LIX - Newsletter

Special Interest Groups & Activities

Hey LIX Chicks,

Lucy here from your Steering Committee. I thought I’d give Marie a little summer holiday from the e-news blurb and write one myself. What with wedding season upon us, and Capital Pride looming on the horizon, I’ve got some stuff I’ve been thinking about.

Many of our queer brothers and sisters are taking advantage of equal marriage legislation and getting hitched. I say, “Congratulations! Good for you!” The institution never truly resonated for me, so I’m giving it a miss, but I totally support those ‘taking the plunge’. The fight was hard-won, so go for it! That said, the whole ‘equal marriage’ thing has made me wonder: is ‘equality’ really what we, as queers, are after?

In the 70’s, we had ‘the gay liberation movement’. Now doesn’t that sound fabulous? I don’t know about you but I’ll take truly liberated over simply equal any day! Who lowered that bar, and who said they could!!

There used to be a Women’s Liberation slogan that you may remember...”Women who want to be equal to men have no ambition”. This Pride, I’d like to re-purpose that: “Queers who want to be equal to heterosexuals have no ambition.” What do you think? Shall I order the bumper stickers? Now don’t get me wrong. I love our opposite-sex-loving pals as much as the next girl. But let’s face it...some of their old customs and rituals are messed up! I’m not sure I want to be ‘equal’ to all those centuries of screwy tradition.

But I’m not a total poop...I do love witnessing queer marriages that are a change from the old traditions…marriages that actually meet the needs of the couple. And I’ll no doubt be in tears of joy as dear friends tie the knot. What I love about queer community is the myriad of ways that love is explored. I love to see us building families of choice (that include our beloved friends), exploring multi-partnered commitments, raising our children in ways that help them love beyond the nuclear family, and stretching the boundaries of traditional marriage.

This Pride, married or not, let’s once again look to a future that sees us all bigger than merely ‘equal’. Our outsider/queer status opens the door for us to be different. Let’s not waste that opportunity! Let’s be the leaders and inspirations of how love can make us better, stronger and, ultimately, set us free. I say “Never mind equality...give me Liberation!” HAPPY PRIDE!

See you at the Proud Chicks Dance on the 28th.
Lucy

AND HAPPY PRIDE FROM ALL OF US ON THE LIX STEERING COMMITTEE…KERRY, MARIE, LUCY, SINÉAD AND CATHERINE!!

Special Interest Groups & Activities
1. Monthly group for non-biological Moms in same-sex families. I’m interested in creating a group for those of us who have started families together and where one parent is the biological mother and one isn’t. The purpose of the group would be to provide an informal space to share concerns, fears and issues with other Moms going through this experience and navigating this sometimes difficult terrain. My thought would be to meet for coffee/tea at a café or at someone’s home. If you are interested, please contact Laura Cohen at lauracohen@rogers.com or at (613) 228-9778 and we can go from there. 2. Ottawa Amazons Women's Motorcycle Club. Come and join the gals for fun, friendship, laughter and travel with an all lesbian motorcycle group. Monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at Bridgehead Coffee, 362 Richmond Road (west of Churchill in Westboro) at 7:15 pm. If you would like information on how to become a member of the Ottawa Amazons, how to obtain a motorcycle license, and/or tips on negotiating the purchase of a new or used motorcycle, the Amazons are the gals to contact. If you plan to attend a monthly meeting, please contact Molly King at Ottawa.Amazons@monaco.ca.
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1.Women’s Worlds 2011 (WW 2011): Check out www.womensworlds.ca – a trilingual website devoted to a 2011 global feminist event...an event that will likely be the largest women’s conference in Canada’s history! “Inclusions, Exclusions, and Seclusions: Living in a Globalized World” is the theme of the international and interdisciplinary gathering of and about women to be held in Ottawa-Gatineau from July 3-7, 2011. (Heather O.)	1. Studio Space Wanted: I want to get this out into the consciousness. I will be looking for a painting studio in the late fall. Ideally, I would like a ground level access garage or one room (400-500 sq. ft.) open structure with some windows. I have heaters and lights so they are not necessarily part of the package. It should allow ventilation for working with oils and be reasonably priced...$300 or less. It shouldn’t be fancy...I make a mess when I paint. Can be outside the city but no more than a 30 minute drive. Contact valorie@valoriepreston.com with any information or suggestions. 2. Cottage for rent: A cottage on a small island on the Big Rideau Lake, about an hour and a half from Ottawa. Also for rent, a rustic cabin, perfect for kayakers. For information please contact Marion at (613) 237-4054. 3. 2009 Dyke March Volunteers Needed: The Dyke March Committee has started their volunteer recruitment drive for the August 29 Ottawa Dyke March. If you are interested in volunteering for any of the positions below please contact the committee at dykemarchottawa@yahoo.ca. Food prep (several people needed 1 or 2 nights before the march) Food and BBQ set up/serving/cooking (several people needed as well as a car to bring food to the Jack Purcell Community Centre) Clean up and return uneaten food to ACO (several people needed as well as a car to bring things back to ACO) Set up of stage and music equipment (several people needed) Pre-march rally (two people to set up and take down speaker and amplifier at the march) Take down and clean up of stage and picnic area Vehicle volunteers 4. Call for Contributions to Lesbian Journal: Poetry has long been important to lesbians, lesbian publishing, and lesbian identity. Sinister Wisdom, a multicultural journal by and for lesbians, is seeking poems by thirty to forty contemporary lesbian poets, each paired with a poem by a lesbian poet of yore. Think about what work inspires your work and submit creative, eclectic, interesting, and unusual pairings for consideration. Each pair should include a poem by the contemporary poet and a “poet of yore.” A bio of both poets should be included in the submission. Poets are encouraged to submit up to three pairs of poems for consideration. Pairings of poems and visual art work are also welcome. Other creative responses to the theme are welcome. Permission to print both poems must be secured by the submitter. Please discuss copyright and permission with the guest editor well in advance of deadline. Submit manuscripts to Julie R. Enszer, 6910 Wells Parkway, University Park, MD 20782 with SASE for response or email JulieREnszer@gmail.com. Submissions are due March 1, 2010.