Welfare Warriors
Winter 2006
MW Voice FEATURE
Letters to the Editor
War
Mothers news from around the world
Did You Know?
Youth/ Disabled/ Gay news
Resistance in the War
Against the Poor
other WINTER 2006 articles
Winter
2006
Youth/Disabled/Gay News
Wal-Mart Hypocrites to Profit Off Gay Weddings
On Dec. 21 the first gay marriages took place in the UK. Asda, the British Wal-Mart, has begun selling gay wedding merchandise. Matching gold rings with diamond insets start at $104. The lesbian wedding card is pink. It reads “Wedding day wishes, Mrs. & Mrs.” The card for gay men is blue. It has two top hats and reads, “Congratulations, Mr. & Mr.”
Meanwhile, in the US, Wal-Mart has pulled gay-friendly magazines and books from its shelves. And they fund politicians who oppose gay rights.
Info from Washington Blade
1408 U St. NW, Washington DC 20009
Three Big Dykes Document Lesbian Custody Issues
Shad Reinstein, Jody Laine and Shan Ottley make up Three Big Dykes Productions. They recently completed a documentary called “Mom’s Apple Pie: The Story of the Lesbian Mother’s National Defense Fund.”
In the 1970s US moms who came out as lesbians and left their husbands routinely lost custody of their children. They had a hard time finding jobs, getting credit and opening bank accounts. Finding lawyers to help them win custody was nearly impossible.
The Lesbian Mother’s National Defense Fund (LMVDF) found lawyers for the women and helped pay them. They organized support groups and fundraisers. They sent out a newspaper called “Mom’s Apple Pie.” It publicized lesbian custody cases nationally. The Fund raised consciousness about lesbian moms, childcare, and civil rights.
In making their movie, the Three Big Dykes found that many lesbian moms wouldn’t talk to them. Everyone they interviewed cried. Women caring for adult disabled children feared they might lose custody again. After the Three Big Dykes showed a preliminary short of the film, women changed their minds. They agreed to be interviewed for the full-length feature.
Life is a little easier now. There are advocates, resources and groups for gay parents and kids. But lesbian moms are still taken to court, especially in the South. Five states face initiatives against same-sex adoption and foster care.
The Three Big Dykes are submitting their film to film festivals across the county. They offer it to schools with oral history, LGBT studies and women’s studies courses. Contact them at 206-783-8188 or ThreeBigDykes@aol.com.
Info from Gay Parent
Rainbow Fund Gives Disaster Aid
The Rainbow World Fund (RWF) delivers LGBT charitable assistance to relief efforts around the world. RWF supports projects in Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Cambodia, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and the USA. They target disaster relief, landmine eradication, safe drinking water access, hunger and Global HIV/AIDS. Their international partners are CARE, Africare, Water Partners International, and Adopt-A-Minefield.
RWF also teaches LGBT people global awareness through experience tours.
100% of the funds donated to the RWF Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund will go directly to helping survivors. To donate go to rainbowfund.org/donate. For other inquiries contact Jeff Cotter, 415-431-1485 or jcotter@rainbowfund.org