Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and TransgenderedHealth Science Librarians
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgendered
Editor: Tom Flemming
McMaster University Health Sciences Library
CONTENTS
Business
1. Bill Begins - a note from our male co-chair
2. Peter Counts the Money - from the Treasurer
3. Jean & Denis Plan - for the '96 Program
4. Jerry & Bill Report - on the debut of The Poster
Personals
5. Sally Seeks Collaborators - for a worthy project
6. Martha Sends News - from Boston
Bibliographic Bits
7. Karen's Column - citations from the literature
8. Collective Bibliography - on being out at work
The Lighter End
9. Bill F. Does Labor Day Weekend - Chicago's Miss Continental Pageant
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1. BILL BEGINS - a word from our male co-chair
Leaves are turning, wind is churning up trash twisters on the sidewalks and streets of my town. Fall is in full swing, complete with nearly a weeklong dose of Indian Summer.
I am concerned about the direction of our Special Interest Group. More than three weeks ago Sally Harvey (our female co-chair) and I posted a message to the listserv to provide a report/update regarding the "State of the SIG." In order to refresh folks' memory of the various initiatives, we outlined projects underway, in addition to others which had been introduced either on the listserv or at the Annual Business meeting in Washington, D.C. this past May.
In the interim, Sally has had zero response and I had three, two of which were from my colleagues here at Rush. I am grateful to those who volunteered, no matter what their motivation for doing so. But I am discouraged by what appears to be a group bereft of enthusiasm to continue the work of our SIG.
At this point, I want to say that it's really up to the members of the LGBHSL to decide our direction, and thus, our future. I assume we're all busy with our primary professional work obligations; this is the nature of health care organizations (including libraries) on this continent. But in order to know where to concert our efforts, we need to hear from you, the members.
Was the program presented at the 1995 annual meeting a fluke? Has the energy of our recent-past leaders not provided a spark to continue in a similar fashion? Do the reasons we came together firstly, no longer compel us to seek association with each other in a professional, social or other contexts? Has the current leadership acted in a manner which has disenfranchised members of the SIG? Where should be proceed from here? Shall we exist primarily for social support during annual meetings? Is programming at the annual meeting no longer an appealing project to undertake, to provide visibility and validation within our professional organization?
These are some of the questions I've been asking myself over the past couple of weeks. So I thought I should speak my mind and offer the membership another opportunity to provide feedback or input.
Thanks for reading.
Bill Karnoscak, Manager
(312) 942-6832 (voice)
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2. PETER COUNTS THE MONEY - from the Treasurer
Peter Jones, our Treasurer, reported on the 13th of
October a balance of $404.00 in the account he manages on
our behalf. There has been no activity in the account
since the annual meeting in Washington in May. Peter
reports that he will soon be changing the account to a
savings account in order to avoid the minimum charges
levied against checking accounts; these minimum charges did
not exist when he initially opened the account for us. Two
signatures will still be required to gain access to funds
in the account.
Contact Peter at the following e-address if you have
questions: JONES@ALDUS.NORTHNET.ORG
***********************************************************
3. JEAN & DENIS PLAN - for the '96 Program
Jean Sullivant and Denis Gaffney report that work on the
SIG program for the Kansas City meeting in June 1996 is
just beginning. The title: "Out at Work" is now officia
and two time slots are being considered for the program:
Monday, 3 June 1996 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. is the
first choice; the second is Tuesday, 4 June 1996, from 4:30
p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Jean and Denis are somewhat dismayed to find that they
constitute the whole planning group and would like to
solicit volunteers from the membership. Ideas for
speakers, especially for anyone in the vicinity of Kansas
City, would be welcome. Your help is needed!
Contact Jean at: JSSMS@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU; contact Denis at:
GAFFNEY@MEDLIB.HSCBKLYN.EDU.
***********************************************************
4. JERRY & BILL REPORT - on the debut of The Poster
Think Gilligan's Island: "Just sit right back and you'll
read a tale ..."
After what turned out to be a pleasant three-hour drive from
Chicago, we (Jerry and Bill) arrived in Fort Wayne, IN, SIG poster
in tow, to present at the poster session of the annual meeting of
the Midwest Chapter of MLA, (MC/MLA).
Held at the Grand Wayne Hilton, the conference was already
in day two, and the poster session was to run from 3:00 p.m to
4:00 p.m. We arrived in plenty of time to set up. [Trivia
point for this issue of the SIG Newsletter: Fort Wayne,
IN (and possibly the entire state?) does not change its
clocks during the annual "spring ahead/fall back" weekends.
So we ended up arriving an hour earlier than we anticipated.
Perhaps if we were going to any other city this might have proved
to be a boon, but in this case, NOT!]
The SIG Poster was one of six presented, up in number from
last year's MC/MLA which only had four.
Ours was, if we don't say so ourselves, the most
professional-appearing display of the lot (granted there
wasn't much competition). The poster session was held in
the same room as the exhibits, which provided high visibility; and
you could see the bright purple and pink borders from across the
room. Our Position Statement was also available on fluorescent
pink paper (we're so color-coordinated)!
Most of the posters were ready for show prior to the 3:00
p.m. kick-off, and a few conferees came over in advance.
A few -- but not all -- of these folks were personal friends
from prior annual meetings. The total conference
attendance was somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 folks,
and about 20-25 of them actually came by to look at the
posters. Of those, perhaps 10 or so had conversations with
us related to the SIG.
In all, it was a good experience. The comments were
generally positive, some were even supportive. One woman
said she'd noted in the program that our poster was going
to be presented at the meeting, and her feeling was it was
"gutsy" to be out there with it. Another person who'd been
vocally homophobic during one of the conference's CE
courses (claiming that Dr. Susan Love's _Breast Book_
shouldn't be recommended for patient/consumer health
collections because the author "is a Lesbian and Lesbians
`obsess' about breasts") steered clear of our poster
entirely. Perhaps it was just as well, although it's this
kind of direct action which is the key for education.
Now that the debut is over, we'd like to know if there is anyone
who wants to make arrangements to display it at their regional
meeting? Please let us know in time so that we can make the
necessary shipping arrangements. In addition, a volunteer
has stepped forward to submit the SIG poster for the MLA
annual meeting. Of course, the competition will be much
higher at the national meeting than is probably the case in
the chapters. We'll keep you posted as we hear of progress
on these fronts.
Bill Karnoscak -- btk@lib.rpslmc.edu
***********************************************************
5. SALLY SEEKS COLLABORATORS - for a worthy project
I would like to begin research on an article to be published beyond
this newsletter, possibly in _MLA News_ or in one of the Chapter
newsletters. During conversations with several of our members, we
envisioned building on the ideas in our position statement by
exploring efforts against and incidents of censorship of health
information. The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the
relevance of this issue to our profession and to increase our
colleagues' understanding of the impetus behind the formation of
our SIG. The article would include not only censorship in
libraries, but broad efforts against censorship in education and
legislation. I would like to explore censorship issues regarding
both information ABOUT lesbians, gays and bisexuals, and issues in
providing information TO this population.
If anyone is interested in collaborating with me on this project,
please email Sally Harvey at: harvey@medcat.library.swmed.edu or
call (214) 648-2112.
Sally Harvey
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6. MARTHA SENDS NEWS - from Boston
Correspondance with Martha Stone of the Treadwell Library at the
Massachusetts General Hospital yields the following tidbits:
"I have written a 9 page bibliography for the American
Library Association's GLBTF, called "Selective
Bibliography for Lesbian Readers". It's available for
$3.00 from the following address: GLBTF Clearinghouse,
ALA Office for Library Outreach Services, 50 E. Huron
St., Chicago, IL 60611. (Checks payable to GLBTF)
I have been named an Associate Editor at the Harvard Gay
& Lesbian Review; had previously been a Contributing
Editor.
I have been certified at the Member level in AHIP."
Congratulations, Martha! Contact Martha Stone at:
STONE@MEDEX.MGH.HARVARD.EDU
If any other readers have news to
offer us for the next issue -- scheduled for the early spring -- be
sure to send it along to the editor (contact information at the end
of the newsletter) as soon as you think of it.
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7. KAREN'S COLUMN - citations from the literature
Some recent articles you might want to look at, selected by our
favorite straight-but-not-narrow bibliographer: Karen Zundel, at
the Health Sciences Library of the McKeesport Hospital, in
McKeesport, PA:
Contact Karen Zundel at: MCKMEDLIB@SHRSYS.HSLC.ORG.
*****************************************************************
8. COLLECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY - on being out at work
Tamara Turner started something when she sent me an annotated
citation to a book she was reading. The book was about being gay
at work, and it occurred to me that if we could get group members
to submit citations to material they are reading on this topic, we
might help to prepare all those who don't know what to read to prepare
for the program Jean and Denis are putting together for the MLA annual
meeting in Kansas City in June 1996.
Others thought that this sounded like a workable idea, and our
attention was directed to a bibliography that Jerry Perry published
in our newsletter on this issue in February 1994. There were
suggestions that our updated bibliography might be published in the
Relevant Issues Section newsletter, or in the _MLA News_. So, I
kind of thought that the citations would start pouring in ...
But they haven't exactly overwhelmed me, yet ... I have three and
will offer them here in the hope that they may stimulate others to
send me whatever you are hoarding on this topic. From Tamara Turner
(TTURNER@HALCYON.COM), in Seattle, WA, comes the following citation
(she reports that the annotation was written by the Lambda Rising
Bookstore in Washington, DC):
The next citation comes from Ronald Schultz
(SCHULTZ@MAILHOST.HOOKED.NET), at the California College of
Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco:
And finally, I bought last Christmas, and still plan to read (if I
can ever find the time ...) the following book; the "non-
annotation" is lifted directly from the book jacket itself:
So, if you know of other reading material that we ought to be
examining before the program in June, please send along the
annotated citation and we will publish them in future issues of
this newsletter.
TF
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9. BILL F. DOES LABOR DAY WEEKEND - Chicago's Miss Continental Pageant
So, what did you do on Labor Day weekend? Oh sure, there were the
obligatory barbecues. Maybe you slept in. Caught up on the
laundry and vacuuming, perhaps? Well, for Jerry Perry, Bill
Karnoscak, Tom Flemming, myself, and a score of friends and
acquaintances, this past Labor Day weekend will be hard to forget,
for we were fortunate enough to be in attendance at the Park West
in Chicago to witness Lady Catiria from New York capture the
coveted Miss Continental U.S.A. crown for 1995/96. This was my
eighth consecutive Miss Continental U.S.A. pageant. It was Bill
K.'s sixth, Jerry's fifth, and Tom's first.
For those who have no idea what Miss Continental U.S.A. is, it's a
national pageant for female illusionists. You can call them drag
queens if you like, but most are pre-operative transsexuals - the
only rule of entry is that contestants must have "traditional male
genitalia". From all parts of the country (Chicago, Atlanta, and
Florida usually have the most representation) 37 contestants came
together to compete in swimsuit, evening gown, talent, and
interview. It is very much like any pageant you see on
television.
On Sunday of the Labor Day weekend, the 37 contestants competed in
all events. The next night, the field was cut immediately to 12
contestants and the process started again. The field was then
narrowed from 12 to 5, who were asked the all-important question!
This year, the question was to "name the three proudest
achievements of your life". One of Lady Catiria's achievements was
getting off drugs; one of Paris Frantz's (2nd runner-up) was
getting a degree in fashion design from her local junior college.
The winner, Lady Catiria -- who was also featured as one of the
contestants at the beginning of "To Wong Foo ..." -- got a huge
crown and a bunch of cash.
Swimsuit and evening gown competitions are fabulous in their own
right, but the talent competition is what makes or breaks the
contest. Contestants in this category range from the truly
remarkable to the truly ridiculous. Natasha Richards (1st runner
up), Miss Texas, received a 3-5 minute standing ovation for her
fast-paced, hi-energy dance number set within a Cinderella theme.
Paris Frantz (2nd runner up), Miss Florida, delivered a flawless
rendition of "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets" from _Damn Yankees_.
The night before, a truly forgettable contestant recreated scenes
from _The Exorcist_. There were many re-enactments of _Sunset
Boulevard_ and dance numbers to the song: "Car Wash". To round out
the court, Sasha Valentino from Chicago was 3rd runner-up, and
Jasmine Bonet, Miss Tennessee, was 4th runner-up.
To say that this was a remarkable event would be an understatement.
In the words of Jerry Perry, "This is truly the highlight of my
year. It's better than Christmas!" Those who would like to see a
videotape of this year's contest (the contests are videotaped every
year and I have a video of every contest I attended), can e-mail me
and we will work out the details.
And next year, when you're trying to think of something to
do on Labor Day weekend, consider spending it in Chicago with us!
To whom will Lady Catiria give up her crown? Only time will tell.
Bill Fleming
Contact Bill Fleming at: BFLEMING@LIB.RPSLMC.EDU
*****************************************************************
INCLUDE YOURSELF !
You can make a contribution to this newsletter! Send us some news
about yourself, or write a brief article to appear in the next
issue. Send it to the editor: Tom Flemming, using any of the
contact points shown below. This newsletter will appear three
times this year: October 1995, early Spring 1996 and late Spring
1996 (just before the MLA meeting in Kansas City). Let all your
colleagues know what's happening with you!
Academic Computing & Learning Resource Center
Rush University
600 S. Paulina Street, STE 435
Chicago, Illinois 60612-3832
(312) 942-2234 (fax
Gerald (Jerry) Perry -- perry@lib.rpslmc.edu
Information Desk Evening Manager
UT Southwestern Medical Center
* White JC and Levinson W. Lesbian health care. What a
primary care physician needs to know. [Review] Western
Journal of Medicine. 162 (5): 463-6, May 1995.
* Rankow EJ. Lesbian health issues for the primary care
provider. [Review] Journal of Family Practice. 40 (5):
486-96, May 1995.
* Trichard L. Respecting the rights of gay patients.
[letter;comment] Canadian Family Physician. 40: 2066-7,
Dec 1994.
* Smith S and McClaugherty LO. Adolescent homosexuality:
a primary care perspective. [Review] American Family
Physician. 48 (1): 33-6, July 1993.
* James T and Harding I. Sexuality. Biased care? Nursing
Times. 90 (51): 28-31, Dec 21, 1994 - Jan 3, 1995.
* Gibson G and Saunders DE. Gay patients. Context for
care. [Review] Canadian Family Physician. 40: 721-5,
April 1994.
* Taylor I and Robertson A. The health care needs of gay
men: a discussion of the literature and implications for
nursing. [Review] Journal of Advanced Nursing. 20 (3):
560-6, Sept 1994.
* Williams B. Symptoms of discrimination. Canadian Family
Physician. 40: 1388-90, Aug 1994.
* Eliason MJ. Cultural diversity in nursing care: the
lesbian, gay, or bisexual client. Journal of
Transcultural Nursing. 5 (1): 14-20, Summer 1993.
* O'Neill JF and Shalit P. Health care of the gay male
patient. [Review] Primary Care: Clinics in Office
Practice. 19 (1): 191-201, Mar 1992.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN THE WORKPLACE: Gay men, lesbians,
bisexuals and heterosexuals working together.
by Amy J Zuckerman and George Simons. International
Partners Press, Paperback $15.95
This workbook contains three main parts. First, it
examines who makes up the workforce with regard to sexual
orientation and considers facts about gays, lesbians,
bisexuals and heterosexuals. Second, it provides simple
tools and exercises to address the personal dimensions of
working realistically and effectively with diverse
colleagues. Finally, the book explores how leaders,
groups, and organizations can set a positive climate and
establish policies that support all workers.
VIRTUALLY NORMAL: an argument about homosexuality.
by Andrew Sullivan. Knopf, 1995.
Andrew is the editor of the _New Republic_. The author
takes four points of view against homosexuality, the
prohibitionists, the liberationists, the conservatives
and the liberals, gives their view point, then refutes
the argument. For the work place, this will cover just
about every argument against the subject.
GAY ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE
by Brian McNaught. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1993.
$10.95
"What gay people want and need; the cost of anti-gay
behavior; how to respond to people who quote the Bible;
making allies of heterosexual coworkers." Brian McNaught
is known as the "godfather of gay diversity training".
"I think that to be Miss Continental you should have
class, beauty and talent, but above all that, and most
important of all, you should have humility because I
think that no matter how beautiful or talented you are,
it's all nothing if you can't be sweet, too. There's no
room for conceit."
- Kelly Lauren, Miss Continental U.S.A., 1987
Library of Rush University
.....................................................................
Tom Flemming Internet: tomflem@fhs.csu.McMaster.ca
Health Sciences Library Ariel: 130.113.181.186
McMaster University Voice: (905) 525-9140 x22321
1200 Main Street West Fax: (905) 528-3733
Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5
Visit the _Health Care Information Resources_ page
URL http://www-hsl.mcmaster.ca/tomflem/top.html
.......................................................................
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