Gaye Adegbalola, 1944
December 2010
To Those Who Believe in Justice for All People,
I was born and raised in the segregated South. From day one, I was told that I was a lesser being, an inferior person. However, today I am able to look everyone in the eye and know that I will not be oppressed by my color. The fight for my freedom was spearheaded by the likes of Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Fannie Lou Hamer, and many others.
At the same time, I was also raised with the oppression of being a woman and, more profoundly, a Lesbian woman. However, today I can stand tall, look adversaries in the eye and know that I will not be oppressed because I am a Lesbian. This fight for liberation was spearheaded by many leaders, but in 2008, while participating in the OLOC National Gathering, I realized that much of the leadership came from these women. Members of OLOC had been in the trenches working for my freedom for decades.
OLOC women have championed the cause for justice, for the liberation of all people, and especially for the Lesbian community. They are taking up our cause in political activities, setting up Lesbian archives, connecting Lesbians around the globe, conducting workshops and seminars, distributing literature, being advocates for equal rights in the marriage arena – and the list goes on. Their work even focuses on the housing needs of aging Lesbians (which is quite important to me personally) and on efforts to embrace and demystify the word "old." They instill pride by their very existence.
Today, I, for one, am able to stand on their shoulders and shout to the world that "I ain't ashamed!"
Obviously, to carry on this work, OLOC needs you. Your donation is needed. Funds are often used to provide financial assistance for Lesbians with limited means to attend events that strengthen their own self-worth. OLOC's underlying mission in all its actions is to provide empowerment for Old Lesbians. OLOC does not receive state or federal money; it exists because of people like you. Won't you please support OLOC so that all Old Lesbians can be equally as proud??
Very Sincerely,
Gaye Adegbalola, 1944
Mother, Daughter, Educator, Activist
Founding Member of Saffire - the Uppity Blues Women
To send a donation by check, mail to OLOC, P.O. Box 5853, Athens, OH 45701.
To donate electronically by credit card or PayPal, go to the donate button at www.oloc.org and be sure to write "donation" in the comments box. Thank you!
