Carol Anne Douglas, 1946
Dear OLOC Sisters, June 2012
Remember what it was like when you first met other women who affirmed other women? Old Lesbians who affirmed being Old Lesbians? Imagine a world in which no one affirmed us. It exists – almost everywhere. OLOC is changing that world.
After my long-time partner died suddenly, I woke up every morning wanting to die. Thirteen months later, I attended my first OLOC National Gathering in 2010, and I no longer felt that way. Proud Old Lesbians let me know on a deep level there was a context in which to live and continue to work for change.
What impresses me most about OLOC is its welcoming, supportive atmosphere, combined with determination to resist ageism, racism, ableism, lesbophobia, and classism. Friendliness and political awareness don't always go together. In OLOC, they do.
Growing old now can be frightening. And, as we know, Old Lesbians often have fewer resources than other old people. What do we have? Each other. And OLOC is our last, best place. Here we can share our history and make history again.
But OLOC operates on a shoestring – volunteer steering committee, volunteer conference organizers, volunteer just about everything. Just as we need money to survive, so does OLOC. If we want to have events where we can meet, work together, and plan for change, we have to pay for them.
How much is OLOC worth to you? What does it mean to you that there is a national organization for Old Lesbians? Consider that, and send what you can.
We are in this together. For life.
In sisterhood (yes, really),
Carol Anne Douglas, 1946
