Herland Sister Resources

THIS IS MUSIC OUR WAY!! This is a new, same gender loving music for those tired of living in a “STRAIGHT JACKET”. Grab ya girl, go meet a girl, and get ready for some GIRL to GIRL love for the lesbian in you.

Ochi is a proud but often bored transplant residing in Colorado. She moved to Colorado at the age of 10 with her family when they relocated from Chicago to start a church in 1970. For Ochi growing up in the church meant more than just religious teaching. In fact because she was in the ministerial family she had to work in all areas of the church. The bottom line, a church is a business where she learned about accounting, business management, volunteer recruitment, dedication, sacrifice, entrepreneurship, advertising & marketing, community service, and entertainment. Each valuable lesson has served her well. Ochi left the church but not the lessons and skills she acquired along the way.

Ochi is an activist and trailblazer from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet. She briefly served on the board for NCBLG and the Gay and Lesbian Center of Colorado. Over the years she has begun several community organizations and clubs in Denver. Her goal has been to aid struggling businesses of color that were unable to access the needed financing that would create a more professional and marketable establishment. During the 80’s she also began a youth program that matched at risk youth with seniors in need of a helping hand. She has worked on several community programs dedicated to cleaning up distressed areas making a cleaner, safer environment for the elderly and youth. Since 1998, Ochi has been known throughout Denver and surrounding areas as a teacher, drummer, guardian of culture/history, and an “A #1″ volunteer. From cleaning carpets and painting at a shelter for battered women to rescuing injured animal and feeding the homeless, Ochi is there.

Her latest passion has been to create music her children can enjoy. “Let’s face it, music has gone downhill and that’s not just an opinion, it’s a fact. Lyrical crime is at an all time high. Wimmin are degraded, humiliated, and gang raped to a catchy beat. Those whose only interest is turning a profit assault our ears and subconscious on a daily basis. WHERE IS THE LOVE, PEOPLE!??!” Ochi has launched her very own, one woman campaign called, “TAKE BACK THE MUSIC!” Using humor, relevant topics and good music she hopes to spread her message of love, harmony, and peace. She is working to prove that profanity, vulgarity, homophobia and sexism aren’t necessary for music sales. Hold on to your bonnet. Her lyrics are sexy, even steamy but never vulgar. They are humorous but never obscene. Her wit is clever but never lame.

Ochi’s production company, Gatekeeper Productions, was borne out of frustration over limited access to the music industry. Formulated to meet the needs of same gender loving artist who refused to conform to be heard, Gatekeeper specializes in non-offensive, sexy music that reaffirms supports and validates wimmin who love wimmin. Its goal is to encourage, entertain, and enlighten all people and especially same gender loving people through music.

Ochi has shared in joyous performances with Irepo Afrikan Dancers & Drummers, Baba Joda, the Watoto Afrikan Dancers & Drummers, Carmelia Van Horn, Carmen Toure’, Moyo Nguvo, Jambalaya, Afia Walking Tree and many more. She has collaborated with: Heritage Dancers, Denver School of the Arts, the African American Leadership Institute, the Institute of Global Scholarship, the Denver Kwanzaa Committee, the Denver Black Arts Festival, Take Back the Night, the Denver Pan African Film Festival, and so many wonderful others.

While staging peaceful protests against the military’s discriminatory recruiting practices, 11 young activists were arrested in mid August in separate incidents in Philadelphia and Minneapolis.

The actions were part of Soulforce’s Right to Serve military equality program, which seeks LGBT equality through nonviolent resistance. Earlier in the summer, seven of the activists had attempted to enlist at National Guard centers — but were rebuffed when they announced they were gay.

This week, the activists returned to those recruitment centers and staged a sit-in. The Soulforce protesters were joined by supporters including straight allies and clergy. The potential enlistees were eventually jailed by local police. The activists are fighting the 13-year-old federal “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which bars openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual people from serving in the armed forces.

Right to Serve planned protests in additional cities the week of August 21-25, including New York, Austin, Texas, Chicago and Oklahoma City.

This Act is important because it has two hard-fought HRC-backed provisions that were lobbied for intensely to secure their inclusion. These provisions will help same-sex couples nationwide. Basically what this means is that these two provisions ensure that the U.S. tax code, in times of emergencies, is fairer to more Americans, including our community, and puts us on a more equal footing with other couples. Here’s how these provisions can impact the lives of GLBT Americans:

The first provision, called “Non-Spousal Rollover” allows the transfer of an individual’s retirement plan benefits, like a 401(k), to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for a non-spouse beneficiary like a domestic partner, sibling, parent, cousin or anyone else when the individual dies.

In the past, unless you were the legally recognized spouse of the deceased, you were forced to withdraw the amount as a lump sum and you faced immediate tax penalties which would eat away at the savings amount intended for retirement.

The second provision, known as “Hardship Distribution” allows individuals who list their same-sex partner or other non-spouse beneficiary under a 401(k) plan the ability to tap into their retirement funds in the case of certain medical or financial emergencies of the beneficiary. In the past, the federal law only permitted such withdrawals for employees’ legally recognized spouses or dependents.

For more details on how the two provisions can help you and your family, please visit www.hrc.org/estateplanning.

Many thanks to our allies in Congress - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents like former Representative Rob Portman (R-OH), Representative Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ways & Means Committee Chairman Representative Bill Thomas (R-CA), Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Senator Max Baucus (R-MT) and Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT) - who partnered with us and did so with a cooperative spirit that is truly special in the current divisive political climate.

Herland will have a table at the Peace Festival 2006 with books and other items for sale. Mark you calendar to attend. If you have wares or services for Holiday shoppers, call 405-524-5577 or email batchokc@aol.com to reserve a $40 a table with two chairs or $20 half-table with one chair.

Seeking all types of stories: funny, honest, sad, brave, unexpected, life-affirming.  If you’d like to tell your story, or know someone who might, please contact Bea, Jennifer, or Jason at Forever Films to learn more.  

jason@foreverfilmsinc.com PHONE: (631)899-3889