N I K Y E I I K M a Y Id T I «

N I K Y E I I K M A Y I d T I « . f O - STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR . • THE SAN FRANCISCO CHAPTER OP THE. - SISTERS \ DAUGHTERS, OF BILITIS- ' ^ . a magazine for all gay women by the a woman's organization for the imrposes of aiding San Francisco Chapter of the lesbian to discover her place in society and The Daughters of Bilitis of educating society to understand and accept her, Vol. 2 - 5 MAY 1971 without prejudice, and . „ • OFFICERS PHONES 1. To encoxirage and support the lesbian in her President -. vacant search’ for her social, ecohomic, personal, inter Vice President - Jackie 756-6690 personal and vocational identity within society Secretary - Marcy Sinclaire S6I-S6S9 by maintaining a growing library on the themes of Treasurer - Diane ■ 771-9170 homosexuality and of women in general; by pro viding social functions where she can coagaunicate SISTERS STAFF with others and expan4 her social world outside- Editor - Karen Wells . the bar scene; by providing an organized structure Poetry - Terry Ryan • throu^ which she can work to change society's , Art - Jenny Inge limitations upon her life-style; by providing a Production: forum for the interchange of ideas and probl^s Jackie L., Robin, Jenny, Diane, Dorothy, within her own group. , - . Marley, Terry, Irene, Michelle, Carol 2. To educate the public to accept and Tinjderst^d TABLE OF CONTENTS the lesbian as an individual, eventually' to the breakdown of taboos, prejudices limi Problems of the Aging Lesbian, Dr. Ruth tations upon her life-style by sponsoring public McGuire........... p. 1 discussions; by providing individuals as speakers Graphology,. What's That? Marley................. p. 4 and participants in various forums. designed to Statements from the Presidential Candidates......p. 6 educate the public; by disseininaticm of education al and rational literature on the lesbian.-- Calendar of May Events........................... p. 7 NOW AVAILABLE..................................... p. 9 3. To encourage and.s\;q^rt and participate in responsible rese«crcll dealing with homosexuality. Brown's Bill (AB 437) IS Progress, Janet........ p.lO Letters, open and otherwise................. '. ...p.l2 k » To investigate the penal,çpde as it pertains to the homosexual and to p^jCHBOte chaugés» pro News from the Front Lines....................... p.l5 viding equitable halËilipg-Of cases involving I homosexuals, through dué process of law, trithout prejudice. , SISTERS is a monthly magazine for all gay women. Any and all contributions of whatever form are welcome. The editor is in her office five mornings a week for your contributions, or criticisms. PROBI£MS OF IHE OLDER LESBIAN hy Dr. Ruth McGuire sufficiently to keep them at their work of pro We began our discussion of the problems of dging viding food and shelter (viiich was her link to her women and particularly of aging Lesbians in the survival chain) to learn the techniques of effect April issue of SISTERS, We suggested that the age ive behavior in groups with other women. We see of ’’aging”, for the purposes of this discussion, be undeniable evidence of this instinctual lack in the considered generally to be those years when a woman non-effective attempts of women grouping today. Some is in or through the menopause cycle, and on up into day this lack will be reversed. One day, in some dis the most advanced years. That the Lesbian of any age tant millennium, the female of the species will have has problems different from her heterosexual sister was learned effective behavior in groups, but as of now, mod discussed briefly and now, in this issue, we will dis ern woman is seriously disadvcintaged with this basic cuss in more detail some of the significantly different handicap. Furthermore, throughout the world, the folk problems aging Lesbains encounter, ways and mores of every cultural and ethnic group are in Man, the species of, is generally conceded to be herently committed to perpetuating this disability. the most highly ’’developed” in the animal kingdom, at We acept, then, that women begin their human exist least as far as we know— though his violence and unpro'- ence cycle with a devastating generic handicap. That they voked cruelty to his own kind in unparalled in any low survive at all is due to their remarkable adaptability, er animal, Man is by his very nature gregarious. His resilience, and ingenuity. Or, as Dr, Al Montague has Instinct is to live in groups, not alone. Most men feel so correctly affirmed, to their "natural superiority”. better and function most efficiently in groups because IVomen can adapt, compromise, and endure; their "staying they feel safer and more powerful. The hermit or ’’lon power” is phenomenal! Heterosexual women survive with er” is the unusual personality. bits and pieces of "reward” from the support of families, The male of the species has learned through evol mates and children— ^woven into a fabric of a kind of ego utionary history the values of functioning in groups of strength that makes existence tolerable. From these sources men. The instinct to do so is now deeply implanted the heterosexual woman receives abundant opportunity for in his archaic unconscious. Men learned this pattern close, intimate interpersonal contact that provides her with early, first from the necessity of hunting in groups companionship, assistance in many practical ways* and, per for food, and then for physical security, n group of haps most important of all— her group (society’s) okay be men could slay a large animal where one man could not. cause she appears to be saluting the flag and following the Later, groups of men could collect more of other food party-line of acceptable behavior psattems as stipulated by items than a single man could do. And, a group of men her group codes. could better ward off danger in the form of attack, One of the most comforting "rewards” the heterosexual whereas one man could not. woman receives is society’s treatment of her when she be These vitally necessary activities in which groups gins to age. If at this time, she becomes widowed, divor took part gave men a common bond— shared experience. ced, or is for other reasons "alone" she still has her From this grew the patterns of men grouping together for group’s approval for she has obviously Done Right and will pleasure of all varieties, from the comforting reassur be accorded the respect and attention she deserves and the ance of talking in tribal councils to the exhilirating comforting-reassurances due her will continue. She still has challenge of sporting competitions. easy access to companionship, assistance, and consideration The female of the species has had a different ex from her family, if any be left, and friends. perience down through our evolutionary history. The in The homosexual woman, and especially the aging Lesbian, stinct for grouping and cooperative effort did not get has few if any of the expectancies that are the support and imbedded deeply into her archaic unconscious. Women were defenses of her heterosexual sister. The Lesbian has ex too busy nurturing human infancy and caring for the men perienced, usually, rupture of basic familial ties, often early in her life cycle and thus is without that initial source of strength. She usually has not married nor boi*n children or if she has, her access to easy, readily GRAPHOLOGY? WHAT'S THAT? available persttial ind intimate contacts are damaged. Sheer comfortable companionship or practical assist£ince by Marley is often totally impossible for the aging Lesbian. She faces her advancing years with not only the universal preoccupation that people have today female handicaps previously described, but without the bits with discovering themselves, their "true identity " and pieces of ’’reward" that provide the acceptable compro their inner self, their purpose in life? There are mise available to the aging heterosexual woman. It is this many explanations for this, but whatever the reason woman who knows and lives with aloneness. as well as with I have been swept along in the tide. I can remember the loneliness that often devastates the heterosexual wo using the word psychology when I was 8 years old, man as well, but with compounded stress and constriction. inferiority complex when I was 9, and I knew what it The aging and aged of both sexes are victims of the ^ remember I have been searching most \aiique and devastating psychological prejudice, which for MY "true identity" and the answers, reasons we often do not realize. There is an apalling prejudice causes for behavior in myself and others. Along about against the aged simply for being old. They are the re 15 years of age, I discovered graphology and have been minders to others of every man’s mortality. Women fare into It ever since. worse than men as recipients to this prejudice— they live longer than men and in doing so are hated for outliving What is graphology? it is the analysis of one's men and for being around longer to emphasize the future handwriting to determine intelligence, imagination, condition awaiting the young. emotional stability, social adjustment, drives and We have taken this time and space to describe, in creative potential. over-brief admittedly, the debits and credits with >diich the homosexual woman is equipped to manage her life cycle. There is also a study in medical graphology in Any discussion of particulars or "spelling it out" like it which illness the writer may have or is prone to get is today cannot be undertaken without this frame of refer can be detected. For example, one medical grapho ence fully understood. logist in New York has been able to determine cancer In the next issue we shall consider the very specific, in individuals five years before it shows up on a immediate reality problems that the Lesbian of auiy age medical examination.

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