~THE FEB. 197335e in L.A. Area50d Elsewhere

bE§8IAN TIBE~A FEMINIST PUBLICATION, WRITTEN BY AND FOR THE RISING TIDE OF WOMEN TODAY.

"I Am Monster t'.i.Robin MorganA Dyke's ManifestoAfter Dinner Cocktail Party

In This Issue;

THE TIDE COLLECTIVE

5he

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 7

LESBIAN OEM by.Robin.Morgan r~:printed~ .~ -by permission of authoj'is from her Book of-poems, Monster, published by Random House

r<~

.f' •••,..

ADVERTISING

CarlaJoAnne Mitchell

CIRCULATION

Thea HollingsworthJayne

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Diane BanosDenise Fox

EDITORIAL

Sally AndersonAlice BlochJeanne CordovaRita A. GoldbergerJayneBarbara McLeanLindsay RalphsDiane Trzcinski

FINANCE

Barbara McLean

PRODUCTION

Laura D'Auri

Jay neJan Lydon

M a gg ieM argNorma N.Y.LaVerna PierceTylerKathy White

STA F F

Coordinator: Jeanne Cordova

Correspondent: Beth Elliott, San FranciscoJulie Lee, New Jersey

Freda Smith, SacramentoTessier and Shimandle,

Orange CountyGinny Vida, New York

The LESBIAN TI DE is an independent, feministlesbian magazine. It is financially supported by thecommunity it servesand is maintained by the pride,.tirne, and efforts of a working collective of gaywomen.

This publication is on file at the International Women'sHistory A'~chive,2235 Oak St., Berkeley, Calif. 94708,and is available on microfilm through Bell and Howell,Drawer "E", Wooster, Ohio 44691,1124)1, N. Ogden Dr.• Los Angeles,Ca. 90046 • 656-1049

.;;".'~ 4. \. -.!\' •.•• ~ . ~ri-L- .__~~~~. ~_~_._. ~---- ~

~~/AM A MONSTER AND / AM PROUD"INTERVIEW:

by RITA A. GOLDBERGER

(Robin Morgan, a femin ist activist, editedSisterhood Is Powerful and recently publishedher first book of poems, Monster.)

Morgan: Even before I was 'a feminist, I was apoet. After Cons crcus ness , it became very im-portant for me to try to use-my art as a weaponfor women, but I didn't want to write ivory towerpoetry that didn't relafe to people's lives, or the"Socialist realism art" that hits people over thehead with propaganda. I wanted rather to createa kind of poetry (which a lot of other women arecreating as well) that would speak to, of, andfrom the condition of women.

How do you relate yourself to Rita Mae Brown,Alta, Iudy Grahn, and the other poets knownthrough the Women's Movement? '

Morgan: There's a real spiritual bond in tryingto create this new feminist poetry. Poetry hasbecome a dead art. People don't read it anymore because it doesn't relate to their lives.Great poetry has always come out of a peopleand related to the reality of their existence. Ithink we will revive poetry as an art, as well asa revolutionary tool. There are more and morereally serious good women poets. Poetry is acraft; it's not something one can bat off. It canmove people, and in turn, get them to move, morethan tons of jargon.

Do you see a progression from Sylvia Plath tofeminist poetry today?

Morgan: Yes, definitely. The tragedy of Plathwas that she was a feminist when there was nomovement to support her. She was a great poet,and she was very clearly a woman with an in-tense, painful, feminist consciousness. Shewas destroyed by Ted Hughes (her husband) andvarious other men around her because of that con-sciousness ,at a point when there were no womento support her. She was one of the first poetsthat we know of to write, with passion and greatskill, about menstruation, cooking, chi l dre n ,

FEBRUARY 1973

ROBIN MORGAN

Robin Morgan

the brutalization of the average "happy, loving"heterosexual marriage, and the killing effect ofpatriarchy on women.

One of the poems in MO:1ster is a poem called"Arraignment" in which I accuse Ted Hughes ofhaving murdered her. It's a poem for which hemay yet sue. He's already had the book bannedin the entire United Kingdom. The book will notbe published in England, Canada, Australia, oranywhere else in the United Kingdom. But thewomen's movement in those places is smugglingcopies in. He also managed to murder his secondwife. She was a "suicide" as well.

continued on page 4

3

MONSTER. cont. from page 3

I kept some earlier poems that I wrote "BeforeConsciousness" in Monster I because they showthat I knew what I didn't think I knew. I believeevery woman knows whether she's able to admitit or not, Some of the earlier poems werewritten when I would certainly not have said Iwas a feminist I and they show a very clear gutfeminism,

Besides Monster, you edited Sisterhood IsPowerful. Where do the royalties from thesebooks go?

Morgan: Every penny of the royalties from Sister-hood is Powerful goes into the fund "SisterhoodIs Powerful, Inc i " So far, $22,000 has goneback out to the Women's Movement through grantsfrom that foundation. With Monster I half of theroyalties will go into the "Sisterhood" fund, Theother half I'm going to live on since it's gettingharder and harder for me to get free -lance editingin New York, since I was fired for union organ-izing of women at my last job in publishing. Halfof all the speaking dates money that I get goesinto the corporation I and the other half I live on.If I'm o vk , if I've had a free-lance job, thenall of it goes in.

When were you fired for union organizing?

Morgan: This was in 1970, at Grove Press,Grove had been pretending that it was a radicalpress, publishing Che Guevara for its Grovelines, meanwhile making all its money off itsporno lines. I had been working on the politicalbooks, knowing very well about the sex books,A group of us women tried to organize a union,which was not particularly a women's union, butin effect it would have been, becaus e 80% of theworkers in publishing are women and they're allat the bottom of the pyramid, The other 20% thatis management is all male and at the top, Wewere fired, and subsequent to the firing, weseized the executive offices of Grove Press,

Why did you seize their offices?

Morgan: On the East Coast, there is a driveagainst pornography as an issue in the Women'sMovement, It is sexist propaganda, very simply I

and there's no reason for it to exist, I'm notsaying that censorship in the courts should exist.Women taking matters into their own hands is theanswer, In Seattle I a group of women beganmaking sporadic hits on porno shops, going inand trashing the place. A number of stink bombs

4

have been placed in pornographic movie houses,It's that kind of thing, where men will be afraidto set foot in anything from a hard-core moviehouse to a soft-core Playboy Club,

When about thirty women seized the executiveoffices of Grove to protest its pornography (andI was one of the women jailed with felony arrests)they brought Grove out from under the rock whereit had been hiding. They totally destroyed itsradical image, Now it has to be an up-frontpornographer I and no radical authors will publishwith Grove any more,

So I'm not wildly welcome in most publishinghouses I tncludmo my own publisher. We had avery hard fight at Random House to get Monsterout in paperback and hardcover simultaneously I

the same as we did with Sisterhood Is Powerful.Publishers obviously want the hardcover to comeout first because it makes them more money,

But it's very important that a lot of women haveaccess to feminist literature now, rather thanlater.

The poems in Monster are very personal; it'snot a book of theory. They were painful towrite, and reading them usueIIy leaves mewasted. Monster is radical feminist politics inall senses,

LESBIAN TIDE

WOMANSPACEAN EMERGING ARTISTIC CONSCIOUSNESS

Womanspace, the first comprehensive West-coast exhibition spece for women "i s now open.Womanspace is a gathering place for women inthe arts, a place where women can come together,show their work, and share their ideas with eachother and the wider community. Womanspacewill have a wide ranging program of activitiesincluding art exhibitions, f il rn showings, per-formances, lectures, symposia, discussionsand exciting dialogue about women's emergingartistic consciousness.

THE LESBIAN WEEK AT WOMANSPACE

Among the first four shows planned is theLesbian Week:

Tues. Feb. 20 - Opening, Performance by theFeminist Art Program, Cal State at Fresno, Co-ordinated by Rita Yoko i: Film by [a n Oxenburg;Gay Bars, a Slide and Sound Presentation byChriss Schlesinger, Gay/Straight Dialogue.

Wed. Feb. 21 - "Women Relating to Women" acomparative analysis of the male and female

point of view about this theme in art, slide lec-ture by Ruth Iskin. "Romaine Brooks: A LesbianPaints herself and Her Sisters" A slide lectureby Arlene Raven.

Thur. Feb. 22 - Workshop: Women Artists and•. and Lesbian Polities, organized by Evan Paxton

Fri. Feb. 23 - LIZZIE TISH, ALL WOMAN BAND

Sat. Feb. 24 - Poetry Reading, Lesbian poetry

Sun. Feb. 25 - Performance: Dance, MarthaGardner, Flute Cindy Fitzgerald; Films: byIan Oxenburg and Nancy Poore.

Mon. Feb. 26 - Lesbian Language: discussion,Cindy Fitzgerald; Lesbian Cons cious ness:discussion

Any woman who is interested in participatingin Lesbian Week, please send 6 slides and $6(membership fee) to Womanspace, 11007VeniceBlvd. This fee includes payment for the WOMAN-SPACEJournal, a bi-monthly publication dedi-dated to women's art, and also includes the fullcalendar of events to take place at Womanspace.

HOLLOW VICTORY FOR SEATTLE LESBIAN MOTHERS

by RITA A. GOLDBERGER

Two lesbian women in Seattle won child cus-tody rights over their husbands in divorce suits,but were denied the right to live together becausethe judge ruled that the women's love relationshipwould put the children "in a potentially destruc-tive environment." However, unlike the San Josedecis ion involving Cam Mitchel, the judge didnot deny the women the right to see each other.

The women both work or attend school, andmaintaining separate households will be a fin-ancial burden.

Besides lesbianism, the other issue in thecase was the women's participation in a Pente-costal religion. But the recommendations fromthe social workers, doctors, and psychiatristswas that the two women could provide for thechildren far better than the fathers. Judge James

FEBRUARY 1973

A. Noe, presiding over the case, agreed, "thatsociety taboos are tc be set as ide and the honest

and sincere welfare of the children cons idered . "But he wen t on in a letter to a doctor, askinghim to examine the family: "The defendant wivesstated that nothing in the Holy Bible would be inconflict with a lesbian relationship .... I am ofthe belief that the defendant wives (should) con-sider the Book of Romans, Chapter one. "

In considering the case, Judge Noe said thatbecause of high divorce rates, the lack of a malemodel in the home is not unusual, but two womenmodels would be unusual.

Sandra Schuster and Madeleine Isaacson, thetwo women involved 1 are eager to continue theirlegal battle I. but they need money 1 already be-ing over $2/000 in debt. Support can be sent to:P.O. Box 15312, Wedgewood Station, Seattle,Washington 98118.

5

AFTER DINNER COCKTAIL PARTY

by BARBARAMcLEAN

The East Coast -- 3, 000 miles from home. Theusual business cocktail party and dinner, exceptthey had heard about me, and they were waiting.

I cried when I had no shoes--Andthen I saw I had no feet

I was oppressed, I thought, as a queer. Hownaive! I was not attacked. I was no threat tothem. They simply laughed at me. No threat tothem! Different. Weird. Not a woman. Not aman. Nowhere. Of no consequence. No matter.Nonexistent. My body not portraying an image,simply reflecting an image, a myth. Every so-ciety has a few. They have their citizen's burdenwell. It was the "liberal" ... "progressive" thingto do. Give alms to the lepers. Have pity forthe afflicted. Oh my God, my pride!

Try stepping from that ghetto world of thosewho see as you do I hear what you hear. Thinkas you think, feel as you feel--that nice, safe,secure world of mirror images of yourself. Howcomfortable it is to argue the value and validityof various alternative lifestyles. How smug thatfeeling while relating one's latest idea for"changing society" ... now that last month's pro-ject is over. How cozy sitting cross-legged onthe floor, rubbing shoulders, saying "Fuck".How unbloodied, how remote.

6

How remote from that VASTsociety we haveclaimed to change, that society where, now, Iam NOT laughed at. That society which nowattacks. Because I am a woman, a "libber."

"Hey, don't light her cigarette. She's aliberated woman." "Excuse me, but do I pullout your chair or do you pull my chair out/"(chuckle, sneer)

"How do you do? So you're MS SystemsEngineer. "

(from the bartender: "My. my, What are youdoing here? ")

"Tell me. Will you be at the sales meetingthis year? I understand you weren't permittedto go last year. " .

Goddamned bastards! But keep smiling. Theywould love to see you blow your cool. .

("Poor girl, couldn't take a joke.")

Has it ever occurred to you that most peopledon't even recognize "alternative lifestyles" ,that most people don't acknowledge they exist,much less discuss the value or validity of oneover the other?

When was the last time you found yourselfrubbing shoulders (none of your doing) with a manwho's next move was a hand around your waist i ,

a smile, and a "Tell me, how's the sex life of aliberated woman? "

(Oh my God. please don't let me vomit righthere .)

SwallowSwallow

"I told him I'd be damned if I'd ... oh , excuseme. Oh--hey--no. That's right. You liberatedwomen use four-letter words yourself, don'tyou? "

continued on page 7

LESBIAN TIDE

COCKTAIL PARTY, cont. from page 6

Grit teethSwallowSmileRespond:(Sweetly)

"Why yes. Particularly as adjectives whiledescribing sexist men. "

Move on.

(God. When will they serve dinner? I wishI could drink. Wish I could get drunk. Can'tafford to. Have to remain cool. Have to keepit together. Can't let down.)

"How do you do. How do I feel about beingthe only woman here? Well ... lonely, I gues s •Uh .. .an achievement? I don't know. Do youconsider the fact that you're here as anachievement?

Equal work for equal pay. EQUAL WORK? ? ! !

Can one work while bleeding?

(Remember that group of little boys standingaround in a circle? Circle closed tight. In themiddle a wild-eyed cat. Terrified cat.

"Let's tie this pipe to her tail and see howfast she can run. ")

"No thanks, have to get back to my motel.Heavy day. Have to get up early, you know."

Motel room. The only me in the world. Ul-timately alone. Next week the same I and twoweeks later more of the same. ("Yea, though Iwalk through the valley .... ")

"How does it feel to be the only woman here? "

How does it feel?

Have YQ.1!. any idea?

Up against the wall. Long Knives. Slenderlong knives. Not thrust--but slowly entering mybody (I can hear the skin break). Entering mybody, withdra wn from my body. Entering my body,withdrawn from my body. My stomach, my ab-domen, my breast, my vagina. I am fascinatedby the sight of my own blood. Seeping out. Run-ning down my leg. A pool gathering at my feet.I can only stare at it. I can only pray that this isthe answer.

FEBRUARY 1973

"My God! How do those feminist women whoare married to men manage to resist the escape--to insanity - - from their hell?)

I can see their blood now mingled with mine.Darker than mine from the clots.

The pool widens. Let it widen. They slip oni.t. Let it cover the floor. Their feet slide fromunder them. Let it cover the earth. Let it floodthe earth. Whether they build their ark in time--or not. I doubt that I will care.

7

SEXUAL LAW REFORM HOLDS CONVENTION

California Delegatesto Convention: (left to right) JoAnne Mitche ll, Mina Robinson, Sharon Raphael,Laura D'Auri, Denise Fox, Jeanne Cordova ,Kay Stevens ,Rita Goldberger, Kathy White, TheaHollings worth.

by BARBARAMcLEAN

The greater LA gay community has elected 13women and 13 men to serve as delegates to the2nd Annual State Convention of the CaliforniaCommittee for Sexual Law Reform.

Elected women delegates include: DianeBanos, Maggie Briscoe, Laura D'Auri, DeniseFox I Rita A. Gcl dborqer I Thea Hollings worth I

Sharon Raphael, Myna Robinson, Kay Stevens I

and Kathy White. Jeanne Cordova and Barbara

NOTICE

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 1973, THEPRICE OF THE LESBIAN TIDE_IS:

$6.00 per year (12 issues)everywhere

8

McLean, last year's LA State delegates, will alsogo to the Convention.

A total of 80 delegates throughout Californiawill represent their communities at the Feb. 3rdand 4th Convention at HELP I lnc. in Los Angeles.

The delegates have the task of determining thedirections of the CCSLR for 1973I as well aselecting this year's 13 person- State Board ofDirectors for CCSLR. The Convention is open tothe publ l c ,

SISTERSC[ MC!J:rz.ine/lyand for6c!-f~:'oJJ;-$n

ORIGINAL."''''T, P~URY, I 1.2 IS5uES

ARTICLfS, NEWS, $500PIIOl"O('!I."PIIY

1005 M.\~KET ST.' SUITE zoo ·SAN f.".CIS(q o; 9'\103

LESBIAN TIDE

NEW JERSEY: LESBIAN,NOW SPLIT WIDENS

by JULIE LEE

On Dec. 9, 1972 a conference was held atRider College near Trenton, New Jersey to electa State-wide NOW Coordinator. Thi s conferenceculminated the efforts of NOW women to forcea state structure which would exclude non-NOWorganizations, such as Daughters of Bilitis (DOB).The afternoon session of the conference was de-voted to workshops, open to ALL groups, but allof the independent groups declined to officiallyattend, because they felt that the all-NOW struc-ture is restrictive and elitist. I was one of threecandidates running for the office of State-wideNOW Coordinator. The reason for my candidacywas to try and ensure lesbian representation.Our Mid-East Jersey Chapter charter was deniedbecause the chapter was dedicated to minoritywomen. We recently received another letterfrom Muriel Fox Chairone of the National Boardtelling us that the matter will not be taken upagain at the next NOW National Board meetingbecause of "lack of time" etc. So I hoped thatit might be helpful to run for the State-wide NOWoffice (the position was open to' any NOW memberliving in New Jersey) in the hope of saving som~form of representation for us. However, a care-ful study of present NOW By-Laws revealed thatthe very election of such a coordinator was inviolation of present NOW By-Laws, and I wasadvised to withdraw my candidacy. I did so byhaving Ian Rubin, New Jersey DOB President,read my letter of withdra wal to the conference.

The "election" was a farce. Robert's Rulesof Order were suspended midway through theelection proceedings, because Ms. Rubin tried tobring up a "point of information, " and the womanrunning the session did not want to give her achance to speak. As a matter of fact, Ian hadsome difficulty reading my letter of withdra wal !

The result of all this was that a NOW hand-picked woman was "elected" to the State-wideoffice. This was the same woman who had beennamed "acting State-wide Coordinator" lastApril by the Regional Director--totally in viola-tion of National NOW By-Laws.

Because of all of this, New Jersey DOB ispresently no longer part of the feminist movementin New Jersey.

continued on page 18

FEBRUARY 1973

NOW VICE PRESIDENT MAKES POLICIES CLEAR

by JEANNECORDOVA

In a Jan. 16th interview with NOW regardingtheir perspectives on Ms. Lee's charges andother controversial issues, Ms. Toni Carabillo,National NOW Vice President for Public Relations,spoke to the following issues:

MID EASTJERSEYCHAPTERDENIAL

In a letter dated Dec. 12, 1972, Ms. MurielFox, Chairone of NOW's National Board wrote MsIan Tobias, president of the proposed Mid EastJersey Chapter, that "geographic areas are theonly criteria permitted by NOW rules. As I havesaid before, special interest Chapters are notpermitted. This means that you would open upyour membership to men and women, gay andstraight, minority and WASP, to any person whois committed to NOW's goals. This is the policyfor National NOW and for all NOW Chapters. Wedon't have a mechanism for special area member-ships, and as a matter of fact we feel such segre·gation would be harmful.

No new facts have been presented that wouldnecessitate our reopening the matter at our Jan-uary Board meeting which will only be two daysinstead of three and will be even more over-agendaed than usual. However, if your groupshould decide it wants to change its policy andreorganize according to the policy of recnHtingall interested persons within a geographic areathen you could be cons ide red for Chartering atsome time in the future after you have demon-strated that you have indeed adhered to our non-segregated NOW policy .••. "

In the December 1972 issue of Lesbian Tide,Ms. Lee said, "Our Chapter newsletter, Sister-hood, clearly stated that the Chapter wasDedicated to such women (lesbians), not that itwas For them, or in any way restricted to suchwomen." Despite this non-exclusionary state-ment of purpose, National NOW evidently doesnot see Mid East Jersey's request as "adheringto our non-segregated NOW policy. "

NOW POLICY ON STATESTRUCTURE

Questioned as to whether there is a NationalNOW policy calling for exclusive State-wide

continued on page 18

9

L.A. WOMEN'S UNION fORMS

Women from various parts of LA are interestedin starting a Women's Union. They have hadseveral meetings and are planning a foundingconvention on March 10th and llth.-

Some of the aims that have been expressed areto reach and support all women in order to learntogether how to gain control over their own lives;to develop communication between women'sgroups; to initiate project col.Iect ive s: to unitearound common interest issues, i.e., child care,welfare, abortion, lesbianism, job discrimination;and then to take action on these issues.

The women's movement in LA is neither visiblenor accessible to most women nor has it had adefinite direction. Therefore, the follow ing ques-tions have been raised: What issues are centralto women in LA? What kinds of action would youli;:.c to take? What kind of role would you playin a women's union? What benefits would youexpect? If these questions interest you, help toplan the March Convention.

THIS IS THE TIME:

Since many women are not involved in anygroup, the Convention is seen as an opportunityfor women interested in various issues to get to-gether to form collective s; work groups; con-sciousness raising groups; or other interestgroups. At the Convention they will discussand formalize a structure for integrating thesegroups into the larger Union. They will also bediscussing and establishing a statement ofprinciples to guide the Union.

It's obvious that much remains to be decidedfor the convention, a lot of work needs to bedone and if there's going to be a Women's Union,they need you!

Child care fund is available to pay baby-sitting costs for mothers.

The next general meeting is Sunday, Feb. 4,at 7:30 PM at Metamorphosis, 2212 Sunset Blvd.For further information call: East Side - Linda,665-7465 or JoAnn, 462-1888; West Side - Zee,399-0966.

10

LESBIAN LIBERATION

SPLITS fROM G.A.A.

by GINNY VIDA

The Lesbian Liberation Committee of the NewYork Gay Activists Alliance (GAA) is stronglyconsidering a move for independence.

In recent meetings, we have been reassessingour position in GAA and our goals as lesbians.The following reasons for forming a new lesbiangroup independent of GAA have been proposed inour discussions; First, many non-GAA membershave been relating to the Lesbian Liberation Com-mittee (LLC). Second, there is an urgent need

for a New York organization that will devote it-self exclusively to the needs of lesbians. Third,as lesbians we are concerned not only with gayrights but also with our rights as women. Wefeel a unique relationship to the feminist move-ment as women who turn to our sisters--and notto men--for love.

LLC originated as a GAA subcommittee to planwomen's programs. Our weekly meetings arenow attended by 40-50 women. We meet on Mon.evenings at 99 Wooster St. New York City; call(212) 226-8572 for further information.

ON EATING FLOWERS

by DIANE TRZCINSKI

I've been eating the flowers, you know,Not because there is heavenIns ide the body of us all,But, my dear, for purely totemic reasons:Hoping through some phys io-mystic mysteryThat their essence will permeate mine.

I would (as they in the softest spring)Gently open to the warmth of your sunlit eyesSmiling down on my shy offeringUntil even my fragile center is baredAnd I strain for the ecstasy of union.And in the sweet breeze of your desireI would sway gracefully:Bending to your tenderness,Quivering to your slightest touch.Finally, I would trust my roots,Delicate filaments of my hope,To your secret, unseen depths,Drawing precious sustenanceFrom the richnes s of your soul.

LESBIAN TIDE

RITA RIGHT ONBefore JoAnn and Ann joined the women's liber-

ation movement, they were typical of the countlesswomen throughout time who conformed to fashion,no matter how painful, expensive,- or time-consuming it was. JoAnn declared, I used tospend all my pitifully small salary (as are thesalaries paid to women by the capitalist rulingclass) to buy expensive clothes. My one concernwas how I looked; I cared nothing about develop-ing my mind, ", Ann agreed, "I used to spend hoursputting on make-up, which i now use more produc-tively to read feminist and revolutionary literature."

JoAnn recalled the crippling high heels sheused to wear. "Now I wear sturdy hiking bootswhich are good for marching, trench-fighting orkicking sexist pigs in the groins. I used to shavemy legs and wear skirts to display my legs. NowI wear durable blue jeans to protect me from mace .."

Ann interjected, "Women have been too longduped into damaging the earth's ecology by being

RADICAL FASHIONencouraged to wear fur coats made from the peltsof almost extinct animals. I now wear an armysurplus jacket, which not only keeps me warm,but reminds me that my struggle is with that ofall my courageous sisters fighting imperialis m inSoutheast Asia, Palestine, Ireland, Africa andSouth America."

JoAnn agreed, "I used to wear low-cut blouses·made to show off my body, as if I was part of acattle show. Now I wear cheap, simple work-shirts. If these shirts are good enough for the .oppres sed working clas s of this country, they're·good enough for me. "

Ann summed up the feelirgs of both the women""Clothing is a political statement. We havethrown off our former mindless and painful con-formity to fashion. We show what women's lib-eratton is all about: The individuality of womenshowing through in every facet of life, includingthe clothes we wear. "

This is a candid picture of JoAnn (L)arid Ann (R) before they becamefeminists. Note how their cloth-ing objectifies their bodies and sub-

merges their true individuality.

This is a candid picture of JoAnn (L)and Ann (R) after they became fem-inists. Note how the individualityof each radiates from the clothesthey have each chosen. Note thatthey are free from pressure to con-form to sexist fashion.

To be sure to get WO~EN'SVOICE"each month, why not subscribe.Cost is a nominal $2.50 for 12Ls sue s to cover printin...J?; and.mailing.

Send to.

WmlEN'SVOICEWomen'sLiberation Center11 Amity StreetHartford, Conn. 06106

,-make checks to Women's Center ~

FEBRUARY 1973

ODDS AND ENDS:

In our January issue, page 9 we printed a photo-graph of two women. Credit for this picture goesto M. Richard Kir ste l , It was reprinted from hisbook, Pas de Deux, Grove Press, Inc. 1969

11

2. The total responsibility for the needs of thefamily, food, clothing, medical, dental, hastraditionally rested with the man. This kind ofresponsibility is what keeps him showing up forwork every day.

Gay people , by their very existence, consti-tute a chalienge and a threat to the nuclearfamily. Gay couples do not bear and raise child-ren and, therefore, do not serve the function ofthe nuclear family and that constitutes a directthreat to capitalism. .

In my campaign I want to explain the relation-ship between capitalism and sexism and espe-cially in terms of the present educationalsystem.

One of the powers the Board of Education hasis to "hire and fire all school personnel". Iwould ins ist on preferential hiring of women,gays and other minorities in the higher echelonjobs to compensate for previous discriminationso they could compete on an equal footing.

continued on page 19

LESBIAN FEMINIST RUNS FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION

by Sally Anderson

I am running for the Board of Education as apart of a slate of nine candidates endorsed bythe Socialist Workers Party and the Young SocLal-ist Alliance. We began our campaign with thechallenge of the filing fee candidates must payto get on the ballot, 'which is as h'igh as $700 formayor. If this suit is successful it will be animportant step in democratizing city election la wswhich limit ballot status to candidates who areeither financially well off or have the support ofpeople with money. Needless to say, that ex-cludes a lot of people. The suit will soon bedecided in the courts, but either way we will bein the race.

The municipal elections are by law" non-partisan" which is clearly a farce in light ofthe campaigns run by both the Democratic andRepublican parties -- they are the only onesthat get elected to city offices. The non-partisanruling is intended to prevent our campaign frombeing presented as a socialist alternative andin effect, obscures any political alternative tothe two-party system.

I was denied the right to be listed on theballot as a socialist gay feminist and insteadwill appear as a "gay feminist activist". How-ever, the reason I am running a socialist cam-paign is because I see the oppression of womenand gay people directly related to our capitalistsystem.

Capitalism is basically an economic systemwhereby the v..e alth of this country is concen-trated in large corporations which a tiny minorityown and control. The rest of the population pro-duces this wealth which is generally referred toas "working for a living". Where the realoppression of women and gays takes its form isin the family unit which produces people to fitinto and accept the capitalist structure. Thefamily serves capitalism in two ways: 1. Itcontinually replenishes the work fence, whichis woman's role in the family (bearing andraising children). This service she providesfree of charge, which means industry doesn'teven have to pay for the nurturing and rearingof the people whose labor it will eventuallyexploit. It gets all this free via the family.

12

SISTERHOODBOOK STORE

- -.:- ':" ......•... ---

(Send for our freemail order catalogue)

FEMINIST BOOKSNON-SEXIST CHILDREN'S LITERA TURE

Monday-SaturdaylOAM-6PMFEMINIST AND LESBIAN BOOKS

Come in for coffee and browse,

1415% Westwood Blvd., LA 90025 475-4761

LESBIAN TIDE

A DYKE'S MANIFESTOby D. Cartier

A atra nqe sort of sisterhood ha-s been deveIo p-ing in my mind. For some months now I have beenwondering, "Where does the woman from a dyke-masculine identified background fit into theWomen's Liberation Movement?" "Does such awoman really belong?" Who and where is hersisterhood, the bond of identity, the commonal-ity of her oppres sion and her freedom. "

Having seen and heard of the "sisterhood"among straight women and lesbian feminists froma heterosexual or "feminine" identified back-ground, I am aware that, (1) It is beautiful andstrong (when it is real) and, (2) I can say all thesame things (Le., "men arefucked") and do allthe same things, (I , e ., go to abortion hearings,organize for ch tld+care centers, attend con-sciousness raising groups, etc.), but at the mostfundamental level--1 am not there. I never re-lated to men in that most personal way, I'venever lived with my oppressor, and I never re-motely expect to do so. I can fight for abortionlaw repeal because my enemies use that to putmy sisters down . But I personally have neverbeen there: So, who am I? Wha't kind of wo-'man? And who, at this primary lever, are mysisters? And what is our sisterhood?

Driving down Fountain Ave. one stone coldmorning early I found my sisters in my mind. Mysisters are the women like me who come fromwhere I do. They are the women like me towhom society has said, "You can't be a womanand be what you are (aggressive, independent, alover of women) ." 'I'hey are the women like mewho, because we didn 't know any other way, wesold all that is beautiful and loving and strong

about being a woman because we couldn't standall that was subordinate, weak and life-stiflingabout that identity. My sisters .are those wo-men who have been trapped into unreality by asociety which allows for half, n?t whole, per-sons. We share this with every woman. But mostparticularly my sisters are the women who gottoy guns, instead of dol l s , for Christmas and whogrew up stil! having to wear them because theybecame a basis of our identities. My sisters erethe women like me who bought society's trip thatwe are "stronger" for it.

continued on page 19

FEBRUARY 1973

E.R.A. : COALITION

ACTIVE IN MISSOURI

by RITA A. GOLDBERGER

If the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is rati-fied by Missouri, most of the credit will belongto an active coalition whose single goal is thepassaqe of the ERA.

The Coalition Irrcl udes members of theNational Women's Political Caucus, the Leagueof Women Voters, and the United Church Women(which represents about 30 churches) .

Because of active participation by more conser-vative women, the ERA movement has disasso-ciated itself from the abortion rights movement.One woman

Because of active participation by moreconservative women, the ERAmovement hasdisassociated itself from the abortion r1g'1tsmovement. One woman interviewed said thatmany women in the Coalition supported abortionrights, but felt that politically more could be'accomplished for the ERAby keeping the twomovements separate. She indicated that anabortion rights movement would also be underway soon, and felt that many women wouldparticipate in both groups.

A very successful activity of this group wasa statewide Women's Political Caucus confer-ence held September 23 in Kansas City, whichwas used to educate women about the ERA.Many new women supporters of the ERAemergedfrom this conference, including key womenlabor union activists. Another activity was astatewide ral!y held in Jefferson City on Novem-ber 11. Over 200 persons representing 39women's groups attended and the rally receivedmuch favorable pres s coverage in St. Louis,Jefferson City, and Springfield.

The Coalition anticipates that getting theERAratified by Missouri will be difficult, butthe women are willing to work as hard asnecessary .

13

LesbianPoem(dedicatedto thosewho turned immediatelyfrom the contentspageto this poem)

Thetie:

After centuries of dissectingJoanof Orleansasderangedand sexually pervertedobjective naturally historians of latehave taken to cleaning up her image.The final indignity.

It seems,you see,there was a womannamedHaiviette,with whom Joanlived, loved, slept,and fought in battle,whom scholars now say only was"a girlhood friend"splashing their filthy whitewash overwhat must have been a bedevenSaint Catherine and Saint Brigid smiled upon.

In addition, it would appearthat Margaret Murray, a woman witchcraft scholar,has found evidence that Joanwas Wica, after all.Did you know that The Maid is traditionally oneof the namesthat refers to the Coven'sHigh Priestess?SeeMurray's The Witch-Cult in Western Europefor further guerrilla news.

Haiviette's name,at last, burns through their silence.Joan'sashesflicker in our speechagain.Such bones as theirsrattle with delightwherever women love or lie togetheron the night beforewe go to war.

14

Antithetic:

I love women as a People,yes.And my breath, work. life (and probablymy death) is bound to womenout of that love.

Yet I have also lain in bedswith some women, yes,for a variety of reasons-not the least of which,surprisingly/obviously,was male respect.

But if there is a next time, by god,it will not be for that,nor will we lie on a plankin someone'scorrect political platform,nor will)t be done for abstract female approvalor respect.

It will be becauseour mindschallenge and delight eachother,and for other qualities I cannot know yet.becausethey will be hers,concrete, specific, individual,like her nam8:\

You can believe it will not be becauseshe is Woman,or has honeyed skinand supple legs,breasts like pearsand a smell of the goddamnedsea.

So get off my back, Sappho.I never liked that position,anyway.

Synthetic:

(to Katherine Phillips. 1631-1664."the matchless Orind a,"the first feminist poet in English who wrote of loving women)

Having comethrough three decadesto whereI will not settle for less than I deserve,will not long for the past nor compromisethe present.and insist on giving asmuch asIexpect,I find the personal options narrowedto the needle of my eye.

To be loved and longed for by 'awomanImerely like. but like considerably;or to be hated by anotherwho really hatesher own most secret desire;these are not difficult tasks,only intolerable.

To watch new faces fietcewith single-minded affirm~tion-of what is so complex as to have builton one side of Ibve the.bar-scene, 'to have dressedwomen in leather tuxed~sor gingham gowns;but also.to have built on another side of loveforty-year-Iong enduring pre-fadmarriages between women.calm and wit-warm in committed dignity-this taskis not intolerable,only difficult. ,

To learn to love one'swoman-selfhas been made to seem-bethintolerable and difficult. 'To learn to love another womanin one's self is both, and alsoworth it.

Meanwhile, shewhom Irarely seethese.yearsand I '.lay once on separatetwin bedsand talked about thesevery thingsthrough the dark room 'until dawn etched sleepon,theceiling. '

We must be ignorant,We 9nly know·we may not disappoint eachotherand our two lives allow,.sone feminist cqll has'said,for, rio m~re fun and ga~es.There is too much at'stake; besides.she is mpelf.We must be wise.

Someof you will be contentwith knowing that.

Others will have to wait. forever.to be satisfiedby the graphic details.

ROBIN MORGAN

15-

Ro(Yce M. BanLoUJ

3969 Wilshire Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90010

PREFERENCE GIVEN TO GA Y WOMEN

LESBIAN TIDE

UCLA TO HOST MAJOR LESBIAN CONFERENCE

OUT OF THE CLOSETS AND INTO THE MOVEMENT!

The Southwest Regional Lesbian Working Committeeis coordinating a major lesbian conference on April 13-15,1973.

Hosted by the Women's Resource Center of the Univer-sity of Califomiaat Los Angeles,Conference organizersexpect to draw 400-5-- women from acrossthe county.

ROBIN MORGAN, feminist poet and author of Monsterwill be speaking to the question fo "Lesbianism andFeminism: Synonyms or Contradictions "

Numerous other lesbian feminist singersand performerssuch as: JUDY GRAHN (San Francisco poet and author of"Edward the Dyke") Linda Shearand the ChicagoWomen'sLiberation Rock Band, THE FAMILY OF WOMAN, Sacra-mento's GAY WOMEN'S THEATRE GROUP', SISTERHOOD(L'A' lesbian folk-blues band), BETH ELLIOTT (San Fran-cisco singer, author of "The Oakie Women's LiberationFront", Lesbian photography show: Bee Ottinger. and manyothers will be bringing lesbian song,music and culture to the

. weekend.

MBERLITE INrosem.ead-

..• pool beerdancing

1314 POTRERO GRANDE RD.

FROM L.A. - Take Pomono Fwy.East. go left off Paramontex1t. left at Arroyo to Po-trero - corner of Arroyo &Potrero 288-2232

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

FEBRUARY 1973

Concepts and new ideasregarding: 'The Dyke Identity,""Lesbian Mothers," 'The Self-Help Clinic Concept," "Social-ist Feminism," "The Role of Our Media," "Oppression inMental Hospitals/Prisons," "Problems in Collective Living,""Radical Therapy," "Politically Speaking: Where to FromHere "and "Lesbian Sexuality" are slated asinitial work-shop topics.

Sisterseverywhere are urged to make their plans now. Welook forward to exploring together our culture, our sexuality,our movement, and our accomplishments to discover whatsignificance thesehave for us personally and in relation to oursociety. Plan to attend, participate, and make this the majorevent of our community for 1973.

Further information asto exact agenda,housing, transpor-tation, etc., will be mailed out and published in the followingmonths. For more information, contributions and/or sugges-tions at this time, write to: Ms. Barbara McLean, E~ternalCommunications, West Coast Conference, 508 N. Alta VistaBlvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036, (213) 934-6593 or 656-1049.

WEST- COASTCONFERENCE

l~ LesbiolleX·przes6lon

Our ArtOur MusicOur Poetry

. Our Sexuali tyOur Politics.Onr- Power

for further infolBarh McLean - 508 N. Alta VistaHollywood, California 900)6

17

NOW POLICIES, Cont. from page9

NOW structures, Ms. Carabillo replied, "It isNOW policy to do this. However, this policy isan out-growth of NOW's particular needs at thistime. We have been organized to pres s for leg-islation on a national level through Congres s .With the ratification of the Equal Rights Amend-ment, the arena has shifted to the state legisla-tive houses. What we have been trying to do isget our NOW Chapters throughout a state, co-ordinated to' work together to bring pressure on thestate legislature. The problem is going to be on-going because with ratification of the ERAthereis qoinqt o be a whole slew of legislation that isgoing; to need to be changed at the state level.Also, many of NOW's legislative goals now cen-ter at the state, rather than the national, level.So, there is going to be an' on-going need for thechapters to be able to work toqether in a co-ordinated way. The NOW chapters have a needto communicate with each other and unify someof their Task Forces state-wide to work togetherto develop new policy. "

Feminists from Seattle report that "NOW hasbecome very threatened by the Feminist Coordina-ting Council (FCC, in which NOW chapters haveparticipated for five months)." Member organi-zations of the FCC have been participating inactions and Signing letters and petitions jointly.At a January 4th FCC meeting, Seattle N9W pro-posed that the FCC become an information cen-ter, and that all actions be tntt iated and carriedout separately by the various member orqantze -'

. tions. This proposal was defeated, but it is feltthat NOW will continue to push for this de-centralization of the "united front" concept ofFCC. NOW's proposed separate action policywould virtually destroy much of the effective-ness of this coalition. One woman from Seattleposed the question, "Is NOW interested inbuilding the Women's Movement or its ownorganization? II

According to Ms. Carabillo in Los Angeles,however, "NOW intends toriont inue' participatingin coalitions whenever and wherever we can worktogether on issues that concern us all. State-wide NOW structures should not affect the otherfeminist coalitions. In fact, NOW Chapters areencouraged to work with those groups. To dootherwise would not help the women's movementat all. New Jersey NOW Chapters have no in-tention of withdrawiriq from the State CoordinatingCommittee. I think there is some paranoiaoperant here that shouldn't exist. "

18

It has also been charged that NOW's reactionto the Mid East Jersey Charter denial and theirmove to create their own state structure in thatstate has the effect of undermining lesgian par-ticipation and/or leadership in NOW and in thefeminist movement in general. Ms. Carabillodefinitely stated, "there is certainly no planunderfoot to undermine lesbian participation.NOW is very aware that they have a substantiallesbian membership. I really think there is someparanoia here and that lesbians should evaluatethis issue carefully. This might be an issue insome suburbia Chapters for more personal rea-sons, but it is certainly not our attitude. Thefact that NOW has not moved on last year'sLesbian Resolution (NOW's 5th Annual Conventionofficially recognized "lesbianism as a feministconcern ,,) says nothing. We haven't moved ona number of other issues either .•• such as 'vol-unteerism' and 'the war.' It has been officiallypassed that there will be a 'Task Force on Sex-uality and Lesbianism' at our February AnnualConvention. No division between lesbians andNOW exists. II

LOON..,- .," ' .

769-9858/Ocf~cf~&aa ~kL

r%~cI

NOW SPLIT, Cont. on page9

We don't know what will happen to the inclu-sive State-wide Coordinating Committee. It haschanged its name to "Liaison Committee," whichin itself is a weakening move. DOB resigned fromthis committee also, charging intolerableoppression.

At present we feel that the best place for les-bians is to be independent and in our own move-ment, where we can work unoppressed (hopefully)and where we do not have to battle outs ide homo-phobes. We can then concentrate on issues thataffect us primarily, such as a gay civil rightsact in New Jersey and the adoption of the ModelPenel Code.

LESBIAN TIDE

EDUCATION, Cont. from page 12

The Board has the power to establish and en-force all rules and regulations for the govern-ment of the school, teachers and students. Highschool students do have the right to distributepolitical material or any printed matter withoutprior Board approval. The Red 'I'Ide s , an under-ground newspaper, is involved in a court battlefor the right to sell their press on campus with-out prior censorship. As a Board member Iwould support this struggle.

High school women should be provided withbirth control arid abortion referral information.It seems hypocritical that pregnant students areexpelled from school, but not allowed acce ss tobirth control or abortion information.

I would demand that textbooks used for sexeducation would deal with the totality of humansexuality rather than just heterosexuality. Aspreviously mentioned, women have a specificfunction in the nuclear family. The socializationthey receive in high schoo l helps mold them intoit. To change this situation there must be text-books presenting women's contribution to historyand society as something more than and otherthan breeders of the race.

As a member of the Board I would push toopen up school facilities for discussions andforums on the issues and problems facing stu-dents. For example, the problem of gay youthliving in straight family situations.

I see this campaign as one of the ways tofight against the many forms of oppres sionsuffered by all people in this society by offeringpeople a Socialist alternative.

MANIFESTO, Cont. from page 13

Crap on society, I say, when I walk into a barand see the rigid faces of women who have for-gotten or who never learned how beautiful it isto be loved as a woman by a woman. Anger andrage when I look over the years at the unrealityof being ostracized from straights and men be-cause I am a woman, and alienated from otherwomen, and my very identify, because I playedto win on a losing side.

These are my sisters who like myself are justbeginning to recognize that their real strengthand beauty lie in being their own self-definedwomen. These are myst sters who have come torealize that that little gun is a crippler and thevery chain that separates us from an hore st lovefor other women like ourselves.

It's a strange sort of sisterhood because wehave enemies on all sides and inside. Ourenemies are society and its sex-roled oppressionthat has alienated us from half of ourselves andthe women we purport to "love." Our enemiesare men who, though we are beguiled to emulate,they sell us out in the job market, the Churche s ,our families, and every institution that theyhave erected in their society. Our enemies areourselves and internalized illusion that what thissociety says is "strong and right" is really crap-and was never us to begin with.

We have sold out through ignorance. The Wo-men's Movement has shown us, as it has shownthousands of women from all different backgrounds,that we too have been bought and sold out bythose whom we have so falsely tried to ally. Oursisterhood lies in and beyond the recognition ofour life experiences, our roles and our real iden-tities. Our "place" and our contribution to thestruggle for women's liberation is the strengthand clarity that comes with the recognition of IAh 0

we really are. Dykes are women too and that'sNOT the half of it.

ain't I

a woman?

~yr. $~;ins;itutionB $20overseas $13

P.o. 1169IOLJa Ci ty~ Ia; 52240

pubUsh6dby a lesbian coilecti.Vs.~

address.

zip code

Subscription rate:$3 for 12 issues

GAY LIBERATORPO Box 631·A

Deteort. MI 48232

(Sent in a plain brown wrapper.!

FEBRUARY 1973 19

Open· 2Sot &·S pm - 20mun: 12 to 2

704N . VAN NESS

HOLLYWOOD AQUARIAN PARTYSWEETHEARTS FEBRUARY 9th

PARTY FEBNO ADMISSIO RUARY 14th

NCHARGE

LESBIAN TIDE

CROSSCURRENTS

CHICAGO:GAY SOCIAL WORKERS ORGANIZi:

Gay social workers have formed a task force.The new group is working to educate the profes-sion and the general public about gay issues, toprovide a link between the gay community andthe social work community, and to facilitate mu-tual support among gay social workers. For in-formation call (312) 791-1464 or write to GaySocial Work Task Force, Box 5317 Chicago, Ill.60680.

LESBIANS COMPILING ANTHOLOGY

A group of Chicago sisters is gathering les-bian creations for an anthology. Send yourstories, plays, drawings, jokes, cartoons, pho-tographs, poems, and articles to R. Hunter,411Lathrop, River Forest, Ill., 60305.

The group has already printed a booklet ofpoems,Proud 'n Queer. Copies can be obtainedby sending 45¢ to the above address.

NEW YORK:STEWARDESSES FIGHT BACK

Johanna Chaplan, organizer of the Steward-esses Antidefamation Defense League, hasgrounded the author of a sexist book entitledHow to Make a Good Airline Stewardess. AuthorCornelius Wohl said he had cancelled an all-city promotional tour because of a radio show-down with Ms. Chaplan.

Wohl said his book, which is billed as a text-book on how to get stewardesses into bed, wasmeant to entertain only. "The stewardesses towhom I refer in my book are nice, normal girls,who enjoy life, including sex. Chaplan and herbreed aren't worth making a pass at anyway, "he said.(reprint from the L.A. Times)

WASHINGTON, O.C. :GAY SWITCHBOARD ORGANIZED

A Gay Switchboard has been organized by acoalition of D. C. gay groups and individual s .The Switchboard office is located in the Commun-ity Building at 1724 20th St., N. W. The phonenumber is 387-3777. Open staff meetings areheld at the office every Mon. night at 7: 30 P. M.Volunteer staff members and donations of gayliterature are needed.

FEBRUARY 1973

LOS ANGELES:

NOW CHAPTER COORDINATOR,

CENTER DIRECTOR RESIGN

Ms. Shiela Sheldon, newly elected ChapterCoordinator of the L-,\ National Organization forWomen (NOW), and Ms. Margaret Hardy, newlyappoint.ed Director of the LA NOW Center for Wo-men's Studies, officially res igncd from their po-sitions at the LA Coordinating Council's Dec.26monthly meeting.

At a specially called Coordinating Councilmeeting on Jan. 16, 1973, this body elected Ms.Debbie Padget, Ms. Arlie Scott, Ms. Jean Sta-pleton and Ms. Kathy Timlin (NOW's current vicepresidents) to be "rotating" Chapter Coordinators.Each will serve for a three month period. Ms.Carol Wood was appointed Center Director.

WOMEN'S CLINIC OPENS

A gynecological clinic operated by and forgay women is now open every Tues. and Thur. ,7-9 P.M., at the Gay Community Services Cen-ter, 1614 Wilshire Blvd. The clinic's servicesare free , but doriattons and volunteers are needed.

KANSAS CITY:

FEMINIST CHICANA GROUP ACTIVE

'Sornos Hermanas Con Orgullo"("We Are SiS-ters With Pride ,,) is the name of a feminist Chi-cana organization in Kansas City. Gay andStraight women are involved in this group, whichsponsored a \fl/omen's Festival last fall during aMexican-American weekend. This group is nota part of the Kansas City Women's LiberationUnion, but can be contacted through the Union.

WOMEN'S CENTER OPENS

The Kansas City Women's Liberation Unionrecently moved into a new center at 5138Tracy,Kansas City, Mo. The Union is composed ofseveral collectives, including one doing abor-tion referral, one putting out a bi-monthly news-letter, and one setting up classes in women'sstudies both at local universities and at thecenter. A large very active gay caucus is apart of the Union.

21

LETTERS TO THE COLLECTIVE

Dear Tide Collective:

I would like to take this time to say "thankyou" for the Tide. However, I would, person-ally, like to read more in-depth articles onvarious aspects of being a gay woman -- articlesspeotftca lly relating to the inter-dynamics ofgay women (i , e ., risk, commitment I fear I whatis attraction, what is love I what is monogamy I

sexism within our own ranks I etc.). Manywomen who come to our center I to our groupspecifically I don't know how all these relateto sexism and they don't realize just how muchthey have been socialized in this male-domin-ated society. If we could just show somecause/effect I perhaps we could raise theirconsciousness to an even higher level.

In Sisterhood I

Sandy HeimIsla Vista Women's Center

Sisters of the Tide Collective:

Hello. Was nice to see the Psychosurgeryreprint in your magazine. Is it possible in thefuture to give address of Second Wave as wellas credit? (If, that is I you ever reprint fromus again •.• ) Also, concerned that the art workon page 23 didn't have Second Wave credit. Ithink it's a drag that movement publicationsaren't more conscientious about these kinds ofthings.

I like your magazine! There seems to be amuch more broader-based lesbian consciousnesson the West Coast. We at Second Wave havebeen rather slobby on this. But we're workingon developing it. Our next issue is going tohave an article on the straight backlash which

is a very scary thing that's happening here onthe East Coast. Also, our editorial will beabout gaynes s in Female Liberation I the largerorganization out of which Second Wave comes.

Sisterly regards I

Debby Roe

P.S. I'm amazed at the number of bars youlist - are they women's bars? We have 3 gaybars in Boston!

22

Dear Sisters I

A year ago I said that I couldn't afford tosubscribe to the Tide I then went home andrealized I couldn't afford not to. I felt youdeserved my support, and the constantly im-proving quality of the. magazine has certainlyjustified that feeling.

So I congratulations and please fight offthose inevitable feelings of discouragement.You are really helping your sisters.

Warmly I

SheilaCalifornia

Collective's Note: The following letter waswritten by a woman inmate of Terminal IslandFederal Penitentiary to a member of the TideCollective. She refers to the November visitof Harrison and Tyler and other sisters from theL.A. feminist community who performed at theprison.

Dear Sammy -

What or how can I say - I thank you for theTide and Rash. We all shared them and feltbetter for having them with us and for all of youwho came to be and share with us that night.

My delay in writing has mostly been simply

my down mood - maybe the season too.

Sometimes I no matter how good your defenseshave become, you can't ignore the sadness andretardation all around you. Often I find myselfjust fighting against regression. It's a heavytime of year for all of us and me and Heidi andall the rest of us just want you to know yourvisit here, your letter and magazines was muchmore to us then you may realize - and will con-tinue to be for some of us.

There is a certain beauty in poverty, los sand desolation - there's a certain strength andgrandeur in suffering. Grays I storms, ruins I

age I are powerful subjects for a painting.Even a dump heap can evoke admiration.

Love unites the part with the whole.

We love you.

Peace - freedom I

Diane

LESBIAN TIDE

MUSIC IS POWERFUL

A TALK WITH SISTERHOOD

by BARBARAMc LEAN

"Music is so powerful. Remember back intothe Airplane days when they said, 'feed yourhead, man'? Everybody was feeding their head!Music is powerful, and if you put across theright message' -- to encourage people to usetheir head instead of their fist. .. "

.. There is a new sound of J;l'lUS ic: the sound 'ofSistefhood,' an all-women band from OrangeCounty. It is the sound of Naomi and Robin,two feminists who came together for a [arrrInAugust of '72 at the-Santa Ana Women's Centerand have been havmq ,gigs every since •...

We had an opportunity to interview Naomiand Robin, ,the two lead guitarists of Sisterhood.Both have been musfctans since their early teens.

Have you played in other bands?

Naomi: Yes. I played in dozens of bands ...When I started my first rock and roll band at13, there was this thing about "the problems ofworking with female musicians ": ego trips,vanity i wanting to go out with boys, doing itmainly to attract attention. I couldn't find aserious woman musician, so I decided to domixed. I played in a blues band and sang theblues for awhile. Then I met Johnny and Harveyand we started writing songs together and wedid really well as far as making music was con-cerned, and it was our own music. But theboys still had this thing like, "yeah, you playall right for a girl". It was just too much com-petition for them. I've been refused playing inbands because I was a woman. I'd tell them,"I play lead guitar", and they'd say, "Well,we' don't even want to hear you. You're a chickand we don't even want to hear you." It'sreally hard for a woman who plays good leadguitar to get anywhere. So when that band fellapart, I wanted to continue building up onacoustic music and making it strong without thehardass rock and roll because it was nothingbut a blatant show of ego to me... Every otherword was screw or ball.

FEBRUARY 1973

When did you decide to start a baad?

Naomi: When I went to the Women's Center,there was this little poster that said "wanted -woman who can play bass or something, oranything". I wa,s on my way to Oregon ... Andluckily I thought, well, maybe we can worksomething out. I was really turned on to thefact that Robin could play lead auitar. I'veplayed with hundreds of musicians, women andmen, but you seldom meet a woman who bothersto. attempt playing lead guitar, to start fiddlingwith it, with confidence.

What about the name Sisterhood?

Robin: . I just felt like, Sisterhood is strength,and I just wanted to show that we I as women,could make good rnusic ... the name is a politicalstatern ent, and our music is als 0 a politicalstatement, because our songs aren't saying,"yahoo ,. 'we are women and we can play guitar"Through our mus ic we are stating sisterhood;we are stat ir.q woman power. Because we areplaying 'strong, definite, good mus ic.

Are you looking for people?

Robin: Yes. Percussion and bass player, orflute I or fiddle player. Anybody. It would begreat to have our own orchestra.

f'" ..-.- - ~- - ..- - ..-.~ - ..- .. - .. ----:1 i

E:1. .;s

[r E IITO: ,

:!(

t..

~--------------------f :----,----!

ii iUSTIT1JT:OfJ~ ANn M£NTJtL I-IOSP~T~"S. !..._ •••••••.•• --.- ••• - •••.••• - •.••••••••.•••••.••••••••••••••••• oo •••••••••••••• __ • __ •• ,

23

TheSecond Wave'slatest issue is OUT

with art lcles onRAPE

Women in VietnamPhotographs b'y

Elsa DorfmanPoetr'y b'y

Adrienne RichReviews, and mORE

lHE SECOND WAVElox 303,kenmoreSq.S~tionIoston, M~. 02215

_$3- for a veer sub 14issues).Start my sub

with issue no.__So 75+$.25postage for 1copy of issue no.

no.". -I.ddrtss ---icitY -istate IIp -j

-add $,50 outside of USA; S4.SO ~irm ••il overseas

25% discount on 10 or more orders

renew••1 Dnew sub 0

24

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH2201 South Union Avenue

Los Angeles, Ca. 90007Telephone: (213) 748-0123

Something Good is going to happen to You!!!

LESBIAN / FEMINIST NEWSPAPER

COMING OUT MONTHLY

$5 a year

~SlNSI-HR Of GAY LIBERATION NUM8ER 16

Ai:i£N~1

~IP(BA.

thefU~I€S

thefuRies119 ntn st. s.c.

wash. ~·V 200()3

Gm1btrg 00. K~ou-c 8. the BNh. ~t~ Qrlov-.., k'~ •.••hly '109<'

WaoIlWh,t,....,. Bu"ough~. ;'50. Cuba C•. I Solomo•• c..•y L.t!e-ratoon. ¥'Id •• a ••.•••oouu'l' ul'1JlUbl,~ SA.'" VOIr'"' . Pa.'••se Monl.'

ArllCtf1 Or> ga.., pll$Ol'lt'l'S.• 'Im. ,iIdocol' Q.IV CI••~n •• CMnJ)ul ~

$Iudlft.!pvs 10 ",'ulol¥'1 Alto ttlort 10(1100 \f>1t..-i f'IPWS Io.Qf'I"

SuMc•.ptoom 55 " "5un [57 0\0t'f_~! 58 1,1 ct •• \ sn. ..•••.••..SO'

••.•g SUb. Fr. 10 t'fosoner, S;wnp.lfo cccv s.o C('f".I~ t hi c'_ S,.AU COPel fNoIIl'd In f"",,~\cooesWt "'w ~)on'iU' a G~y llb~'I'IhO"

Book Sirvoer Se<>CI'0I' It"' list O. mil""'~ ~".oIoJblt, PO 80. 40391S., f,iIOC'IOI"I.Cot/., 904'40 1.'5181. )184

LESBIAN TIDE

LIFESTYLES NOT REVOLUTIONARY

Seattle feminist activists; Lynne Brunner (Fem-inist Coordinating Council), Cindy Gipple (RadicalWomen), and Carol Riddell (Women's Commission,University of Washington) spoke to a-group ofL.A. feminists at the Westside Women's Centerabout the organizational strength of their Counciland the need for analysis and program behindmovement activity.

Ms. Brunner explained that although theirCouncil is composed of such diverse groups asthe American Library Association's Task Forceon Women, Radical Women, Socialist Worker'sParty, and the National Organization for Women,all are "able to overcome their differences inideology and work together on certain issues asa united front of feminist action."

Presenting herself as a "socialist feminist,"Ms. Gipple said that, "I do not see the two(socialism and feminism) separated in any sense."She described her group, Radical Women, ashaving, "drawn together women from the oldleft (Socialist Worker's Party, Communist Party,etc.) and the new left (Society for a DemocraticSociety, etc.) .. .in a program designed to speak tothe root of women's oppression and not fuckaround." Ms. Gipple also questioned the valid-ity of alternative services saying, "we think thatdecline (in group num bers, effectivenessm andaction) is inherent in the alternative services ap-proach as a methodology of social change." Shealso spoke to the disorganization presently frag-menting th e women's movement saying, "thelesbian and feminist movements often look atlifestyles as an end in themselves ...being a les-bian or feminist isn't, per se, revolutionary, it'show you confront the political issues involved."

* *WHAT WE DONOT SAY IS THATWE ARE ALL,EVERYLAST ONEOF US, SCARED OFLOVE'S POWER

FEBRUARY 1973

~8~.kS2i~ (~13~y6rl04j~?)

~~---------------------------~f{EEt+No. _

(Jfi 9fAre Zi~ _

•.L.A.Ff?EE~ foOl?J~/lrWOD" /JIv4.,f.4~,44I~, Cwr. 9002.a(,.. - AN ~~ ,'kf.~'; !t15~.Jt!fi,r C4VAM~WXKO,15 -rvih f'nf,f ~/Ve"Y4. AI"-Ff'() I ~r~.wilT';' ,.,Iit~r.s.~ENOQICQ( ••• ~~aoct)

25

26

THE MARIN ("OMEW S IIfrl'SLffiERhM' nev.14 ana..e/f~LI. mov.i~ and booii~~v.ieul4. o.ict.(on. pO~/f. pho~o~.~ and p~ona.t. ~M(!/f~. A newOOIUJ.m oo~ 6~nLlu. (,,~~ U6vJ.i..th /fOWl. co~bu.U.oru. M

~ub~~pti.oru.: PO. Box 1412.San Raoa~. Ca.t.(60~ 94902

bar guideTHE AMBER LIGHT1314 No. Patrero Grande Dr., San Gabriel

BACCHANAL '707034 Melrose, Hollywood 937-8771

BIG BROTHERS1616 W. Washington, Venice

BIG HORN4882 Lankershim, No. HOllywood 980-9625

BITTER END WEST8409 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollvwood 654-2804

BLA BLA CAFE (R)11059 Ventura Blvd., No. Hollywood 769-8912

DAILY DOUBLE3739 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(1 blk east of

Rosemead)

DOVES COVE5813 Washington Blvd., 935-5291

4ger BACKROOM5510 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 464-9766

FOX11150 Burbank Blvd., No. Hollywood (formerly

Pacesetters) 980-9657

HAPPY HOURGarden Grove Blvd. Garden Grove

HIALEAH HOUSE8540 Lankershim Blvd., No. HOllywood 767-9334

HOLLYS1219 W. Washington, Venice 399-9017

JOANI PRESENTS6413 Lankerskim Blvd., No. Hollywood 762-1211

LINDA'S LITTLE LOG CABIN11522 Ventura Blvd., No. Hollywood 769-9035

LOVE INN10700 Vanowen, No. HOllywood 769-9215

OXWOODINN13713 Oxnard (at Woodman) 787-9927

PINK ELEPHANT SALOON2810 Main St., Santa Monica

SALOON10448 Ventura Blvd., No. Hollywood 769-9858

SEVENTH CIRCLE704 No. Van Ness,Hollywood

STAR ROOM12705 S. Main, Los Angeles 756-1149

SUNSET CLUB (THE)4521 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 462-9557

TIGRES LOUNGE6630 Lankershim, No. Hollywood 765-9339

WESTWINDS1015 Ocean Front Walk, Venice 399-9688

LESBIAN TIDE·

ORANGE COUNTY (area code 714)Radical Lesbian Feminists, Abortion Referral & Health Care

Women's Center 429 Sycamore, Santa Ana, Calif. 836·1213SACRAMENTO

Gay Community ServicesCenter1730 17th StreetSAN DIEGO (areacode 714)

Gay Information Center263·1411

Lesbian FeministsPat Cluchey, 1630 19th St., 92101, 232·1914

Tres FemmesBox 8205, San Diego, 92101 753·7400SAN FRANCISCO (areacode 415)

Gay Liberation Book ServiceSend for free list of books, periodicals, posters. Much material byGay Women. P.O. Box 40397, San Francisco, 94140

WHERE IT'S AT ...

,

)

CALIFORN IASANT A BARBARA (areacode 805)

Isla Vista Women's Center:6504 Pardall, Goleta, Calif. 93013,968·5774LOS ANGELES (area code 213)

Counseling.Bernice Augenbraun 479·6349

CrisesLine:748·1904 PersonalServices(jobs, erc.) 748-0123

Emergency (Lesbian Tide Office):(problems of immediate concern, counseling, information, services)JeanneCordova' 656-1049 Barbara McLean 934-6593

Gay Community ServicesCenter and Hotline:(24 hours) 482-3062 1614 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 90017

Gay Growth Groups:482-3062 1614 Wilshire Blvd.,L.A. 90017

Gay Mothers Information:Anne Hensley 828-6395

Health Care:Feminist Women's Health Clinic

746 So. Crenshaw 936-7i19 (self-examination, pregnancyscreening, and abortion referral) Call for appointment (run byfeminists); free; donations accepted

Women's Gynecology ClinicOpen Tuesday and Thursday nights. Volunteers and donationsneeded. Gay Community ServicesCenter. Free. 482-3062.

Legal Aid:G.C.S.C. 482-3062. Alan Saltzman (attorney) 461-3464

LesbianWorking Committee:1614 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 90017, call 656-1049for information.

Lesbian Research Information:Sharon Raphael 482-3062 or 372-0860

Metropolitan Community Church:2201 So. Union 748-0123M.C.C. 'Hot Line' Crisis Intervention Center24 hours. If you need help, call 748-1904

Metropolitan Community Temple;2201 So. Union 372·0860

National Organization for Women (N.O.W.)278-0680 278-0286 8864 West Pico

Womanspace(art, culture, discussion):11007 Venice Blvd., L.A. 90034, call 838-9668 forinformation

.,I

t

I

Women's Switchboard771-8213

VENICE (areacode 213)West Side Women's Center

218 West Venice Blvd. 823-4774GEORGIA

ATLANTAAtlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance

P.O. Box 7963, Atlanta, 30309NEW YORK

NEW YORK CITYLesbian Food Conspiracy

Women's Building, 243 W. 20th St.691-1860 Every Wed. 3 PM - 7 PM

MS Maqazine370 Lexington Ave., Albany, New York

NEW JE RSEYDaughters of Bilitis419 Balyston St. No. 414

If your political or service organization is oriented towardgay women and you would like to be listed in theLesbian Tide, please send information and description to:

Tide Collective1124y, No. OgdenL.A., California 90046

TIDE

BULK RATES:For bookstores and centers this is available.

BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE:Back issuesof The Lesbian Tide, from Septemberof 1971 are available upon request and are 50dper issueplus postage.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING RATES:For Movement Centers, Organizations, Bars,Papers,etc. Pricesavailable upon request.

FOR INFORMATION ON WHERE INYOUR AREA THE TIDE IS SOLDCONTACT THE TIDE COLLECTIVE

MONDAYS

TUESDAYS:

WEDNESDAYS:

THURSDAYS:

FRIDAYS:

SATURDAYS:

SUNDAYS:

calendar(See"Where It's At" for phones and addresses)

SELF HELP CLINIC: 7:30 prn, WestsideWomen's CenterLEGAL COUNSELING: 5:00 to 7:00 at Gay Community ServicesCenter(GCSC) call for appointment.RADICAL THERAPY: 6:30 to 8:30 prn, drop in rap, WestsideWomen's Center

ALCOHOLICS TOGETHER: 8:00 pm at GCSCWOMEN'S GYNECOLOGY CLINIC: 7:00 to 9:00 pm at GCSCGAY AWARENESS RAP (for women): 8:30 pm at GCSC

FEMALE ART HERITAGE: Lecture series,7:30 at WomanspaceGAY AWARENESS RAP (mixed): 7:30 pm at GCSCRADICAL THERAPY: 6:30 to 8:30 pm, drop in rap at WestsideWomen's Center

TIDE COLLECTIVE: 7:00 prn, All sisterswho want to help are welcome.1124% N. Ogden. 656-1049WOMEN'S EVENING: 8:00 pm at GCSCGAY LAW STUDENTS: 9:30 pm at GCSC

MI LlTANT LABOR FORUM: 8:00 pm (Lecture and discussion) 1107% N.western,463-1917FUNKY DANCE: 8:30 pm HELP Center, 7221 Santa Monica Blvd.WOMEN'S GYNECOLOGY CLINIC: (seeTuesday)WOMEN'S NIGHT: at WomanspaceGOOD TIME HOUR: (Gay Women) 8:00 pm at WestsideWomen's CenterGAY YOUTH: (Under 21) 7:30 pm at GCSCSABBATH SERVICES: 8:00 pm at Metropolitan Community Temple

LESBIAN WORKING COMMITTEE: (Gay Women's Activist Group) 2:00 pm at GCSC

GAY WOMEN'S CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING: 4:00 prn at GCSCWOMEN'S UNION MEETINGS: (Every other Sunday) Call 665-7465 for informationCHURCH SERVICES: 10:45 am and 7:30 pm at Metropolitan Community Church