Out in the Mountains

   

   
     

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SANDY
_ Baird.

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A STRONG VOICE
WHERE IT COUNTS

- Civil rights — protection for lesbians,
gays, minorities, women
- Prochoice — reproductive freedom
- Health care — universal access
Speaker at Vermont
Lesbian/Gay Pride Celebrations

PLEASE VOTE NOVEMBER 3

For more information call
863-4848

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Sandy Baird
Beth Sachs, Treasurer

 

Out in the World:

 

International Lesbian Organizing,
Shelly Anderson, Firebrand Books.

Moira

Election year stirs up even the most dis-
passionate of us. Somehow we all start
talking issues and eagerly watching the
polls raise and fall like our erratic No-
vember temperatures. for lesbians and
gays this year perhaps more than any
other has brought many of us into the
town clerk's offices, registration halls
and voting booths. We are voting for our
agendas. For many this has also been a
time of looking beyond our borders.
Looking to our sisters all over the globe
for support, inspiration and a sense of
continuity brings us to Out in the World.

In her opening Ms. Anderson says, “I
hope this pamphlet will inspire other
women to work for a world where no
lesbian will be denied her right to love
and live.as she chooses. I also hope it
may generate respect and attention for
the unsung work many lesbians around
the world are engaged in, often at great
risk to their lives.” With over fifty coun-
tries represented, one obtains a broad
view of lesbian organizing. The pamph-
let is organized by continent, with care-
ful attention given to lesbian history and
the establishment of lesbian organiza-
tions.

Reading through, one notes the sharp
contrast between the denial of rights and
acceptance of them. In Sweden “Lesbian
couples have the same inheritance and
property rights as unmarried hetero-
sexual couples who live together.” In the

I Netherlands, “Same-sex couples can

Where to Find OITM , . _
Project EXCEL, Lyndon State College Lyndonville

Beimingmn Free Library Bennjngmn Northshire Bookstore Manchester Center
Brattleboro Food Coop Branleboro Middlebu-l3’ Natural F00‘! C°°P Middlebml’
cahoots Bramebom Bear Pond Books Montpelier
Common Ground 3'1-amebm-0 Horn of the Moon Cafe Montpelier
Everyone's Books Brattleboro W0m_an Centered _ , Montpelier
Burlington College Burlington Momstown Centenrual Library Morrisville
Chassmnn & Bern Burlington M0015 Free _L'lbT31'Y Newflllle

Fletcher Free ]__ib,-ary gmfingmn Northeast Kingdom AIDS Coalition Newport

Partners in Recovery & Growth Burlington Brown Public l_-ibrary Northfield

peace & Jusfice came, Bm-fingmn Social Altelntmves for Gay Men Norwich

pea,-15 Bm-ljngmn Woman's_ Study Program Plainfield

Planned Parenthood Burlington Pumey Library Pume)’

STEP Learning Center Castleton Kimball Public Library Randolph
Craftsbury Public Library Craftsbury PFLAG Rutland

Rutland Area Gay/Lesbian Cormection Center Rutland R1"-llllld FY33 1-ib1’31'}’ Rllllfllld

Imwood Mam; ' 1 East Bane; LUNA/NEVGALR c/o Umbrella St. Johnsbury
Greenhope Farm , East Hardwick Natlll 31 P1°_Vl5l°n5 SL J°hll5bl1lY

Fair Haven Free Library Fair Haven Regional I-1bl'81’Y SL_ Johnsbury
Buffalo Mountain Coop Hardwick St Johnsbury Arhenaenrn St Johnsbury
Galaxy‘ Bwks , - :"  .  _ Hgraflick V _ g ; Food for Thought Stowe

'- ‘Jon's Automotive ' Lyndonville WRJ B0016 White River Jlmction

  ‘  ‘ I " ‘  '  " ‘r "   ' “ ‘ Upper Valley Coop White River Junction

(living together) contracts, that give part-

taxes, hospital visiting, and property
rights as heterosexual married couples.”

While I was traveling in Ireland a few

summers ago I spoke with women in the
gay pubs, the small women’s press (Attic
Press), and at at the monthly women’s
dance. I discovered many commonalties.
It greatly underlined for me the fact that
we are everywhere.

Ms. Anderson points out that “Lesbians
outside the U.S. are often amazed at why
American dykes aren’t involved in inter-
national organizing. They will point out
that Americans have a lot to offer. Two
very practical examples are grassroots
fundraising experience and the American
tradition of civil disobedience.”

Out in the World lists all the necessary to
contact the various lesbian groups and or-
ganizations . There is much that could be
achieved by mutual contact. Our lob-
bying can affect lesbians in less fortunate
situations and by helping them we can
become more inspired in our own polit-
ical causes. This pamphlet is well worth
seeking out simply because it speaks of
drawing together, helping to break down
the barriers that keep us separated. Per-
haps more importantly it urges us to
speak up, to learn about each other, to
make our collective vision known to the
world around us. V

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3

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draw up what is called samenwoning  .
ners many of the same rights in regard to :5‘
l.