July 1997

Wann weather. Reward for those dark 60
below days. Everyone celebrates. But summer
always slaps us with a reminder, the clothing """" "
optional reminder. The signs now up in ‘
establishment windows. No shoes, no shirt,
no service. Only the one rule will ever pertain
to us, even if we want it to be both. For womyn,
nothing, besides the high alert of being in
unguarded territory drives the point home
more sharply than the sight of shirtless males
in hot weather. _

Most anywhere during this season is the
hard reminder of who is trapped in occupied
territory. On a stroll down main street, in open
top jeeps, on bikes, motocycles, construction
sites, front lawns, front porches, parks,
beaches, parking lots, hiking trails. There they
are. Men’s torsos. Furry, sagging bellies
obscuring belt buckles, young muscles basking .
in warmth, hairless, pale, dark, sunburned,
bony. All entitled to be as comfortable as they‘
please.

Last year around this time, a picture
appeared in the OITM paper from the Pride
Rally. It had one of the coordinators, Craig,
and his partner James kissing. This picture
also appears on the internet, and prompted a
letter from a homophobe expressin g his views
on sodomites, and his affection for guns.
Enough said. _i

The missing piece was, there could never
be a picture of a lesbian, kissing her partner.
In the same surroundings. Not dressed like
they were. Craig was in an open parade
marshall safety vest, James, shirtless. To take
nothing away from the appropriateness of two
men showing affection, and the fact that they
are a handsome couple, we want the same.
Who decided we couldn’t? When this was
brought up to a few gay brothers, the responses

 

 

(Photo IJJoy Gn'lTitlI)

Nat Harrison and Lanny Jones of Mountain Pride Media’s Board.

Page -3

ranged from ,‘‘well, I guess you’re right” to a
blank look. Why think about gender privilege

you take for granted, straight or gay‘?

Vermont State Law, equates female breasts
with open and gross lewdness, and indecent
exposure. The same charge used to protect
children from molesters. According to the
Attorney General’s and Public Defender’s office,
it would also be open to interpretation by the
arresting officer, and the judge if it would be a
felony, a misdemeanor of frontal nudity, and a
fine of $l00. There is also the interpretation of
freedom of expression if it was a group effort.
The State Parks and Recreation don’t have a
specific law, but if any ‘customer’ complains,
then the State Troopers will be notified. But
they have also had to do this because someone
has objected to a naked baby. Lt. Llanne Tuomey
of the Burlington Police tells us there is a city
ordinance against womyn only going shirtless.
Now most cities have their own laws. For
instance it is illegal to have a concealed gun in
Montpelier although it is allowed under State
law. (What about concealed breasts?) In
Burlington, this violation would be civil, with a
fine of $50, and handled in the same court as
speeding, public urination, and violating the
open container law.

As womyn dressed as comfortably as any
shirtless man can be tried for breaking the law
in the same civil court as someone caught with
an open beer in hand, but her breasts promoting
that beer for profit, now that’s perfectly legal.
In Ontario, Canada, recently a womyn won her
case for going shirtless when it was decided that
it was not done for sexual purposes. Now womyn
in Ontario can be as comfortable as the men at
the beach, park, and even downtown! Is it time
for us to follow the lead ofour Canadian sisters.

Dyke March 1997, continued

CONTINUED FROM page 1
flooded DC streets.

Like other Dyke Marches, Saturday’s march was both
about celebrating dykes and increasing dyke visibility.
In addition, the organizers of this Dyke March worked
to ensure that their march embraced dyke-diversity by
encouraging bi-dykes and trans—dykes as well as lesbian-
dykes to be out, loud and proud.

In her brief talk before the start of the march, Amy
Beck reminded those present that this march was not the
first all-women’s march but part of an on-going herstory.
Dyke Marches are not separate from the actions of women
in Lavender Menace, NOW, ACT UP, the Transexual
Menace, and countless other groups.

As Jess explained, the intent and energy of this Dyke

March is positive: “It is not about excluding

men. It is not about men. It is about celebrat— . i

ing lesbian, bi and trans women. It is about
visibility and pride for dykes.”

Asked for a ‘soundbite quote’ Jess paused
a moment and then laughingly said, “Dykes
Rock!” That pretty much sums up the spirit
of Vennont’s first Dyke March.

Anyone interested in making a donation
toward covering the costs of posters and the
$80.00 march pennit can do so through Jess
at 865-9970. Also, any dykes interested in
working on next year’s Dyke March are en-
couraged to call Jess.

  

/./.

Photo by Staci/\nne Vism

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