May - June 2001

EMERGENCY ACTION FOR WOMEN’S LIVES: A CALL FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
By Lorraine Baysek – Chairperson of the Reproductive Freedom Task Force – Tidewater NOW

On April 22, women from across the nation gathered for what Patricia Ireland, president of the NOW, characterized as the “warm up rally” in support of a woman’s right to choose. The action was announced in early March in response to anticipated conservative attacks devised to further limit women’s reproductive alternatives.

The political action began quietly at Constitution and Delaware. Steadily the crowd grew throughout the morning. Homemade placards peppered the grounds. Directly across from the United States Congress and within the shadow of the United States Supreme Court, the crowd was repeatedly admonished to stand strong in opposition to any further erosion of a woman’s reproductive freedom.

NOW Rounds and Homemade Signs Peppered the March		Speakers included representatives from Catholics for a Free Choice, the Feminist Majority Foundation, the Planned Parenthood Foundation, the National Organization of Women, the National Black Women’s Health Project and many others. Speaker after speaker cautioned against complacency. The very rights won by feminists in the last part of the 20^th century are at risk in this atmosphere of “compassionate conservatism,” the orators declared. The crowd responded to these admonitions pledging never to go back. Throughout the morning, in the warm Washington sun, the crowd swelled and sweltered. Female performers such as Alternate Root, SONiA and Disappear Fear, Mary Prankster, Deanna Bogart, Mary Shaver and BETTY rocked the morning stage. Intermittently, marchers from throughout the nation were acknowledged for having traveled long distances to lend their support. Both Virginia NOW and the Tidewater Chapter of NOW were represented. Volunteers scattered throughout the crowd circulating petitions for the United States Congress for the demonstrators to sign.
Volunteers also distributed rally programs, which acknowledged the 150 legislators and organizations supporting the political action. Not one Virginia Senator or Representative was listed as a rally sponsor. Only four Senators were Congressional Sponsors: Senator Diane Feinstein, D-California, Senator Barbara Boxer, D-California, Senator Patty Murray, D-Washington and Senator Paul Wellstone, D-Minnesota. Seven victims of unsafe abortions were also remembered in the rally program along with four doctors who were murdered for their efforts to provide safe and legal abortions for women.
	“If you cut off my reproductive choice, \|Can I cut off yours?”	Rally Stage
In spite of the seriousness of this political action, participants added much levity vis-a-vis placards, costumes or dramatics. A memorable source of entertainment was an entourage who described themselves as “ the church ladies”. The actual march stepped off at around 2:00 p.m. It snaked its was past the United States Congress and the Supreme Court for nearly ninety minutes. Nearly a dozen anti-choice pickets stood watch beside twelve-foot pictures of bloodied fetuses on Constitution Avenue. There were no incidents reported. The march terminated in the mall where women were able to participate in the culminating Women’s Health Fair. A wide range of dissidents made their way home in the late afternoon sun. Families marching to reiterate their support for family planning plied their way to ice cream stands. Senior feminists gathered in the shade with the young women and girls from “generation D”. Women in wheel chairs maneuvered the March route, with the full understanding of the importance of this action to women and young girls. All who participated in this Emergency Action for Reproductive Freedom left well aware that they and many others would be back until this administration aborts its assault on a woman’s right to choose.

Emergency Action For Women’s Lives:
A Women’s Reproductive Reality
By Stacey Randolph

Today I asked myself tough questions, “ What would I do if I found out today, at age 21, that I was pregnant? Would I be financially, and mentally prepared to care for a child? Would I have the strength to carry my baby to term and then give it up for adoption? Could I have an abortion?” The honest answer to these questions rung in my mind. I just didn’t know what I would do. Since I didn’t have an answer, I decided to ask my friends what they would do in this situation. Most of them said they didn’t know either. This made me wonder, how many women out there have an answer when they are faced with the real issue.

In a perfect world, young girls wait until they’re married to have sex. In a perfect world all babies are loved and cared for. Unfortunately, the world isn’t that perfect, even though some of our government officials believe that it is. Where I come from, young girls have sex when they’re in junior high. Where I’m from, women get raped. Where I live, there are single mothers with too many kids to care for already. What right does anyone have to tell these women to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term? What right does the law have, to say what the right thing is to do, by taking their reproductive options away?

That’s why that past weekend, I was fighting and screaming. I was marching on Washington in my first protest ever, “The Emergency Action for Women’s Lives”, supporting women’s reproductive rights. I was fighting for the integrity of women to control their own minds and bodies; screaming at those ‘elected’ officials that pretend that everyone has a trust fund to fall back on and a home to run to when they’re in trouble. I was fighting for all those young women like me, who haven’t got all the answers; women whose lives are not wrapped in pretty little packages.

Despite the dream world our government officials live in, women who are not ready for motherhood are getting pregnant. There are young girls out there killing themselves because of unwanted pregnancies. This is the reality of the matter.

That is why this past weekend, I let the world know that I am pro-choice. I let the world know that women’s lives are their own and their choices are too. This is why I marched. This is why I protested. The world isn’t perfect, we all make mistakes and have things happen that we don’t expect or plan for. I want to make sure that it’s a world where women continue to have a say, and I want to make sure it stays that way!

Family Voter Education
and Empowerment Day
By Mello Johnson

     The NAACP United Coalition for Voter Empowerment, which includes the Hampton Roads United Coalition for Voter Participation, is sponsoring a Hampton Roads Family Voter Education and Empowerment Day. On May 12, 2001 from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Isle of
Wight, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach. Families are invited to a fun day of discovering how to change and improve their lives through the power of the vote.

     On this day before Mother's Day, husbands and children are asked to bring your wives and mothers to "Give Mom the Gift Of the Vote."   Those who are 18 to 24 years old are invited out to "Change the Game" (of politics).

     Event activities will include voter registration, education on candidates and their platforms, a review of sample ballots, how to operate a voting machine, where to report instances of voting infractions, and how to restore your voting privileges if you have a felony.

     Candidate representatives running for statewide and local offices are coming out to speak. Special guests include Ms. Shamina Singh, former White House Executive Director for Initiatives for Asian American and Pacific Islanders. There will be live entertainment with music and multi-cultural performances and complimentary food where available.

Event locations:

--Chesapeake (TBD)
--Hampton at Y. H. Thomas Park (838-1837)
--Isle Of Wright (TBD)
--Newport News (262-0234)
--Norfolk at the Huntersville Recreation Center Field (627-3640)
--Portsmouth at the Cavalier Manor Recreation Center (465-3578)
--Virginia Beach at Bayville Farms Park (306-9702)

For more information about the events in Chesapeake and Isle of Wight call Mello Johnson at 627-3640.

Suzanne Westenhoefer: Banned in Pittsburgh Coming to VA Beach in May
By Elizabeth Kirwin

Suzanne Westenhoefer, a nationally celebrated lesbian comedian, was banned from Carlow College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 18th. The ban was called for by Sister Grace Ann Geibel, President of the self-proclaimed woman-centered Catholic institution. Carlow College did not contract Westenhoefer’s performance, but Steve Falta, a Carlow employee, rented the 900-seat auditorium to a private producer, Cindy Klink. Sister Grace Ann Geibel listened to Westenhoefer’s CD Nothing in My Closet But My Clothes weeks prior to the performance, and declared the comedian was tasteless, offensive and degrading. Westenhoefer’s manager, Steven Nash, describes her as, a lesbian who finds humor in the foibles of her life partner. It’s not vulgar. It’s not seamy. Westenhoefer also rebuked, “I honor myself and people and I encourage pride”.
             The news about her banning in Pittsburgh was spread throughout Pennsylvania before a prior engagement at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA on
March 16-17. In this particular instance, faculty from Juniata College were responsible for bringing her to campus. Suzanne remembered the whole debacle, “The Brothers of the Church of the Brethren took out two full page ads in Huntingdon newspapers denouncing my appearance at Juniata College. Things got way out of hand”. A retired F.B.I. agent was retained as her security, because her safety was in question. “Two professors who were responsible for bringing me to campus received threatening phone calls and hate mail,” said Westenhoefer, filled with disbelief that such a thing could happen in her home state. “It was creepy. I guess I have an East Coast mentality. I might have been spoiled living in New York City,” said Westenhoefer. The comedian was not
prepared for the conservatism and anti-gay rhetoric and bigotry. “I was not aware of how bad it was until I opened the paper the night following my
performance at Juniata College and read the homophobic commentaries of 30 people who spoke openly about their anti-gay sentiment.”

In spite of negative publicity and close mindedness, Westenhoefer’s comedy show did take place in Pittsburgh on March 18th at an alternate venue, a Jewish Community Center, with half the seating. Instead of being ruined by anti-gay backlash, her performance was a great success due to the support of the gay community. “By the time I got to Pittsburgh,” remembered Suzanne, “everyone knew about the banning. It added to the excitement. Queers had this attitude like ‘Bite me!’ The audience was psyched and ready.”

Carlow College is now being sued for breach of contract, with a sum of $6,400 in financial losses incurred by Klink, which includes $1,400 in lost advertising and $5,000 in ticket sales. At heart, Westenhoefer says she¹s just a sensitive kid from Lancaster County, PA. She began as a stand-up comedian about 10 years ago in New York City, when a friend dared her to enter a comedy contest. She entered and won. Since then, she has starred in her own HBO
special, and appeared on Comedy Central, Politically Incorrect, and Evening at the Improv. Westenhoefer does about 100 live comedy appearances a year. She will be featured in a lesbian-themed Hollywood film, A Family Affair
-- due to be released soon.
            Suzanne Westenhoefer is coming to Virginia Beach on May 18, as the headliner act for the 2nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Feminist Festival, sponsored by Tidewater NOW. She will perform at 8:00 p.m. at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia. Backed by the National Organization for Women, a longtime producer of Westenhoefer’s
shows, no such incidents are expected.
“The last 10 years have been characterized by this gay renaissance,” noted Westenhoefer. “If I would have said butch/femme 10 years ago, I would have had to explain it to a
straight audience.’ There is no such need to elaborate on gay lingo
anymore.
                Tickets for the performance are $20 for general admission and $50 for reserved seat tickets, which include admission into a special reception to meet Suzanne Westenhoefer after the show. Tickets can be obtained at Lambda Rising in Norfolk, or by mail order at PO Box 446, Norfolk, VA 23501.

Officer Elections to be Held
June 19th

Elections for new officers to serve from June 2001 to June 2002 will be held at the general membership meeting of Tidewater NOW to be held on June 19^th at 7:00 PM at the YWCA in Norfolk, VA located on Freemason St. Elections will be held for all officer positions.

If you are interested in running for office, please contact Maggie at now@tidewaternow.org by June 12 to be put on the official ballot. All those that wish to run but miss the cut off date for the ballot will be accepted as write-in candidates on the night of the election. If you have any questions, please contact Maggie for details.

Supporting Each Other

WebFX Web Design Web Site Design and Maintenance Contact Wanda Clark at weblady@mindspring.com Proud builder of www.tidewaternow.org	Minority Owned (757) 440-4000 Community Business fax: (757) 440-4001 Colley Avenue Copy Shop at The Old Dominion University Research Foundation Commerce Center
Friends of Women’s Studies Supporting Feminist Scholarship and Community at Old Dominion University and throughout Hampton Roads
Lambda Rising has an extensive selection of feminist and women’s interest materials including Sojourner, Off Our Backs, Hurricane Alice and Bust magazines. Also, look for the V-Day edition of the Vagina Monologues
How Can You Advertise? If you are interested in advertising please contact us by calling 456-1509 or e-mail us at NOW@tidewaternow.org. Please provide us with your name, your company name, and how we should get in contact with you. We will then contact you and determine the specifics of your ad. Rates are as follows: Business Card: $15.00 per issue $65.00 for six months $125.00 per year Quarter Page: $25.00 per issue Half Page: $45.00 per issue Full Page: $75.00 per issue If you have any additional questions about advertising, please contact us. We would love to have your ad in our newsletter and in the upcoming program for the 2^nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Feminist Festival.

WHO WE ARE AND HOW TO REACH US

Tidewater NOW
PO Box 446
Norfolk, VA 23501

Phone: (757) 456-1509

E-mail:   now@tidewaternow.org

                                  Website: www.tidewaternow.org

President:                     Maggie Sacra
Vice-President:             Tina Policastro
Secretary:                     Brita Hampton
Treasurer:                     Mary Roberson
Newsletter Editor:               Open
At-Large(Activist):        Melissa Ayres
At-Large(Promotion):   Lorraine Baysek

LRTF Chairperson:       Bobbi Gallegos
RFTF Chairperson:       Undecided

NOW is the time © 2001

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