~ WOMONSPACE our voice in the lesbian community I Januan' . 1~~1 ~ew§lette Sappho was a Greek poet of the 7th Century BC She lived on the Island of Lesbos (giving us the word "lesbian") where she ran a school for girls. Her poetry, of which only fragments remain, is the first written record of lesbian sexuality. The following poem is typical of Sappho's haunting style. (The parentheses mark words which have been lost.) Before my lying heart could speak for life I longed for death. Misery the size of terror Was in her tears when we unclasped forever. Sappho! she cried, That I could stay! Joy goes with you, I said, Remember what has been, the rose-andviolet crowns I wove into your hair when we stood so close together, Heart against heart, The garlands I plaited of flower with flower Around your graceful neck, the oils of spices As precious as for a queen ( ( ). Deep in the cushions on that softest bed Where, free in desire ( ( ) tender lovers ( ). None ( ) holy, and no ( There was, that we were apart from ( No sacred grove ( ( ). PAGE 2 WOMONSPACENEWSLETTEIl ... LvtAlOC)n§ AIDS Network of Edmonton Society 2nd floor, 10704 - 108 Street Common Woman Books 8724 - 109 Street Greenwood's Bookshoppe Ltd., 10355 Whyte Avenue Gay and Lesbian Community Centre, 9917 - 112 Street The Roost, 10345 - 104 Street Women's Resource Centre, University of Alb~rta 11019 - 90 Avenue Womonspace Office Basement, 9930 - 106 Street Womonspace News is published monthly by Womonspace Social, Recreational and Educational Society of Edmonton. Womonspace is a non-profit organization for lesbians in Edmonton and surrounding areas. Please note that in order to respect the confidentiality of some individuals and / or groups, this newsletter will not be publishing last names, or complete names, depending on the situations. Also, depending on available space, Womonspace may have to edit articles that are received for this newsletter. Our address is: Basement, 9930 - 106 Street. Our phone number is 425-0511.lfyou have any questions or comments, please give us a call. We would like to hear from you! JANUARY, 1991 When I think of lesbian history, I think of sad womyn in European cities dressed like men, around 1920. If I think longer, I recall ancient warriors, early native cultures, a bit about the fifties and butch-femme, and a controversy about whether American feminists in the early seventies were gay or not. History has been written based on documents that powerfu I men thought were worth preserving. The wars and elections we studied in high school were recorded in newspapers or letters between army generals, politicians, and the like. Recently, oral histories have been collected by tape recording the stories of older people. In general, there is an increasing awareness that the average person should be included in the story of the past. However, most history does not include accounts of lesbian lives. There are some notable exceptions: Susan Cavin's Lesbian Origins, Lillian Faderman's Surpassing the Love of Men (on womyn loving womyn in literature). Becki Ross, a scholar and activist in Toronto is studying the recent history of lesbians in that city. But there is a gaping hole in Canadian history, because there are no available accounts of prairie lesbian history. One way we can begin to fill this gap is by assuring that today's documents and artifacts are preserved for future scholars and writers to study. This can be done by making a donation of personal belongings to an archives or museum. Many Albertan lesbians possess documents such as letters, photo albums, programs from womyn's events, journals, and minutes of meetings, all of which represent themselves as lesbians. These can, for instance, be donated to the Provincial Archives of Alberta, the Canadian Women's Movement Arch ives (for groups formed after 1960 or so), the Lesbian Archives in Kenora, Ontario, or archives within various towns and cities. A donation can be made with the restriction that the contents are no to be made available to the public until after the donor and/or her friends or relations have died. Other restrictions about use can also be arranged. Such a donation may require consultation with the archivist in order to sensitize her to the importance of lesbian history. Just as people ask us to keep our present lives "private", some archivists may believe that our lesbian history should be kept private, as well. But a complete history must include accounts of lesbian lives. What documents do you have that reveal our lesbian history? For further information . about archives, drop me a note care of Womonspace (address on inside front cover). Don'tthrow out our valuable history! JANUARY, 1991 Catherine Bray 7ItIJ"11t,'S deli 10128 - 100 Street Edmonton T5J ON8 428-0320 caU US for your catering neetfs. Anne Mageau - Khristina Savage - Pam Barrett WOMONDACB NEWiQ.ETTEIl PAGE 3 (:vuncll extends benefits tv Gays By JEFF LEE Vancouver Sun Vancouver Council voted unanimously Thursday to give its homosexual employees full employment benefits. The change means dependants of gays and lesbians working for the city will now be entitled to benefits such as medical, dental, pension and other plans. The decision was hailed as a victory by the city's only declared gay alderman, Gordon Price, who said Vancouver now steps out to the front line of governments banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. "I think this puts the city in a leadership role in ending such discrimination," said Price, a Non-Partisan Association alderman. "This decision lays it out as a matter of policy now. What people haveto understand is that this is a consistent application of city policy, and is not special treatment." Diana Smith, a founding member of the Lesbian and Gay Benefits Committee, said the counci I deCision moves homosexuals closer to equality with heterosexuals. "1 think it brings the issue out ofthe closet a bit by legitimizing their relationships," said Smith. "Anything that makes us visible as couples, as families, anything that legitimizes our lifestyle is really important and a step towards equality." Earlier this year, the University of B.C. instituted a policy entitling the gay and lesbian partners of faculty and staff to the same dental and extended-care medical benefits as heterosexual employees' spouses. PAGE 4 WOMONSPACE NEWSLETTEIl The policy, followed a complaint from a professor that she was refused coverage for . her female partner. UBC was the third university in Canada to implement such a policy. ~ews r=lash: Uec. ~1 TORONTO Ontario Government Services Minister Frances Lankin announced Thursday that the homosexual partners of civil servants will qualify for family benefits next year. Speaking in the legislature, Lankin said thattheywill now get medical coverage, plus I ife and dental insurance under the provinces benefit plan. Government employees will also be able to get bereavement leave in the deaths of homosexual partners starting Jan. 1. Lankin went on to say that Ontario's move may be a first step in re-defining the word spouse in provincial laws to include homosexual relationships. JANUARY, 1991 £reative £()rner Imalle§ vI c:hanlle the curtained window reveals the first sign of dawn dull grey-blue light begins to force its way into the room i pull away the shroud looking down at the world i see images of people coming out of the dark as a new day begins replacing sadness and despair for a renewed sense of hope their minds are lifted as answers of truth and justice appear ihame"n yvu.penc:ll§ ! The Womonspace Newsletter committee is in need of both creative submissions as we" as energetic people to help layout and edit our monthly newsletter. If you are interested or have any inquiries, please contact Wray at 479-4855. Newsletter meetings are " held at the Womyn's Building on the Sunday after the dance at 3:00 p.m. JANUARY,1991 their vision grows great of turning the world new strength replaces fear and scenes of pain turn to love coming back to the room i let the curtain fall away from my hand and the images of change fade from my mind wray dansereau WOMONSPAC. NEW8LETI'EIl PAGE 5 f3ene..-al Mootlnlt The General Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at the Women's Building (Basement, 9930 - 106 Street), at 7:30 p.m. Both members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Our next meeting is on January 8, 199,1 and the following one is on February 12. Lesbian U..-vp-In The second Thursday of every month, Womonspace holds a regular social from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Women's Building in the main meeting room. Join us for a relaxed evening of coffee and conversation. All are welcome! The next drop-in is on Thursday, January 10, (correction from the Dec. newsletter which reported it as January 25}followed by another on February 14. Uanc:e £f)-v..-dlnafA)..-s9 Meetlnlt Starting in January, dance crdinators' meetings will be held monthly. Everyone is welcome. The time and location have not been determined as of yet, so keep your ear to the ground for details. Or, if you find this method a little hard on your ears in this weather, try phoning Womonspace at 425-0511. That Uamn Latex Back by popular demand! Another lesbian safer sex workshop will be offered Jan. 26, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the AIDS Network. BLOOM COUNT!' ~"-ds/f3ames ~Iltht Card and Games Night is cancelled until further notice. Womonspace apologizes to womyn who showed up in December. Card and Games night will start again (possibly at a different time) if someone volunteers to host the event. Are you interested? It might be a good way to meet womyn. Call the Womonspace line (425-0511) for more information. Minutes The minutes of the December General Meeting will be printed in the next newsletter. PAGE 6 WOMONSPACB NEWIII.B'I'TEIl .~ Berke Breathed JANUARY, 1991 r=un In the iun l3eac:h VartY Uanc:e JOIN THE The Womonspace January dance will have a Beach Party theme. So, everyone get dressed up in your favorite beach clothes. There will be a prize for the best costume. AL TERNATIVE .9Lunt Wi{{ma s ~~~ More than Art Food You Party - We Cater Custom Floral Designs Caterer for Womonspace Dances We Create T.vents MONDAY TO SATURDAY W.J. Thompson - 474-7328 #204.5316 -118 Ave. Edmonton AB T5C 1C4 Doors Open 4 pm Music 10 pm Bar Service to 2 am Dancing to 3 am (Friday & Saturday 4 am) ALL WEEK PARTY DOORSAT4PM no Cover Charge to 9 pm FREE Pool Tables THREE SISTERS by Mawade BaynlDn 6150 - 90 Ave Ottewell Shopping Centre Edmonton . 465-0534 i ~I " I JANUARY, 1991 ~. 10345 - 104 ST. EDMONTON ALBERTA (403) 426-3150 WOMONSPACE NEWSLET'I'EIl PAGE 7 WOMONSPACE January 19, 1991 at the Bonnie Doon Hall 9240 - 93 Street 8:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. Co-sponsored by G.A.L.O.C. - Beach Party Theme Admission: Members - $400, Non-Members - $7()() DOOR PRIZES: Bottle of liquor from the Roost, Food Prize from Aunt Willma's, Dinner for two from Caf~ Ivana C.-edits Cathy B., Barb L., Sandi 5., Sue J., Debbie N., Wray D. Please Note: Articles published in Womonspace News do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions ofWomonspace. WOMONSPACE NEWS Basement, 9930-106 street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 1C7 Phone: 425-0511