December 18, 1992

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 3

Letters

Transsexuals on the Land

To the Editors:

Unlike last year, there were no transsexuals expelled from the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival this year, but that's not because there were none in attendance. I attended the Seventeenth Annual Michigan Womyn's Music Festival for four days without incident, all the while fully prepared for the possibility that I might be expelled at any time if my transsexuality were to become known to the festival security or producers.

I attended the festival specifically to challenge its "woman-born womyn only" policy by demonstrating that not only could it not be effectively enforced, but that there is, in fact, no rational justification for its existence. I also wanted to do something to raise consciousness about the issue at the festival itself, but my primary intention was simply to draw attention to the issue, as it was apparent to me that the festival producers had adopted a strategy of simply ignoring the issue in hopes that it would eventually go away.

I had been concerned that festival security might be exercising increased vigilance toward the presence of transsexuals this year, and that I might therefore have some difficulty getting into the festival, but I had absolutely no problem whatsoever getting past the front gate. Nor did I have the slightest bit of difficulty at any time

It's not so

Continued from previous page

heart spoke for me. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry," was all that came out. She knew. Her eyes responded. When she spoke there was no anger, just sadness. "I only want to keep the bar safe for women. This bar means everything to me." Sue Ballard doesn't understand why this is an issue. After all everyone is welcome to become a member. With a sports bar just up the street, do we want to be hassled in our bar?

It isn't about racism. It's about what responsible people do when ideas just pop into their heads. You can wonder about life-forms elsewhere in the universe or whether there is an afterlife, but when it comes to speculations that question another person's integrity or their motives, What She Wants has a legal and a moral responsibility to refuse to print unsubstantiated what-ifing by wanna-be writers, and leave the "did you ever wonder..." to satirists like Andy Rooney."

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during the festival blending in with the other women there. I participated fully in the festival, freely intermingling with other women, meeting and talking to other women, and engaging in all of the same activities that other women there did. At no time at the festival did anyone exhibit any discomfort or suspicion about my presence, or act toward me in any manner as if I were any different from any of the other women there, not even in the showers.

I was part of a team of four womyn--of which I was the only actual transsexual-who attended the festival with the specific purpose of raising consciousness about and drawing attention to the issue of transsexual exclusion. During our stay, we conducted workshops on the issue, gave away free literature and buttons, conducted a survey on the festival's exclusionary policy and asked festival-goers to sign a petition requesting that the festival policy be eliminated.

Over the course of the four days we were there, we spoke to literally hundreds of women, and the overwhelming majority of them expressed wholehearted approval of allowing post-operative male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals to attend the festival. A great many expressed that they were “shocked," "outraged," or "appalled" both at the policy itself, and at the manner in which Nancy Burkholder had been summarily expelled from the festival last year. Many women also expressed that they felt that this policy and the way it had been enforced is reminiscent of the patriarchal society that the festival is intended to be a

refuge from. A surprising number of women

stated that they knew of other women who

did not attend the festival this year specifi-

cally because of that incident. Many others stated that they had also considered not coming because of it. Some said that they had transsexual friends whom they wished could be there.

I came out as a transsexual at two different workshops on the final day of our stay at the festival. Of the approximately forty women at the two workshops, only two expressed that they were uncomfortable with me being there, and one of them later stated to me that she recognized her discomfort as a form of prejudice that she wanted to be able to overcome. All of the others expressed that they were very glad that I was there, that they thought it was a very brave thing for me to do, and that they were very grateful for the consciousnessraising work that we were doing at the festival.

From the various interactions that all of us experienced, and from the responses to our survey--to which respondents expressed approval of allowing post-operative MTF transsexuals to attend the festival by over a three to one margin--it was obvious that we had succeeded in making the transsexual issue the most talked about issue at the festival this year, and that we had succeeded in causing a great many women to think more deeply about this issue and to care about this issue to a far greater extent than they had ever done before. But most of all we knew that what we had done there had accomplished the purpose of not allowing the festival producers to simply allow the issue to fade away, and that our actions this year will make it much more difficult for the festival producers to refuse to en-

gage in substantive dialogue regarding the fairness of their exclusionary policy in the future. My fondest hope is that the most significant outcome of this endeavor is that real and substantive dialogue on the issue can actually begin to take place.

Regardless of the producers' response, it is a certainty that their strategy of ignoring the issue in hopes that it will fade away has failed.

Transsexual lesbians will continue to defy the festival's exclusionary policy, and will continue to hold the festival producers accountable for the fairness of their policy. Some of us will undoubtedly be expelled, but that will not stop us from coming back again and again, and insisting on taking our rightful place in the community. We intend to take seriously and to follow the admonition that Alix Dobkin made in one of her workshops at the festival this year: “It's the responsibility of each of us to make a place for ourselves in the community. We have to show up and say, "I'm here. Deal with me." You declare yourself a part and you are a part, the only way to do that is to keep coming back." We intend to do exactly that.

In conclusion, I only wish to encourage those women who likewise disagree with the festival's exclusionary policy to make their viewpoints known to the festival pro-

lence are to be condemned.

We commend you for your courageous commitment to end injustice in the military with regard to gay and lesbian persons. While we recognize that the implementation of this executive order will require careful planning and consultation, we encourage you to fulfill your pledge as quickly and as clearly as possible following your inauguration.

As you encounter fear, misunderstanding, or resistance to this action, please be assured of our continued support and our constant prayers. Thank you.

Dr. Paul H. Sherry, President United Church of Christ Cleveland, Ohio

Dr. C. William Nichols General Minister and President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Indianapolis, Indiana

Rabbi Alexander Schindler, President Union of American Hebrew Congregations

New York, New York Bishop Melvin G. Talbert Council of Bishops United Methodist Church San Francisco, California

ducers by writing to them at: Barbara Price March in Colorado

and Lisa Vogel; W.W.T.M.C.; P.O. Box 22; Walhalla, Michigan 49458

Davina Anne Gabriel

Clinton should keep

his pledge

The following was sent to Presidentelect Bill Clinton:

Dear Mr. Clinton:

Your commitment to end discrimination against openly gay and lesbian members of the armed services was greeted by many in the country, as well as by many in the religious community, as a welcome sign of your desire to extend full civil rights and equal protection of the law to all in our society. Refusal to induct a person into the military, or the discharge of a person, solely on the basis of sexual orientation, is intolerable. Such government-sanctioned action by military leaders has only served to legitimize and encourage other acts of discrimination against gay and lesbian persons in our society which, at times, has led to harassment, violence, even death. Protection of the rights of gay and lesbian persons in the military becomes, therefore, an important act of justice in its own right, as well as a symbolic statement of our nation's commitment to liberty and justice for all.

People of faith and conscience are not of one mind about the nature of homosexuality or the moral character of gay and lesbian lifestyles. These questions divide the religious community just as they divide the larger society. However, regardless of one's position on these questions, there is a growing consensus that homosexuality should not be cause for discrimination, and that attitudes or behavior that encourage vio-

Hate Crime Update

Compiled by the Maryann Finegan Project November 10 Wendy's, 3735 W. 25th St

Man and woman harassed and assaulted outside restaurant by three youths believed to be gang members. Victims sought medical attention. Cleveland's gang unit police were notified; officer said to be hateful with negative attitude.

November 23

Church and W. 29th St (near the Center and Oasis)

Two males approached by three males in early twenties. Knife was drawn, robbery attempted, victims fled to bar. Tires and car damaged by assailants. Police response was prompt and sensitive to situation. ▼

To the Editors:

Many American people and organizations have called for a boycott of Colorado, including travel to the state as well as a refusal to purchase goods and services originating there. This action protests the passage of Amendment Two, which effectively voids all non-discrimination laws and prohibits legislation protecting gay people.

Who, however, is hurt by such a boycott? The voters who approved the amendment? The gay community and its sympathizers? I believe there is a show of strength that far exceeds the power of the gay dollar.

The gay community showed its strength in October 1987 by congregating for what, according to its planners, became the largest civil rights demonstration in history. Another march is planned there for April 1993.

I stand for the possibility of relocating the march on Washington to Denver, the only Colorado city large enough to house the swarm of marchers the April event will draw. Gay people and sympathizers are desperately needed by the gay community in Colorado. Boycotting their state will not help regain their legal protections as effectively as being with them in a show of unity. They are no legally discriminated against and have no protection from anti-gay forces. Washington, D.C. has seen our strength. Now we must show Colorado our power and love, as well as show the rest of the nation that we will not only re-create but we will supercede the legal protections gay Coloradoans once had.

If you want to show your support for human rights where it is urgently needed, please contact your local chapter of March on Washington immediately. (Your local gay resource or gay community center can provide the telephone number.) Urge them to move the march. If we do not stop the extreme right in Colorado, other states will follow suit.

I can assure you, this April 25 you will not find me in Washington; you will find me in the heart of our country, helping our newly-unprotected gay family promote visibility and generate acceptance.

Chris Fabbro South Pasadena, Calif.

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