Girlfriend Number One;

Edited by Robin Stevens; Cleis Press

Susan Jasmin

Girlfriend Number One is an amusing
compilation of dyke drama, retro
sidebar graphics and author notes at the
end of each entry that serve to
substantiate the claim that it’s a queer,
queer world and the women who write
(and draw) about it are definitely living
it. The attitude of the 90’s, cynicism,
contempt, tattoos and finally a strong
sense of community and identity leads
more often than not to contempt and
cynicism for the community.

As the introduction states, many of these
pieces were performed at Red Dora’s
Bearded Lady Cafe in San Francisco, A
friend from New York who read the
book found them to be too San
Francisco and West Coast in nature,
“where poptarts mingle with pesto eggs.”
Well maybe, but as a recent San
Francisco returnee in desperate search for
a decent cappacino on Church Street, it’s
a small attitude problem to overcome.

In Desperately Seeking Same and What
is a Lesbian Date, by Masha Gessen and

Penny D. Perkins respectively, the
mating ritual is begun through
coincidental meetings, personal ads and
yes, more cappacino (the queer fuel of
the 90’s). Perkins writes, “A lesbian date
is something where there is a mandatory
mention of Jody, Martina, Madonna, of
k.d.” Not unlike the latest issue of
Denuve. Other encounters occur at work
in the lingere department of an
exclusive downtown store and also at a
stripjoint. In most accounts, what was
imagined becomes true on the page.
Robin Steven’s protagonist in
Vengenance meets her ex—lover’s new
girlfriend at a dinner party and with the
mental encouragement of Camille
Paglia ringing in her ears, handcuffs the
girlfriend to a remote radiator
rationalizing, “She still has friends! I
paused worried for a minute. And I think
she has a lover.” Justification enough.

Mabel Maney has a short piece
combining text with excerpts of graphics
that look like dictionary illustrations
and Break-Up in Five Slams by Hilty,
Gallant, and Daniels is a brief, poetic
kiss-off with a Beat, black turtleneck

theme. “Your friends come and
go/Speaking of Barry Manilow.” Poetry
Slams are gaining in popularity across
the country so it’s a very appropriate
medium in which to do battle.

The author interviews at the end of each
contribution are some of the funnier
parts of the book, E.G. Chrichton’s
recent accomplishment “Got eighteen
mostly straight art students to rate each
other on a butch—femme scale.” And
Robin Stevens’ response to the query,
best pick up line “So, does this
marriage you’re in prevent you from
kissing anyone?”

If this generally funny combination of
lesbian incographics, comix and short
fiction with a bit of West Coast appeals
to you, be sure to read Mabel Maney’s
The case of the N0t—S0-Nice Nurse (A
Nancy Clue Mystery), a novel of “gay
adventure” and one strange coming out
for our heroine, Cherry Aimless. V

Several contributors to Girlfriend
Number One will be at Chassman and
Bem in Burlington on June 22 at 7pm
as part of Gay Pride month.

AIDS HOTLINES:
Vermont

New Hampshire
New York State

1-800-882-2437
1-800-752-2437
1-800-541-2437

Massachusetts 1-617-522-4090
Maine l-800-85]-2437
National l-800-342-2437
Canadian 1-613-563-2437

AIDS Community Awareness Project
(ACAP)

PO Box 608

St. Johnsbury VT 05819

(802) 748-1149

AIDS Community Resource
Network (ACoRN)

PO Box 2057

Lebanon NH 03766

(603) 448-2220

Bennington Area AIDS Project
PO Box 1066

Bennington VT 05201

(802) 442-4481 or 1-800-845-2437

Health Resource Organizations

Brattleboro AIDS Project
PO Box 1486

Brattleboro VT 05302
(802) 254-4444 (Helpline)
(802) 254-8263 (Office)

Franklin-Grand Isle AIDS Task Force

P. O. Box 241, St. Albans VT 05478

(800) 524-7742 - (802) 638-7834

Friends Vermont

Emotional, Spiritual, & Psychological Support
PO Box 402

Bristol, VT 05443

1 800 639-3316

Gay/Lesbian Alcoholics Anonymous
GLAA, P.O. Box 5653
Burlington, VT 05402

Lesbian Cancer Support Group
(802) 660-8386

North Star (Holistic Health Care)
RR2 Box 3255
Morrisville VT 05661 - (802) 888-2858

Vermont AIDS Council
PO Box 275
Montpelier VT 05601 - (802)229-2557

Vermont C.A.R.E.S.

(Committee for AIDS Resources,

Education, and Services)

PO Box 5248

30 Elmwood Avenue

Burlington VT 05401

(802) 863-2437 (Burlington)
1-800-649-2437 (Outside Burlington Area)

Vermont Department of Health
1-800-882-2437 (AIDS Hotline) or
(802) 863-7245 (AIDS Program office)

VT PWA Coalition
PO Box 1055 ° Brattleboro, VT 05302
1-800-698-8792 or (802) 222-5123

Vermont Women’s Health Center
336 North Avenue
Burlington VT 05401 - (802) 863-1386

June 1994