Date: Mon, 16 Jan 1995 10:54:32 -0800 (PST) From: Rex Wockner Subject: ROBIN TYLER PRESS RELEASE RE: CAMP SISTER SPIRIT EDITORS, ACTIVISTS, FRIENDS: THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE WRITTEN BY MY FRIEND ROBIN TYLER, THE COMEDIAN/ACTIVIST/TOUR PROMOTER/EVENTS PRODUCER, ETC. REX CONTACT: Press Release Rev. Troy Perry For Immediate Release Metropolitan Community Church January 16, 1995 (213) 464-5100 Ms. Robin Tyler (818) 893-4075 Fax (818) 893-1593 Los Angeles, California Wanda & Brenda Henson Camp Sister Spirit, Ovett, Miss. (601) 344-1411 (phone and fax) GAY & LESBIAN FREEDOM RIDERS BUS TO MISSISSIPPI DESTINATION: OVETT Memorial Day Weekend (May 26-30, 1995) will once again be memorable for Mississippi as 1,000 gays and lesbians from all across America ride to the aid of a lesbian family and their besieged property outside Ovett. Since November 1993, lesbian partners Wanda & Brenda Henson, along with numerous volunteers, have defended their 120 acre "Camp Sister Spirit" folkschool from an ongoing, religious-right-inspired campaign of violence, harassment, intimidation and death threats. There have been over 64 incidents to date, including telephone death threats, mail-bomb threats, explosives at their gate and a dead dog tied to their mailbox. They sleep with rifles next to their bed. Mississippi Family Values was created for the purpose of finding ways to "oust" Sister Spirit Inc. from their land. The climate of hatred that has been spawned in the surrounding communities is palpable and deadly. Two gay men were murdered recently just 15 miles away. This climate of aggression briefly attracted the attention of Attorney General Janet Reno who sent Justice Department representatives to Ovett to investigate the situation last year. The Justice Dept. concluded that the Federal government could NOT help because GAYS AND LESBIANS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS. With no help from the government in sight, veteran gay and lesbian activists have decided to take the defense of Camp Sister Spirit into their own hands so that Canp Sister Spirit can complete their dream of building a feminist lesbian folk school (an educational and cultural retreat center that makes available an opportunity for learning non-oppressive lifeways) & having food-boxes and clothing available to address the realities of poverty in the area. Robin Tyler, a prominent lesbian activist who originally called for and emceed the 1st March on Washington for Lesbian & Gay Rights, and subsequently produced the Main Stage for the 2nd and 3rd Marches, and Rev. Troy Perry, founder of Metropolitan Community Churches, the largest organization of gays and lesbians involved in the religious community, will go to Camp Sister Spirit over Memorial Day Weekend to help complete the work started by the Hensons. Rev. Troy Perry announced that in the Metropolitan Community Churches' World Community Builders, a division of the World Church Extension Dept., is a group of women and men who contribute their time and talents to flying to countries outside the United States to build homes and churches. This group will be involved in helping with the remodeling of the five existing barns on the property (like Habitat for Humanity). One of the primary goals is to finish fencing the property. Over one-half mile needs to be done to try to help insure the safety of Camp Sister Spirit. In addition to helping build the property, money will be raised to help Camp Sister Spirit pay for expenses for a federal lawsuit to be filed under the anti-Klan act for the harassment they have received. Because of the escalating violence against lesbians and gays all over the world, an international lesbian/gay version of the Clothesline project will occur during this time at the camp. The purpose of the Clothesline project is to bear witness to the survivors and victims of the war against women, both the casualties of the war, and the wounded. This display shows the extent of the problem with a visual impact similar to the AIDS quilt. Another purpose of the Clothesline is to help with the healing process for people who have lost a loved one or who are survivors of this violence. The Destination: Ovett - Gay Freedom Rides Coalition will contact gay and lesbian groups all over the world to send in T-shirts bearing the names of gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals, transsexuals, and transgenders who have suffered violence or death. These will be displayed at Camp Sister Spirit. Rev. Troy Perry stated that for him and other religous people this should be a matter of really living what the religious life should be for four days. "Instead of just praying for these women, we are putting legs on our prayers and inviting people to join us in Mississippi," he said. Robin Tyler, Gay Freedom Ride Co-coordinator, who is Jewish, says that the Jewish community has always been on the forefront of civil rights, and once again, this will be our opportunity to confront injustice. Ms. Tyler states that the action also sends a message that gays and lesbians are prepared to defend themselves. "For decades Mississippi has been the battle grounds for civil rights," notes Tyler. "Following the tradition of the 1960s, the community of faith must rise once again. And we need to let gay-bashers and homophobes know that when they attack isolated gays and lesbians, they aren't just taking on one or two people, they are taking on the entire gay and lesbian movement." Rev. Perry and Robin, both headquartered in Los Angeles, will meet with the Hensons on Jan. 17, 1995, at Camp Sister Spirit in Mississippi to continue plans for this second generation of Freedom Riders. == END ==