Out in the Mountains

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RMONT'S FORUM FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER ISSUES

Volume XII, Numbem’ .3? May 1997 .. FREE

 

“Gender Outlaw”
Visits Vermont Ll

Koie Bernstein Tronsgresses and M.‘ to on
Tronscends Definitions

by Hugh Coyle R E

MIDDLEBURY —— Writer and performance artist Kate Bomstein evoked tears of
both laughter and sorrow during an appearance on the campus of Middlehury College
on Friday, April 18. Bomstein is perhaps best known for her landmark book on
transgenderism, Gender Outlaw. Just a few weeks ago, she was Terri Gross’s guest on
the National Public Radio show “Fresh Air.” Her Vemiont visit was sponsored by the
Middlebury College Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Alliance and the campus’ Coalition for Femi-
nist Consciousness.

Bornstein opened the show hidden away out of view. With a smooth, sensual
voice, she tempted and teased the crowd as “Stormy,” a phone sex operator, before
making her grand entrance on stage. From there she launched into a discussion of how,
prior to her sexchange operation, she had signed up for voice lessons to sound less like
a man. The piece highlighted Bomstein’s incredible ability to modulate her persona,
particularly as she mimicked the sexist sugg_estions offered by her first instructor. In the
end, she paid tribute to the contemporary performance artist Laurie Anderson, whose
vocal stylings often defy any clear allusion to gender.

Throughout the evening, Bernstein presented a number of pieces she had written
for various events. One, which appeared in the New York Times, described her atten-
dance at her mother’s funeral. While other mourners accosted her and asked “Who are
you?”, Bomstein was reminded of how her mother had lovingly considered her to be
“my son, the lesbian.”

Two of the pieces Bernstein presented were originally intended for the OutWrite
conferences held in Boston. Though reading from the page, shefilled each sentence
with zest and urgency as she discussed what, if anything, it meant to “cross genders” in
writing and how we often find ourselves limiting our own imaginations when we per-
petuate the language-based conventions of our oppressors.

Bomstein illustrated this last point by describing how gender continues to be a
strong basis of self-definition even in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered com-
munities, where gender is often transgressed by the very choice of sexual partners. “People
claim to be a gay man or a lesbian woman,” Bernstein said, further stating that even in
the transgendered community, individuals feel a need to identify as “male-to—female or
female-to—male.”

In order to stir up the audience’s feelings and assumptions about gender even
  further, Bomstein asked her “assistants” to hand out exam booklets containing “The
T”m5g°“d"°d Performance artist Kate B°"“5t°l“ at he’ m°5l 7999"‘ Midd1°b“"Y Truly Amazing Gender Aptitude Quiz." Bomstein’s voice bellowed out instructions as
College appearance. (Photo by Hugh Coyle) 1 CONTINUED, p_ 4

Vermont Women Take Back the Trails Making a Statement at the State House

by Kara DeLeonardis, _
Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

    

 

This coming Memorial Day weekend will mark the first anniversary of the
murders oflulie Williams, a Burlington resident, and her girlfriend Lollie Winans,
from Unity, Maine. To commemorate the event, groups and individuals around
the country are encouraged take part in the “Take Back the Trails” movement on
Sunday, May 25th.

Winans and Williams had been camping in the Shenandoah National For-
est along the Appalachian Trail when they were brutally attacked and had their
throats slit. Although investigators have yet. to release information regarding pos-
sible suspects or motives, many in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered

- communities believe that this was a hate crime motivated by homophobia.

The Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault has
joined forces with the national “Take Back the Trails” group. The primary moti-
vation behind the “Take Back the Trails” effort is to recognize and speak out
against the deaths, violence, harassment, etc. that have occurred to ANY woman
in the outdoors, and to engage in a positive and inspiring crusade toward ending '

 
 

_ _ _ _ _ . I . I30 000 W en Leaders and representatives from a number of organizations joined the Veriiiolnt
Violence against women In gonoml. The SIOUP 5 "W" 803 '5 l0 g6 i _ 0"‘ Coalition for Lesbian & Gay Rights at the State House for Visibility Day on Tuesday,
or more across the Country to h1l<<=- backpack, and/or Camp along the trails ofour April 15th. Pictured at the information table are (l to r) Beth Robinson of the
nation’s forests and parks to show that they refuse to live in fear. Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, Judith Beckett of VCLGR, John MacDonald

Vermont women are invited to get out on the trails in whatever way is most 0f_ ll1_€ AIDS Commllnlly _R€S0lIl‘Ce Cmlnclla VCGLR’S C0-llaS0nS t0 the Legislature

f b] ~ h d l h their W on to end violence avair1stwOmen' A Virginia Renfrew and Keith Goslant and Lil Venner of the Parents and Friends of
Com Om‘ _ 6 lo” em an O S Ow ‘ pp \ D h d I Lesbians and Gays. Other attendees included the Vermont Chapter of the National
llUmb€l' 0l' tFlPS h€lV€ been Scheduled around the Slate; chad‘ the SC 6 U 6 9" page Organization for Women, Out in the Mountains, the Transgender Radical Action

CONTINUED, p. 4 Network and Support Group, and the Vermont AIDS Council. (Photo by Hugh Coyle)