I Out in the Mountains

Bar Girls in Vermont:

A reflection on the film‘, directed by Marita Giovanni

Moira

I SOUTH BURLINGTON -- For those of you lucky

enough to catch the Friday to Thursday showing of
Bar Girls at South Burlington's Century Plaza in
May, I wonder if you felt as I did —— filled with sheer
joy at the prospect of watching a "real" lesbian film
in a "real" movie house! I know, I don't get out
much, but wasn't it really something? And
afterwards, I wasn't even let down. Bar Girls does
present a snapshot, and possibly a dramatically
different version than our Vermont variety of dyke
life, but hey, it was scintillating.

Bar Girls may have been filled with cliche,
familiarity and stereotyping, yet I found its
endearing qualities far outweighed those aspects. I
know what you are thinking -— she's only saying this
because this was a "real" lesbian film in a "real"
movie house, and those are all too rare to rip apart.
But besides that given point, here is a
slightly—Hollywoodized but nonetheless heartfelt
view of a love affair that anybody could relate to.
Moreover, here is Hollywood speaking to me! How
could I not be thrilled about it? I mean, all we hear
about is the growing collective n'ght—wingers
crushing gay rights, right? Yet, I sat in a movie
house with my sweet partner within a measurable
distance from the Mall, and I thought, "This is
radical. This is growth. This is a huge step in a
wondrous direction, even if the viewing only lasted
seven days."

So, does the film speak to all lesbians? Of course
not, but what Hollywood snapshot of life ever does?
I found the characters to "be an interesting blend of
myself and scads of women I know. The basic plot
revolves around the beginning relationship between
Loretta (Nancy Allison Wolfe) and Rachel (Liza
D'Agostino). Of course there is a tangle of other
characters who either make the relationship possible
or do their best to screw it up. Sounds about right so
far? We all have a few friends that fall into such
categories, don't we? I found the language to be
believable, and sometimes hitting nerves close to
my bones.

As the web between the ensemble weaves in a myriad of twisted
configurations, one finds our heroines to be learning all of life's
hardest lessons. As in life, as in Shakespeare, "These violent delights
have violent ends, And in their triumph die; like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume ..." So it is with movie characters as
well. Even with all the cliches surrounding lesbians about their rush to
the commitment counter, many of us are still ensnared by the promise,
the passion, the fire, in and out of the movies. And many such liaisons
have violent ends 

I I was curious, as to why all the women wore makeup, and not just the

kind that stop a shine under lights but, you know, pink glossy lipstick
and matching eye shadow. Do lesbian women everywhere else paint
their faces? And cleavage? Again, I really haven't noticed a nightat
135 Pearl when every woman in the place has her shirt half
unbuttoned and tied up with her torso revealed. Don't miss my
meaning. I am a femme woman myself, but it is suspect when ALL

the women are portrayed in this manner. Am I just showing my rural A

roots?

I wondered if the director made these choices to make the film more
appealing, more marketable in the mainstream. There is a subliminal
form of thinking that goes onin our culture, like it's okay to be a
lesbian if you look like those Penthouse fantasy girls or those in
straight porno films (those that invariably display two women who, out
of boredom or absence of a male, feign love for each other). I am not
saying this is what Bar Girls presents, but perhaps it lost some of the
grit and fiber that'Go Fish gave us while selling too much L.A. gloss.

I have stopped asking Hollywood to bring me great moments of truth,
and I am sort of over my artsy film stage. Mostly I want to be lulled.
But the desperate scenes between Loretta and Rachel, which come
quick on the heels of their realizing they haven't even had an argument
(yet they have already moved in with each otherl), were filled with
honest dialogue and hard hitting truth. Later, staring into her mirror,
Loretta shows her brave spirit and faces herself with all the pain of
dark soul searching. After this point in the film, I forgave all
shortcomings. '

For those of you who missed the film, well, you missed it. And for those of
you who saw it, wasn't the straight-girl—tumed—femme—fatale in the coffee
house a riot? And what about the kidnapped troll? V

(photo courtesy of VOX)
Bar Girls'Nancy Allison Wolfe, left, and Liza
D’/lgostino

NGA Not NGAY:

Continued from page 1

(Photo: Paul Olsen)

President Clinton greets the crowd at Burlington
International Airport

program. budget"--fcuts, and proposed changes to
welfare. :

' While issues of specific concern to lesbians and

gay men were not on the NGA's agenda, OITM did
have an opportunity to ask questions of some of
the nation's leaders. Here's some of what OITM
leamed. '

OITM: How do you think the Supreme Court will
rule in Colorado's (anti-gay) Amendment 2 case?
Do you think the boycott of Colorado will
continue if Amendment 2 is upheld?

Govemor Roy Romer, (D) Colorado: It's before
the court. I personally opposed Amendment 2 but
felt we had to pursue it in court. I feel it (the
boycott) is over.

OITM: What is your position on hate crimes legislation proposed in
Wyoming?

Governor Jim Geringer, (R) Wyoming: Due process is sufficient
in Wyoming. The way the bill is written it would provide for
enhanced penalties for narrow types of crimes. We deal with crimes
based on merit and do not. need enhanced penalties.

OITM: Studies have shown that the suicide rate for gay and lesbian
teens is higher than that of their peers. Will the NGA's Campaign for
Children address g/l/b youth issues?

Governor Tommy G. Thompson, (R) Wisconsin (incoming NGA
Chair): You'll have to talk to Howard Dean about that.

OITM: What is your position on the ballot initiative campaign
targeting families with lesbian and gay parents in Washington?

Governor Mike Lowry, (D) Washington: That ballot initiative has
been proposed but doesn't have the necessary 181,000 signatures. It
addresses the issue of whether same—sex couples can adopt. I am
opposed to that initiative. It represents government entering into
private decisions. The decision should be based on the care and love
of the child and not sexual orientation.

OITM: Will the NGA's Committee on Human Resources take a
position on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which
would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation nationwide?

Governor Christine Todd Whitman, (R) New Jersey: I haven't
heard that there will be discussion of that bill. I personally have
taken a consistent position opposing discrimination on the basis of
race, gender, andsexual orientation.

OITM: What is President Clinton's position on the Employment
Non—Discrimination Act (ENDA)?

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White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta:
President Clinton has indicated that the
Employment Non—Discrimination Act is
something he would support.

OITM: Has legislation prohibiting discrimination
on the basis of sexual orientation been proposed in
Arkansas?

Governor Jim Guy Tucker, (D) Arkansas:
Currently there is no gay rights legislation pending
in Arkansas. I'm not sure it (discrimination) is a
problem in Arkansas  I have no position on the
issue.

OITM: In light of a spate of anti—gay attacks and

‘murders in Texas would you support hate crimes

legislation proposed in Texas?

Governor George W. Bush, (R) Texas: We'll
apply all of our laws consistently regardless of the
origin of the motive. Texas has the death penalty
and will apply it evenly in all capital cases.

OITM: What is the status of the anti—gay ballot
initiative in Maine?

Governor Angus S. King Jr., (1) Maine: It's on
this fall's ballot. It is designed to repeal Portland's
gay rights ordinance and prohibit others from
enacting them. I am very much against the
initiative. It's going to be close. It is an emotional
issue. I hope the people of Maine will decide that
the issues of employment, credit, and housing
should not be based on individual status and
private behavior.

01 TM : Did TVNati0n's Michael Moore hug you?

Governor Howard Dean, (D) Vermont: Not here
 he got me in Aspen. '

In spite of the fact that many of the nation's states
will be addressing issues impacting lesbians, gay
men, and bisexuals, issues of specific concern to
lesbian and gay Americans were not addressed at
the NGA conference. In a recent interview with
OI TM , Governor Dean indicated that he didn't feel
the NGA would be inclined to address lesbian and
gay issues "in any kind of constructive way." After
the close of the 1995 NGA conference, it is easy to
conclude that he was right. 7