G a I ry(from preceding page) GAL: Yeah. I sang this song called, “Don't Drop Your Goddamned Bombs On Me." The second verse was, “Don't torture politi- cal activists everywhere." You know, with too many, way too many words. And then the third verse was, “Don't give me your goddamned sexual repression." It was a sing-along. It was fun. OITM: And eventually it went over OK? GAL: Oh, itwent overOK eventually in the first ten seconds. But in those first few seconds, it was what I was saying before. That sometimes people would hear me start to say something that they had heard some- one say before, that they didn't like. And I would start with that and move into some whole other world. But they wouldn't go into the other world with me. For a long time there was always one person who would do that. At the end of my show at least one person would come in and yell at me. And then I'd go, “I'm sorry, but I don't think you heard what I was saying. I wasn't saying that." I used to do this piece that was number I had written for Diana Ross and the Temp- tations. And I would say, “The Tempta- tions, not only could they sing, but they could dance too." Now is this a fact about the Temptations or not? OITM: Yes. GAL: I think it is. So this woman came in and said, “You know, that was unbelieva- bly racist what you said." I said, “What?" She said, “That all black people can sing and dance." And I said, “I didn't say that. I said the Temptations can sing and And that happened a lot. I would come out AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA in this bridal veil and a T-shirt with gold sequins, a big bustier thing and a le- opardskin miniskirt and fishnet stockings, and come out and say, “Here I am in my native American dress." And people said,“’Ihis isn't funny because you're mak- ing fun of Native Americans." I said, “I'm not making fun of Native Americans. I'm making fun of costume as representation of who you are." And they said, “Well, it sounded to me like you were making fun of Native Americans, and we don't think you should." And these weren't Native Ameri- cans saying that. OITM: You've said that you're not politi- cally correct. Is it possible for you to be? GAL: Well, I think politically correct is a real pejorative term. I think people need to expand what they know, and that's what I'm trying to do. I'm just trying to expand what I know about things. That's all. I just want to know as much as I can possibly know about everything all the time. People try to contain that. It's just too frightening to them. I found this nail polish when I was cleaning my drawer today, so I put it on. Now, this would be upsetting to some people. No, it's not made from animal products, and it's not tested on animals... That I would color myself. Or that I wear make-up during my show. People are trying to control other people all the time, and I'm out of control (laughs)... uncon- trollable. OITM: Have you ever embarrassed your- self on stage? I mean, done something and then said, “I wish I hadn't done that!" GAL: I don't think (there's anything) I wish Partners in Recovery and Growth Inc., Therapists Erica Marks, S.A.C., A.C.H., Director Giita Clark, Associate Sherry Hunt, B.A., A.C.H., Associate Sexuality, Substance Abuse, Spirituality, Parenting, Gestalt, T.A., Hypnosis, Individuals, Couples, Families, Groups 182 Main St. Burlington, VT 05401 Sliding fee scale Phone: 865-2403 Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv February 1991 I hadn't done. The thing is, I say things I can't believe I said. OITM: Like what? GAL: Let's see if I can think of anything. I said something at Smith that I couldn't believe I said, but unfortunately, I have no idea what it was. Well, the first time I read this overt erotic story, I really couldn't believel did it. It was like, “Oh, my God, I can't believe I would say that. Ican't believe I did that." And it really felt great. OITM: What did it take to get you to do it? GAL: Just a roomful of radical women! OITM: And then the adrenaline just took over? GAL: Well, I had planned to do it. And I was really scared, so I knew I could do it. Following my theory of fright. And so, I just did it. But I did it in a place where I felt really safe. Manchester, in England, where I've worked a lot. Those women are really supportive there. They're a lot like the Burlington women in that they really sup- port me in anything I do, pretty much be- cause they know that I'm trying. Butlreally couldn't believe I did it. And neither could anybody else. . And it's odd, but sometimes after my show, women come up to me and they want to go out with me, which I find really bizarre. I think, “Do you think thatl date people that I meet from my show? Do you think you know me now?" OITM: Well, is it that they think they know Gal? GAL: They are attracted to the person on the stage. Just like we're attracted to... I don't know about you, but, let's just say, a movie star. But I don't write to movie stars and ask them out, much as I'd like to. It's like some fantasy. They don't realize that that's a show, and that's different from the way I am at home. OITM: Does that happen to you a lot? GAL: Well, I have periods. I guess I have periods when I'm really pretty much irre- sistible, and then periods when I'm very re- sistible. OITM: Which are you in now? GAL: Right now I'm working up to an irresistible period. OITM: This has been fun. Did you feel that you were doing a performance of some- body giving an interview? GAL: Yes. That's the only way I could do It. 15 . .-:r=.-_-_4-Ac