Date: Wed, 4 May 94 09:45 GMT From: gwyn@thunder.indstate.edu (Thomas W. Holt Jr.) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: May 2, 1994 NEWS RELEASE o NEWS RELEASE o NEWS RELEASE o NEWS RELEASE o NEWS RELEASE The Committee to Free Nancy Now! and The Transexual Menace Present U . N . I . T . Y ! A fundraiser in support of C A M P T R A N S The Outreach Event Across The Road From The Michigan Womyn's Music Festival June 29, 1994 at 7:30 PM The Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center 208 W 13th St, NY, NY In 1991, Nancy Burkholder, a transsexual woman, was thrown out of Michigan Womyn's Music Festival because she was considered to be "still a man" by two Festival security guards. In previous years, she had attended the Festival and had even been a volunteer worker. Festival organizers Boo and Lisa supported the expulsion by stating that the Festival was and always had been for "Womyn-born-womyn only". In 1992, supporters of transsexual inclusion went to Michigan in hopes of reversing the policy and educating the women attending the Festival. While many attendees supported them, the policy stood: No Transsexual Women. Again in 1993, the supporters returned. This time they came with Nancy Burkholder and other transsexual women to conduct scheduled Festival workshops and outreach to other attendees. Although receiving the support of many women, they were again thrown out. Still determined to conduct their workshops, they camped across from the main gate in the woods of the National Park. Over 75 women attended the workshops and more than 200 women stopped by to offer their support. Camp Trans was born. Inspired by the love and support of many Festival women, Camp Trans will return to Michigan in 1994 with an expanded outreach program. Camp Trans will sponsor over 15 workshops covering a wide range of women's topics including Safe Sex, AIDS, Shame, Sexuality, Anti-Violence, Health and Differently Abled/Physically Challenged. Camp Trans will also offer selected readings by Leslie Feinberg from 'Stone Butch Blues'. There will be many other activities including guest speakers, musical acts, the famous campfire cookouts (Have a Hot Dog with the Transsexuals: Eat our Wieners, Bite our Buns) and much, much more! All free for all women! The U.N.I.T.Y! fundraiser will help defray the cost of running Camp Trans and bringing these workshops to the women's community. It will feature speakers from all areas of the Queer community who believe in unity and inclusion of all people. At this time, the partial list of expected speakers and guests included: Joan Nestle - Author/Founder of Lesbian Herstory Archives. Tom Duane - NYC Councilperson. Ann Northrup - Gay Games IV/Unity 94, Inc. Leslie Feinberg - Author of 'Stone Butch Blues'. Kate Bornstein - Playwright/Actress. Richard Burns - Exec. Director, NYC Lesbian & Gay Community Center. The Imperial Court of New York and many others... Plus comedy from Jaffe Cohn of Funny Gay Men and other funny people. Special musical guests. And of course, Nancy Burkholder! A suggested donation of $10 (more if you can, less if you can't) will be asked at the door. Starting at 6:30 PM., videos donated by Betty Dodson, T-shirts, buttons, books and other exciting stuff will be offered for sale! All monies collected will go directly to Camp Trans and the workshops. Camp Trans is an all-volunteer effort for women by women! The Committee to Free Nancy Now! is a sisterhood of women who are outraged by the treatment of Nancy Burkholder and other transsexual women by separatist lesbians and the organizers of Michigan Womyn's Music Festival and have come together to promote inclusion of transsexuals and help educate the women's community attending the Festival about transsexual issues. The Transexual Menace is an education, outreach and direct action group organized in a purpose and manner similar to ACT UP and Queer Nation. In addition to holding actions against individuals and organizations whose policies and/or opinions are discriminatory to the Gender community, it sponsors outreach and educational events for the Queer and non-Queer communities. The Transexual Menace follows a policy of 'Confront with Love'. Membership in The Transexual Menace is open to all people who believe inclusiveness builds community, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. For more information contact: Riki Anne Wilchins The Transexual Menace rikiw@virtualx.com / camptran@virtualx.com The views expressed here are those of the author. The Virtual Exchange is an online Queer information service. For more information, send email to 'archive@virtualx.com' and include the line: SEND VXINFO.TXT or connect directly at 212/267-5030; 14.4,8,N,1.