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Table of Contents

Herland Voice August 2009

Rep Sally Kern’s “Proclamation” Calls for Community Response

The ACLU of Oklahoma and other civic organizations are troubled by Representative Sally Kern’s “Oklahoma Citizen’s Proclamation for Morality” which was signed by Kern and others in a public ceremony held at noon, Thursday, July 2nd, on the first floor of the State Capitol. Kern has issued a divisive and inaccurate proclamation.

The proclamation blames the economic downturn we are currently experiencing on abortion, pornography, divorce and same sex marriage, among other things. Kern does not mention the greed of Wall Street elitists or the inability of our government to effectively regulate questionable financial practices that might be the true cause of our nation’s economic difficulties. Her proclamation is silent to meaningful solutions to address the very issues she blames for the “downturn of morality.” Kern’s proclamation, which amounts to a hate–filled diatribe, is full of inaccuracies. This proclamation alienates thousands of Oklahomans who are adherents to minority faiths or who practice no faith. It is unfortunate that she and others would promote such a divisive manifesto at a time when Oklahomans need to pull together to weather this current crisis. Oklahoma is home to a diverse community, which should be respected and effectively represented.

The ACLU of Oklahoma – and other organizations and houses of worship – stood against this proclamation along with other Oklahomans who believe in acceptance and equality for all. For more information and to read a copy of the proclamation, go to www.acluok.org

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HIV Travel Ban – Action Alert

The Department of Health and Human Services published a proposed rule on July 2 that will remove HIV from the list of conditions that prevent HIV+ foreign nationals from entering the United States.

The way the rule works now, an HIV+ person living and working in the U.S. cannot go to their home country to visit family, or go out of the U.S. on business, and be allowed back into this country.

There are several ways to support the change.
Sign the online petition at: www.immigrationequality.org
Email a personal comment to: part34HIVcomments@cdc.gov
Submit a comment online at: www.regulations.gov

The deadline for public comment ends on August 17th, 2009.

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OKC Lightning Recruiting New Team Members

While the OKC Lightning women’s football team is not participating in the 2009 season, the team is holding tryouts for next year. They will devote their efforts to reorganizing and preparing for a winning team in 2010.

This is the first year in 8 years that the team has not competed in the competitive women’s football season.

The tryouts requirements are that each woman be age 18 or older, have proof of insurance, and submit the fee of $25 to cover coaching and other expenses.

The tryouts will be held Sunday, August 9th at 3 pm, at Washington Park, 400 N High Ave, OKC.

The team recently participated in the OKC Pride Festival and Parade, and the Edmond Fourth of July Parade.

Contact the team at 850–8720, online at www.okclightning.com or on Facebook.

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STATE OF THE ARTS IN A RED STATE

Here, the eye moves outward with the flat land
toward the far edge of more space that most can stand.
The Cheyenne, Arapaho, Comanche who roamed here
following the humpbacked herds
over the rolling oceans of grass,
called this place the horizontal yellow,
when nothing else but sky broke the grand sweep of distance.

Now, phallic forms tower whitely from the
flatness, erect grain bins, prairie cathedrals, giant
wind machines, give definition to the endless air
and counterpart to tiny bright clusters of poets, artists,
branded as “the other,” who persevere, huddled
against the winds of self righteousness and fundamentalism,
who add a welcome dimension to this raked stage,
hanging by their fingernails, suspended
over the edge of the known world.

Dorothy Alexander 2009

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Meet Dorothy Alexander

When you meet Dorothy Alexander you might remember her easy laughter, her fedora, her intensity. Alexander is a retired attorney, who practiced law in rural western Oklahoma for 35 years, and is a self–taught poet, storyteller, writer, and co–owner of Village Books Press. Her Press has published 25 books, 24 of which are Oklahoma writers. Recently, she served as Chair of the Woody Guthrie Poets, arranging the sixth annual poetry reading at the Woody Guthrie Free Folk Festival in Okemah.

Her workshops, poetry readings, book discussions, and story projects take her all over the state. She has authored 6 books of poetry and stories, the most recent, “Lessons from an Oklahoma Girlhood,” was a finalist for the 2008 Oklahoma Book Awards. It is a collaboration with Oklahoma women artists who created visual art in response to her poetry.

As a publisher, she is interested in the diversity of voices that speak to what it means to be human, and speak it well. She thinks that there are many more people who are better writers these days, in part due to the technology of the internet, with more opportunities to study the craft of writing, and there is just more writing on blogs and sites like Facebook.

As a writer, she is excited about the many venues for OK poets and writers, such as the Scissortail Reading Fest and the Red Dirt Book Fest. There are also many poetry readings, especially in OKC: the Slam Poets every Wednesday at Galileo’s Cafe, the open mike readings at the Queen of Sheba restaurant on 1st Thursdays, the Benedict Street Market in Shawnee on 3rd Thursdays, and at the IAO Gallery on the 4th Friday of each month.

She recommends finding readings and discussion groups at www.okpoetryportal.org and www.poetryartsok.org. Contact Dorothy at www.villagebookspress.com.

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Pagan Pride Day in Norman

The first Pagan Pride Day Festival will be held September 26, at Andrews Park in Norman. The organizers will have vendors, a pagan craft contest, music and dancing. The all day event is set for 10 am to 5:30 pm.

The applications for vendors, volunteers, and entertainers are on the website: www.okc–ppd.com.

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Nat’l Stonewall Democrats elect Oklahoman

Linda Gray Murphy to Executive Board

Under the re–organization plan approved by the Board of directors and membership in 2008, the new board is comprised of thirteen pro–equality Democrats from around the country who represent the diversity of the community, and bring a wealth of experience to the organization.

The new Board of Directors elected Melissa Sklarz of New York, and Shane Larson of South Dakota as Co–Chairs, Christopher Massicotte of District of Columbia as Treasurer, and Linda Gray Murphy of Oklahoma as Secretary. Murphy is President of Gray+ Murphy Strategies, LLC in OKC, a grassroots advocacy, political compliance, and lobbying firm. In addition to her firm, Murphy serves as State Treasurer of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, Vice President of the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN), and helped State Representative Al McAffrey become the first openly gay elected official in the state. Many know her as the cohort of Keith Smith, the beloved lobbyist for equal rights who passed away several years ago.

Additional board members include Stephen Gaskill of D.C., Olga Hernandez of Texas, Bill Jacobs of Nevada, Sharon Lettman of D.C., Eduardo Morales of Oregon, Babak Mavahedi, Florida, and Craig Roberts of California.

The newly elected Co–Chairs of the Leadership Council are Stephen Driscoll of Massachusetts and Laurie McBride of California, also serving as members of the Board.

The Stonewall Democrats hope to be in a better position to continue electing pro–equality Democrats, and holding them accountable to advance pro–equality policies and legislation.

On the website, www.stonewalldemocrats.org, there is a statement from the Texas Stonewall Democrats condemning the Fort Worth Police Department for its raid of the Rainbow Room, a Fort Worth bar, on the anniversary of Stonewall.

Biographies of the Board of Directors is also on the website.

The Oklahoma County Stonewall Democrats also have a new leadership, with Rachel Morse as female Co–Chair. She will address the Friday Noon Luncheon Series group on September 25 at the Boulevard Cafeteria, 525 NW 11th.

The Stonewall Democrats meet every first Tuesday from 7 to 9 pm at the Oklahoma Democratic Headquarters, 4100 N Lincoln Blvd.

Contact Pam Paul or Jim Nimmo at 843–3651.

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august

Saturday the 1st, 7:30 to 9:30:
Midsummer Faerie Ball on the Paseo
StarDanceSwan dance company sponsors this annual event Featuring professional and child dancers, live music and magic!
Behind the Art of Yoga studio, NW 29th and Dewey

Saturday the 8th, 5:30:
Herland Supper Club at The Boom Club, 2218 NW 39th
Come and enjoy OKC’s new (non–smoking) theater/club/restaurant, followed by Game Night at Herland bookstore: scrabble, cards, conversation.

Sunday the 16th, 4 pm:
Herland Board Meeting

Saturday the 22nd:
deadline for submissions to the “Herland Voice”
Commentary, poetry, art, photos, and news are needed.
Email items to Jeanne at dancingbamboo2u@yahoo.com

Thursday the 20th through the 23rd:
OKC Museum of Art Showings of “Sweethearts of the Rodeo”,
a film about the McAlester prison rodeo, where women have begun to compete only recently.
Call 236–3100 or go to www.okcmoa.com for times and ticket information

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september

Saturday the 12th, 5:30 pm:
Herland Supper Club at Belle Isle Brewery and Restaurant, NW 50th and Penn

Sunday the 13th, 2 pm:
Poetry/writing workshop
Our goal is to form a writing group that meets monthly

Friday the 18th, 6 to 8 pm:
Open House at Precure Garden Center
Owner Sandra Precure will tell us about new garden decorating ideas, and the selection and planting of flowers, shrubs, and trees in Fall.

Sunday the 20th, 4 pm:
Herland Board Meeting

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october

Saturday the 17th, 7 to 9 pm:
The Joke Off: a fund raiser for Herland (TBA)

Friday to Sunday, the 23rd through the 25th:
Herland Fall Retreat at Lake Eufaula State Park

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S. Clancy Cartoon

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website of the month

www.acluok.org

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