Herland Sister Resources

By Laura A. Belmonte, Ph.D. President, Oklahomans for Equality

It will not likely surprise most of you to learn that Oklahoma ranks as one of the worst states in the nation in regard to equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. At a time when 300 cities in the United States (and 86% of Fortune 500 companies) have non-discrimination policies that encompass sexual orientation, no city in Oklahoma does. In Oklahoma (and 32 other states), it remains entirely legal to fire someone, deny them a lease, or ask them vacate a public establishment simply because he or she is LGBT. In 2005, 75% of Oklahoma voters elected to amend the state constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. And now, while several state legislatures and cities are passing laws extending some basic rights to domestic partners, a new piece of legislation seeks to outlaw civil unions in Oklahoma.

As the president of Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) (formerly Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights/TOHR), the state’s oldest gay rights organization, I care very passionately about these issues. But I know that many of you do as well, whether you are LGBT or not. Many of you represent organizations that support equal rights for LGBT Oklahomans. Many of you long for an Oklahoma where diversity is a reality and not a buzzword. My question then is, why aren’t we working together? Why are we not joining forces on the myriad issues where our interests obviously overlap such as civil liberties, economic justice, and human rights as well as those where our common ground may be more subtle such as the environment, immigration, health care and education? Building a truly progressive, inclusive, and effective LGBT rights coalition in Oklahoma is my dream and I respectfully seek your help in making it come true.

I will soon be posting an online survey in which OkEq will be assessing what issues are of most pressing concern to LGBT Oklahomans and their allies. The data will enable us to pinpoint where activists are, especially those who may be disconnected from larger LGBT communities. All respondents will be invited to attend a statewide “creation weekend” on March 24-25, 2007 at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in Tulsa. During this historic gathering, we will build an agenda, formulate a steering committee, and develop a launch plan for statewide LGBT organizing. I would be honored to have the assistance of fellow Oklahoma progressives in helping OkEq disseminate this survey widely - and more significantly, in aligning yourselves and your organizations with this ambitious endeavor. Please contact me at labelmonte@hotmail.com or 918.906.2134 if you would like to join us in the effort to make Oklahoma a better place for all her citizens.

Dr. Bailey will be guest presenter at services to be held at 7 pm, Saturday, March 31st, and 10:45 am, Sunday, April 1st, at Church of the Open Arms, 3131 N. Pennsylvania, in Oklahoma City.  The church’s lively “Mixed Company” ensemble will provide vocal music. Dr. Bailey’s full bio can be found on the website www.freetomarry.org.

Along with hail storms and the beginning of tornado season, March brings us International Women’s Day on March 8, and National Women’s History Month, all month long. On the chance that you might be looking for some inspiring rainy day activities, I’ve compiled a brief list of books on women’s history that are available through the Oklahoma County Metropolitan Library System.

This month, I’ve decided to focus on the history of the U.S. woman’s rights movement in the nineteenth century. We sometimes think of this as the women’s suffrage movement, but winning the vote was merely one goal. Women’s rights activists began by establishing the right of women to speak in public. In theory, women always had this right, but religious dogma and popular prejudice meant that it did not exist in practice. Other issues included the right of married women to own property (including their own wages) and the right to divorce (controversial even among activists). The women’s movement had close ties to the abolition and temperance movements (abuse by drunken husbands was a matter of obvious concern). Please keep in mind that we are dealing with history rather than mere nostalgia. Some of what you read will make you want to cheer, and sometimes you will want to scream out of sheer frustration.

Gabriel, Mary. Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored.

Griffin, Elisabeth. In Her Own Right: The Life of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Humez, Jean M. Harriet Tubman: The Life and the Life Stories. Husted, Ida Harper. Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony.

Kerr, Andrea Moore. Lucy Stone: Speaking Out for Equality.

Larson, Kate Clifford. Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero.

Mankiller, Wilma, Gwendolyn Mink, Marysa Navarro, Barbara Smith, and Gloria Steinem, eds. The Reader’s Companion to U.S. Women’s History.

McMurry, Linda O. To Keep the Waters Troubled: The Life of Ida B. Wells.

Painter, Nell Irwin. Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol.

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. Eighty Years and More: Reminiscences, 1815-1897.

Ward, Geoffrey C. Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: An Illustrated History.

The Herland Library (open most Saturdays from 1-5) is also a good source of books on women’s history. For more information on International Women’s Day, see http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninof/women/womday97.htm.

The second study is on the relationships that lesbian and gay male employees have with their straight coworkers, and the circumstances and conditions surrounding the disclosure of a lesbian or gay male sexual orientation at work. This study is at: www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=193432691499