V's Version

I just heard. I am crying.


Maxine Feldman and I went to the same college and shared stories of living in the same dormitory and having the same major in college- some 25 years apart. She told me stories of what it was like to the first openly butch student to break the dress code at Emerson College by wearing overalls into the scene shop. She was proud of me that I had started the first lesbian student organization at our school and that I often worked as the only woman on an all male tech crew. She was grateful to have blazed a trail and made a difference.

Maxine was my long crew co-ordinator in the Belly Bowl when I was a new kid fest worker in 1989. She was gruff and loud and butch and proud and I loved her immediately.

My heart goes out to her partner and family.

I look forward to grieving as I always do - through quilting. As Roar has announced the change in next year's quilt to be "Amazon Womon Rise", I will cry into the cloth and remember with love and fondness the best times that we had together. I will remember her, as I have each year since I heard her voice, when I rise as the amazon that I am.

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I hope it's not too late to say - Thank you, Maxine.

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Ruth Barrett wrote to Kay Gardener, upon Kay's death:

" I had to call Maxine today, Kay, and tell her that you died. How can anyone do that? She loved you so much. I told Max that several years ago you had asked me to facilitate your service if anything ever happened to you. Maxine asked me if I would sing Amazon at the service. You were the first person to hear it, and give her encouragement for it."

Labels: amazon woman rise, maxine feldman, Michigan Womyn's Music Festival WWTMC feminist women dyke butch Emerson college