Date |
Event |
Location |
| 1984 |
January.
GLISS (Gay/Lesbian Informational Support Services of Springfield)
opens with Lesbian/Gay Switchboard. |
|
| |
February.
Cindy Foster of Mothers Uniting for the Sake of Children calls for
state action against dead-beat dads. |
|
| |
February.
GALA begins weekly meetings to discuss march and rally in May |
|
| |
February.
New Alexandria Lesbian Library operating in Florence. |
Florence |
| |
February
2. European Women's Disarmament Delegation speaks at Hampshire
College. |
Amherst |
| |
February
8. Betty Friedan speaks at UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
March.
Permit for 3rd Annual Lesbian and Gay Pride March in Northampton denied
for a Saturday March (May 12) by city hall. |
Northampton |
| |
March.
La Mix Dances start at Poor Richard's in Amherst. |
Amherst |
| |
March.
7th International Women's Week, UM. |
Amherst |
| |
March.
Jewish Women Writers Panel, UM. |
Amherst |
| |
March.
An unidentified attacker rapes a Northampton lesbian |
Northampton |
| |
March.
Permit denied for GALA march in Northampton. |
Northampton |
| |
March.
Sister Mildred Marenge comes to male dominated Newman Center as first
nun. |
Amherst |
| |
March.
Smith students protest the closing of Hover House, a lesbian dorm.
|
Northampton |
| |
March.
Women organize to free Frances Crowe. |
|
| |
March
2. Starhawk preaches spirituality at Smith. |
Northampton |
| |
March
6. -"Revolt of the Symbols: Philosophy in a Feminist Key",
a lecture by Emily Erwin Culpepper, a benefit for TRIVIA, cosponsored
by SCWRC |
|
| |
March
6-30. Lesbians stage sit-in and protest march at Smith College
after Smith announces the closing of Hover House, a lesbian dorm.
Sit-in was in President Conway's office, march outside. |
Northampton |
| |
March
7-10. International Women's event at UMass |
Amherst |
| |
March
10. "The Power of Black Love,Part I" workshop for Black
men and women, EWC |
|
| |
March
21. Kaymarion begins Spring Studio in Attic at NALL and Herstory
Exhibit. |
|
| |
March
27-April 1. Lesbian and Gay Awareness Week at UM; Barbara Gittings
speaks as keynote,JEB (Joan E. Biren) shows lesbian slide show; many
local lesbians doworkshops. |
Amherst |
| |
March
28. JANE, a 5 college reproductive rights network, organizes
and holds first successful campaign to get students to go to Boston
and "Raise your voices for choice." |
|
| |
March
30. Ferron and Kate Clinton perform, sponsored by Crescendo Productions
and SCWRC. |
|
| |
Spring.
Campus Campaign on Pornography recieved national media coverage, organized
by Women's Issues Team of SCERA. |
|
| |
April.
4th Incest Survivors Therapy Group for Lesbians only. |
|
| |
April.
Kaymarion holds series of "storytelling" meetings for Lesbians
at NALL as she gathers more pieces of Lesbian Herstory in the Valley
and updates her Herstory slideshow. |
|
| |
April1.
After incidents of violence and robbery in the store at 56 Main, 13th
Moon moves to private residence. |
|
| |
April
11. -"Budgeting: Basic Concepts for 3rd World Administrators",
a workshop sponsored by Third World Women's Task Force |
|
| |
April
28. -"Breaking the Connection between Violence and Sex:
The Case Against Pornography." a conference at UM. |
Amherst |
| |
April
28. Anti-Pornography Conference held at UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
April.
-"The Power of Black Love, Part II", workshop for black
men and women, EWC |
|
| |
May.
GALA wins appeal for march permit. Date set for May 12 |
|
| |
May.
Shirley Chrisholm, black congresswoman, speaks at Hampshire. |
Amherst |
| |
May.
UMass student Yvette Henry sues police and university officials for
$13 million, claiming police illegally searched her room and placed
her under unlawful arrest because of her race. |
Amherst |
| |
May.
Smith College administration closes Hover House, Lesbian dormitory.
|
Northampton |
| |
May.
Necessities/Necesidades increases staff from 3 to 4 full-time paid
postions. |
|
| |
May.
Lesbians finish building wheelchair ramp at NALL House, made possible
from community fundraising. |
|
| |
May
2. Reproductive Rights Awareness Day sponsored by CERRF at UM |
Amherst |
| |
May
3. -"Jewish Women: Three Perspectives", a panel sponsored
by Jewish Feminist Group at UM |
Amherst |
| |
May
3. Susan Schecter speaks at UMass about battered women. |
Amherst |
| |
May
4. Dance held for Contra Los Contra to benefit Women's Peace
Agenda. |
|
| |
May
5. Mother's Day Peace Walk in Northampton. |
Northampton |
| |
May
5. "Doubting Our Competence: Women's Image of Work and Self",
a workshop sponsored by EWC and Working Women's Program. |
|
| |
May
5-6. Heramedia, Lesbian Video Project from NYC, does follow-up
filming & interviewing on harassment. Videotape to be distributed
nationally to Lesbian groups & for cable TV. Bet Birdfish, Kiriyo
Spooner, and Kim Christiansen are filmed at NALL in Northampton Library
House. They show tape segments of other Lesbian victims of violence,
to be included in the project: Deb Edel & Joan Nestle of Lesbian
Herstory Archives (NYC), Barbara Smith and Cherrie Moraga (INC), and
"Foxy Lady" on police violence in the bars (NYC). |
|
| |
May
12. Gay and Lesbian Liberation March, "We who believe in
Freedom cannot rest un-til it comes", Northampton. |
Northampton |
| |
May
12. GALA Dance at Amherst College, a benefit for The Center for
Popular Economics. |
Amherst |
| |
May
13. Kaymarion shows updated slideshow, "Living in the Valley
Lesbian Community: 1968-84" at- NALL. |
|
| |
May
31. International Archiving Conference at Smith College includes
sessions on Third World Archives and also "Documenting Lesbian
Herstory" session by NYC's Lesbian Herstory Archives. |
|
| |
June.
EWC announces WAGES program to support female gradate students |
|
| |
June
1-3. 5th Berkshire Conference on the History of Women,at Smith
College, includes more than 15 Lesbian panels and a 24-hour Lesbian
caucus room on campus.NALL shows new slideshow, "The New Alexandria
Lesbian Library: The First Ten Years." Kaymarion shows updated
slideshow, "Living in the Valley Lesbian community: 1968-84.
Lesbian poets read, Debbie Fier performs her music, etc. |
|
| |
June
23. Women in Trade Conference at UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
September.
Necessities moves to 16 Center St. in Northampton. |
|
| |
September.
Theater Too calls for area women interested in theater. |
|
| |
September
26. Marjorie Lansing speaks at UMass about gender gap. |
Amherst |
| |
October.
Geraldine Ferraro speaks to 20,000 at UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
October.
Maggie Kuhn of the Grey Panthers speaks about her struggle |
|
| |
October
3. 5th Women in Business Conference at Holyoke Community College. |
Holyoke |
| |
October
4. Sonia Johnson speaks at UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
October
18-19. Valley women (Ellen Shub, Chris Mangan, Sheri Simonton)
attend "Not in Our Name" rally and march in NYC. |
|
| |
December
9. Lesbians Considering Children forum at Smith |
Northampton |
| 1985 |
January.
50 demonstrators protest Reagan's inauguration (including Valley women
Laura Wenk, Jamie Tessler, Peggy Shannon, Jennifer McConnell, Kathy
Swayze). |
|
| |
February.
Janet Feldman and Lore Wintergreen reestablish Community Emergency
Fund, a fund for local residents in need |
|
| |
February.
UMass Women's Studies program celebrates its 10th anniversary. |
Amherst |
| |
February.
Valley Women’s Voice publishes a lesbian battering survey. |
|
| |
March
5-8. International Women's Week planning committee holds march
in Amherst |
Amherst |
| |
March
30. Pioneer Valley War Tax Resistance organizes workshop in Amherst.
|
Amherst |
| |
April.
Franklin County Women's Issues Network opens; addresses alcohol and
drug use, day care, and legislative issues. |
|
| |
April.
Vivienne Mann and Jenny Hein announce the dissolution of "Crescendo
Productions," a women-friendly, Valley-based production company.
|
|
| |
April
19. -"Take Back the Night" rally and march from UMass to
Amherst
Commons. |
Amherst |
| |
April
25. Third World Women's Program at EWC holds panel about sterilization
abuse in the Third World. |
|
| |
May.
Judith Loischild and Chris Casey write in support of a senate bill
that would define midwifery and legalize homebirths in Massachusetts.
|
|
| |
May.
Lesbian/Gay Awareness Week at UMass, with a march on May 4 |
Amherst |
| |
May
7. 150 people blockade the Federal Building in Springfield to protest
Reagan's Trade Embargo on Nicaragua. Valley participants included
photographer Jane Cleland. |
|
| |
May
21. Womonfyre Books in Northampton receives bomb threat and is evacuated |
Northampton |
| |
July.
International Women's Conference in Nairobi; Valley woman Kandi Thompson
participates. |
|
| |
July
6. Unnamed Valley women participate in a Day of Focus in Seneca Falls. |
|
| |
October
19. Necessities organizes a 5-mile moveathon to aid battered women.
|
|
| |
October
19-20. Gay/Lesbian Conference at Hampshire College |
Amherst |
| |
November.
Audre Lorde reads poetry at Amherst College. |
Amherst |
| |
November
1-3. 1st Nursing Conference on Violence Against Women held at UMass |
Amherst |
| |
December.
Lesbian Network of Central Massachusetts looking for new members |
|
| 1986 |
January.
Workers at Lord Jeffrey Amherst Inn strike for higher wages
and better job security |
Amherst |
| |
February.
Meanette Vermes urges women to protest the Massachusetts House of
Representatives, which voted to deny women abortion costs and counseling.
|
|
| |
February. UMass
addresses LGB concerns on campus by establishing a program with staff
and funding. Establishes a Lesbian and Gay Awareness Week in April. |
Amherst |
| |
February.
15 - 100 people from the Valley attend a March Against Racism in Philadelphia.
|
|
| |
March
1. Valley women, including Phyllis Rodin, Michelle Goodwin, Elisabeth
Kozenlewsky, and Bee Ring, participate in a march from LA to DC for
nuclear disarmament. |
|
| |
March
3. International Women's Day celebrated at UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
March. Valley
Women’s Voice protests the naming of a male "Women's Issues"
editor at UMass' Collegian. |
|
| |
March
HAVEN offers two-day training for LGB community members who want to
stop hate crimes. |
|
| |
March
9. 150 valley people attend NOW pro-choice march in DC. |
|
| |
April
5-13. Lesbian and Gay Awareness Week at UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
April.
Mt. Holyoke hosts a women's peace encampment. |
South
Hadley |
| |
April.
Rally held at the Student Union. Student Paul Cameron speaks against
gays and a fistfight ensues. |
Amherst |
| |
May.
Educators/Advocates from the EWC organize successful petition against
the Card Gallery in Hadley, which agrees to stop selling offensive
cards |
Hadley |
| |
May
3. Valley women attend a Lesbian and Children's Conference at Simmons
College. |
|
| |
October.
UMass SGA votes to deny childcare to 11,000. Valley Women’s
Voice urges action. |
Amherst |
| 1987 |
February.
Student Joyce Barry reopens Lesbian Union at UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
February 17.
Women's Leadership Project at UMass meets to discuss reorganization.
|
Amherst |
| |
February 19.
June Jordan speaks at UMass about racism in the 80s. |
Amherst |
| |
February
21. Women Elders' Empowerment Network petitions Northampton to address
violence and discrimination against elders in the community. |
|
| |
March.
Angela Davis speaks at UMass about racism. |
Amherst |
| |
March.
Audre Lorde speaks at UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
March. Seven
Sisters Conference at Smith. Keynote speaker: Johnella Butler from
Smith. |
Northampton |
| |
April
11. Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Speakers' Bureau reactivates at
UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
May
2. Pioneer Valley Lesbian and Gay Liberation march held in Northampton.
|
Northampton |
| |
June
5. Come-out staged at the Hampshire Mall. (Sponsor: Minor Disturbances,
local women’s affinity group.) |
|
| |
October
10. 18 people from UMass march on Washington for LGB rights. |
Amherst |
| 1988 |
February.
Approximately 65 Valley women sign a petition supporting Jesse Jackson
for president in 1988. |
|
| |
February. UMass
women students reorganize Valley Women’s Voice. |
Amherst |
| |
February 12.
150 protesters take over New Africa House to address issues of racism.
Female residents counter-protest against the movement's sexism. |
Amherst |
| |
February 14.
Sonia Sanchez, poet and political activist, speaks at UMass. |
Amherst |
| |
March
1. Karen Thompson speaks at UMass about sexism and lesbianism.
|
|
| |
April.
National Organization of Lesbian and Gay Scientists organize
chapter in the Valley |
|
| |
April 19-24.
LGB Awareness Week at UMass |
Amherst |
| |
April 21.
"Take Back the Night" rally. |
|
| |
April 29.
200 women attend 2nd National Conference on Women and the Military.
Valley woman Kaymarion Raymond attends and reports in Valley Women’s
Voice. |
|
| |
May.
Anti-male, anti-religion graffiti found in several area churches.
Many feminists write to Valley Women’s Voice to express their
disapproval. |
|
| |
May 7.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week. "Take Back the Night" march
held in Greenfield |
Greenfield |
| |
May 14.
Lesbian and Gay Liberation March in Northampton, attendance: 1,500-2,000.
|
Northampton |
| |
June
14-19. Area booksellers Rose Maloof and Madeline Zadik attend 3rd
International Feminist Book Fair in Montreal. |
|
| |
July.
The National Endowment for the Humanities grants $110,000 to research
done in the valley on the papers of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan
B. Anthony. |
|
| |
September.
Valley Women’s Voice celebrates its 10th anniversary. |
|
| |
September
26. Unknown attacker rapes Smith student. |
Northampton |
| |
October.
Hadley woman Anita King protests the lack of free abortions and pregnancy
tests in Western Massachusetts. |
|
| |
October .
UMass student Jennie Arthur urges readers to vote yes on a humane
farming referendum question. |
Amherst |
| |
October 8.
5,000 Valley residents attend “Take Back the Night" rally
in response to a rape at Smith College. |
Northampton |
| |
October
8. Angela Bowen speaks at Unity and Diversity Conference at Hampshire
College. |
Amherst |
| |
October 12.
UMass hosts a debate: "Women's Issues in the November Elections."
|
Amherst |
| |
October
17. Valley women, including Camie Nobel, participate in "Steps
to Freedom" demonstration, protesting U.S. role in Central America,
specifically El Salvador. |
|
