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Table of Contents

Herland Voice January 2010

Creating Change Conference 2010

February 3–7, Dallas, TX

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announces a diverse lineup of keynote speakers at the 22nd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change, Feb. 3–7 in Dallas, Texas. Two thousand lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates will converge to strategize and organize for the critical year ahead.

On opening night, Friday, Feb. 4, Thomas Saenz, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) president and general counsel, will address the conference. On Feb. 5, Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey will give the annual “State of the Movement” address. On Feb. 6, Kai Wright, a noted social critic and political commentator, will host a panel of LGBT youth of color that brings forward the stories of experiences of our tough–minded and articulate young leaders. Vogue Evolution, contestants on America’s Best Dance Crew in summer 2009, will perform at the closing plenary on Feb. 7. All plenary sessions will be emceed by the incomparable comic and social commentator Kate Clinton.

“LGBT rights advocates from across the country will be gathering in Dallas to strategize and plan for 2010 and beyond. It’s the largest convening of LGBT activists and is not to be missed,” says Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “Creating Change is a ’can’t miss/got to be there’ opportunity for our movement activists and leaders to learn from each other and to be inspired by our featured speakers.”

The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the grassroots power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. We do this by training activists, equipping state and local organizations with the skills needed to organize broad–based campaigns to defeat anti–LGBT referenda and advance pro–LGBT legislation, and building the organizational capacity of our movement

For more information about the conference and to register, please visit www.CreatingChange.org.

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Events Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. in Oklahoma City

On the third Monday of January each year, the entire nation takes pause to honor the life, memory, impact and service of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A National Holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day sees a variety of types of commemorations across the United States. Oklahoma City events range from the yearly parade through downtown to a silent march.

The Parade: The parade route will move South before moving to Harvey, then South again to Robert S. Kerr. After advancing West to Walker and South to Sheridan, the parade will continue through Bricktown on Sheridan to Lincoln. It is expected to end at about 5pm.

The Prayer Breakfast: The 13th annual Midwest City Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast at the Reed Conference Center near Rose State College will begin at 7:00am on Monday, January 18th. Organizers expect between 400–500 people will enjoy breakfast followed by speeches and music.

The Silent March: The traditional silent march, in the style of the early civil rights movement marches, will begin at 9:45am on Monday, January 18th. It will move from the Ralph Ellison Library on NE 23rd to the Oklahoma History Center on N. Laird.

The Bell Ringing: At 11 a.m. on Monday the 18th, Governor Brad Henry will ring Oklahoma’s replica of the Liberty Bell in front of the Oklahoma History Center.

The MLK Jr. Holiday Coalition Program: The annual program from the Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition of Oklahoma City features the “I Have a Dream” speech by NAACP Youth Branch President Charles Shelton and keynote speaker Victor N. Woods, author and motivational speaker.

The program takes place at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral on NW 7th from noon until the parade begins at 2 p.m.

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D.C. poised to allow same–sex couples to legally marry

On December 15, the D.C. Council overwhelmingly approved legislation extending the freedom to marry to same–sex couples. Today’s outcome follows a similarly decisive council vote earlier this month. Mayor Adrian Fenty, who has pledged to sign the bill, has 10 days to act. Once signed, Congress will have 30 legislative days to review it and decide whether to intervene. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force urges Congress to respect home rule.

Earlier this year, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force supported the effort by bringing a team of local leaders to the Task Force’s Maine LGBT Power Summit. The D.C. leaders received intensive training in the core skills critical for building robust grassroots lobbying campaigns.

Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force issued the following statement.

“We are thrilled with the D.C. Council’s passage today of this critical legislation, which places same–sex couples at the cusp of attaining a fundamental freedom in the nation’s capital. We look forward to the District of Columbia soon joining the growing list of localities that have already enacted marriage equality. That day will be a great one for the District, and for the entire country. As a D.C. resident, I am personally proud of the council for standing so strongly for fairness and affirming the common humanity that bonds each of us.

“We thank each of the council members who voted for the bill, and the many organizations and individuals who have called and worked for its passage. Federal lawmakers should respect home rule.”

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Mexico City Passes Gay Marriage

Mexico City has become the first city in Latin America to legalize gay marriage, giving same sex couples a lot more rights, including allowing them to adopt children. The bill passed the capital’s local ruling assembly by 39 votes to 20 on December 21. The city’s mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, of the Democratic Revolution party, had been expected for some time to sign the measure and make it into law.

The bill called for a change of the definition of marriage in the city’s civil code, where it was defined as the union of a man and a woman. The new wording will be “the free uniting of two people.” This amendment will enable gay couples to adopt, apply for bank loans, inherit wealth, and be included in the insurance policies of their partner–all rights that were denied under the city’s civil union laws.

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University of Central Oklahoma Women’s and Gender Studies Conference

February 27th, 2010

UCO’s first annual Women’s and Gender Studies Conference is planned for February 27th, 2010. It will cover student presentations on Women’s Studies, Gender Studies, and Human Sexuality, with an emphasis on this year’s theme of “Progressions.” Guest speakers will include: lesbian activist and slam–poet Andrea Gibson, Brittany Novotney (a transgender running for Sally Kern’s seat), and Betty Harris, a professor at OU that is specialized in Anthropology and Women’s Studies. For more information, contact the Women’s Studies Program at UCO at 405–974–5606.

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A Change in Perspective

Straight as an arrow,
straight as a die,
straight as the shortest distance between two imaginary points,
straight as a highway through the middle of the state of Wyoming,
until
she falls over the edge
of an allegedly flat earth,
and discovers that the horizon actually curves,
that many lovely roses grow in no–man’s land,
and many vast dimensions wait to be explored.
by Betsy Brown

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Herland Events

January

Friday January 1st: Herland New Year’s Day Potluck from 1–4 pm at Herland. Start the new year off right with a potluck dinner and games at Herland on Friday, January 1, from 1 to 4 pm. We will provide a pot of chili and the traditional dishes of cabbage and black–eyed peas. Bring a dessert or another side and help us ring in the new year.

Saturday January 9th: Herland Supper Club at 5:30 Cattleman’s Steakhouse, 1309 S Agnew, followed by games at Herland.

Sunday January 17th 4 pm: Herland Board Meeting, all are welcome. Dinner at Gushers afterwards.

March

Save the Date! Saturday March 6 Herland’s International Women’s Day Party

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Community Events

January

Saturday January 2 Louise & Mary Full Circle Bookstore 50 Penn Place 7–9 pm no cover

Monday January 4 OKC PRIDE General Meeting Expressions Community Fellowship Church 4010 N Youngs 7 pm

Tuesday January 5 PFLAG–OKC/Edmond Other Options 3005 N May 7 pm

Monday January 11 OGLPC Monthly Meeting 1236 NW 36 7 pm

Thursday January 14 PFLAG–Norman St Stephens 7 pm

Friday January 15 Miss Brown To You UCO Jazz Lab 100 E 5th St in Edmond 8 to 11 pm $7

Saturday January 16 Miss Brown To You Gypsy Night Cafe at First Unitarian Church OKC 7 – 10 pm $5, $10, or $50 at the door

Monday January 18 Martin Luther King Jr Parade

February

Saturday February 6 Louise & Mary Full Circle Bookstore 50 Penn Place 7–9 pm no cover

Saturday February 27 Women’s and Gender Studies Conference at UCO

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website of the month

www.CreatingChange.org

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