Ginny Apuzzo, 1941
Dear Sisters: June 2010
I have been working, as I know many of you have, to confront sexism and homophobia since the 1970's. We HAVE made changes that have had an impact on women all over the world. Just when it should be possible to enjoy the benefits of our work, we face old age with more daunting challenges. The invisibility we faced as Lesbians is now compounded by ageism. The discrimination we faced when we were younger is now compounded by health care issues, greater economic insecurity, and disproportionate unemployment.
Despite being half the female population, unmarried women over 60 years old represent 63% of unemployed women, 60% of women without health insurance, and nearly 75% of women living in poverty. When you factor in race and sexual orientation, the statistics become staggering.
Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) is an organization comprised of many women for whom these statistics represent their reality. It represents other women who have the resources and are willing to share them to keep the imperative of change high on the activist agenda.
- Here's some of what OLOC does:
* Provides vital resources and educational materials on ageism
* Organizes National and Regional Gatherings
* Builds and maintains networks for Old Lesbians
* Supports the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project (OLOHP)
* Produces a fabulous quarterly newsletter, The Reporter
Now comes the hard part. I'm asking you to please write a check now. You can also donate via PayPal at www.oloc.org. If you put it off, it could get lost in that growing list of good intentions. Let's prove that activists never retire ... as long as the oppression is there, we remain on call and ready to help.
I'll be 69 next month and am very grateful to OLOC for its work.
Ginny Apuzzo, 1941
Former Assistant to the President, Clinton Administration;
Former Executive Director, National Gay/Lesbian Task Force
