OnLine With Zoe

MoMA & Me ~ Redux ~ in honor of Frida's Birthday, July 6

Sunday morning, November 12th I woke up in New York City with one mission in mind ~ I must look at anything by Frida Kahlo.  While I was not certain, it seemed probable that her work would be at the Museum of Modern Art.  Like so many artists and authors, I only know them in books and movies, I adore Frida Kahlo for so many things but, oddly, I had never seen one of her paintings in person.  How big would it be, would the brush strokes show, how would it be framed and can I take pictures?

I took a taxi and arrived before opening and joined the line outside the door.  I stood behind a man in a wheelchair.  The museum employee pulled back the red rope and told us to go forward.  I followed in the jet stream of the chair only to find myself cut off from the standard ticket table and standing embarrassed and alone wondering where to go.  The guard glared as he told me to go back outside and get in the back of the line.  With a grumble, I went to the end of the line and stood in the light rain waiting for another 10 minutes.  Eventually the rope opened again and I got indoors, bought a ticket and was on my way to find Frida.

I took the elevator to the fifth floor and bee-lined to the information table.  "Do you have a Kahlo?" I asked enthusiastically.  The woman said, "Oh yes we do but it is not a very good one."  "I would like to make that decision myself," I replied.   She continued, "It is not one of her better ones.  She is ugly and wearing a suit."  "I traveled 3,000 miles to see it.  You might consider not saying something like that,"  I said as I stepped away in disgust. 

In the next room, hanging under plexiglass I found, Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair, 1940, oil on canvas.  It was surprisingly small ~ 15.75 X 11 inches.  There it was, so moving, so emotional, so powerful, so revolutionary.  Each color chosen, mixed and applied with her very hand.  She had found her husband making love to her sister and cut her hair, sat legs open, wearing Diego's suit.  If you look closely at the strands of hair on the floor surrounding the chair, you can single out her braid.  How I wish I had known her.  I stood in front of her portrait for a very long time.

Breaking from Frida's spell I walked through the room and spotted another familiar painting ~ a Lee Krasner ~ another woman!  And one with another deeply flawed husband.  No matter the cultural circumstances of their lives it is so wonderful to find work by women in a museum; housed and dry and safe and preserved and remembered. 

Ignited with a possibility of more I trekked to the first floor hoping there would be more works by women in MoMA. I charged the main information desk on the first floor and who do I find but the very man who sent me back out to the rain.  "Here I am ~ your favorite visitor," I laughed.  "How can I help you?" he asked coldly.  I explained that I would like to know how many female artists' work are in MoMA.  He actually ran a query and gave me exact numbers!  423 works in all and 26 are by women.  SIX PERCENT.   I have the printout. 

He was not at all surprised, not apologetic, not interested - only the facts ma'am.  And while Congress has 16% women and the Supreme Court has one out of nine and MoMA has 6% ~ I grieve.  I grieve for all the women who could not afford oil and canvas.  I grieve for all the women whose passion called them to paint with what they could get; natural vegetable dye on perishable surfaces.  I grieve for all the women who wanted to paint but had no time.  I grieve for all the female leaders whose ethics disqualify them from national American politics and cannot amass the money required to run a campaign.  I grieve for all the women who long for justice.   

Paths are Single Lane; Diamond or Otherwise

Every year, on July 6, I post a birthday hello to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  I love him and hold him lightly, as one day he will be gone and I won't be able to post a birthday greeting with the same feeling as I do now. 

Usually I am writing about women, the arts, feminism, politics but, to my surprise, a couple times a year I have to acknowledge my love for some influential, special men.  Dec 25 & October 2 are  such days too.  So what's the dif when the ratio is 3/365. 

I do feel a sense of judgment about my attachment to these men and, if you hear me speak, I do go on and on about the women in their lives.  Magdalene is the main figure in my hagiography.  I can also report in on Kasturbai Gandhi, Lydia Emerson, Betty Shabazz, etc.   Besides, I may incarnate as a man next time and I need the research on some male role models.    

Besides my apology for lapsing on my gender bigotry, there is a real difference in holding these men in esteem and relying on them to actually do something besides inspire.  I hold no intention, expectation or, even hope, that loving them lifts me out of my path.  To me paths are single lane; diamond or otherwise.

One real deal-maker with His Holiness happened a  few years back.  I sat in a room with 600 Americans awaiting his entrance.  I was personally excited and feeling downright giddy with the group energy.  He came in, took the microphone and laughed.  “You all want me to be your Teacher and tell you what to do.  I will not.”  He continued telling us that he would be our Spiritual Friend (a true term in Tibetan lexicon).  Now, I will give you my teaching; “ Warm Heart, Open Mind, Small Steps.”  That is so rich, radiant ~ seriously, joyfully ~ isn’t that just the best? 

Happy Birthday, My Spiritual Friend.

June 30 ~ An Artificial Deadline

Congress decided that June 30, 1982 was the last day to consider if gender equality could be in the US Constitution.  I guess it is like your mom saying if you don’t clean your room by noon, you can’t go to the movies.  If 38 states don’t want both men and women explicitly included in the Constitution by June 30, 1982 then, tough shit.  “The Equal Rights Amendment had a deadline and an extension, Ladies.  We have tried our best to include you but time is up.”

The Madison Amendment, which states that congressional salary changes must take place at the beginning of a term (the coveted 27th amendment), took 203 years to pass.  They seemed to be a bit more lenient with that one.  However, the amendment, which guarantees equality of rights under the law would not be declined on account of sex, got seven years + an extension of 3 years, 3 months.  So lets do the math: congressional salary legislation can take 20 times longer to pass than the ERA is allowed and, apparently, no one will mind.

Math is really not my specialty (don’t tell my boss, as I do the bookkeeping) but, in any event, 35 ratified states, the overwhelming majority of Americans, are now being denied their rights because of a few legislators who want their insurance lobby perks.  We plot and plan every two years with hopes, signs, and signatures that Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, etc. are going to pull a rabbit out of a hat and deliver equality.  And it is one guy, one vote that stops the whole damn from bursting open that would allow the US Constitution to include everyone. 

Why is one guy in State X (write in any of the 15) telling millions of American men and women anything?  Why are we spending millions on the military, killing people in the Middle East so they include women in their constitution?  Why is this whole issue just a snooze?  

Well, WAKE UP AMERICA.  Today is the anniversary of the day you blew it  ~ June 30.   You didn’t clean your room on time; so no equal rights for you.

Congratulations NOW ~ you made the right choice!

It may have been close in numbers but it was not close in any other way.  The two slates that were running for national NOW office were as different as possible within a non-profit, social justice, organization. 

All day long I was writing a little speech, imagining it written on a 3X5 card, standing at a mic ~

This year, the decision could not be clearer.  If you believe that NOW should be an advocacy organization for the Democratic Party, a lobbying body for pro-woman legislation, working in courtrooms and Congress then vote for the incumbent's slate.  (While Kim Gandy may not be running, she is the obvious architect of the Lyles slate).  If you believe that NOW should be a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing, protecting and educating women and girls in their neighborhood, in their community, in their schools then vote for the O'Neil Matson Slate. 

Frankly I was afraid to hope, as the fans of the legislative approach have made significant headway.  They have a penchant for Roberts Rules of Order, bylaws, grievances, closed circles and preferring their primary skill set; litigation and lobbying.  It could be argued that laws are needed to protect women and girls; but it leaves a gaping void in the development and education of FEMINISTS. 

The founders of NOW knew that it all started with an individual and their understanding of human potential.  The entire Second Wave was built through Consciousness Raising, establishing Women's Studies classes and, organically, demanding reproductive autonomy.  Sure Roe V.Wade was a court case, but the hearts and minds of the people had to understand that biology is not destiny for it to get any traction.  We had to know it was the right thing to do.

Classes, actions, meetings, sisterhood - that is what creates feminism.  To those who want to make it all happen in the courts, there are organizations that do just that and I hope you join them, work for them and are fabulously successful.  But NOW was not a private club just for lawyers and lobbyists, it is for girls and boys, women and men who want equality. 

I am hopeful again.  I am thinking that NOW can be MY organization again. 

Proud to Endorse O'Neil/Matson

Principles of NOW Brought to Light

Sent to
Lindsey Horvath
Melinda Tremaglio
Yvonne Golub
Shelly Mandell
And the NOW Grievance Committee

I hope this is the last time that I email to this particular grouping of women as we came together over a most unfortunate circumstance.  The NOW Grievance process may look egalitarian on paper, but in practice is has nothing to do with feminism or matriarchy. 

Frankly, so many extenuating circumstances whirled around this event that it was best to simply draw it down, dim the light and shut the door.  I believe it is really not the responsibility of neighboring chapters to defend the 6 priorities of NOW; it should have come from the National office.  For me, the right thing to do was for the NOW PAC to have made a strong statement last October regarding mixed messages about any high visibility member/leader being seen on a stage with Gov Palin.  In the absence of that intelligence, four very smart women felt compelled to do it for themselves.

It should have remained between them and Ms. Mandell and a non-biased trio of feminists, whose job is supposed to be holding a safe space for a working resolution to organically rise.  As the weeks poured forth, it became murky, crowded and loaded with people pushing in where they do not belong.  Each of us heard terrible gossip that so-in-so was driving this and we were puppets.  Let me be very clear, anyone one who thinks we were puppets, certainly does not know us at all.  At all.

So today I hear that the National Board is all up in arms about a press conference we held today.  Let the hens cluck, they are the ones who formed the PAC, endorsed Barack Obama, would not take a stand on Governor Palin and tried endlessly to insert themselves in the grievance and interfere in the mediation process. 

This press conference did what no one else would do; take a definitive stand on the six principles of NOW
1. stopping violence against women
2. promoting diversity & ending racism 
3. advancing reproductive freedom
4. winning lesbian rights 
5. achieving constitutional equality
6. ensuring economic justice

Back off you meddlers, be silent you gossipers, take note you grievers, be humbled you revenge seekers.  Today 5 women, who really have only one thing in common, came together to speak of their love for NOW. 
Show some respect.

Eulogy for Dr. George Tiller

DELIVERED AT CONGREGATION KOL AMI, WEST HOLLYWOOD, JUNE 3, 2009

Thank you for this opportunity to speak in this meeting of the spirit.  Most often we are speaking at political events, when we make a point to not mention the spirit and soul.  Now, here at this beautiful Synagogue, Congregation Kol Ami, we can talk of the spirit. 

First I want to tell you that when I was forty-four and my reading eyes weren't what they used to be, I missed the tiny stamped expiration date on a birth control product that had been in my drawer for over ten years and, to my surprise, I found myself pregnant.  I went to a clinic in New York and, as required by law, was counseled by a health care worker who happened to be half my age.  I had to tell her that I had used my birth control but did not know that it could expire. 

The next day I came back to be assisted by women, at the door, at the desk, in the OR.  When the procedure was over I put out my hand and said thank you.  The doctor, a bit bemused, removed his glove and shook my hand.  I explained that I had been a free clinic director and I know the danger they live in every day.  I wanted to thank him for his service to women. 
 
I am telling you this to encourage you that if you have had an abortion; please talk about it, give others the opportunity to ask you about it.  Take the opportunity to tell them that it has not destroyed your life.  The decision was neither tragic or trivial.  Peel off the stigma and shame.  Openly discuss that all facets of reproductive health are part of every woman’s life. 

Second I want to tell you in this ecumenical gathering, I am a Buddhist and I do not believe in heaven or hell.  (That’s a relief!)  That doesn't make abortion easier ~ just different.  I believe that an independent soul enters a human body with breathe, as most scriptures describe.

Also I believe in reincarnation. I believe that people are born to the next life based on what they designed through their previous life and the circumstances of their death.  (It is not lost on me that another great soul died in prayer, by a point blank shooting, M.K.Gandhi.) 

I believe that George Tiller’s soul is in that place between the worlds planning the next life.  This is one daydream I hold about Dr Tiller’s soul ~ Sometime in the future a little girl will be born.  She will be healthy and smart.  In  her world, women will have irrevocable domain over their bodies, birth control will be free and reliable, women who become pregnant will be able to make private informed choices with safe, loving care by well-paid professionals.

As a life-long activist, the question always arises, “what is our action item?”  Today’s action item is to create such a world so this American Mahatma, this Great Soul, deserves to come back to. 

Out Love, not Out Rage

I saw Outrage on Friday.  Besides being supportive, I was curious.  I am always looking for agreement, camaraderie, unity.  I found the movie’s premise lost under the weight of the title.  Even watching the movie makers on the View that morning, it wasn’t readily obvious that author and blogger, Michael  Rogers was objecting to closeted people voting against their very people they have relationships with.  Closeted gay men in politics are voting against HIV/AIDS funding, against gay marriage, against making crimes against LGBT people a hate crime.  It is the chasm between their sexual orientation and their visible, measurable, callous voting record.  Frankly, for me, it begs the question, would they be less stalwart if they were straight.
 
The characters in the movie, opening with Larry Craig, were all recognizable.  Those of us who read gay news are aware of these men and their voting records.  I have to admit, I have zero idea what this looks like to straight people.  Heck, I got emails this week asking me if Adam Lambert is gay – straights see things very differently than I do.  Governor McGreevey was bright, radiant – no really – like someone who just discovered deep spiritual relief.  Governor Crist was slimy and resistant; what is the opposite of present? 

A paragraph  on women ~ Elizabeth Birch of the Human Right Campaign was terrific, moving and honest.  Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin was open and relaxed.  Oh but the wives, the terrified wives, standing next to the pathetic closeted husbands at counterfeit press conferences; Mrs. Craig, Mrs. McGreevey, Mrs. Crist.  Actually there are thousands of straight spouses who are trapped infraudulent lives,  holding their families together.  How the gay spouse can do this is really beyond me.  I kissed a girl, I liked it and I came out; all within about 5 seconds.   And it is no secret that there are many, many lesbians and bi women in politics ( no I have not slept with all of them) but I can tell you that I have never seen them vote against LGBT rights or human rights for that matter.
 
But what really bothered me, deeply bothered me, was one clip of Larry Kramer, beloved founder of Act-Up.  Certainly this brave hero of the LGBT movement said dozens of quote-ables during the taping but what they chose to show was Mr. Kramer saying that activism comes from rage, from anger.  For me it was like hearing nails on a chalkboard.  I have spent over 40 years working to deepen my understanding and practice that successful, lasting activism comes from love.  You cannot convert the opponent by burning his car, breaking her windows, clubbing their kids.  Fear will never create conversion.  (aren’t we having a national conversation about torture on this right now?)

However, more importantly, the oppressed will become poisoned by the violence.  The minority has to find love in their heart and become irresistible.  That is the only way to create a healthy movement, a true lasting conversion and extinguish fear.  I was fortunate to spend some time with Jeremy Gilley, the British filmmaker who is creating International Peace Day, through his film-making of Peace One Day and The Day After Peace.  I told him that I am not as worried about those who die by gunshot as I am about those who pull the trigger as they live on with their hearts broken.  Violence is intoxicating, contagious and another disease – like homophobia.
  
Tuesday, May 26 is California’s Day Of Decision.  On Facebook, the White Night Riots video has been viraling around.  I want to tell people that clearly those 1979 riots did not work or we would not be rising up for our rights in 2009.  Releasing of violence may be billed as good for you but it isn’t.  It is not some limited energy that must be spent.  It is a viral, burgeoning disease that only attracts itself.   If you are angry, you deserve to be loved.  If you are homophobic, you need to love and be loved.  No matter what happens on Tuesday, extinguishing  anger with love is the only way that will last.  

American Idol From My POV

Last night’s American Idol was an extraordinary show.  I sat on the couch with the poodle, skipping through the commercials having a great time.  The last few minutes sucked, as we all know Adam Lambert is the more talented, long term idol but that’s what happens when voters are little Christian girls who dream of Kris Allen being their friend, singing to them on their thirteenth birthday.  Hell, all us older girls (over 17)  and gay/bi guys, who want Adam to sing to us on any birthday, just didn’t vote – “vote, we don’t need no stinkin’ votes!”

The insight that bowled me over and is still powering through my day, began with Cyndi Lauper and Allison Iraheta.  Sitting knee-to-knee, singing Time After Time, led me to feel thrilled for Allison, thrilled out of her mind.  It just seemed glorious, unimaginably glorious to be next to her idol; almost appearing to be peers; knowing their are not in one way and clearly equal in another.  Of course they are links in a chain of artistry and we had a front row seat.  The TV show included, among others,  Lionel Richie with Danny Gokie, Queen Latifah with Lil Rounds and Adam Lambert with KISS.  These pairs are runners in the relay of music. 

I wondered who I would like to meet.  Who have I met that handed me a baton?  Names poured though my mind; Mary Daly, Sally Miller Gearhart, Kate Millet, Barbara Love, Gloria Steinem, Grace Welch, Riane Eisler, Flo Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Lowery, Jacqui Ceballos, Margie Adam  and so many more.  The reason I could feel so much for these contestants was because I have sat knee-to-knee with my inspiration. 

What am I doing to hand off this baton before my time is over?  There is lots of conversation within the American Women’s Movement about “intergenerational feminism.”  American Idol made me really question the uproar.  I doubt if Allison felt that Cyndi was too old to be playing with her, even though Cyndi was playing an old fashioned Appalacian dulcimer.  Carlos Santana, Queen, Rod Stewart were sure not presented as old and out of date. 

In the world of feminism, I think the problem is identifying the baton.  My experience is that older women think the baton is the message imbedded in their tried and true methods and, for the most part, the methods are entirely out of date.  For younger women, the message and the methods are not what they need or can use. 

The real baton is courage, insight and passion.  Older to younger, experienced to newbie, seer to seeker, this entire conversation will change both in content and context when the baton is properly identified as energy ignited with wisdom ~ not message or methods.  They are specific to each activist, each generation and not required for the movement to continue.  Insisting that the methods and message are the baton is short-sighted and counter-productive.  As Kara Dioguardi said it all season, true artistry is taking a classic and making it your own. 

Find Some Balance ~ Roe v Wade is Going to Explode

If you watched Meet the Press today, ( no I did not get up at that hour, I TIVO’ed it) you heard that a new Gallup poll said that, for the first time, the majority of US adults identify as pro-life.  In fact it is now 52%.  It is not lost on me that the President did not keep his campaign promise to pass the Freedom of Choice Act.  Some may recall that NARAL endorsed Obama/Biden.  I can’t help but wonder what they are thinking today.

I have to admit that I am really enjoying participating in the Marriage Equality movement.  I am not used to working on a movement that is on a roll, that is national, that has reached its tipping point.  It is thrilling; exhilarating.  It is finding leaders and heroes.  Have you heard of Lt. Dan Choi and his organization, Knights Outs?  Join with them, donate to them and demand that Obama repeal DADT.   Obama did write a note to 2nd Lt. Sandy Tsao; Thanks for your wonderful and thoughtful letter. It is because of outstanding Americans like you that I committed to changing our current policy. Although it will take some time to complete ( partly because it needs Congressional action ) I intend to fulfill my commitment!    Get on board with this movement and push this wave.  It is uplifting to feel momentum! 

You need to establish some balance because the whole country is about to split and spit and kick and yell as the Supreme Court appointment is announced and debated.  The wild protesters outside of Notre Dame today are just a small sample of the wicked ugly zeal the anti-choice people thrive on.  I have stood many, many times, toe-to-toe with anti-choice people and they simply confound me.  I cannot imagine standing on a corner holding a photo of a saline burned fetus ~ what would that feel like?  Frankly if I was anti-choice, I would want posters that were easy to look at, radiant with prana, ~~ but oh, wait that vibration is pro-choice, pro-liberation, pro- freedom.

While circling the Circle of Orange at the 2008 Roe v. Wade Demonstration I had the most interesting experience.   Usually I march in silence and occasionally I feel inspired to stop and say a decade of the rosary with a Catholic family.  Obviously it is fun to demonstrate that love of the rosary is not the private property of the anti-choice people.  As I was standing still, a woman walked up to me and asked if my name is Zoe.  “Yes, it is.” I replied.  She went on to explain that she had been in my NOW chapter in the 70’s.   I asked her how she came to change her mind about abortion and she told me that it happened from watching a show on the Discovery Channel about fetal development.  Seeing the formation of a hand, a heart, was what it took for her to become an advocate for the anti-choice movement.  The entire time we talked, we held hands.  Her teenage children were horrified that their mother was friendly with a pro-choice (baby-killer)  person.

I love that moment.  I am proud of that moment.  She recognized me and felt she could speak with me.  I must have been open that night; open to any and all.  I am very much aware that I am often not open but this moment made it clear that I am capable of it; so much so it is perceivable by an opponent.  What is on the horizon scares me a bit, concerns me a bit,  the country is going to argue and claim ownership of god and goodness and trust and liberty.  I need to be balanced, stand silently in the face of violence and hold my heart open. 

"Health Insurers Agree to End Higher Premiums for Women"

I never intended to be a one note person and, chances are you know I am not, but this ERA thing keeps pouring through me.  I am absolutely certain that the explicit inclusion of all genders in the US Constitution will change the fundamental vibration of my country and, thus, the world.  It is easy to understand when I consider how it feels now without the ERA.  We kill people, thousands of people, to force countries to include all genders but here, it seems to be VERY important to NOT include everyone, as it has not passed in 86 years. 

It upsets me that I get pigeon-holed both by issue and age on this.  It is easy to perceive.  Dismissive people may think it is masked; be assured it is not.  What is the thinking on this?  That it is trivial?  Tired of listening?  Oh, pro-ERA people are dam tired of it and proof of its importance is easier to demonstrate everyday. 

New York Times, May 6, 2009, “WASHINGTON — Insurance companies offered Tuesday to end the practice of charging higher premiums to women than to men for the same coverage."  Maybe this admission by Karen M. Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, a trade group, before the Senate Finance Committee did not register on your rector scale but it should.  Feminists have been writing, speaking, protesting about this for many, many years and, more importantly, the gender disparity held by health insurance companies has been identified as the primary obstacle to the ERA. 

Ellie Smeal explained that the ERA wasn’t lost in the public square, but behind closed doors ~ Insurance companies, banks, and other corporate interests thought the amendment would be bad for business.  Insurance companies would no long be able to charge women higher health insurance premiums, deny pregnancy coverage, or pay less on women’s annuity plans because of a longer lifespan.  Banks would have to give credit to women on an equal basis. 

Charging women more for insurance, covering Viagra and not birth control pills; simply put ~ fining women for their biology is BIG BUSINESS.  And big business means very big campaign donations.   I know there are campaigns for the Equal Rights Amendment going on in non-ratified states.  I know people are spending hours and dollars working on legislators to pass the amendment in three more states. 

But this news, that the insurance companies may charge people equally, may just be the lifting of the biggest obstacle to realizing my dream of the ERA. 

Working on my Racism

As you can see in the blog below, the National Women's Law Center posted a correction in the comments.  I just cannot stop thinking about it.  Like hundreds of others, I signed up to blog on Fair Pay Day about the significance of the day.  God knows we need information about the wage gap and, surprisingly, that the day is not a celebration as so many seem to think.  It is not a holiday; it is a significator of hard work reaping different values based on sex.  It is based on the number 77.8 %.  The short hand of it is that a man and woman who start working fulltime on January 1, 2008, it will take the woman working to April 28, 2009 to make the money a man made by December 31, 2008.

I can remember carrying signs that said 59 and 63 cents so, now, to see this increase to 77.8 is slow but growing increase.  This has been a real pillar of my talks.  I tell college students that they borrow at the same rate but have to pay back with this disparity.  And a two adult household of gay men makes 200% but two lesbians make 156%.  And that a husband and wife working make 178%, etc.  Then I would look around the room and, with shame and alarm, I would say that Black and Latina women make even less with their gender compounded with their race.  I thought I was taking responsibility for the racial inequity.  But hidden in the top amount of 77.8 is a racism that I cannot stop thinking about. 

As I was told yesterday, 77.8 is not what I can make as a white woman.  White women make 81%.  After all of the years carrying a sign with this all important number I find out that this is the AVERAGE of what women make which, obviously, means that the disparity between the races is not only worse and wider but HIDDEN in this averaging.  I am just furious about this.  I am just in tears about this - I have participated in this amalgam of obfuscation, not that I think it is intentional but its not clear, not honest and carries a callousness that we, as caring people, have to examine.

As an activist, I often throw around the room the proper axiom that we are only as advanced as our least; how we care for the least is how we care for all; we can be known by how we treat the least among us.  There are so many ways to say it that it is attributed to King, Gandhi, Jesus, etc.  But how can we ever make this determination if it is all rolled into one?  Wouldn't the right thing be to go with the least?  Isn't the real wage gap the White men and Latina women = 41 cents?  The signs should read 59 cents.

Over the last year I have been giving some of my time to the Marriage Equality Movement, not without some internal conflict.  Let's face it the best thing to do would be to delete marriage from governmental lexicon entirely but, in any event, it is about equality and I deeply believe in that.  However I am concerned that the masses of men and women, upon winning the right to marry and have unencumbered access to over a thousand rights, will consider the job done and stop participating in the work for equality.  The men will go home the victors and the women will still be earning less, under represented, missing from the Constitution and this evasive, all important, equality will still be be needing advocates. 

One man who knew this was Harvey Milk.  He insisted on including women in politics and society.  (memo to Lance Black - what were you thinking??)  Just as Gloria Steinem will speak on a panel only if Women of Color are seated also.  Over 40 years of carrying signs about the wage gap and today, TODAY, I crack open in seeing that even my sign was racist.  I am not guilty.  I am not wrong.  I am evolving.

April 28 ~ Fair Pay Day

Impressive signings in these two pictures (love the 1963 pocketbooks) but are you really content with the gain of 19 cents on the dollar in 46 years?   

January 29, 2009 President Barack Obama signs the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and WHITE WOMEN MAKE 77.8 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR, Black women – 68.7 cents, Latinas 59 cents*.

 
June 10, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, Women make 59 cents on the dollar (I do not have the racial breakdown but you can guess). 

This marks a day that needs to disappear from our calendars entirely.  April 28th is Equal Pay Day as it marks how long into 2009 White American women have to work to earn equally what White American men earned in 2008.  You can calculate your wage gap with this calculator and be sure to notice the drop down list box asking about race. 

It is an outrage that it is less for women, lesser yet for WOC and that feminists would even allow ourselves to be divided by race.  Maybe we should begin our activism by insisting on ONE FAIR PAY DAY – which should be the day it takes for Latinas to earn equally …

None the less, lets look carefully at the additional missing element is the FAIR PAYCHECK Act.  It is the needed counter part to the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and it has not been passed.  It passed the House of Representatives in January 2009 and has not been heard in the Senate.

We need the Fair Paycheck Act to:

• Prevent Retaliation; prohibit employers from punishing employees for sharing salary information with their coworkers. This will allow women to more easily and quickly identity learns if they are being paid fairly.
• Close Loopholes; require the employer to prove that the difference in pay is truly caused by something other than sex, like job performance.
• Establish Punitive Damages; enable plaintiffs who prove sex discrimination to receive punitive and compensatory damages, just as they can for discrimination based on race or ethnicity.
• EEOC; require the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission surveys pay data and set additional regulations.
• Reinstate Collecting Gender-Based Data; The last administration stopped the collection of gender-based data.  We must collect, calculate and make available wage analyses, with out it every woman is on her own with no way to prevent and systematically deal with wage disparity.

So it is no day to celebrate – it is a day to write to your senator.  Here is a very easy form to get this done and get back to making your (average of 78, 69, 59) 68.6 cents.

* Got an interesting note fro NWLC this AM stating that White women make 81 cents on the dollar and that 77.8 cents is the average for US women.  hmmmmmmmmm    white 81, black 69, Latina 59.  That is a 22 cent disparity in women in regards to race.  That is really disturbing.  Maybe we should be all mapping to the lowest - not the hi average of 77.8. 

Adult Content I Cannot Handle

Just two weeks ago I went to see the musical Avenue Q.  When I ordered my single ticket, the seller asked if I knew there would be adult content.  I told her I knew all the words to the score and I could deal with puppets fucking.  AND, you know I can!  And I can handle the content of the musical, Rent.  Actually, we all deal with the content everyday: young people, HIV/AIDS, LGBT people and money. 

Here is what I CANNOT deal with ~ http://godhatesfags.com  Seriously.  And this is all done under the disguise of a church.  (are they Tax Exempt??)  Westboro Baptist Church organizes protests all over the US; schools, meetings, legislatures and, worst of all, funerals.  They are coming all the way from Kansas to protest a Soutnern California high school production of RENT at Corona Del Mar High School.  Don't be fooled by it being in Soutnern California ~ that does not mean that there is an enlightened point of view on gay teens.  Gay kids are harassed at CDR High - this is Orange County!    

HERE IS POST BY WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH for Friday April 24 2:15 - 3:15 
CORONA DEL MAR HIGH SCHOOL
Corona del Mar High School - Jews Killed Jesus, love fags! 2101 Eastbluff Drive WBC to picket this High School, and the goofy Jewish bastards who pretend they have a cause against the Lord and against His anointed. Check out this good verse: Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Is this what you blind Christ-rejecting Jews are protesting on behalf of? Latest news from Orange County reads: "A former Corona del Mar High School teacher has been charged with molesting two young girls and keeping hundreds of images of child pornography at his home, prosecutors said today." Stop lying to these children, putting them into the hands of child molesters, repent while you can! "Rent" is but the catalyst for this epic event. AMEN!

There is a lot of information about this on Facebook but I want to post about this so that my very diverse blog readers know about it.  And if you are in the area, you may want to come to CDR high school and make it clear that 1)god doesn't hate anyone and 2)we ain't buying what they're selling.

Well, You Asked What I Think About the ERA Movement.

I got an email today from a friend who lives in an eastern state.  She had read Frank Riches' op-ed piece, The Bigots' Last Hurrah and asked what the ERA Movement could learn from the Marriage Equality burgeoning success.  Here is my answer ~

I am spending most of my activist time these days on marriage equality – as it has reached the tipping point and cannot be stopped – the lever has been sprung in all of the Western world.  Backlash is ugly but they are desperate.

You may find it interesting that on April 4 I gave an ERA presentation at an Equality organization to celebrate ( a bit late) women’s history month.  I expanded my talk to include the movie, Milk and its drastic exclusion of Milk’s work with women which, in fact, was extensive.  Several men walked out – they were perturbed that the monthly meeting was being wasted on a “women’s issue.”  Of course they were the minority but LGBTQQAI are on the march, on the run, seeing their life-long issue reaching the fulcrum.  I don’t think they were anti-me or anything but, rather, anti-letting the traction slip.  (No, I am not naïve on this – I know men rarely take on issues perceived and labeled as women’s issues.)

I am 60 years old and with a MA in religion, went to professional computer school in 1985.  I mention that to illustrate that I have a foot in each of the waves.  My white hair gives away that I worked in the Second Wave (1963-1875) and my knowledge of electronic social networking, viral marketing and the E-Highway lets me travel freely in the Third Wave. 

Yes, the gay movement has busted through the backlash majority.  I caution you to know that many high school kids are still being harassed and commit suicide.  But all the Mormons cannot get the anti-gay movement back on track.  Four states, many countries, and, what cannot be denied, the next generation thinks the whole issue is ridiculous.  Teenagers tell their parents that once they die – it will all be moot.

So look closely at that perfect collection of facts and see exactly what the ERA movement does not have.
1) National attention.
2) The pro-states coalescing and casting a shadow on their lagging neighbors.
3) The new generation thinks it is simple justice.
4) Total use of the E-Highway (texting, facebook, youtube, twitter, ning, etc.)  as utilized by Obama’s campaign.
5) Undeniable visibility.

I am happy for the African American community and the great advances that an African American President means.  I am happy for the Queer community as they deserve full Marriage Equality.  These two real successes show us that the majority can come together, become involved and advance social justice.  They did not do it legislator by legislator.  They did it by making the cause attractive, available and obvious to the common, simple hard-working American.

The benefits of the ERA are obvious but not part of the national conversation.  I do not understand why 35 states and the clear majority of Americans should not be rallied but, rather, leave it to the 15 non-ratified states to be lobbied, yet again.  To me, it would be like the Queer movement trying to get Utah on board – what an ineffective and exhausting  effort.

I hear that the ERA is not sexy, it not exciting.  That is so not true.  NOT TRUE.  Just tell college women that they have to pay off their loans, credit debt and mortgages while making 78 cents on the dollar.  Tell them that insurance pays for viagra and not for the pill.  Just tell them that they are still considered 3/4s of a citizen.  Actually all you have to do is tell them it did not pass.