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Table of Contents

Herland Voice March 2010

Herland Celebrates International Women’s Day 2010

With an All That Jazz Party

Saturday, March 6th 6–9 pm

The Boom Club and Restaurant

2218 NW 39th Street

Music by the Dynamics

Dancing, hors d’oeuvres cash bar

Artwork silent auction

Festive and fancy attire encouraged!

$12 donation at the door

Many thanks to our friends at Cimarron Alliance Foundation for co–sponsoring this event.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places, like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, IWD is a national holiday. For more information about International Women’s Day check out www.internationalwomensday.com

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Okla. Strikes Down Law That Would Have ’Undressed’ Women

From ABCnews.go.com

The Oklahoma County District Court ruled on February 19 that a law passed by the legislature in 2009 that imposed restrictions on abortion is unconstitutional, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights, which had challenged the law.

A Michigan protester’s murder sparks national fury over the abortion debate. The court ruled that bill 1595 addressed too many topics, and therefore violated the Oklahoma constitution’s “single–subject” rule.

One of the most contentious parts of the law was the creation of a Web site whereby any woman who had had an abortion would have been required to provide personal details pertaining to her choice, including her relationships, financial situation and motivation for seeking an abortion.

The center filed a challenge against the law in September on behalf of former state representative Wanda Stapleton and Shawnee, Okla., resident Lora Joyce Davis.

“A friend said it best: It’s like undressing women in public, exposing their most personal issues on the Internet,” said Lora Joyce Davis, one of the co–plaintiffs.

In addition to mandating the new Web site for abortion–related demographics, the legislation also redefined various abortion terms, banned sex–selective abortion and created other new reporting requirements.

The law went into effect in November 2009 and the Web site would have launched in March.

“We are very pleased with today’s ruling,” said Jennifer Mondino, staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights. “The government has no business running a grand inquisition into the private lives of Oklahoma women and wasting a quarter of a million dollars of taxpayers’ money in the process.”

Called the Statistical Reporting of Abortions Act, the law would have required all doctors to file information on a woman’s age, marital status, education level, number of previous pregnancies, cost and type of abortion, as well as the mother’s relationship to the father, with the Oklahoma Department of Health.

Though it did not ask for names, the form posed 37 questions detailing a woman’s personal situation. Critics said the first eight questions alone could easily lead to the identification of a woman who lived in one of the state’s many small communities.

Doctors who failed to provide information would face criminal sanctions and loss of their medical licenses.

Last year, the organization used the same argument to successfully strike down a 2008 law that would have required women seeking abortions to have an ultrasound within an hour of the proceedings and require doctors to describe the picture to their patients in great detail –– down to the number of fingers and toes.

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The First International Women’s Day

In 1869 British MP John Stuart Mill was the first person in Parliament to call for women’s right to vote. On 19 September 1893 New Zealand became the first country in the world to give women the right to vote. Women in other countries did not enjoy this equality and campaigned for justice for many years.

In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named Clara Zetkin (Leader of the ’Women’s Office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day – a Women’s Day – to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women’s clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin’s suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women’s Day was the result.

The very first International Women’s Day was launched the following year by Clara Zetkin on 19 March (not 8 March). The date was chosen because on 19 March in the year of the 1848 revolution, the Prussian king recognized for the first time the strength of the armed people and gave way before the threat of a proletarian uprising. Among the many promise he made, which he later failed to keep, was the introduction of votes for women.

Plans for the first International Women’s Day demonstration were spread by word of mouth and in the press. During the week before International Women’s Day two journals appeared: The Vote for Women in Germany and Women’s Day in Austria. Various articles were devoted to International Women’s Day: ’Women and Parliament’, ’The Working Women and Municipal Affairs’, ’What Has the Housewife got to do with Politics?’, etc. The articles thoroughly analyzed the question of the equality of women in the government and in society. All articles emphasized the same point that it was absolutely necessary to make parliament more democratic by extending the franchise to women.

Success of the first International Women’s Day in 1911 exceeded all expectation. Meetings were organized everywhere in small towns and even the villages halls were packed so full that male workers were asked to give up their places for women. Men stayed at home with their children for a change, and their wives, the captive housewives, went to meetings. During the largest street demonstration of 30,000 women, the police decided to remove the demonstrators’ banners so the women workers made a stand. In the scuffle that followed, bloodshed was averted only with the help of the socialist deputies in Parliament. In 1913 International Women’s Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Women’s Day ever since.

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In Memoriam–Mary Daly

From the NY Times and Wikepedia

Mary Daly, a prominent feminist theologian who made worldwide headlines a decade ago after she retired from Boston College rather than admit men to some of her classes, died on January 3 in Gardner, Mass. She was 81 and had lived for many years in Newton Centre, Mass. Professor Daly maintained a long, often uneasy relationship with Boston College, the Jesuit institution where she had taught theology since the 1960s.

Among the first American women to train as a Roman Catholic theologian, Professor Daly challenged orthodoxies from the start. She came to wide attention in 1968 with the publication of “The Church and the Second Sex” (Harper & Row), in which she argued that the Catholic Church had systematically oppressed women for centuries. Her next book, “Beyond God the Father: Toward a Philosophy of Women’s Liberation” (Beacon, 1973), explored misogyny in religion in general.

“She is a central figure in 20th–century feminism,” Robin Morgan, the feminist writer and former editor of Ms. magazine, said in a telephone interview on Monday.

Daly created a dualistic thought–praxis that separates the world into the world of false images that create oppression and the world of communion in true being. She labeled these two areas Foreground and Background respectively. Daly considered the Foreground the realm of patriarchy and the Background the realm of Woman. She argued that the Background is under and behind the surface of the false reality of the Foreground. The Foreground, for Daly, was a distortion of true being, the paternalistic society in which she said most people live. It has no real energy, but drains the “life energy” of women residing in the Background. In her view, the Foreground creates a world of poisons that contaminate natural life. She called the male–centered world of the Foreground necrophilic, hating all living things. In contrast, she conceived of the Background as a place where all living things connect.

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“A rose is a rose”

We’re all familiar with that famous quotation. But recent polls have indicated that that might not be the case any more. If you think there’s no difference in using “gay or lesbian” and the word “homosexual” take a look at the following polls…

According to a recent NY Times/CBS poll, 59 percent of Americans say they now support allowing “homosexuals” to serve in the U.S. military, including 34 percent who say they strongly favor that. Ten percent say they somewhat oppose it and 19 percent say they strongly oppose it.

But the numbers differ when the question is changed to whether Americans support “gay men and lesbians” serving in the military. When the question is asked that way, 70 percent of Americans say they support gay men and lesbians serving in the military, including 19 percent who say they somewhat favor it. Seven percent somewhat oppose it, and 12 percent strongly oppose it. This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,084 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone February 5–10, 2010.

An ABC–Washington Post poll on the same subject revealed several sharp demographic divides. Men (65 percent) and seniors (69 percent) are far less likely than are women (84 percent) and young adults (81 percent under age 30) to say that gays should be allowed to serve if they have disclosed their sexual orientation. Knowing a gay person makes a big difference: Among those who say they have a gay friend or family member, 81 percent support allowing gay people to serve openly, compared with 66 percent who say they do not know someone who is gay. The poll was conducted by telephone Feb. 4–8 among a random national sample of 1,004 adults. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.

They say “Thoughts become things, so be careful what you think.” Perhaps we need to be more careful of what we say.

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Since Stonewall Local History Contest

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, OutHistory.org is offering five prizes for the best online exhibits on the local LGBTQ histories of villages, towns, counties, cities, or states in the US since June 1969. We expect this contest to draw attention to LGBTQ histories outside of major cities, as well as in major metropolitan areas. We hope to receive at least one submission from every state, but there is no limit on the number of entries per state.

Prizes range from $5,000 for the first place winner, $4,000 for the second, $3,000 for the third, $2,000 for the fourth, and $1,000 for the fifth place winner. To be eligible for the contest, first drafts of exhibits must be posted on OutHistory by March 31, 2010. A panel of judges, convened by OutHistory.org will assess the exhibits and the top five exhibits announced on June 28, 2010.

This contest is supported by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at the City of New York Graduate Center and funded by the Arcus Foundation.

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The Equality Network

Please join The Equality Network (TEN) for LGBT Lobby Day at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 31st, from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Our legislators are considering important pro–LGBT legislation on hate crimes and domestic partner benefits for public employees. It is critical that we show them that Oklahomans support fairness and equality for the LGBT community.

We will first convene in Room 534A (5th floor) for a Lobbying 101/Plan of Action workshop. Refreshments will be served. We will then lobby individual legislators. Following lunch on your own, we will depart the Capitol at 2 p.m.

Will you spend a day working for equality? See http://eqfed.org/ten/events/LGBTLobbyDay/details.tcl

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OGLPC is Reorganizing

The Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus (OGLPC) is an established and respected organization, non–profit and non–partisan, known primarily for the Voter Guide that is mailed to over 3,000 individuals, businesses, and organizations. The Voter Guide is the results of a survey sent to candidates for a variety of offices, asking about issues important to the LGBT community. OGLPC has been a supporter of many community events, such as the Pride Parade & Festival, and rallies for LGBT rights.

In September 2009 the board of OGLPC discussed disbanding the organization, due to the resignation of the Male Co–chair, Paul Thompson, and the Treasurer, and lack of participation by the members, primarily in the mailings to members and friends. Letters were sent to 200 paid members announcing the dilemma, and requesting a response.

A Town Hall style meeting was held February 15, 2010 to decide the fate of the organization. As a result, the organization has revived, and a new board will be elected at the regular meeting on April 5, which is the second Monday of the month. A slate of people willing to serve as Female Co–Chair, Male Co–Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer will be presented to the board at the March 8 meeting. The current Female Co–Chair, Jeanne Flanigan, and Secretary, Victor Gorin, are willing to continue to serve.

The organization will be updating their website, mailing procedures, and activities to reflect the goals of the new board and membership.

Contact Jeanne Flanigan at ok.glpc@yahoo.com to volunteer, to serve on the board and/or as an officer. Visit the website: www.oglpc.org, and join the Yahoo Group or Facebook group.

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One of the Best Kept Secrets–Fly Fishing in Oklahoma!

Are you interested in learning to fly fish or even improve your fly fishing skills? You’re in luck! Jean has offered to instruct an introductory class on fly fishing using a fly rod and/or ultra–light equipment. The first class will be at Herland from 2 to 5 pm on Saturday, March 6.

Roman Nose State Park stocks their lake with trout, and at the Spring Retreat on May 15, Jean will take the group to practice their new talents. If this time and/or date don’t work, other dates may be possible. Please call 521–1556 or SAHatwork@aol.com to reserve your space so we’ll know how many to expect.

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New PFLAG OKC/Edmond Location

PFLAG OKC/EDMOND meets 7pm every first Tuesday of the month. Come join us Tuesday March 2nd at our new location at Channing Unitarian Universalist Church at 2800 W. 15th St, Edmond, OK. For more information go to our national website www.pflag.org and click on Oklahoma. To reach us directly call (405)525–3800 or email us at pflagokc@yahoo.com.

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Herland Events

Herland All That Jazz Party Celebrating International Women’s Day
Saturday, March 6, 6–9 pm The Boom Club and Restaurant, 2218 NW 39th Street

Herland Supper Club & Game Night
Saturday March 13 5:30 pm Los Amigos, 4101 N. MacArthur
Join us as we try out a new place (for us) this month. Los Amigos is a family–owned Mexican restaurant that’s been recommended to us several times. Meet at Herland at 5 pm if you wish to carpool or at the restaurant at 5:30 pm. Games afterwards at Herland at 7:30 pm.

Herland Board Meeting
Sunday March 21 4:00 pm at Herland. Everybody welcome.

Save the Dates!
Herland Spring Retreat May 14–16 Roman Nose State Park
Herland Fall Retreat October 22–24 Lake Eufaula State Park

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Community Events

Monday March 1, 7 pm OKC Pride Meeting electing new board members at the Days Inn, I–44 & N May

Tuesday March 2, 7 pm PFLAG OKC/Edmond Channing Unitarian Universalist Church, 2800 West 15th Street in Edmond

Tuesday March 2, 5:30 pm Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Boulevard Cafeteria, NW 11 & Dewey, OKC

Thursday March 11, 11:30 am Louise Goldberg & Mary Reynolds at Noontunes Downtown OKC Library

Thursday March 11, 7 pm Norman PFLAG St Stephens Methodist Church, 1801 W Brooks in Norman

Friday March 12, 8 to 11 pm Miss Brown to You UCO Jazz Lab in Edmond, $7

Friday March 26, 7–9 pm Louise Goldberg & Mary Reynolds Full Circle Bookstore, 50 Penn Place, no cover

Wednesday March 31, 9 am–2 pm LGBT Lobby Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Wednesday nights 7–9 pm “A Tribute to Mary Daly” Women only study group Church of the Open Arms, 3131 N Penn

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website of the month

www.internationalwomensday.com

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