by Lee Russell

No one can explain the origins of
Golden Threads better than Christine
Button. After pouring her heart and soul
into a business for eight years, she realized
she was lonely. “In a lesbian/gay newspa-
per in a distant city I found an ad that
promised to help lesbians make contact
with lesbians. I mailed a self-description, as
requested, enclosing a check to cover the
required fee. Within a week my check and
self-description were returned with an
explanation: ‘unless you made a mistake in
your birth year, you are over fifty and we
cannot help you. Women are not looking
for someone as old as you.’

“I had made no mistake. I was 74 and
nobody wanted me. They didn't even want
to be friends. They didn't want to know
anything about me. Silently, within myself,
I shouted: ‘Someday I'll start a contact
service for lesbians over 50.’”

And so she did. The motto of Golden
Threads is "You're never too old to love and
be loved." In April 1985 Burton mailed the
first issue, eight pages long, to 28 women.
Golden Threads has grown steadily since
its inception. The most recent issue of the
newspaper was 34 pages long, contained
the self-descriptions of 125 women, and
was mailed to approximately 275 women in
the U.S., Canada, and several other coun-
tries. (Over the five years of its existence, a
total of about 1,000 women have be-
longed.) In addition to the self-descrip-
tions, Golden Threads includes book re-
views, editorials, a resource list, poetry and
drawings.

Golden Threads works like this. A
woman signs up to become a member for
six months, or two issues of the quarterly
publication, although she can renew as

   
  

Golden Threads: Reaching Out To Lesbians Over 50

often as she likes. She submits a self-de-
scription, which is published under a code
number. A member writes the code number
on the outside of the envelope and mails it
to Golden Threads. There, the code number
is erased, the correct name and address are
written in, and the letter is sent on its way.

The typical Golden Threader is in her
50s or 60s, although older and younger
women belong too. Currently. a handful of
members are in their 80s, and Burton is still
hoping for a member in her 90s. Most
Golden Threaders are professionals or re-
tired professionals, and most of them are
closeted. Burton feels that being closeted is
the greatest problem facing older lesbians.

Fortunately for these women, Golden
Threads really works. Golden Threaders
exchange letters, telephone calls, commu-
nicate by tape, and eventually many of
them become friends and/or lovers. Ac-
cording to Burton, a woman “joined from a
nursing home once. She said she was just so
lonely in the nursing home, she wanted to
be able to write letters. She didn't hope to
everbe able to meet anybody, but if she just
had penpals, that would be great."

Golden Threads is the only organiza-
tion for older lesbians that's just for fun.
Every year in June, Burton organizes a
celebration of Golden Threaders in Provin-
cetown. She is expecting 150 women this
year. Her goal is to have every woman leave
prouder of being a lesbian than she was
before. The Celebration consists of rap
sessions, a banquet, entertainment, and a
dance with a lesbian DJ who plays the
oldies. The Fifth Annual Golden Threads
Celebration will take place on the weekend
of June 28-30. (This year's entertainer?
None other than Vermont's own Gal Perry.
See story on p.1.) Membership is not re-

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§ (9% GROOMING
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Carol Skon Claudia Cook

R.D.l Box 1980 Fairfax.Vt.O5454 8022524-4574

    

Surroundings
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Lower Waterford Rd., E. Barnet, Vermont 05821 (802) 633-4047

February 1991

quired for attendance; lesbians of any age
are welcome.

The extensive network operates out of
what used to be a guest room in Christine
Burton's home in Burlington. Aside from a
paid assistant who works two days a week,
Burton, now 85, does everything herself. In
addition to doing all the writing, she takes
care of the advertising and corresponds
with many of the members.

Golden Threads is clearly a labor of
love. Burton's own labor is unpaid, and
although in most years Golden Threads
does cover its expenses, she makes no
money from it.

Burton, now 85, radiates energy, good
humor and a keen interest in all this world
contains. She is an ardent feminist, and has
been out all her life. (“I'm not smart enough
to be in the closet. I couldn't remember
what I'd said to whom.") Because of
Golden Threads she has friends every-
where she goes.

She retired nine years ago so that she
could devote herself to writing. After re-
tirement she studied fiction writing at Har-
vard for two years. She is currently working
on her memoirs, and has a book on the
origins and effects of patriarchy in the plan-
ning stages. Devoted as she is to Golden
Threads, she sometimes wishes it took less
time, so that she could spend more time on
her writing. She moved to Burlington from
the Boston area two years ago to be closer
to her partner, who lives in Canada. And
yes, they met through Golden Threads.

If you are interested in learning more
about Golden Threads, you can write to
P.O. Box 3177, Burlington, VT 05401.
Send a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Sample copies, mailed discreetly, are avail-
able for $5.00.

IN NKEE PE RS:
Peter and
Ron

    

 

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