February March 2001 Tidewater Times Newsletter

On February 5th, Carla Grayson and Adrianne Neff joined a number of University of Montana employees and their partners in suing the university system for not extending health insurance and other benefits to same-sex couples. Four days later at 3 a.m., someone broke into their Missoula home, poured a flammable liquid throughout the house, and set it on fire. Awakened by a smoke alarm, Grayson and Neff grabbed their 22-month-old son and escaped through a window. The house was gutted. The American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the university employees in the lawsuit, believes arsonists targeted Grayson and Neff — who received threatening letters in the days after the suit was filed — because they are lesbians and were named as lead plaintiffs in the suit.

Leaders of the National Organization for Women said the Montana fire underscores the need to amend existing hate crimes statutes to include sexual orientation and gender-bias crimes. Montana's hate crimes law, the Malicious Intimidation and Harassment Act, cannot be applied to the case because the law does not include hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation. The same is true in Virginia under current Virginia law.

"Hate crimes are intended to intimidate and silence an entire group," said NOW Membership Vice President Terry O'Neill. "Congress has managed to define penalties for assaults motivated by race or religious bias — it must do the same for crimes motivated by sexual orientation bias. The fire at the Grayson-Neff house sent a message: No one is safe," O'Neill said. "We must continue to fight to protect against hate crimes, and we will not rest until all people, of all sexual orientations, can live their lives in peace."

Contact your Senators and ask them to support the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (S.625), formerly the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, when it comes up for a vote.

Sen Warner, 225 Russell Bldg, Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2023, Fax: 202-224-6295

Sen. Allen, Russell Bldg, #203
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-4024, Fax: 202-224-5432

SHELTERS

Portsmouth
HER SHELTER 485-1445

Virginia Beach
SAMARITAN HOUSE 430-2642, 430-2120

Smithfield
GENIEVE SHELTER 800-969-4673

Williamsburg
AVALON 757-258-5051

Don't Forget! Tidewater NOW maintains an Abortion Assistance Fund. We asked all members to donate one hour's wages to support this fund. If you have not mailed your check yet, send it today, payable to Tidewater NOW, mail to PO Box 446 Norfolk VA 23501.

WOMEN-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE CAMPAIGN

To commemorate International Women’s Day (March 8, 2002), the Tidewater Chapter of NOW has announced the kick-off of the Women-Friendly Workplace Campaign, a new project which addresses employment issues. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage employers – through education, public pressure, and consumer advocacy -- to provide safe workplaces free of sexual and racial harassment, sexual assault and sex and race discrimination, and to adopt policies that are family-friendly for all employees.

Tidewater NOW will be asking both employers and consumers to sign the Women-Friendly Workplace Pledge calling for zero-tolerance of harassment, discrimination and assault.

This is a nationwide campaign with NOW chapters and activists across the country participating. We are taking this campaign to every community throughout the country -- from Wall Street to Main Street. We will show that discrimination is both bad business and bad for business.

Tidewater NOW's pledge drive is part of an effort by NOW's more than 600 chapters and 500,000 contributing members. The campaign is a response to the many incidents of on-the-job sexual harassment and assault and sex and race discrimination in the news in recent months. For more information or to obtain copies of the Women-Friendly Workplace Pledge, contact Tidewater NOW by phone or email or check out NOW's web site http://www.now.org/issues/wfw/

ANNOUNCEMENTS

On March 2, 2002, from1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., The Woman’s Alliance will have a presentation on DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD CUSTODY at the Church of the Ascension, 4853 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Presenters will be Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judges, Commonwealth Attorneys and Defense Attorneys. The mission of The Woman’s Alliance is to identify, educate and support women for leadership roles in public service with the goal of achieving empowerment for women. For more information call Rosemarie 499-8811 or Kathy 426-1164. This will be a free presentation.

Thanks to Dara Bergmann and all the other volunteers who helped Tidewater NOW at our table at the Hampton Roads Woman’s Show, which was held on February 15, 16, and 17. Several new members joined NOW and various materials were distributed to those who came by the table. Welcome to all our new members! Please attend our next regularly scheduled Chapter Meeting. See page 3 for details.

In view of the fact that March is Women’s History Month, the Uppity Women Rule website has declared March 8^th to be Uppity Women Day. Cards and other freebies are available at www.uppitywomenrule.com.

On January 22^nd, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Tidewater NOW held a Speak-Out on abortion in front of the Federal Courthouse in Norfolk. The event drew good local media coverage. We also want to remind you that Tidewater NOW maintains an Abortion Assistance Fund. If you wish to contribute, send a check made payable to Tidewater NOW to PO Box 446, Norfolk, VA 23501.

If you have an announcement for the next newsletter, please send it, along with your name and telephone number, to PO Box 446, Norfolk, VA 23501 or send it by email to now4equality@hotmail.com.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

      * April 8 to 9 – Women’s Equality Summit,
        Washington, DC.
                  Go to:http://www.feminist.org/summit/

      * April 12 to14 – VA NOW Annual Leadership Summit,
        Louisa, VA.
                     Call 451-0885 for more details.

      * April 16 – Tidewater NOW Chapter Meeting, 7 p.m.,
        YWCA, 5215 Colley Avenue.
                        Call 625-4248 for directions.

      *April 27 – Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference & Board
        Elections, Washington, DC.
                 Call 451-0885 for more information.

* May 18 to 19 – Virginia NOW Annual Conference,
Charlottesville, VA.

      * May 21 – Tidewater NOW Chapter Meeting, 7 p.m.,
        YWCA, 5215 Colley Avenue.
                       Call 625-4248 for directions.

* June 18 – Tidewater NOW Annual Election Meeting,
YWCA, 5215 Colley Avenue.

       * June 21 to 23 – National NOW Annual Conference,
         St. Paul, MN. Join NOW activists and chapter
         delegates to hear wonderful feminist speakers,
         participate in workshops, have fun and help set the
         organization’s priorities and agenda.

MOCK FILIBUSTERS MARK INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

"As long as Bush is in the White House and a vacancy on the Supreme Court looms near, our reproductive rights are in danger. Feminists are taking action to protect — and advance — our reproductive freedoms," said Acting NOW Chapter President Connie Hannah, who is also the Virginia NOW President.

As part of a nationally coordinated campaign, NOW activists across the country are celebrating International Women's Day, March 8, with mock filibusters, sit-ins or meetings at the home offices of U.S. Senators. The filibusters will feature testimony and stories from women's lives, as well as information about abortion rights and access in the U.S. This is the second stage of NOW's campaign to protect and advance Roe v. Wade by saving the federal courts from anti-women nominees.

For more information about the Tidewater NOW chapter, please visit our website at http://www.tidewaternow.org. Tidewater NOW meets on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month at the YWCA at 5215 Colley Avenue. The Tidewater Chapter of NOW is local to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and works for women's rights and interests, which includes the following:
* Equal Employment Opportunities for Women
* Equal Pay for Equal Work
* Harassment Free Workplaces
* Educational Opportunities for Women
* Violence Free Family Life for Women and
Children
* Dismantling Racism
* Equality for Individuals with Disabilities
* Lesbian Equality
* Reproductive Freedom
* Constitutional Equality

We encourage you to attend our next general membership meeting. Please call the Chapter at 456-1509 if you have any questions.