Giving Women a Voice
K i n d re d Sisters
J ANUARY 2014
Kindred Sisters Volunteers: Lynn, Jennifer, Judy, Shewolf, Rainbow
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Our Mission: Kindred Sisters’ mission is to provide a forum of news, events, and ideas for, by, and about lesbians and their kindred sisters of all classes, races, ages, ethnicities, and abilities. Kindred Sisters, PO Box 141674, Gainesville, FL 32614
KindredSisters@gmail.com www.KindredSistersMagazine.com
Kindred Sisters “Giving Women a Voice” January 2014
LGBT Foster/Adoption Training Can you commit to providing a loving caring home for a child in need? Partnership for Strong Families will host classes at the Pride Community Center on foster and adoptive care beginning Saturday, January 25 at 10am to 4pm, and occurring every other Saturday through March 22nd. With 32 foster homes and over fifty children in foster care in Alachua County today, children are being placed an hour or more away from their homes. Join us as we discuss requirements and the dire need for quality foster homes. We will explore the truths and myths facing lesbian and gay foster parents from two of our same-sex foster and adoptive families. We hope to see you become a part of the movement! PCCNCF, 3131 NW 13th St, Gainesville
Cover: This month’s cover art is provided by Jennifer Kandel of Tallahassee, FL. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Florida State University. She has more than 13 years of professional experience as a lead consultant and educator working with organizations in both the private and governmental sectors. Ms. Kandel is an active artist, creativity coach, and spiritualist. To find out more, go to www.jenniferkandel.com or www.JenniferKandel.etsy.com.
Kindred Sisters — January 2014
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Chili CookCook-Off Saturday, February 1st 6:00 - 8:00 pm Sliding Scale $5 - $10 Come to the Pride Community Center to taste the best chili that Gainesville has to offer! Admission includes a bowl of the “house” chili, chili samples, corn bread, a dessert bar, and all the water you can drink. We are looking for chefs to compete in this challenge. To enter, send an ee-mail to pridectr@bellsouth.net. Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries, based on the votes of those who attend. Cash bar and admission proceeds support the programs of the Center.
GAINESVILLE 2014 PRIDE THEME CONTEST $150 Cash Prize for the theme selected by PCCNCF for use as our official 2014 Pride Theme! This theme will be used on our 2014 Pride Logo, t-shirts, website, Pride Program, and promotional literature. All submissions become the property of Pride Community Center of North Central Florida. Themes must be submitted to Pride Community Center at pridectr@bellsouth.net by noon on February 10th.
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Kindred Sisters — January 2014
The Lesbian Year in Review 2013 by Kathy Belge
2013 will be remembered as quite a year for LGBT rights. It's the year DOMA was defeated, Prop 8 overturned, and nine new states (Maryland, Rhode Island, Delaware, Minnesota, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, & Utah) added marriage equality laws. Quite a few gays, lesbians and bisexuals came out in 2013. Some memorable ones are:
Good Morning America host Robin Roberts came out in December, when she thanked her partner Amber Laign for helping her through her rough few years of health issues. Basketball star Brittney Griner came out right after becoming the #1 pick in the WNBA draft. USA soccer stars Abby Wambach and Sarah Huffman came out when they announced their wedding in October 2013. Raven Symone, who is best known for her roles on The Cosby Show and That's so Raven, came out via Twitter by tweeting after DOMA was overturned, "I can finally get married! Yay government! So proud of you." Actress Maria Bello came out in an article in the New York Times, in an essay about alternative families. Actress Michelle Rodriguez came out in an interview with Entertainment Weekly when she said, "I've gone both ways. I do as I please.... Men are intriguing. So are chicks."
There were two notable TV shows with lesbians in 2013:
ABC premiered the first show to feature lesbian parents who are also foster parents with The Fosters. One show has garnered the raves of both fans and critics alike. Orange is the New Black is a Netflix original series set in a women's prison based on the memoir Orange Is the New Black written by Piper Kerman. The sexy drama portrays the lives and connections of a group of women prisoners in an upstate New York women's prison. The show is full of lesbian drama and tension and happily has been renewed for 2014.
And 2013 was the year we said goodbye to a major anti-gay organization: Exodus International, an organization that purported to change people from gay to straight through prayer and Christianity. Exodus International closed their doors in June 2013 and issued an apology to the LGBT community. 2013 was a good year. excerpt from www.lesbianlife.about.com Kindred Sisters — January 2014
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Coming Out as a Modern Family by Maria Bello When my 12-year-old son, Jackson, asked me if there was something I wasn’t telling him, I replied, “There are a lot of things I don’t tell you.” “Like what?” “Adult stuff.” He persisted: “What kind of adult stuff?” This was the moment I had been anticipating and dreading for months. “Like romantic stuff,” I said, fumbling for words. “What kind of romantic stuff?” “Well,” I said. “Like how sometimes you can be friends with someone, and then it turns romantic, and then you’re friends again. Like with Dad and me. Or romantic like Bryn and me were, and then he and I became friends.” “So are you romantic with anyone right now?” he asked. I took a deep breath, knowing that my answer, and his response, would have an impact on our lives for a very long time. He was right; I was with someone romantically and I hadn’t told him. I had become involved with a woman who was my best friend, and, as it happens, a person who is like a godmother to my son. About a year before this conversation, I had been sitting in my garden in California, looking through photos and old journals I have kept since childhood. I read about the handful of men and the one woman I had been in romantic relationships with, passages rife with pain and angst. It seemed when I was physically attracted to someone, I would put them in the box of being my “soul mate” and then be crushed when things didn’t turn out as I had hoped. I read about the two men I fell for while working on films. I was sure each was my soul mate, a belief fueled by sexual attraction that made me certain I was in love, only to find that when the filming ended, so did the relationship. And I read about the man who asked me to marry him four years ago over the phone, before we had even kissed. Three months later we were in his kitchen throwing steaks at each in anger. As I continued to look through photos, I came across a black-and-white one of my best friend and me taken on New Year’s Eve. We looked so happy, I couldn’t help but smile. I remembered how we had met two years before; she was sitting in a bar wearing a fedora and speaking in her Zimbabwean accent. We had an immediate connection but didn’t think of it as Page 4
romantic or sexual. She was one of the most beautiful, charming, brilliant and funny people I had ever met, but it didn’t occur to me, until that soul-searching moment in my garden, that we could perhaps choose to love each other romantically. What had I been waiting for all of these years? She is the person I like being with the most, the one with whom I am most myself. The next time I saw her, in New York, I shared my confusing feelings, and we began the long, painful, wonderful process of trying to figure out what our relationship was supposed to be. First, how would it affect my son? He trusted Clare. He loved her. He had never met most of the men I had been in love with and had no idea I had been with a woman as well. Second, how would it affect my career? I have never defined myself by whom I slept with, but I know others have and would. It’s hard for me even to define the term “partner.” For five years I considered my partner to be a friend then in his 70s, John Calley, with whom I talked daily. He was the one who picked me up each time I had a breakdown about another failed romance. Because we were platonic, did that make him any less of a partner? And I have never understood the distinction of “primary” partner. Does that imply we have secondary and tertiary partners, too? Can my primary partner be my sister or child or best friend, or does it have to be someone I am having sex with? I have two friends who are sisters who have lived together for 15 years and raised a daughter. Are they not partners because they don’t have sex? And many married couples I know haven’t had sex for years. Are they any less partners? My feelings for Clare aren’t the same as the butterfliesin-the-stomach, angst-ridden love I have felt before; they are much deeper than that. As we grew closer, my desire for her grew stronger until, after a few months, I decided to share the truth of our relationship with my large, Italian-Polish, “traditional” Philadelphia family. My father’s response came between puffs of his cigar while we sat on the roof of a casino in Atlantic City. “She’s a good girl, good for you,” he said. My mother and family echoed his sentiments. My feelings about attachment and partnership have always been that they are fluid and evolving. Jack’s father, Dan, will always be my partner because we share Jack. Dan is the best father and the most wonderful man I’ve known. Just because our relationship is nonsexual doesn’t make him Kindred Sisters — January 2014
any less of a partner. We share the same core values, including putting our son first. My more recent ex, Bryn, remains my partner because we share our activism. And Clare will always be my partner because she is also my best friend. This past summer I was very ill. At one point it looked as if I might not survive. But the people who were at my bedside every day at the hospital were many of my life partners: my mother, Jackson, Dan, my brother Chris, and Clare. So back to Jackson’s question, with me sitting on the edge of his bed: Was I romantic with anyone right now? I exhaled and finally said it: “Clare.” He looked at me for what seemed like an eternity and then broke into a huge, warm smile. “Mom, love is love, whatever you are,” he said with wisdom beyond his years. (Yes, he obviously attends one of those progressive schools in Los Angeles!) I loved him so much for saying that. “But Jack, I’m a little scared,” I said. “When I was younger, people judged you if you were in a romantic relationship with a person of the same sex, and some still do. So I’m not sure how to deal with this. But we’ll figure it out together.” And we have figured it out together: Jack, Clare, Dan and I. It’s a rare weekend when we aren’t piled in the same Kindred Sisters — January 2014
car, driving to one of Jack’s soccer tournaments. Dan makes fun of Clare for getting lost and she makes sure he always has the umbrellas, sunscreen, water, nuts and whatever else we might need in a nuclear disaster. We have dinner together almost every night. As I write this, we’re basking in the afterglow of Dan’s 50th birthday party that Clare, Jackson, and I gave, which was attended by his family and mine and many other people I consider partners in one aspect of my life or another. It was a room of celebration and unconditional love. Mostly, the four of us laugh a lot together. Jackson has gotten us hooked on “Modern Family,” and in each episode he tries to figure out if Dan is Phil or Jay and if Clare is Gloria or Mitchell. So I would like to consider myself a “whatever,” as Jackson said. Whomever I love, however I love them, whether they sleep in my bed or not, or whether I do homework with them or share a child with them, “love is love.” And I love our modern family. Maybe, in the end, a modern family is just a more honest family. Maria Bello is an activist and actor whose most recent film is “Prisoners.” excerpt from www.nytimes.com Page 5
“Orange is the New Black” Night Select Friday nights, continuing January 17 at 7pm Pride Community Center of North Central Florida The Pride Community Center of North Central Florida is hosting “Orange is the New Black” Night. Settle into the center’s comfortable couches as you watch Piper Chapman and Alex Vause on our big screen TV. We’ve started at the beginning with season one and will continue into season two when it is released in early 2014. Snacks are proved and a two dollar donation is requested. Visit out our Facebook page for more information. PCCNCF, 3131 NW 13th St, Gainesville. www.gainesvillepride.org
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Kindred Sisters — January 2014
The Old Lady and the Purple Dragon by Julie Ford
“PLEASE ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF” Who are The Old Lady and the Purple Dragon? Let’s start with the story of the Purple Dragon: the time came for me to flee my emotionally abusive partner, who in an attempt to limit my freedom had sold the car I had been allowed to drive. I needed wheels. The amount of money I had to spend was very small and I don’t know anything about vehicles, and I was concerned that I could be easily duped by a used car dealer. So I prayed a very specific prayer: “Please Lord, help me find a Ford Ranger pickup truck - purple! - that I can afford.” I figured that when I found the vehicle that fit those specifications right down to the color, I would know that it was the vehicle for me. I did find that truck and I named her the Purple Dragon, in symbolic gratitude. And I am The Old Lady. After I got my wheels and fled my rural home to the nearby city of Valdosta, I started writing a column about live local music for the downtown street rag The Glass Onion. I went to a dive bar called Ashley Street Station that featured live local bands, where I soon realized that I was the oldest person in the room. So I claimed my status, took ownership of my age, and dubbed myself The Old Lady. I may not be the stereotypical old lady… my hair is naturally graying, not blue rinsed; I still have a taste for Devo and Alice Cooper; and I am embroiled in a torrid new love affair… but I am The Old Lady, and I am learning more and more about how to be an old lady. Here are some things you should be ready for as you grow older: Whiskers. I don’t mind gray hair or wrinkles, but the whiskers drive me crazy. When I told that to my gay buddy Rex, he cackled “Yours? Or hers?” At any rate, my advice to women who plan to live past middle age is to invest in a good pair of tweezers. Hot flashes. If you suddenly think “who turned up the heat in here?” then you are probably having one. Rethinking them as power surges is fine during the daytime, but at night these can really interfere with a good cuddle. I have found that Evening Primrose Oil is very efficacious in reducing hot flashes and night sweats. Leg cramps. These tend to strike without warning at night, and can be so intensely painful that even though getting up and walking around can help sometimes it is simply impossible to stand let alone walk. Even more annoying, they tend to hit at crucial moments with your lover. The most effective preventative I have found is to drink tonic water at bedtime. I apologize for a shameless commercial plug, but FeverTree Tonic Water is the only tonic water I have found that does NOT contain high fructose corn syrup. Some Publix grocery stores carry it, or at least can special order it for you; you can also order it through Amazon. Here’s the bottom line, ladies: don’t fight aging. Embrace your age! Claim your Old Ladyhood! Moving from Maiden to Crone is inevitable, but you don’t have to give up any of the fun of being a Maiden as you grow into the wisdom of being a Crone. As the late great baseball player Satchel Paige said, "Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Kindred Sisters — January 2014
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I Ate My First Kidney by Woody Blue
…2 days ago. Vegans and vegetarians may not want to read any further than this. For that matter, many carnivores may also want to pass this month. At the risk of alienating many of you, I will tell you that my article is about the nutritional value of organ meats. Organ meats include liver, heart, lungs, stomach (tripe), brain, kidney, tongue and spleen. Glands such as thyroid, thymus, (sweetbreads) and pancreas are also included in this category. Before 1950, all these organs were not only eaten, but relished as finger-lickin' good foods. That should tell us something. Organ meats fell out of favor with the rise of industrialized food. This includes the processed food industry, the factory farmed animals, and the agricultural megafarms which support a monoculture. By extension this also includes the chemicalization of our soils through pesticides, insecticides and manmade fertilizers. I could also note here that it provided the medical and pharmaceutical worlds to change course from healing to dealing. But I digress…. Theoretically every part of the body is edible but we choose only a handful to consume. In pre-1960 cookbooks recipes are found under 'variety meats' or 'unusual' meats. I found good information in a current book entitled Odd Bits by brave Jennifer McLagan who has also written huge cookbooks called Fats and another on Bones. The Butcher's Guide to Well-Raised Meat by Joshua Applestone is another book tackling Page 8
organ meats available at our local libraries. There is always the Internet to turn to when looking for recipes where you can look up 'scary meats.' The best way to discover the world of edible organ meats is to buy them from a local ranch that raises pastured, healthy animals. Factory farmed animals have been treated with growth hormones and antibiotics and fed an unnatural diet. Their organ meats are not healthy. Experiment with recipes. After eating, assess your energy levels, your satisfaction level, and other notable effects. Eating organ meats are tremendously beneficial to the body. Animals know this. When an animal dies in the outdoors, the first thing that is eaten are the organ meats, in particular the central organs positioned in our gut area. Hunter gatherers of every culture sought out the organs AND the healthy saturated fat that surrounded and protected them. The organs were eaten raw or fermented and prized for their flavor and nutritional value. It has been shown that the biochemical characteristics of organs travel interspecies. When humans eat healthy organ meats from another animal, there is a broad general effect of improved glandular function in tone and activity of the corresponding human organ. A sheep thyroid helps a human thyroid. A goose liver can help a human liver. As Gertrude Stein might say, "A pancreas is a pancreas is a pancreas…" Prior to the 1940's, western medical doctors prescribed glandulars and glandular extracts for weakened, diseased or otherwise Kindred Sisters — January 2014
underfunctioning organs. They are still widely used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicinal practices. These extracts and glandulars are mostly dessicated scrapings from sheep embryos. With the discovery of antibiotics, the pharmaceutical industry abandoned the laborintensive glandular for more profitable sales of antibiotics.
and onions for a flavorful meal.
What about that kidney? It was a huge beef kidney. It took me awhile to separate the hard, saturated fat, which is suet, from the organ. According to bakers, this is the best fat to use in pastries. It's suggested to grate the fat to break it into very small pieces, which I haven't done yet. I mixed some of the kidney with mushroom, Organ meat tissues contain the raw materials onion, and garlic; then dropped a poached egg need for our organs to regenerate. They also on top. It made a delicious breakfast. I have enough for four more meals. I had plenty of offer other nutrients in abundance such as energy all day. I mixed it up with ground meat vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and seasonings for another meal. I got a lot of polypeptides and enzymes. Liver probably has the best nutrient profile, delivering enormous B12, B complex vitamins, zinc and selenium, all amounts of Vitamin A, B vitamin complex, of which I'm low on. I got other nutrients also. minerals and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Vitamin My kidneys were smiling all day. A, a necessary element for good eyesight and So far, I've experimented with beef heart, healthy reproductive organs, is a fat soluble vitamin, so sautéing the liver it in gobs of butter, liver, brain, kidney. With chickens, it's been not margarine, will help its absorption into your gizzards, heart, liver, feet, and everything from the neck up, including the rooster comb. With system. pigs, I've done the liver, ham hocks, head Another good example is beef heart, which is cheese, and rendered its fat. I've had lots of an organ that is also dense muscle meat. Heart adventures with this and encourage you to add contains an abundant supply of CoQ10, vital for organ meats to your diet. We have good local good heart health. Because of its density it can sources for these foods. …….Running out of be chewy. Marinating organ meats in whey or space…..eat heart-ily. lemon juice for an hour or so will help break down the long protein chains and tenderize it. Woody Blue is a holistic health Because we aren't used to eating them, we counselor specializing in massage are unfamiliar with their tastes and smells. and nutrition. You can contact her Before cooking it's best to rub all the surfaces at 352-375-0539 for more info. with salt or seasonings and then rinse. Blanching them, meaning to drop them into boiling water for about 30 seconds, and draining should get rid of any foul smells. The next part is laborintensive, separating the connective tissue and blood vessels from the rest of the organ. If you're still on board here, organ meats should be cooked very lightly, only a minute or two and remain pink inside. Overcooking will not only make them tough and rubbery, but will destroy the enzymes and vitamins you are trying to obtain. Season them with curries, tomatoes Kindred Sisters — January 2014
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WhatÊs Happening? Jan 5, 4pm: Wimmin's Movie Night See back cover for details. Jan 9, 6-9pm: Museum Nights: Horsing Around in the Year of the Horse Enjoy live performances of music, art demonstrations and activities celebrating Chinese New Year and highlighting the Harn’s extensive Asian art collections. Free and open to the public. Harn, 3259 Hull Rd, Gainesville. www.harn.ufl.edu Jan 11: Mushroom Festival Don’t miss the 2014 Giant Shiitake Mushroom Festival in Interlachen, FL! Free workshops, prizes, contests, art! www.pmhigh.com, 386-546-6554 Jan 12, 7:30pm: Feminist Book Club We'll be discussing Ursula K. Le Guin's book of short stories, "The Birthday of the World". Wild Iris has ordered ten used copies so stop by and pick yours up (for $6.50). Our book club will be meeting at Wild Iris Books at their new location, 22 SE 5th Ave, Ste D, Gainesville. Focus on the second story and the questions it might raise about gender roles. This particular book discussion will be for feminists of all genders. Our book club meets in cycles, 1st month: women only, 2nd month: all feminists, 3rd month: men only. Bring snacks and drinks to share if you'd like.
program from IQuit with AHEC offers free nicotine patches, lozenges, and/or gum (while supplies last), as well as follow-up support. We are here to help you break free from your tobacco addiction. Call to register: 866-341-2730 or visit our website for more information: www.ahectobacco.com Jan 17, 7pm: “Orange is the New Black” Night The Pride Community Center of North Central Florida is hosting “Orange is the New Black” Night. Settle into the center’s comfortable couches as you watch Piper Chapman and Alex Vause on our big screen TV. We’ve started at the beginning with season one and will continue into season two when it is released in early 2014. Snacks are proved and a two dollar donation is requested. PCCNCF, 3131 NW 13th St, Gainesville. www.gainesvillepride.org
Jan 18, 7:30pm: Summer of Love Concert This incredible concert celebrates the music and spirit of the Woodstock generation. Led by former Styx and Beatlemania bassist/ vocalist Glen Burtnik, the all-star cast of musicians includes vocalists, keyboards, percussion, guitars, horns and strings. The band re-creates, note for note, the music of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dylan, The Doors, Hendrix, Joplin, Cream, CSN&Y, Jefferson Airplane, Mamas and the Papas, Jan 14, 6-8pm: FREE IQuit Smoking Creedence, Santana and more, while also Cessation Seminar featuring the famous, psychedelic Pig Light “Tools to Quit” at the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida is a two-hour Show. Tickets: $20-45. Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Rd, Gainesville. LGBT-friendly seminar where you’ll get www.performingarts.ufl.edu information on how to select and get ready for your quit date! You’ll learn about what triggers you to smoke, dip, or chew, and how to handle withdrawal symptoms. The Page 10
Kindred Sisters — January 2014
WhatÊs Happening? Jan 25-26 & Jan 31-Feb 2: Medieval Faire The Alachua County Fairgrounds is transformed into a bustling medieval marketplace for the 28th Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. Come be swept away by medieval magic as troupes of actors, street performers and musicians journey back to the days of yore. Faire Hours: Sat & Sun, 10am–6pm; Fri, 9:30–3. Admission: $15/adults, $7/ages 5-17. www.gvlculturalaffairs.org
declared! You must register in teams of 4, no more, no less. When you register, you will be able to give 2-3 options for which country your team will represent. If a country is requested by multiple teams, the country will be assigned on a first-paid basis. Preregistration is $45 per team. This price will last until January 23rd. Registration is $60 per team at the door. www.GainesvilleRollerRebels.com
Jan 25, 10-4pm: LGBT Foster/Adoption Training Can you commit to providing a loving caring home for a child in need? Partnership for Strong Families will host classes at the Pride Community Center (3131 NW 13th St, Gainesville) on foster and adoptive care beginning Jan 25 & occurring every other Saturday through March 22nd. Join us as we discuss requirements and the dire need for quality foster homes.
Jan 31, 7-9pm: Artwalk Craft + Cottage Food Fair We believe food=art! Join us in The Courtyard for art, food, music and drinks. Peruse art, crafts and food offerings from local vendors, brick oven fired pizzas from Humble Pie, BBQ by Go Go Stuff Yourself, and more! Citizens Co-op, 435 S Main St, Gainesville.
Jan 25, 5-7pm: Stonewall Democrats PAC Fundraiser Appetizers & finger foods provided. Cash Bar. Suggested donation: $10-20. The Brew Spot, 1000 NE 16th Ave, Gainesville. Jan 25, 8pm: 2014 BEERLYMPICS The time has come for the event you've all been waiting for, Gainesville Roller Rebels' annual BEERLYMPICS! Teams register by country and compete in a number of events from flip cup to chugging while hoolahooping. And yes, as the name implies, all of the games involve crazy fun and beer drinking! Beerlympics will take place at High Dive, 210 SW 2nd Ave. The festivities will begin at 8pm and go until a winner is Kindred Sisters — January 2014
Jan 31: Chinese New Year
Feb 1, 6-8pm: Chili Cook-Off Join us at the Pride Center to taste the best Chili that Gainesville has to offer. Try them all and then vote for your favorite! Admission and Cash Bar proceeds support the programs of the Center. Admission, which is $5-10 (sliding scale), includes a bowl of the “house” chili, chili samples, corn bread, a dessert bar, and all the water you can drink. Sign up today to participate in the friendly challenge! Prizes will be awarded to the top three. FMI contact 352-377-8915 or pridectr@bellsouth.net. www.gainesvillepride.org
Don’t forget to inform us of your up-coming events!! Just email KindredSisters@gmail.com. Page 11
WhatÊs Happening? Ongoing Events AA Meetings in Gainesville LGBT Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings on Sundays at 7:30pm at Pride Center, 3131 NW 13th St. AA Meetings in St. Augustine LGBT AA Meetings held at 7pm on Saturdays at Flagler Hospital in the Alicia room. Buy Local at the Weekly Farm Market! Everything Fresh. Everything Local. Every Sunday, 2-5pm. Fresh baked bread, Farm fresh eggs & produce, Unique ethnic cuisines, Homemade soaps, candles, & more! Citizens Co-op Courtyard, 435 S Main St, Gainesville. www.citizensco-op.com Confidential HIV & STD Testing - FREE 1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month at 5-7pm at the Pride Center, 3131 NW 13th St, Gainesville. Drag Bingo Mondays at 9pm at The Jones B-Side Veranda, 203 SW 2nd Avenue, Gainesville Farm Stead Saturday Saturdays, 9am-3pm, at Crones’ Cradle Conserve, 6411 NE 217th Pl in Citra, FL. Farm Tours & Organic Produce! 352-5953377 Gainesville Area NOW Gainesville Area National Organization for Women (NOW) hosts Feminist Friday Happy Hours, regular planning meetings, and occasional protests, rallies, programs and tabling events. Please see their website, GainesvilleNOW.org, for more details. Find their flyers at Wild Iris Books & on Campus. Page 12
Gainesville Area Women’s Network GAWN is the friendliest networking in town. Supportive women gather for lunch, to network & learn from each other & guest speakers. Meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Sweetwater Branch Inn. 352-215-1621, www.gawn.org Gaynesville Queer Reading Group Meets 2nd Wednesday every month at 7pm to discuss a book that relates to queerness, including history, theory, fiction, etc. Civic Media Center, 433 S Main St. 352-373-0010 Interweave A group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender individuals & their allies. Meets at 6:30pm on the 2nd Sunday of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, 4225 NW 34th St. Potluck, presentation, & discussion. "Just Us" Created for professional women 35+ to meet & mingle. Meets the last Saturday of the month at different restaurants, mostly in Volusia County. Join us for fun & food. "No mess, no men, no fuss, it's "Just Us". Contact Dee, dee1023@yahoo.com Lesbian Readings & Potluck We have a good time together! Come and eat good food, bring something you have written and want to share, and/or come and listen to others read. Some womyn come just to the potluck, some just to the readings, and some to both. It's a lovely, connected evening with a small group of womyn as we share our stories and food. Time: 6:30 Potluck; 7:30 - Readings. Place: TBA. Contact: Madeline 352-335-3138. Kindred Sisters — January 2014
WhatÊs Happening? PFLAG Gainesville PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meets monthly (3rd Tuesday) at 7pm to realize our goal of moving equality forward. United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Ave. 352-3403770, www.pflaggainesville.org PFLAG Ocala Group meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6-8pm at the Ocala Public Library (Room B). FMI 352-857-1739. “Sister Song” - Women's Choir All are welcome; no experience needed. Rehearsals every Wednesday at 7pm at Pride Center, 3131 NW 13th St Ste 62. For more info contact Ruth at 352-538-4927.
Youth Discussion Group PCCNCF hosts a weekly “Youth Discussion Group” for GLBT youth between the ages of 14 & 18 years old on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30pm at the Pride Center, 3131 NW 13th St, Gainesville. FMI call 352-377-8915
Chinese New Year 2014 Chinese New Year is on Friday, January 31, 2014. It marks the start of the Year of the Wood Horse in the Chinese zodiac.
Stonewall Democrats of Alachua County LGBT Democrats & supporters meet monthly on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6pm at the Alachua County Democratic Hdqtrs, 901 NW 8th Ave #A-3.
The horse is one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, which is based on a 12-year cycle. According to the Chinese zodiac, your birth year tells you more than just your age. It is believed that there is a special relationship between people and the animals in the Chinese zodiac. This belief, which can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), is based on the idea that one's personality is affected by the animal their birth year is associated with.
Transgender Gainesville Discussion Group Meets on 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 7pm at the Pride Center, 3131 NW 13th St.
It is also believed that some relationships are more compatible than others depending on one’s zodiac (like the western astrological zodiac based on months). Unlike the western zodiac, the Chinese zodiac animals are not associated with constellations.
Trans* Movie Night Join Spectrum and PCCNCF on the 2nd Friday of each month at 7pm at the Pride Center, 3131 NW 13th St. spectrumgainesville@yahoo.com What the Animals Tell Me Every Wednesday at 8:30pm Flash Silvermoon hosts a live internet radio show for animal lovers. Listen to the live stream or check the archives later: www.internetvoicesradio.com Kindred Sisters — January 2014
There are also 5 elements in the zodiac associated with the animals and their personalities: Wood, Earth, Fire, Water, and Metal. As the year 2014 is the Year of the Wood Horse, it is believed that those born under this sign are going to have a good year, with plenty of luck and opportunities ahead. People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to be hard-working, high-spirited, smart, sophisticated and talented. It is also thought that Horses do not like to be restrained and tend to be impatient. excerpt from www.timeanddate.com Page 13
Protect yourself from STDs and HIV! Visit the Pride Community Center to get your FREE condoms. Regular, non-latex, and even female condoms are available. PCCNCF, 3131 NW 13th St, Gainesville.
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Kindred Sisters — January 2014
Local Author’s Debut Novel The River's Memory Sandra Gail Lambert www.sandralambert.com THE RIVER'S MEMORY tells the story of women living along the banks of a river where water billows from caverns of silent lakes. Among the narrators are two potters separated by centuries, a child of the Florida frontier and a woman born without legs who spends her days swimming with manatees. None of these women are famous. None of them have children. Instead, their stories exist in a mosaic of time and shadowed history, and the things of the river clay and water, trees and bone - carry their memories forward. Sandra Gail Lambert's fiction and memoir have appeared in a variety of journals and anthologies including New Letters, The Weekly Rumpus, Arts & Letters and The North American Review. Excerpts of this, her debut novel, have won prizes from Big Fiction Magazine and the Saints and Sinners Short Fiction Contest. She lives in Gainesville, Florida, a home base for kayak trips to her beloved rivers and coastal marshes. Look for it in the Fall of 2014 from Twisted Road Publications... excerpt from www.twistedroadpublications.com
In the Spotlight Sandra Bernhard Sandra Bernhard (b. 1955) is a sharp-tongued comedienne, writer, singer, and actor known almost as well for her amorphous sexuality as for her cynical wit. excerpt from www.glbtq.com
Kindred Sisters — January 2014
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ORLANDO GAY CHORUS! PASSION POLITICS AND MORE. SUNDAY DEC 15, 2013 TWO PERFORMANCES SOLD OUT. THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY PRODUCED CONCERT EVER! TAKE THREE for me. I have to travel 99 miles to witness this. I was WOWed my first time two years ago, then WOWed again to the point of committing to do whatever to get there. Second act had me giving STANDING OVATIONS, as the mighty chorus, so strong and colorful, serenaded us in many languages. IT WAS A PERFECT BLEND, and I have never heard so much PASSION poured into my POLITICS. Their history began with one visionary gay guy, who was in the audience last year. Another early supporter was our wonderful Persian poet SAVIZ, who ran a juice bar in Winter Park, also supported CHANGES NEWSLETTER FOR WIMMIN. BEFORE THERE WAS A CENTER, THERE WAS SAVIZ, and CHANGES. BUT MORE IS BETTER, without a doubt, and there is MORE EACH YEAR, of the TOYS for TOTS collected in the lobby, and dispersed by two wonderful marines (one tall woman and one handsome man) who drive up in a big military truck. VERY MACHO indeed. There was a questionnaire to fill out, to get deeper audience profile and improve support. TICKET SALES were up over one thousand this year. At 30 a pop they are funding MANY NEEDY FAMILIES and 69 BIKES were given last year. I LOVED EVERYTHING THEY DID and cannot give an unbiased critical review. It’s just another RAINBOW RAVE REVIEW. by Rainbow Williams
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Kindred Sisters — January 2014
Kindred Sisters — January 2014
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES Civic Media Center (CMC) 433 S Main St, 352-373-0010 CodePink -- Women for Peace jacque@codepinkalert.org, 352-468-2101, www.codepinkalert.org Crone’s Cradle Conserve Retreat 352-595-3377, www.cronescradleconserve.com Flash Silvermoon - Wise Woman’s Fest www.flashsilvermoon.com, 352-475-2432 Gainesville Area AIDS Project (GAAP) 352-373-4227 or info@gaaponline.org Gainesville Community Alliance (GCA) www.gcaonline.org Gainesville Iguana http://www.afn.org/~iguana/ Gay & Lesbian National Hotline 1-888-843-4564, www.glnh.org Human Rights Council (HRCNCF) 352-372-5192 or hrcncf@gmail.com LGBT Youth Support Group gainesvillepridecenteryouth@gmail.com National Center for Lesbian Rights www.nclrights.org Peaceful Paths Domestic Violence Hotline 352-377-8255, 1-800-393-7233 www.peacefulpaths.org
Pride Community Center of North Central Florida (PCCNCF) 352-377-8915, 3131 NW 13th St, Gainesville www.gainesvillepride.org Pride Student Union 352-392-1665 #326 or pride@sg.ufl.edu Rainbow Families (Gay Parents Group) 352-284-4541, gayparentgroup@bellsouth.net Shake Rag Art & Culture Center 882 North State Road 21, Melrose FL 352-475-5551, www.shakeragarts.org St. Augustine MCC Church 904-824-2802, www.FirstCoastMCC.org Stonewall Democrats of Alachua County 352-373-1730, PO Box 223, Gainesville Survivors of Anti-LGBT Victimization (SAV) 352-264-6760, 1-866-252-5439 Trinity Metropolitan Community Church 352-495-3378, www.mccgainesville.org UF Office of LGBT Affairs 352-392-1217, www.lgbt.multicultural.ufl.edu Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 352-377-1669, 4225 NW 34th St, Gainesville Wild Iris Books 352-375-7477, 22 SE 5th Ave Suite D, Gainesville, www.wildirisbooks.com
Subscription Form Kindred Sisters subscriptions are $25 a year (more if you can, less if you can’t). Send this form & payment to Kindred Sisters, PO Box 141674, Gainesville, FL 32614. Name(s): __________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address:____________________________________________________________ City:__________________________________ State:____________ Zip:______________ Telephone:_____________________ Email:______________________________________ This is a (select one):
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Kindred Sisters — January 2014
EDITORIAL POLICY ♥ We encourage all women to submit art, articles, poetry, announcements, etc. for publication. Any submission longer than 650 words may be printed in two or more parts. ♥ We print a variety of view points on topics of concern to our community members. Remember: KS is not responsible for any content or opinions printed unless it specifically states the article is by “Kindred Sisters.” All other opinions voiced or statements made are solely those of the author of the article. ♥ We are willing to withhold your name from publication upon request, but please include a contact name and/or telephone number. ♥ We print most things “as is.” It is the responsibility of the women submitting to get permission to use anyone’s name or event. We also reserve the right to edit or reject any submission. ♥ Anything submitted to KS for publication may be used on the website as well.
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Classifieds FOR RENT: Cozy house in NE Gainesville bicycle ride to downtown. Enjoy two bedrooms, two bath, office space, shed with electricity. Quite neighborhood, AC/heat, dishwasher, lovely yard surrounding house with native FL shrubs and flowers. Contact gaylebluebird@aol.com Rent: $850 FOR RENT: House to Share in Melrose. 3 bedroom, two bath, furnished house on one acre of fenced in Azalea covered yardl a short walk to Lake Sante Fe with access to small beach, dock, and fishing deck. House is well kept, has one adult woman and one small, very quiet, Shitzu female dog, and yard is maintained. House is split floor plan with bedroom and bath at each side of house. 3 separate entrances, three patios, and large pole barn for storage of some items if needed. Rent could be $850, possibly all inclusive to right person. Extras might be, utilities, TV, Internet, furniture, cleaning services, lawn care, etc. Would need to negotiate with person first. No additional pets, no smoking, and no heavy scents, please. Call Shewolf (Jean) for details or more information 904 521 5975 cell 10 am to 10 pm. House is located 15 minutes from east Gainesville on west side of Melrose; easy commute to Gainesville, Palatka, Waldo or Starke.
FREE Confidential HIV & STD Testing! On the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month at 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the Pride Community Center 3131 NW 13th St, Gainesville Page 20
Cyber Connections Florida Gay Campers
A bunch of fun men and women who like to camp and party. www.groups.yahoo.com/ group/floridagaycampers
Lesbians of the South
For networking, communication, & mutual support among lesbians of the southern states. www.groups.yahoo.com/ group/LesbiansoftheSouth
LEZgo Events
Produces and promotes events for lesbians throughout Florida. www.groups.yahoo.com/ group/LEZgoEvents
LGBT Ocala
A social group bringing together the LGBT community in Ocala, FL, Marion county and surrounding areas. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/LGBTOcala
North Central Florida Lesbians
Community networking exclusively for lesbians with ties in North Central Florida. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ NorthCentralFloridaLesbians
PCCNCF
This group is established to give Pride Community Center of North Central Florida a way to make announcements and notify the membership of upcoming events. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/pccncf
Kindred Sisters — January 2014
Please Support Those Who Support Kindred Sisters! And let them know where you saw their ads!
Do You Want YOUR Art to Grace the Cover of the Hottest Lesbian/ Feminist Magazine in North Central Florida?! Yes? Then here’s your chance! Just scan or photograph your art (paintings, photos, sculptures, sketches, whatever!) and email the digital files to KindredSisters@gmail.com. Be sure to provide high resolution images. Please provide a brief bio or statement to accompany your image. ALL women welcome!
Go Paperless! Kindred Sisters now offers a paperless option for the magazine! Please email us at kindredsisters@gmail.com if you would like to read the magazine online rather than have it mailed to you.
Wimmin's Movie Night First Sunday of each month at 4:00pm! Jan 5: “Desert Hearts” The all-time classic lesbian favorite romantic film! Based on Jane Rule’s novel “Desert of the Heart,” the movie tells the story of Vivian Bell, a repressed English professor who goes to Reno for a quickie divorce in 1959. She spends the weeks waiting for her final divorce papers at a dude ranch where she meets Cay Rivvers, a beautiful young casino worker. Cay is a free spirit – an artist by day and casino worker by night, as well as a lesbian. Vivian and Cay hit it off immediately and it’s not long before Vivian finds her friendship moving into unexpected passion.
Pride Center, 3131 NW 13th St, Gainesville. www.gainesvillepride.org