The weekend of April 1, 2, 3, and 4 proved a smashing political and
fundraising success for Brenda and Wanda Henson. These 2 lesbian feminist
activists from a 120 acre former pig-farm on Mississippi's Gulf Coast were
in the San Francisco Bay Area, raising consciousness and continuing the
mobilization the national lesbian/bi/gay community in defense of
their feminist education and cultural retreat, named Camp Sister Spirit. 

I was privileged to spend some time with both of these wonderful women. I 
am happy to report to the lesbian/bi/gay 'Net community and to all of our 
activist, feminists, and supportive friends, that the SF Bay Area raised
$10,000 for Camp Sister Spirit. The Hensons were deeply moved by the
outpouring of support and intense interest. San Franciscans and other
Northern Californians packed the San Francisco Women's Building auditorium
to SRO, resulting in a lavender revival meeting, with Wanda Henson's
fervor bringing radical, feminist, liberal, and progressive lesbians,
gay men, bisexuals, and trans folks to their feet at least twice, yelling
out with enthusiasm. We were moved to tears by their story, laughed a lot
at both Brenda and Wanda's dry Southern wit, and gave liberally 
out of pockets to the cause.

The Hensons asked me to post this e-message and to thank all of the 
Internet users who have written on their behalf, come down to Camp Sister
Spirit to work, donated time, faxed, telephoned, and worked to defend
their civil and human rights as lesbians.

They also request that people remember they are in a continuing struggle, 
politically and legally, with the arch-ultra-conservative state and 
county governments in Mississippi. The FBI and AG Janet Reno have
recently begun investigations into the KKK's involvement in the
hate-filled harassment, repeated gun shooting, death threats too
numerous to detail, and the desperate need that lesbian/gay folk have
for constitutional protection of our civil rights. Representative Barney
Frank from Massachusetts will begin hearings in Mississippi later this
summer ( late April or May) on the need for civil rights protection to
prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation. Please write your
Senators and Representatives, urging that they support Representative 
Frank and other members of Congress in building a critical mass (that has 
been accumulating over the past 10 years in *both* Houses) to push for the 
passage of a federal civil rights bill for gay rights.

To end this on an up note......Wanda and Brenda told me that when they 
arrived back at Camp Sister Spirit on late Saturday, April 9, their
priority need for a golf cart had been doubly met. Two lesbians from 
Beaumont TX had heard of their need for a quiet and quickly available
vehicle to travel over the farm, and to provide for more effective
surveillance and speed when the front gate was visited by unwelcome
troublemakers. The thing is, the Texas dykes apparently lived somewhere
near a used golf cart lot and bought *2* golf carts for them, 
bringing them to the farm -- the Hensons and handful of Camp Sister 
Spirit residents named the golf carts "Thelma" and "Louise"!

Camp Sister Spirit's voice phone number is 601.344.2005 and they are happy
to talk with you -- they volunteered to have the phone number circulate
nationally in the gay and supportive media. Their fax # is 601.344.1411.
They have Camp Sister Spirit tank-tops in S, M, L, and XL for $13 each.
The Hensons are available for speaking engagements and ask small activist
communities to consider passing the hat and sending in even a small
donation to Camp Sister Spirit, POB 12, Ovett MS 39464-0012. (Please tell
them you heard about it on the Internet.) Their email address is
sisterspir@aol.com. They need our financial, political, and spiritual
support -- please defend Camp Sister Spirit and advance the cause of
social justice and constitutional equity for lesbian/gay folks. 

THANKS!

-- 
----------------------------------------------------
Jim Lovette -- creator of >>> bigot-be-GONE! (c) <<<
Yep. *Another* gay Wiccan celebrating Mother Earth's sense of 
humor, truthS, etc.....
***********************