c o v e r s t o r y
Pursuing the Femme Identity
by Andrea Spoehrer

f e a t u r e s
Revealing the "psuedo-invert"
Una, Lady Troubridge
by Alison Phipps
Ashes in the Paint
by Michelle Bancroft

c o l u m n s
Health
by Dr. Lipstick
Wealth
by Ms. Moneygrrl
Sex
by SexySuzi
Advice
by Victoria
Fashion
by Dara
Femme Perspective
by Kenya
Butch Perspective
by D

Publisher's Note
Letter from the Editor
Contribute to Femme

by ksdaugherty

to my dear lesbian of pickyourtown, at the close of the last century, a new wave of thinking came out of the shadows of our minds. one that has been challenging and provocative within the Lesbian world. there is a "new gurl' on the dyke block. she is exciting and refreshing. she also has the distinct honor of having been here since the dawn of time. who is this? more important you should ask "is She Me?" "could i be her?" dare i speak her name? She is the miLLenniFeMme. yes you found me. i am She. you can be. i exist here in the cyber world, and in the world at large. i am capable of leaping over oppression in a single bound.

Look!

it's a dyke,

it's a Diva,

it's Millennifemme. as you can see,

i am very playful. sometimes i have to be so that i can remember the girly soft side that in the not so distant past had been captured and put on display as if a zoo exhibit. something to placed on the shelf and
labeled 'a piece of history'. bagged and tagged by those who do not understand my gurlish tendencies or my contributions to this world. sound familiar? i digress.

who am i?

where did i come from?

where are my people?

i come from many cultures, ethnic backgrounds, classes, ages, etc.
i am a rainbow.
i never know what my outer appearance will be: black, latina, asian, white, tall, short, fat, thin, made up or bare faced.

do not let the heels or make up fool you. i am a dedicated lesbian Sista, with the necessary SASS to "Read" you if you attempt to invalidate my herstory. watch ouT now! i have been here since the first beings walked together in same sex harmony. i was there when that hippy chick Sappho had her dancing gurls don soft fragrant oils and rouge their cheeks for her pleasure. i was there when my het sister Helen had Troy on its knees. who do you think she told all her secrets to? i am Herstory. I am the present. I am fEmMe. Feel me.

my present is a bit difficult; for some of the members of Lesbiana have chosen not to accept me because my best friend may be my lipstick second to my favorite dildo.

they seem to want to gloss over my involvement in making the streets a bit safer for our GAY community. let me take you back.....remember when i broke many a nail while fighting with my brothers and sisters against the police at Stonewall? when i spoke out for OUR freedom, during the many riots and protests, the marches on washington for the equal rights of all folks, gay included? i am no threat to you my non-femme lesbian sistas. don't hate me because i am beautiful. giggle. we are on the same team. i play softball, work out, wear birks (though my toes may be polished) and i support michigan. do not let a little make up, hair spray, nail polish garter belt, heels, teased hair, swishy walks, or flamboyant hand gestures get in the way of what could be a great friendship for us. i am your herstory. i am now. i am the future. i am femme. touch me. feel how soft i can be when i am loving you. my present condition is a bit difficult as i have been given mean stares and snide comments like " am i lost" or " do i know that this is a lesbian bar" when i am not on the arm of my dashing stud or when i am hanging out with my girls.

my stud no matter how dashing is not my Key to dykedom. i am femme - alone or partnered. my present has cleared up, now that i have told you to WAke UP and take a good look at me: a woman identified woman with the artistic eye of looking good for my woMAN, stud, butch, femme and ain't i a lesbian? my future is secured now that me and my FemMe sistahs have taken to the proverbial streets with our writings, stories, conferences, email lists, our friendships, and our collective "FED-UPNESS" of being invisible in Lesbiana. our herstory is valid. our present is strong. our future is now. we are FeMme, and we are QUITE the LESBIAN.. watch as we, yes my fabulous femme sista you and me; watch as we come into glorious focus: the snapshot of a DIVA. do not miss it!

Join us.

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