More Responses From The Mountains:
The DTWOF Debate Rages On 

After reading Betsy Miller's letter to the Editor in
which she declared "Dykes To Watch Out For" to
be in "poor taste", I immediately reread it to
make sure she said what I thought she said. Next I
felt angry and then scared. Life without "Dykes
To Watch Out For" would be like life without
hope, validation, community, friendship, culture,
intuition, clarity, perspective, synthesis and oh
yes, hilarity and humor. Poor taste? I can't find
that anywhere in Alison Bechdel's work. I
genuinely find her work to be brilliant with
impeccably wonderful and witty "taste".

I eventually realized that the fear I felt initially
about losing dyke culture in my life may have
simply been the projection of Betsy Miller's fear
of having dyke culture in her church. But you
know Betsy, you have the choice now and will
continue to have the choice in the future to "read
or not to read" the comic strip; please don't get so
scared that you advocate taking that choice away
from the rest of us.

J5 Barrie
Colchester

*****

I think "Dykes To Watch Out For" is brilliant,
witty, sensitive, and insightful. Our whole family
(children and all) has enjoyed reading Alison
Bechdel immensely.

Jan Faeeion
Shelburne

*****

I definitely do NOT agree that "Dykes To Watch
Out For" is in poor taste and inappropriate for
OITM.  I must disagree with Ms. Miller on
several counts. First, I don't think the comic is
particularly raunchy .-— it deals with real issues in
a forthright manner, and I see nothing wrong with
that. If we ARE trying to educate people about
who we are, then we should present our
community with all its quirks. Heterosexuals who
accept us based on a sanitized version of reality
don't really accept US; rather, they accept who
they want to think we are. Second, I'm not sure
0ITM‘s purpose is to educate the "general
public," whatever that is. According to its own
title, OITM is "Vermont's newspaper for
lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals," not "Vermont's
newspaper for heterosexuals and the ‘general
public." 

Kim Goodwin
Burlington

 

»o9& .

*****

As the person who distributes 01 TM to the
United Methodist Church (Rutland) and Grace
Congregational Church (UCC), I should like to
add my voice to the debate regarding Alison
Bechdel's "Dykes To Watch Out For". I believe
some folks from the Methodist Church found the
strip "objectionable" and "inappropriate". I might
add that no one at the Methodist Church has said
anything to me when I deliver the papers. I
suspect, however, that the objections refer to
those panels or parts of panels that depict explicit
sex. I further think the same folks would object if
the cartoon had been of the heterosexual variety.

One of your readers cited the "presumably
homophobic leadership of the Rutland United
Methodist Church." She may not be aware that
within the last few years the church has become a
Reconciling Congregation and clearly welcomes
gays, lesbians and bi(sexual)s to full membership
and worship at the church. Some objections with
"Dykes To Watch Out For" had also been.raised
at Grace Church. Again, they were not with the
whole strip. I need also to point out that this
congregation is struggling with its efforts to
become Open and Affirming. Grace was also host
to the monthly potlucks of the Rutland Area
Gay/Lesbian Connection and Marble Valley
P—FLAG.

Both Grace and United Methodist, of all the
churches in Rutland, have been out front in
support and alliance. As such, they have
absorbed a good deal of flack from our
homegrown homophobes. One of your readers
thought it not a "brilliant idea" to distribute
OITM at these churches. Wrong! The heart of
homophobia lies, unfortunately, within the
Christian church. To deny the voice of
homosexuals in those Christian churches who are
allies would hand a victory to the bigots. To fight
on every front means just that and the battle must
be strong and consistent.

Having said all this, let me say how much I love
"Dykes To Watch Out For". I, like many others,
turn to it'first so I can catch up on all the '
activities of the gang at MadWimmin Books. It is
Bechdel's loving but unflinching eye that makes
this feature a classic and it is also her creative
courage that depicts sexual activity without
shame or apology.

Peter Cooper
P-FLAG
Rutland

Out in the Mountains;

   

Name

.VERMONT'S NEWSAPER FOR LESBIANS, GAY MEN, AND BISEXALS

By subscribing now to OITM, not only will you guarantee delivery to your mailbox (in a
discreet envelope, of course), but you will also help undenNrite the rising costs of pub-
lishing the newspaper. We also welcome any additional contributions you can make to
support our continuing existence. Checks should be made payable to OITM and sent,
along with this form, to: OITM, P.O. Box 177, Burlington, Vermont 05402-0177.

 

Address
City

State

Cl One-year ($20) CI Low-income ($10) El Sponsor ($__________1)‘
Sponsors are especially welcome from those who prefer to pick up 01 M at one of the paper's
distribution points rather than be added to the mailing list.

El Please also let us know if you'd like to get involved in the newspaper.

Zip

04/95

I‘
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
L

U3

April 1995

 

NORTHFIELD -- The Vennont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay‘
Rights (VCLGR) held its annual retreat on February 12 at Destiny
Lodge in Northfield. The Radical Faeries were wonderful hosts,
treating us to wonderful food and fabulous costume changes!
Upcoming board meetings will be on April 23 and May 7 at
Gifford Hospital in Randolph. Everyone is welcome! ‘

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE The board of directors is currently
finalizing its position statement on same—sex marriage. Basically,
the board supports the legal right to marry, but wishes to express
the need for equal rights and privileges for all people, regardless
of marital status. Feel free to contact the board with any thoughts
or concerns you have on this matter. A final position statement
will be presented here when our ‘work is complete.

ADOPTION REFORM The issue of adoption refonn is being
studied in Montpelier. The VCLGR board is working on a
position statement to support the rights of all. Vermonters to adopt
regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. The Coalition has
created an adoption task force to study and monitor this issue
closely. For more information, call Susan Murray at
(802)388-6356.

HIV/AIDS CONFIDENTIALITY BILL Although not strictly a
gay issue, this bill will affect many of us. There is a bill in the
Vennont legislature that will protect the confidentiality of
HIV—related information, and require informed consent before an
HIV test can be perfonned. For more information on how you can

help to get this bill passed, call Erica Garfin at the VT AIDS,

Council at (802)229-2557. I

MEMBERSHIP By now, all VCLGR members should have
received their membership cards and stickers. Membership is
$15/year, but-no one is refused for lack of funds. If you have not
joined, it’s not too late. Remember, membership has its privileges!
Are you a card-carrying member?

VT INTERACTIVE TV SERIES The final interactive TV event
will be held on Friday, April 28th from 6:30-8:30pm. This will be
your last chance to flirt over the airwaves with people from all
corners of VT for a while, so we hope to see you there! Call Sue
at (802)728-4121 or Christopher at (802)365-9139 for the site
nearest you.

COMMITTEES The board is looking for VCLGR members to
serve on its various committees. Are you "concemed" about the
food at VCLGR conferences? The _conference planning committee
might be the place for you! Other committees include legislative
policy, community outreach, programs, membership, and
fundraising. This is your chance to get involved, but without
getting in over your head. If you can give 2-4 hours a month, it
would be greatly appreciated.

I If you need to Contact the Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay

Rights (VCLGR), you may write to PO Box 1125, Montpelier, VT
05602, or you may call (802) 365-9139 or ( 802) 482-3927.

*****

VCLGR Board of Directors

,Co‘”-Chairs‘. Vi‘. . a _ M A‘  ,
“Mary M.‘Hurlie (H_inesburg)j \’
Chrishtopheriwesolowski (Newfane)

Liaison to tlie:‘Gove:rnor , A.    _‘
S‘.usan'Aranoff (Randolph) "   V V

‘I , Terje Andeijsori (Burlingt0n.);-‘ = ‘A ~' — - »

Tom Aloisi (Burlington)

‘ Judith Beckett (Bradford) _
Louise Brill; (South Royalton)
D. Dudley (Strafford)
Carey Johnson (Brattleboro)
Laurie Labarthe (Worcester) _
Judy Lashof (Sudbury)
Susan Murray (Ferrisburg)
Gabriel Q. (Northfield)
Joseph Watson (East Middlebury) V