Transcript

When You Meet a Lesbian Person Hints for the Heterosexual Woman -Do not run screaming from the room. This is rude. -If you must back away, do so slowly and with discretion. -Do not assume she is attracted to you. -Do not assume she is not attracted to you. -Do not expect her to be as excited about meeting a heterosexual as you may be about meeting a lesbian. She was probably raised with them. -Do not immediately start talking about your boyfriend or husband in order to make it clear that you are straight. She probably already knows. -Do not tell her that it is sexist to prefer women, that people are people, and that she should be able to love everybody. Do not tell her that men are as oppressed by sexism as women and women should help men fight their oppression. These are common fallacies and should be understood as such. -Do not invite her someplace where there will be men unless you tell her in advance. She may not want to be with them. -Do not ask her how she got this way. Instead, ask yourself how you got that way. -Do not assume that she is dying to talk about being a lesbian. -Do not expect her to refrain from talking about being a lesbian. -Do not trivialize her experience by assuming it is a bedroom issue only. She is a lesbian 24 hours a day. -Do not assume that because she's a lesbian she wants to be treated like a man. -Do not assume that her heart will leap with joy if you touch her arm (condescendingly?...flirtatiously?... power-testingly?). It makes her angry. -If you are tempted to tell her she's taking the easy way out, THINK ABOUT THAT. --Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance newsletter UNCLASSIFIEDS Beginning with this issue, pbt will print non-commercial unclassifieds FREE! (Reasonably concise, please.) Commercial unclassifieds will stay at the irresistably cheap price of 10<t a word. So send your ads on in to us at our PO box. MASSAGE CLASSES STARTING SOON: Learn techniques in esalen, accupressure, reflexology and self-massage. To balance energy and release tensions. Classes for women. Six weeks—$20. Individual appointments available also. For further information call: Beth, 523-0368. INTERESTED IN JOINING with other women to celebrate our spirituality? We are women wanting to gather once or twice a month to celebrate our Hers tory, the traditions of the matriarchies and the ancient Wicca, the Craft of the Wise. We are women giving each other strength and sustenance to transcend patriarchal culture. We are women creating our own culture. If you are interested call Praire, 862-7390. THE HOUSTON ORGANIZATION AGAINST SEXISM in the Media is looking for women interested in working on projects dealing with violence against women. We are especially interested in getting some projects underway on the local level. If you have time to help in these efforts call Beth, 523-0368, or Helen, 528-3461. Want to be listed in the first Directory of Women's Businesses in Houston? You qualify if your business is located in the Houston metropolitan area, and owned or managed by women. Women who are agents on commission (e.g. insurance, auto sales) are also eligible. Listings are free, ad rates will be reasonable, and the response so far has been great—around 500 listings already. To be listed (or to list a friend) : send name of individual woman, type of business, and name, address and phone of business to: Pokey Anderson, 1531 Maryland, #4, Houston TX 77006. 11