April 2000
COVER STORY
Angela Soto interviews Jackie Weiss, YWCA outreach worker, about lesbians and breast cancer. Why are lesbians, along with other minority groups, at a higher risk for breast cancer? How can Jackie help if you don't have health insurance or a doctor? The answers are here.
EDITORIAL
Managing editor Linda Brawner, the behind-the-scenes coordinator of Rubyfruit Journal, was impelled to write one of her rare articles. What brought her front and center? Two distressing events--an example of intolerance within the LGBT community and an instance of intolerance toward a specific member of the straight but LGBT-friendly and supportive community.
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HERE'S WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE OLD PUEBLO!<
ANTIGONE'S FABULOUS FRIDAY NITES IN APRIL
All Friday events start at 7 pm
->April 7: Poets Rita Bregman and Barbara Michelman read from their book "On Amethyst Glass: Two Voices, One Song."
->April 14: U of A anthropology profesor Linda Green reads from her book "Fear as a Way of Life: Mayan Widows in Rural Guatemala," about survival mechanisms of Mayan women against a background of terrible violence.
->April 21: Luci Tapahonso, Navajo poet and U of A American Indian Studies teacher, and Pamela Uschuk, poet and U of A writing teacher, read from their works.
->April 28: Celebration and benefit for Primavera Shelter through sale of Primavera's terrific new cookbook, "Tucson Cooks." Free desserts from the Blue Willow!
->->->And on Saturday, April 15, 2-4 pm, Alice Chang signs her new book, "A Survivor's Guide to Breast Cancer."
ANTIGONE'S BOOK GROUPS
Like to read and discuss what you've read? Drop in on any of Antigone's Sunday afternoon groups.
->April 9, Second Sunday Book Group (fiction): Sandra Gulland, "The Many Lives of Josephine B."
->April 16, Mystery Book Group: Janet Evanovich, "Four to Score"
Buddhist Book Group, April 23: Continued discussion of Thich Nhat Hanh, "Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha."
All groups meet at 2 pm.
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And that's not all! April's Rubyfruit has 3 pages of Fruitnotes, a page of briefs, and 3 calendars--monthly, weekly, and daily.
HEAL THE HURT CHILD
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES . . .
Interested in Lending a Helping Hand?
Rubyfruit Journal is available at Antigone Books, 411 N. 4th Ave., and Borders, 4235 N. Oracle.
Columns
Were you fortunate enough to see "If These Walls Could Talk 2" on HBO? The three tales of three generations of lesbians, from closeted to out, reminded Vivian and her partner of how awful things are if you're in the closet and how important it is to be out. "Each time we love ourselves enough to tell anyone who we are, we take part in changing this world and making it a better place to live for everyone."
NEWSWORTHY
National and international news of interest to LGBT readers, and a handy tip for LGBT couples who want to register their same-sex partnership on the Census 2000 form. Use the "unmarried partner" designation and check the appropriate gender boxes. Maybe in another 10 years we can be counted as individuals too!
CLOSER TO FINE
What can you do if you're concerned that your friend's girlfriend/partner is abusive to her? You may think it's none of your business. Yet, "thousands of Tucsonans showed up to march in solidarity with the U of A student who was stabbed on 4th Avenue. It's everyone's business when a member of our community is being abused--whether it is by a stranger or a lover."
LIFEMATTERS
A thinking, rational person, Michelle says her brain hasn't been functioning too well lately. Could it be because she's pregnant? "It takes everything in me just to get through a day as a functioning professional. There are many moments that I'm absolutely convinced of the truth of that thing my mother used to say to me--you know, how if my head wasn't screwed on tight I'd forget that too."
SPIRITUAL PATH
There is an inspiring afternoon coming up for local churchgoers. Call to Action, a group of progressive Catholics, and the Rainbow Interfaith Community have invited Sister Jeannine Gramick, a Philadelphia nun banned by the Catholic Church from continuing to minister to lesbians and gays, to speak at St. Francis of the Foothills. Date & time: Sunday, April 30, 2-5. $5 donation requested. Preregister at (480) 970-4288.
are still people, writes Loch Struan. Every able-bodied person needs to read her chronicle of how she is daily ignored, patronized, and humiliated. "Acknowledge our humanity. We are not invisible."
WOMEN'S BUSINESS
This month's featured businesswoman is counselor/therapist Diane Christian-Taylor. See Ruby for her specialties and how to get in touch with her.
LAVENDER FLIX
Shannon Wentworth on "Relax, It's Just Sex": "A stupid title and an even stupider cover have probably kept you from renting this gem." But grab it off the shelf anyway--someone has "finally made a fiilm that intelligently and realistically merges gay and straight content." All that and Jennifer Tilly too!
AIDS RIDE
Want to bike 560 miles with Ruby's news/design editor, Shannon Wentworth? This summer she'll bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles as part of California AIDS Ride 7, an annual fundraiser. You can help (and ride along in spirit) by making a pledge (see pledge form inside Ruby) and can follow Shannon's adventures on www.gay.com.
LESBIAN HEALTH FAIR
It's coming up on April 29, with 16 workshops, a lunchtime panel discussion, and a variety of vendors and informational booths. Where? At the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4831 E. 22nd St., 9:30-5. Donations of $1-$20 requested, sliding scale. See Ruby for the full schedule.
REP. STEVE MAY SPEAKS ON EQUAL RIGHTS
Openly gay Arizona state Representative Steve May, a Republican and an Army reservist, is battling the Army's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Read about his keynote speech to Tucson's Community Business Association, in which he says, "Equal rights take work. We can't just wait for it to come. There's no time for any of us to rest."
GLBT COMMISSION BREAKS NEW GROUND
Roberta Ann Bottei reports that Tucson is one of the few U.S. cities that has a GLBT Commission established by the city government. It deserves your input and support. See Ruby for a detailed article about all the good work it's doing. Co-chair Arthur Padilla says, "The more people are involved, the more they are empowered."
EROTIC FICTION
"Like the Deserts Need the Rain," by Cathy Busha, is not about deserts, nor rain, but about a delicious morning in bed. You've got to read Ruby to know more!
MILLENNIUM MARCH ON WASHINGTON
The fourth LGBT march in the nation's capital takes place on April 30. Articles by Ellen DeGeneres and actor Mitchell Anderson explain why they'll be there. And our own Shannon Wentworth will be there too, coordinating gay.com's coverage. "Even if you can't go, you can monitor all the action via the Internet. It'll be just like you're there with me, only you won't be quite as close to Ellen." And read all about it in the May Rubyfruit.
MORE, MORE, MORE...
Rubyfruit Journal, Tucson's only Lesbian monthly, is always looking for women interested in contributing articles, reviews, artwork, poetry, you name it. Call 881-0894, or e-mail lsdbruby@aol.com for more information.