with the press ial experience, most recently as an went into Women’s Liberation at Col and they didn’t) and they didn’t want editorial write for CBS Television Sidney A. Abbott was bom in the umbia, which Kate Millett and a group Network. Ms. tore. President of Fore nation’s capital in 1937 and educated of others founded about the spring of to work with men, and I did. So I left. most Americ*»Publishing Company, first at Smith College, then the Univer- ’69. Then I lost a lover, and in the When Sidney came back and I told her profound despair of that became very I’d left Radicalesbians, well, we frightened about my future. I sud thought the world had shattered. But denly realized that 1 was over 30 and then 1 went over to GLF, and worked had lost a lover of over 7 years, was there for a while. I worked with the suddenly terrified of being a homo first Christopher Street Liberation Day sexual! I had always loved being a Committee and the Gay Celebration of homosexual! Barbara and 1 were start Love and Life on Christmas Eve, 1970. ing our relationship and we were both 1 began to find people who were wondering what the future could hold willing to work with the press and I for us; drifted through a fantastic did find people eventually who encom series of events - we were counseled passed my beliefs and philosophy as to by Father Robert Weeks of the how we should work. Now we’re Episcopal Church. Then one night we working all over the place. were sitting in the Hippodrome bar N - Do you think that you'll be going back when a litUe guy walked through. He into the Establishment when you was sort of chubby, and was just finish the book? smiling, smiling, smiling! He had a S - We have lived for two years a dropout petition, a very serious petition for lifestyle, but the time has come when GLF about an arrest case or some I’m a little tired of buying $5 jeans. thing. He said, “Would you sign this? There are things I want to do, books I The meetings ate Sunday night at the want to own. I think we’re saying that Church." That was the most outgoing this fall we’d very much like to go homosexual 1 ever met in my life! back and also continue work in the an active, independent creature when usual How about a rap on it? movement vriftone organization. We join it, because they can’t even keep all my girlfriends in school were ogling S - We will have been togetha two years might like to t e n a new organization jobs! We must get, at the very the men and watching them play in October. which wouldteentirely a work group, minimum, fair employment for homo football and basketball as an audience. N - How do you date it? a Lesbian ad iiit group with basically sexuals so they can come out on the S - My way of breaking early with the S - I date it from the first night we had a civil tights gaA which would use the streets and still have a job the next female sex role was by reading books real date, and we b ^ n going together techniques of s p and confrontation day. and being what was considered, for a fairly heavily about two weeks a fta and harassmeritif necessary. S - The Christopher Street parade was girl, an intellectual 1 had a confron that and 1 moved in about two months N — Do you thiiAyou’il have a hard time billed as going to have 25,000 people. tation with my aunt when I was 15 after that. going back iflinihe Establishment? But you’re not going to get 25,000 if when she said 1 absolutely had to give N - How did you meet? B - Yes. I haven^troken through all the people are terrified of losing their jobs. up reading books and using big words S - Through friends. barriers. I’ve m d it in the press and But if you work for fair employment because nobody would want to marry B - We met at a very down period in our I've worked stant with my family. But - you’ll get the 25,000! me - 1 had to be much smarter about lives. We both lost our lovers. As a to go all tb e n ^ l To go all the way ® - We don’t know if when this book catching a man! It made me give up on matter of fact, our lovers left us to go would be notlb have any fears con comes out we can get jobs. We have heterosexual relationships - if that with each other. fronting the «^Establishment people careers in very Establishment indus was what my mother and my aunt told S - When I met Barbara, and I understood I used to woAwith. I’ll have to have tries - myself in a Madison Avenue me, that wasn’t that I wanted - it how typical the story of how my lover myKlf very saah together, to be very sort of thing and Sidney as an urban meant giving up my total self in favor had left to go with her lover was, strong, becauaFU be alone. If you go plaiuier. We are typical of millions. of marriage and children and 1 Barbara rapped to me about the gay above 42nd Sheet as a Lesbian, you’re N - What are your family backgrounds? couldn’t do that! I realize now that subculture life, and I became terrified. very much alme in a hostile environ- ^ - I come from an upper middle class young heterosexuals can develop I was very scared of it. I didn’t want menL background that, while they consider things much betta, but at that time - all my relationships broken up. I N - Do you thak sou would be able to themselves liberal-ininded, they are the 40’s and the early 50’s - I didn’t want to go near typical gay life. draw closet g^fessional women into actually against anything original and couldn’t do it. It hadn’t been natural for me to go' this group y o ra n t to form? creative in human behavior. My back N - What about coming out? near it before - my lover had two S - Yes. And a te the women who have ground is that they still don’t like B - I went through the whole thing - children, we had a dog, and we had been purged bom NOW and the Jews, Blacks, miniskirts, pantsuits, or attempted suicide, the George Wash straight friends. I said I couldn’t live women who a e tired of working with Volkswagens! I never expect to be ington Bridge type thing. I was about that way. I also knew T couldn’t live men in CAAteause women’s issues accepted in my hometown and go 23, and it was before I even knew I alone in the world. Barbara had a carmot be cotefered because they are back to the country club as a Lesbian. was gay. 1 felt so silly when the saying that was a p^duct of ha in a tiny minteV- I’m breaking all the rules just by living policeman asked me why 1 was out experience - “Always;is six months, B - I’d like to a s k on something as in The Village! All of the children in there - how could I possibly tell him I forever is a year, and eternity is a year profound and with the impact as my family have broken a lot of the was in love with a woman? It sounded and a half’. When we just started to som ething teih the Advertising rules so I'm not exactly that far out. so ridiculous! The whole thing was so get togetha she said “Do you think Council, with bee money and free S - My father is a retired Army officer. He foreign and so tragic. And it was fuel we’ll be together always?” Then she time from adnntising agencies to do has a deep psychological under for Gay Liberation. laughed, and said “Of course we’ll be very “ pro** gay public service standing of where I am, though various N — Barbara, when did you find out you together always!”, and told me the announcement like they’ve done for things, like my mother’s death and his were gay? saying. This absolutely blew my mind! Blacks and teokey the Bear and remarriage, have prevented me from B - Wen, 1 guess 1 was having Lesbian And I realized that to literally survive, cancer and inteion and the war. The talking to him explicitly. Moving experiences for several years before I to avoid being on the George Washing Lesbian issue, be gay issue, fits within around as an Army child 1 realized even said Lesbian. Then 1 said ton Bridge myself, I had to find a new the criteria of topics they select for that thoe were different value situa “Lesbian” and hated myself. And then way of living. A big thing in my life is free public sento, worth perhaps $20 tions everywhere I wait. In some eventually liked it when Gay Libera that when you’re living alone with a million in adnnbsing time, all free! places girls were allowed to smoke and tion came around, and now I’m proud lover essentially in a straight world, You just need to convince them that in some places we were not allowed to of it! you come to cling to that lova far too this is a valil issue of injustice to smoke. Some places you could have N - Sidney, what about you? much. One major value change that people! I’m te> thinking that you sex as a teenager and some places you S - At 14 or 15 I thought I had invented I’ve had is in not feeling that 1 have to have to use b e big guns to get couldn’t I realized very early that Lesbianism, like a lot of young women cling so much to Barbara, that if she anybody. there w ae different value structures. I alone, because I wanted a different does see someone else or if 1 see N - What do you uant to see happen in went to Smith and am now finishing kind of relationship with a woman. I someone else, that it doesn’t have to the Gay Libeoten movement? up a Mastas at Columbia. And I want didn't have an explicit sexual exper cause a major upheaval. And I think B - We, along wito other people, have a to grow up to be a Most Ordinary ience until much later, though. that tile only reason that I did before vision of the te r e which we must live Lesbian, to feel natural and free. N - Have either of you had sexual ex was that 1 was just terrified of being to make come tore, regardless of the That’s my goal periences vrith men? alone. 1 feel a lot of the things from consequences. W re doing it for our- N • How do you feel you broke with early S - I think we’ve figured we’ve slept with the gay subculture and gay counter selves and fortobers and for millions sex role staeotyping? as many men as women. culture have enriched my life, and of people b elM us and ahead of us. B -- Being an athlete and having held a B - But it’s a qualitative thing - I didn’t have made me less afraid. We realize thattois movement some world’s record in swimming was very enjoy it. N - And now that this situation has how has got to put en'ort into pro important in my first breaking out N - Your relationship appears to be un happened - that each of you is seeing tecting 95% of Ae people who can’t from the role of Woman. It was being someone e l r - it doesn’t affect you as body that I’m going to sleep with her! should be, can be, or is, an extension ing for support from it even though it would havm the past? Although if that need is important and of a friendship, that there’s a natural they don’t believe that they could ever S - We keep fakig in love on different necessary, I will. continuum from having coffee and walk into a meeting. levels. It's S k a beautiful slow dive B — One of the things we’re trying and going to the movies to going to bed B - Our C-R group is reaUy a nucleus for a into a po<4 «f water. It seems to me realizing is that having an attraction to and talking and rapping and getting to lot of our thinking and out nourish that we’ve in love on about ten somebody or a good feeling or some know someone. I don’t quite think so, ment and pride, much more than a levels. thing that you want to culminate in because I think the cultural input theoretical group. B - Something uamual happened with me full expression does not mean that you against this is too strong. Being un S - It’s everything! It’s a social group, an with Sidney, Aat 1 th i^ is a tremen want to live with them, have a dog, clothed with another person, letting action group . . . dous breridbrough in my own have a house, be together forever. You another person touch yon, is the most B - A theoretical group, a network. It $ so personal life. Sidney is the first woman can have that good feeling and express deeply intimate, personal and revealing many things! It’s all very strong, Fve ever goaewith or become involved it without signing a contract on the thiiig you can do in our society. So positive people. All the people in our with that gnwfirst out of a friendship spot forever with a dog and house. The that I find that if yot' take this to the C-R group are, in some way or other, and an intActual communication. two don’t have to go together like love end of the continuum and have sex being counted upon by a lot of un Everything d a had been a bodily arul marriage and a horse and carriage you do have a responsibility to the known people. attraction aai a whole big heavy and aU that baloney. I think that other person because they have re N - Who is in the group? w hether-WBiild-even-tallc-the-same- separating these elements can be done. vealed themselves to you in a way that B - Oh, Kate Millett, Tina MandeL Isabei language-or-Mt thing, I thought it was There is danger in it - like there is in they reserve for very very few people. Millet and a good group df others who a real breakflaough — we could talk any experimentation — because you At this point in time actually taking a are writing books or ate otherwise and I got ol of that hangup of a don’t always know what the situation friendship into sex does bring in a active. One woman is making films on sexual deshcL For me that was the is. whole level of responsibility for that the new Lesbian life styles. All of this b^inning id a whole new way of n _ Would you recommend it for a lot of person. will eventuaUy, hopefuUy, provide looking at thi«s, a new value system, people? N - Your C-R group is very important in input and direction to miBions. This certainly. Qar relationship is very g _ Well, we’re doing it within a fantastic your lives and thinking, isn’t it? positive input is not only beautiful but solid. It’s n<< vulnerable because we context of ideological input and S - Our consciousness-raising group was it’s absolutely necessary to continue love each oAb ! It’s a very good support. When we went through this Barbara’s idea. The core problem for on in the front. Every p y activist relationship. Sa if a sexual attraction initially, Barbara started seeing some Lesbians in New York about a year or needs this - 1 don’t think you could or a commuaiaCion or some desire for one, and there was really support - so ago was that they were terribly find a gay activist who could do it someone else Avelops, our relation for her, for me, for both of us, fragmented. You had a large number, alone. ship is very d o le and encompassing without value judgment. The others in very hidden, in NOW. You had some N - What are your thoughts on Lesbianism and we doifk feel it’s threatening. the C-R group didn’t say you should in the radical women’s movement, and Women’s Liberation? Though we (fidia the b^inning. stay together or you shouldn’t stay DOB, Radicalesbians, and Gay liber S - We both think the Lesbian has a unique opportunity right now, versus S - Having the n a m e n t, the C-R group, together. What was so beautiful to me, ation Front Women. And no one was and each oflmi, we are really very and this was the first time I really taiUng to anyone — each group had the male homosexual because of the women’s movement. As I see it right privileged, people! People who came to trust gay people in a deep The Truth! Initially we called it the now there is no natural way for men don’t have afl ¿ is can really be more sense, was that it was support and Great International Consciousness- to get together as openly heterosexual vulnerable. U k the problem I had caregiving to both of us. Raising Group! The idea was to take and openly homosexual The women’s when relating*someone else was that B - I don’t recommend anything to one or two people from each group or movement deals all the time with she had very deep gut needs which anybody! It’s a very personal kind of organization. It had to be on an issues of independence and autonomy were not being taken care of, whereas thh]g that you go through. You have invited basis because they had to be to evaluate constantly the value of able to talk. We had the President of which relate to where gay women are. my deep gut aed s were being taken It can be brought up very naturally. care of! It w s an inequity. We honesty versus practicality and danger. New York NOW and two other com You make different decisions at dif mittee chairwomen from NOW, DOB, We really have a historical opportunity couldn’t enjoy the unique aspects to communicate with straight people, ferent times. For us, we felt together Radicalesbians, GLF Women, and Gay which came m t of doing things women particularly, in a natural and together becaaw she had needs which enough to perhaps explore without People at Columbia. In all, about 14 danger. Maybe a few months earlier it women. After about a year of this, open fashion. The two groups can get were not being fulfilled and 1 didn’t to know each other in a way that’s would have been more dangerous. So although some people have left and want to subvot my own needs. I never before been possible. The much of this involves where you’re at, other people have come in, it has would have hid to withdraw from women’s movement is a laboratory for where the other person’s at, and where become the core of a communications Barbara too nnnft in order to meet her discovering how to confront the needs. So 1 «mnd up feeling very you want to go. It’s also an explor network. A new thing that has ation of how much and what sex happened in the C-R group is that we deepest psychological fears that guilty, very baR. and cooled that re- strai^t people have. This is an oppor means. Does it need to redirect your have admitted a woman who, for lack lation^ip. Anddte had to cool it too tunity that gay men don’t have. whole life? of anything else, can be called a because it woaK have been destruc B - The goals of Women’s Liberation and I think it’s a realistic position. I don’t professional woman. She has intro tive. Such an iotnction with another S - Gay Liberation I see as so much the think we’re saying that everyone duced us to Lesbians who are really person may or m v not involve going same they parallel each other. When should do this. I fmve come to a into the Establishment and who don’t to bed. It has m be important and you hear a feminist talk about feminist tentative conclusion on sex. The identify with any of the existing gay necessary - it iidt a license for having goals, you can sit there as a Lesbian political point of view in the move groups. They are tremendously inter a good time. ItAesn’t mean that if I and identify all the way through in see somebody ala party with a groovy ment is that a sexual relationship ested in Gay Liberation and are look terms of iiApendence, in terms of answers as to who we are and what we too!” What we’ve really been doing all prinutive age, but we’re living in a way women lovqftnd valuing each other, want to do. Rather we’ve found a along is exploring, unknowingly and that they may want to live and are in terms at control over your own whole new perspective and pride that unconsciously, with life, with what talking about living. We have this body. The WBten’s movement won't sheds a new light on everything that may be a future lifestyle for hetero whole new viewpoint! It’s most listen to Leslim issues, although parts we’ve ever done and want to do that sexuals. We’re way ahead of them in exciting! of it have. ¥«■ almost have to gain a demands a re-analysis of everything some ways. They think we’re back in a captive audieaee, like at the Second that we’re doing. Women's Oagtess, and make them S - I was talking to a woman who is not in listen, becHB society is afraid of the movement and I was describing to hearing this! If they do allow them her our C-R group, which is now There Are selves to uafastand, they may be overlapping also friendship, inteF changed by Ms understanding, and lectual and sexual worlds, and she said, then begin to accept gay people, and “Well, that sounds like my group of No Gypsies in New York City then they a s vulnerable to accepting gay friends” , and so-and-so had an it within thesBlves! This is a tremen affair with so-and-so, and so forth. She By SUSAN DAILY dous threat, ja t listening to it. described this with so much jealousy, The walls and the furniture were of one street in such a way that they could not get S - Homosexuaktoto any movement must fear and pain! As Barbara says, we've dimension. There was no way of distin out. She had been far less interested in that accept that we are a real threat to been here before but we’re in a new guishing where one ended and the other than everyone else because she had been heterosexuaU We are a threat to the place. began. It was the seventh day she had staring into the window of a basement entire lifestyle on which this country B - Our heads are in a different place. gotten out of bed after falling asleep at apartment. The window was like the is built, whaft affects the economic $ - It’s not that different from what dawn only to fmd that everything was window of a store front, and it said, system, and the rest We are not heterosexuals do or what gay people much more the same than different. She “Fortunes Told, Cards Read, Palms.” There just other p ^ ^ e who are just like do except that we’re thinking about imagined spreading her life out as if it were was a velvety curtain pulled to the side, and heterosexuals with the same ambitions what we’re doing and we’re trying not a map and walking across the years one foot she knew that the curtain was usually and all . . . to fuck over other people. We’re trying after another. It would be posribte, that drawn to separate the living quarters from B - The most iaportant link between not to exploit someone else! way, for half of her to be in elementary the front room. The woman who told the Women’s Ubcmtion and Gay Libera- B - Some people reading this in THE school and half of her to be nineteen. With fortunes was sitting on a couch before a bon is the m o l e stereotyping. That LADDER will say this isn’t any dif small bare feet she crossed thfe room, sewing machine, and her two children, both is the issue dtot has brought accusa ferent from the bar scene. But the bag counting the steps that it took. It always naked to the waist, both curly4iaired and tions of lasbian-Dyke into the is having to stay together - the took eleven steps, but she always counted dark-eyed, one a small girl, the other a women's nsHcment from the very jealousy, the fear, the clinging. In anyway. slightly older boy, were running out of the beginning - tie understanding that Other words, we’re trying to get rid of She had piled her clothes up in the apartment, onto the sidewalk, and back they are bictoiBg out of the role of all of the barnacles on these relation corner through the week, and now she again. It was a kind of game. She could not “Woman” , «üdi “ Lesbian” has done ships. On the most elementary level found herself bending over the h e ^ of stop staring at them, at their dark rippling in many, m a^ ways. Lesbians realize the situations seem the same, but on a fabrics, wondering why she was dressing at hair, at their dark smouldering eyes, at the that they ha* broken the appropriate more profound level there are in alL Her hair was caught in her fmgers (she necklaces they both wore about their necks. behavior patfeas for women in many credible changes wliich do a great deal had begun to comb it with them), and she In the back of the apartment, there were other ways tía»just going to bed with to free people from the pain that goes had had to extricate her hand before two beds, and a man was resting on one of women. with the total dependency thing. choosing something to wear. The apartment them. Then one of the women she was with N - What is the (ssonal result of your S - What we’re trying to do is do this was silent and dark because she had pulled had begun to press down on the horn of the involvement mGay Liberation? within a value structure, an ethical down the blinds that morning, but there truck, and the man got up off the bed and S - What 1 have ^ l e d from all of this is structure, so that you don’t exploit were noises coming from the street. It was came out and moved the truck. Then they the value of hm for my gay brothers and take advantage of other people the noise outside that finally persuaded her had to go, and she got into the car with the and sisters, arf to not be afraid of and play on their fears and bring your to wriggle into her blue shirt, her blue others. them. own needs into a situation which pants. She wondered if that was what she It was not because her romantic illusions B - For many yesbefore Gay Liberation cannot answer them. had chosen yesterday, but she couldn’t had been dispelled that she felt so de I was in the b9 community and in the B - As Lesbian activists we have a whole remember. pressed. On the contrary, it was because bars. 1 utobvalued consistently new viewpoint on life. We’re exploring She went into the kitchen and began to there was something genuinely otherly in because I th a ^ t gay was bad and new ways of living. Here Lesbianism boil some water. Her fingers were long and the faces of the children, something that non-gay was to®d. 1 saw all my gay isn’t even accepted yet and we’re bony, and in her wrist several blue veins made it terribly wrong that they should be friends, induM i myself, as inferior to talking about being in multiple rela wriggled and pulsed. The way that she bent living in a world without even the mystery all my s tra in friends. Now that was tionships, which other people would her head over her arm released waves of of trees, where a drawn curtain and a pink something tlat completely changed say is promiscuous. And they’d say, chestnut hair, and all but concealed her neon sign should be the entire sum of the when Gay LiMation came around - I “Oh, 1 always knew homosexuals narrow, pale face. She was thinking of the past. Soon, how soon she did not know, eventually saw all my gay friends as couldn’t stay together and couldn’t last time she had been in New York City. they would be as separate from one another superior. Now 1 sec them as very make a life together” ! It’s hard for us She had been going to a bar with a group of as the outside room was from the one-room strong, couragenis people. I began to to go beyond the Lesbian thing which women, and they had walked to where the apartment behind. The little girl would value myself more. Through Gay has already freaked them out and say, cat was parked only to find that there was always be clothed to the waist, and she Liberation we baven’t found all the “Yeah, and we’re into new lifestyles. an empty truck parked in the middle of the would learn to separate the dream from reality, the table fam the sewing machine, The week was ostensibly for writing, but Lisa strode into the livingroom and they took turns taking care of him. Jamie the women from thrmen. she had not written either. She couldn’t snatched up her box of cigarettes. She put was alternately demanding and noisy and The water was bBiling. She made herself even remember if she had begun the book on some music and sat down in the comer. silent and moody. He hated going to some coffee. She lad a deck of Tarot cards she was reading that day or earlier. The She started to pick up her book, and then school.. He and Lisa eyed one another herself. The last tiaa that she had laid them days ran together. The blmds were always she remembered that Anne was coming silently each time they saw each other, out, the pictures bri stared up at her as flat closed, the light was always the same. The over, and that she really didn’t have lime to neither quite knowing what to say. and blank as the ^gntment walls. One of clock was stopped at five, A.M. or P.M., she read into the next chapter. It was too bad “Have you written anything lately?” the cards was red sad gold, with a lion, the didn't know which. because she liked the book. It was about a Anne asked. Her round eyes rested Ughtly sun, and the lauglav face of a child within ‘Today, this week, since 1 last saw you. woman who tried to murder her husband. on Lisa’s face. The touch of them was not it. She had fled fn m it, folding all the cards Have you been writing?” It occurred to her that the apartment demanding, not even questioning, really. It together and stackag them in a comer of “No. 1 don't know what I have been probably reeked of tobacco and the stale was the look of someone in the habit of her desk. She haddt looked at them since. doing. Getting to bed at dawn. Getting up smell of convalescent homes. The smell of being gentle and sensitive to other people’s That was when Ac had stopped writing late. 1 haven’t been going out.” hours of inactivity settled into layers and moods. Lisa studied her hands. down her dreams, Aapped writing entirely. Anne was puzzled. Lisa could see her compressed. It would upset Anne. She “No, not so much. I haven’t written for She had spent taw weeks afterward punc neat, small face making a querulous face, a began picking up glasses and cups, began to quite a while. I sometimes think that I tually going out at ten, walking about the compliment to the pause, a physical empty ashtrays, opened a window. She shouldn’t be.” city streets till noK, and returning home comma. “Well, you didn't come to the went into the bathroom and washed her “Why not? That seems sUly. I mean, if for lunch. She had decided to find a job. party, and 1 figured that you were probably face. She turned the record over and sat you don’t want to, you shouldn’t, but I Things being the w y that they were, it writing. Have you been depressed?” down to listen to it and wait for Anne. don’t understand why you should feel that seemed as meaninglaa to attempt to make a Lisa wondered where in her tall, long When the doorbell rang, she took a you shouldn't. " private and persondlerder out of everything body she stored whatever it was that made glance about to try to see the room as Anne At one time, Anne and Lisa had been as to deny that thoe was an order. When all her friends so maternal toward her. would. It was bare, the wood floor was lovers, and it was of this that Lisa thought she worked, the Hhnd monotony of the “Yes. I am. I am depressed because there slightly dusty, the books crowded together now. Her eyes narrowed. Vividly she could days seemed inevitalie and honest, at least. are no more gypsies.” on the bookshelves, her chair sat stolidly in see the wide bed in Anne’s room, and the But even that h A ’t worked. Of course, Anne did not know what to answer to the corner. It would do. She answered the branches of the tree outside her window. she knew that it «Mldn't. In a masochistic that. “WeU, would it be alright for me to door. Lisa had sat in a hard-backed chair by the frenzy, she had boBine an interviewer for come over and visit, or would you rather be Anne stood in the doorway with her window, naked and somewhat chilled, the personnel depaHnent of a huge depart alone?” sketchbook tucked under one arm. She watching the morning subtly changing ment store. For weeks she had a^ed “No, come over,” Lisa said, “I’d like to looked tidy and pulled together, as she colors. Anne had slept like a young girl her trembling young wooen their work history, see you. I’m really not all that depressed. 1 always did, and her short hair had been knees almost touching her chest, the had filed cards, hid been "Miss Andrews.” just haven’t talked to anyone lately, and 1 cropped even shorter. She was not taller blankets all swirled about her, her body the She was overcome % shame and anger each don’t know what to say.” than five feet, and today she wore a crisp, center, the central point. Her face had been time she perfomwi the ritual (d questions “Does it have anything to do with me?” well-pressed shirt and clean blue slacks. Lisa slightly flushed, and the area about her eyes and answers. She fr^ed off the approaches Lisa shook her head in exasperation. It was glad to see her, surprised as she always was white. Lisa had gotten dressed almost of men in the A x , ate alone, never seemed as if she only had relationships with was at how much surety and tranquillity silently, with as little movement and sound emanated from this small woman. She smiled. And the kwg-boned, dirty-finger- people based on their sense of guilt or as possible, and had walked home. It had tened over and kissed her, and took her nailed women wiie came in looking for maternity. Perhaps that was because she been cold, and Lisa had thought that it hand and led her into the apartment. work sent her throigfa spasms of humilia was usually alone, and her friends were might snow. Her hair was damp on the “Well,” Lisa said, finding herself smiling, tion and anger «ill herself. When she usually with other people. She had never underside, and she had tucked it under her “you look wonderful fm glad you came finally quit, she diV t even return to pick been able to explain that even when she was collar as if it were a scarf. That afternoon, with other people, that night in New York over.” she had been all but paralyzed, and she sat up her last check, lifer, when her money Anne slipped off her jacket and sat b^an to run out, ^ w a s angry about that. City, for example, she was more often than in her own bedroom with her legs tucked down on the couch. She put down her under her and the sound of the telephone It was five o'clodk of the same day, she not removed, her thoughts somewhere else. sketchbook, her small hands resting for a was sitting in the o n e r of the livingroom “No, Anne, it doesn’t have anything to ringing in her ears. do with you.” moment on its cover. “I’m glad to see you “l^ y , Lisa?” Anne asked again. reading when the tftphone began to ring. too, Lisa.” She put down the baft and answered i t “Oh.” Lisa met Anne’s soft eyes. “1 find it very Lisa gestured to the sketchbook. “Have difiicult to try to explain, Anne.” She knew “Lisa?” She wondered if that was the wrong tlun| to say, if she should have said that it you been doing new drawings? I mean, that her face was always being read by her “Uh-huh," she a d , scribbling on a pad ànce I saw you last?” that she kept by t e phone. Her cigarettes did, so that Anne might feel that she were friends, and that what it said was always included in some way in Lisa's week apart Anne shrugged apologetically. “WeU, being interpreted toward their own con were in the other raan. She would have to I’ve been trying to. It’s hard because I don’t excuse herself to get Aem. from her, apart from everyone. clusions. Usually they felt guilty. It was have an awful lot of time. Jamie is taking a what motivated her to explain, to over* “If s Anne,” theaice said. “I meant to call you sooner,” Anne said. “Look, Anne, could 1 go and get a lot of my time. We went to the zoo explain, to be repetitious and verbose. She “ Hi.” yesterday, and for a little while I sat on a “I was thinking id coming over to see cigarette?” Lisa asked, her fingers drum was always engaged in a struggle between bench and drew, but then he got tired and the way she seemed and the way she felt. you tonight.” ming on the tabletop. wanted to go home.” “Alright,” Anne said, not meaning, "Okay.” “Why don’t 1 hang up and come over,” Jamie was seven, Anne’s son by a brief “Alright, don t tell me," but meaning, “What have you te n doing?” Anne said. and unhappy marriage. Anne lived with “Alright, I’ll wait until you have thè "When?” Lisa te e d , confused. She “Alright. See you later.” four other women in a large, old house, and words.” hadn't .seen any of t e friends for a week. “Bye.” “I suppose k ^ s t feels like a cheat “No,” Lisa said, "1 am afraid of not nodded. opened the door and slipped out. sometimes.” She Iftought of Anne asleep, being myself and being accepted for what At the door, Anne stopped and turned Lisa turned and went into the living- she thought of Ae fortune teller, she I’m not.” about. Her eyes were soft and encompassing room. Her chair was waiting for her and her thought of the cats. “If it showed how all “You don’t give other people very much again. Lisa felt rigid, frozen like an animal book. She saw that the books in the these different connect in my life, if credit then.” in the light of a headlight. Every motion bookshelf were making up their minds to it showed what Ae undercurrent is that “No,” Lisa said, a little ashamed for that she made seemed to take hours. She fall to the floor in a waterfall of bindings makes me and aakes people act the way beginning the conversation, wondering what knew that she should find something to say. and paper and noise some day very soon. they do, decide A r things that they do, it her motives had been. “I guess n o t But it “I could stay if you didn’t want to ^ She saw that she left footprints in the dust wouldn't be a clnt. But somehow it never doesn’t make me any happier to be rejec alone,” Anne said. on the floor, and that the footprints met does. Saying it, s honest as I try to be, ted. I guess 1 believe that I am sometimes “I know,” Lisa said, feeling ugly and one another and crossed, and crossed again, hides it.” worth loving, but that other people mean touching her unwashed, long hair. “But it and that in the very center of the room the “I still don’t BC," Anne said. something else than I do by loving some wouldn’t help.” trail was obliterated by so many crossings. “ Alright,” Lh said, taking a dewp one.” “It might help me,’’ Anne said. “It She thought that that was probably very breath. “Maybe dTs because I don’t think “So you avoid everything by isolating might help me to understand, Lisa.” important, that it probably meant some that anyone has'flr right to stand aside and yourself, you only communicate by writing, “That’s what I meant,” Lisa said, “ that thing, and that if ¿re could just find the watch and make ji^em ents. We all have to and then you see through that and com it wouldn’t help you,” and she sighed, and time to sit and think about it, someday she make judgements some kind, we all do, pletely se^ yourself off by not even doing added, “There are no gypsies in New York might know what. But she thought that she but it’s the wordlind of deception for us that.” City." probably never would have the time. to pretend that we don’t, that we are “Yes,” said Lisa, and said it with the “Well, alright,“ Anne said coldly and separate from eveqthing that happens to us fmality of “no.” She felt wonderful She and around us. And when people are felt as if she had been swimming upward reading, or for 4 ct matter, when I am through a thick fog and had at last reached writing, 1 am ptataiding just that. I’m not the surface. She felt buoyant, lucid, and By BETTE-JEAN DARST’ being where I I’m not dealing with clear-eyed. FIRST SECRET where I am. I’m v a lly rearranging where I Anne put her hands, her small, fine was, saying howlriiould have dealt with it. hands over her face. Lisa looked up. She Rene had seen her the past two Rene kept Bess at a slow walk down the And as long as I Imp doing that. I’ll never crossed the room and put her arms about Sundays, both at the stable w aiti^ for her street Her brother and his two friends had deal with anything.” Anne. The small woman was damp and mount and on the bridle path where she gone on ahead. When she crossed over into “You are w hK you were when you’re warm and fluid. Her tears had the wonder gave Rene a brief little nod as she cantered die park she urged the hone into a brisk writirig about it, though, Lisa. Or so it ful effect of melting her whole body. Lisa by. She had a perfect seat. Shoulders back, trot, posting easily with the mare’s strides. seems to me. Wt(t is it any worse to be held her, marveling at how soft she was, biills of her English booted feet light against The path was soft and spongy and the trees alone and write I t e to be alone and think? how her breath came out in little sobs of the irons, heels well down and hands that stood in clusters on each side, locking their What’s wrong witki, anyway?” warmth. She didn’t know what to say. She seemed always quiet and controlled, never arms together overhead to form a canopy of Anne’s warm made Lisa feel almost opened her mouth to try to say something, deviating from their position above the green. One moment a rider was in the angry. It didn’t «Bn possible that Anne and she closed it again. The memory of that withers. She rode either Shamrock, a sunlight and the next in a shaded bower. could look at her with that soft, under cold winter morning silenced her. It would Chestnut gelding, or Snow, a big Bay who The thick (foliage bhirred the noise from standing look, a ii not understand at all. be so simple to merge into the warm was, Rene’s brother said, a man’s horse. the streets and the dirt path led enticingly She turned the of her hands upward fluidity of Anne’s tears, to cry with her, to Somehow the girl fascinated Rene. Her on and on, twisting in gentle curves then in a motion of enftfness, of the futility of make love. It would be so easy to be drawn brother disliked her because she was neither following the slope of a hilL Rene heard hoofbeats behind her and saying more. It s ^ l am empty of words, I into that fog of breath and emotion. shy nor particularly friendly and would not turned about. There was Inga sitting to a cannot explain mg more. Surely Anne Already she could feel herself under the look with awe upon his riding ability. slow canter. Rene collected her reins and could understand This beautiful Lesbian jewelry is all sterling silver. To order, send ring size (ask at a jeweler) or buckle width, with a check or money order and the number of the item you want. Postage is included. Send your order to Lammas, Box 8957, Washington DC 20003. Complete LADDER Index from October 1956 through September 1972 250 double-columned pages $&tD individuals; $6 to institutions requiring billing Order 'immediately so we may determine press run. Payment must accompany order. ONEfWMTING ONLY! AVAILABLE AFTER OCT. 15,1972 THE LEaiAN BACK ISSUES IN LITERATURE will continue to be available. ASUiography by Write for cost of full volumes. Geneitanon & Lee Stuart 7 random issues, $10 $2.25 THE LADDER 15 random issues, $20