FIRST ISSUE! by WACIPI

It's here! The first issue of Amaranth Womyn's Magazine and you won't be disappointed.

Writers, journalists, professionals and members of AW have submitted articles, stories, poems and antedotes you won't want to miss. AW Magazine is full of information you can use, stories you will enjoy. And, we are always looking for new talent.

In our premier issue you will find the famous lesbian cartoon "OUT THERE" by Elizabeth Davis and Tina Sanders. These 2 womyn are published world wide and have offered their cartoon series to AW! We can't thank them enough for their generosity and participation. In addition to supplying AW with our cartoon series, writers Sanders & Davis will be running the articles for the Entertainment and Review Page. This month's feature - NY Pride Parade where they will be sharing their experiences and view of the parade events.

Get your questions ready! Lillith is our Horoscope expert with an attitude. She is the writer of a syndicated question and answer column Gayscopes. There is a link provided to make requests directly to her. Questions will be featured in the next issue.

Some articles are written by AW members who we have discovered have a wonderful talent for making daily life and the obvious both humorous and enlightening. Thanks to Mercy for her delightful contributions and her views from the crone's nest in The Merciful Crone. And to Snack for sharing her insights about love in Love Bytes. Snack holds a BS in Sociology from the University of Houston.

Political and social satire is written by Batzz with her straight forward, direct from the hip approach in Everything and Nothing More. Be prepared to have your horizons broadened, your cackle hairs rise and your mind twisted. Batzz holds a BA in English from Lockhaven University.

Social issues which plague our community and the world in general is written by our own Froggie in Another Country Heard From. Froggie is a most interesting womyn who has lived around the world, experienced political scenes that you and I only read about in the papers, and she is an Attorney in France with a journalism background, holds her Masters in Law and 2 Post Masters in Criminology and Communications from Pantheon Sorbonne in Paris, France. She has been a member of the Paris Bar since 1980 and is working on her PhD in Law. She has also completed studies in Victimology from Buenos Aires in 1995 and speaks 4 languages. She currently resides in the US with her partner where she is now working on yet another degree. As a political activist she has much to offer and we certainly appreciate her writing for AW.

HexAngyl is our featured writer for the Womyn's Health column. HexAngyl is a licensed nurse who has worked extensively with geriatrics, pediatrics and the physically and mentally handicapped. You will find her articles both interesting and informative.

Poetry is written by some of AW's most creative members; Love Poems by Connie and Poems of the Heart by ~FParis for starters. You will love their candor, rhyme and chime as you see your own moments mirrored in their work.

The story of Amaranth Womyn is a short one. AW is new, alive and growing strong. With the introduction of our first issue of the Amaranth Womyn Magazine we would also like to announce a project which is currently under way... the Amaranth Womyn Radio Broadcast. A launch date has not yet been established as a good deal of work is ahead of us in creating the shows which will air from radio365. As a matter of convenience you will be able to pick our station up on most any player which you have downloaded onto your computer, including G2 Real Player, Yahoo and many others.

AW is a lesbian community which has a good deal to offer its members. We are womyn of substance and this magazine is our place to promote womyn's talents; a place for womyn to blossom. We look forward to your comments and encourage you to e-mail us your thoughts.

Thanks again to the many contributors and the wonderful womyn who helped create Amaranth Womyn; the site, the magazine and our future. I know I will be put on ignore for this, but I'll say it anyway... Special thanks to Toooquiet for her input, graphics and technical support of this magazine.

Wacipi, Editor

Alpha Bitches by SNACK
Adventures of Two Crazy Lesbians

You’re about to embark on a journey into the lives of two strange (akin to the twilight zone) lesbians and their relationship. Since you can only truly write about what you know, you’ll get to know me more than you ever truly wanted!

Ancient History

To bring you up to date to where we are today, I’ll start with a little history. We’re one of those new-fangled internet romances that hit it off and we took it from online to 3-D. It’s been a crazy bumpy ride thus far, and I see no end to the speed bumps in sight! We’ve been together for one year, 2 months, and 24 days... as of today. I had to go count on the calendar because I’m really horrible about knowing things like that. On the other hand, Batzz, idiot savant that she is, can ponder for about 10 seconds on that kind of question and spit out, to the minute, how long we’ve been together, my first words to her, what I ate for breakfast four months ago, and the exact total of last week’s grocery bill!

We just started living with each other and it seems life is out to get us right from the start. I won’t go into details, yet, but I feel like this is Clash of the Titans, and I’m one of those damned chess pieces getting moved around by the gods’ whimsy.

Fate or Coincidence?

I don’t really believe in Fate. Nor do I believe in coincidence. I believe everything happens for a reason, and that I should learn something from it, but I don’t really know why things happen when and where they do. Batzz is a firm believer in Fate, and She’s a grim old harpy who has it in for us.

Take, for example, our cars. I have an extinct old land yacht from the days when driving was a luxury and nobody wanted to be bothered with little gauges on their dashboard, so they installed what I lovingly refer to as “idiot lights.” Translation: when the light goes on, it’s too late to salvage whatever part has just died. Batzz has a fairly sturdy Jeep, but the ol’ girl didn’t quite make it from the Northeast down here to Texas. As we were driving through Alabama, singing to Queen at the top of our lungs, we heard something akin to a shotgun blast. Obviously not something two queers want to hear whilst driving through rural Alabama. I pulled over and luckily it had been one of the bungee cords popping off the roof. Unluckily, the car was smoking like it had just come off a 10 year celibacy kick. We peeked underneath and oil was splattered all over the road and the underside of the jeep. We made it to Texas despite everything, but we were keeping a close eye on the oil gauges and temperature. We thought we were home-free once the move was done, but then that Harpy Bitch pulled a string. Tap. Tap. Tap. Taptaptaptaptaptap... The engine now keeps a marching beat wherever we go. Sigh.

I think we’re going to send Fate a fruitcake for Christmas.

The Classified Crone by MERCY

Well, today for a lark, I *traveled* through cyberspace to one of the realllllllllly big lesbian sites. And while there, I decided to look through the classifieds. Hmmm, who knows, maybe there is someone out there for me!

There were all sorts of options, but I chose to read ads from lesbians from all over ranging in age from 45-99. Being a crone myself, and realizing that it was highly unlikely that my *soon-to-be-soulmate* was going to be found among the younger, I thought that at least I would have something in common with these womyn.

Wrong!

First off, not a one of them had that dyke institution known as *baggage* Yeah right! Some of them have lived over a half century and they have no baggage???? More than likely they just forgot where they left it! Either that, or they have spent most of those years in therapy, and now describe it fondly as *life experiences!*

They were all in marvelous shape too! Even the ones that described themselves as *larger than average* were always quite muscular. No sagging here! I look around in disbelief. Is this possible??? Is the average older dyke built like Tina Turner? Where are the ones who would be likely to say to me, *Honey, if you help me up, I will help you up! Or, perhaps, *oh honey...let's just stay in bed! * It seemed they all walked miles a day. Nobody said that their exercise consisted of going from one side of Walmart to the other and front to back all on the same day! All those muscular womyn could do for me would be to call an ambulance after I had passed out from lack of oxygen as I tried to hold my stomach in.

None of them admitted to some of the other changes that sometimes occur as we get ummm riper? Nobody said *You will love to giggle with me and we can both cross our legs tight if we get really tickled* Nobody said, *I will be more than happy to share my Beano with you on the nights that we decide to go out for Mexican food* Spirituality was also mentioned often. There were a variety of beliefs and they were all important. One womon even mentioned that she meditated several hours a day. Well now, wouldn't that be fun? I couldn't decide whether she could do this while I was at work or while I was asleep. Yeah buddy, that's what I am looking for.......a partner who is sitting in front of a candle/gazingball/oceanic view going Ommmmmmm for hours out of every day.

They all seemed to agree that fireplaces were lovely on winter evenings, and the beach won many raves. Of course, any number of them seemed to be hoping that *I* would provide these amenities. Sorry, in Oklahoma there aren't any ocean beaches.....but we can have a fire. Mebbe...if I suddenly get to add a fireplace to my house. Or, if I drop a cigarette down between the sofa cushions. Travel was often mentioned as a joy in their lives. And not just traveling over the weekend. Oh no....it was safaris and cruises. Ooops...there was nobody that was dying to go for a ride to the next town in an aging Buick. : (

Animals seemed to be a fairly common denominator. The legendary cats, any number of dogs, and quite a few horses. One person stated that *You will enjoy riding with me at sunset, and we will together enjoy all the things that make horse ownership so rewarding.* Sweetie, you're talking about mucking out stalls. That wasn't a heck of a lot of fun when I had horses, and back when I would actually agree to handling a pitchfork!

Not that they were all country lovers. There were any number of city lovers, who attended every cultural activity known in that area. Season tickets, I am sure. Most of them assumed that I had lots of ummm for the lack of a better word, sexual experience. Well darlin, I was a late bloomer. And, although I have certainly had experience, I am not sure that I have done or know of every trick in the book. So...either you let me experiment, or you pretend not to see when I rapidly turn the pages of the orange Lesbian Sex Book that I have stashed on my side of the bed.

Smoking was also a NoNo. So I am assuming that even if I could offer a spirtual safari to a land in which my belly would be flat and there would be no sagging flesh; where there would be an ocean view and sleek horses, I would be rejected. I ponder....Do I dare add the following personal ad? 55 year old crone with some experience ISO special crone who creaks in the mornings and laughs in the evenings. Baggage is OK...we can store it in the basement and bring it up if our lives need a little added drama. Hard muscular bodies are not necessary. I have a piece of plywood under my mattress that supplies support for my back. A tender loving heart and welcoming arms would be appreciated though.

We will have adventures when we travel to nearby cities to see how their Walmarts are arranged. We will enjoy quiet evenings at home and if I can't get a fireplace installed, I will let you sit closest to the furnace vent. I have cable and there are any number of cultural events on A&E and some of the other channels, but you will also allow me to watch my forensic investigator shows in order that we do not slip behind on scientific matters.

Your pets are welcome, and litter box chores will be divided according to who can bend over the farthest on any given day.

Normal bodily functions are appreciated and revered. It's always nice to know everything is working properly if sometime a bit noisy. Humor, kindness, passion, and integrity are necessary. Teeth are optional.

NY Pride Parade by SANDERS-DAVIS

Freshly showered, car filled to the brim, we began our pilgrimage at 4 am. We were headed to New York City for the 31st Annual Pride Parade. This was only my second parade, but I felt a strange type of connection that went beyond the strong “Lesbian Pride” that I normally feel. This parade began the summer that I was born, and I liken its’ changes to my changes… growing strong and proud as time goes by.

Prior to this day, my partner and I had immersed ourselves in Pride Month. Between the Sundance Channel and Bravo, along with our own collection of gay and lesbian movies, I think we watched just about everything that has been filmed. Good, bad, stereotypical, all genres that include a gay character were included in our festival. June has come to be our holiday season, with the Parade our Christmas. It’s the one time of the year where I feel that the world is normal. This world may only consist of two cable channels between 8pm - 12am, the blocks on the parade route and Greenwich Village, but this world is one we are happy to join for the 30 days of pride month.

Our four-hour drive went by in a flash, the music of Donna Summer and Melissa still in our minds as we arrived at my mother-in-law’s apartment in Queens. With quick hugs and hellos, we excused ourselves to walk the three blocks to the Train. Being raised in a small country town upstate, the Subway continues to be a foreign world to me, and I am completely at my partners’ mercy when it comes to getting around the city. Rushing into the car, I settled into my seat and almost immediately thought of my prior knowledge of the “Gay Parade”, which was well before I came out. The media would show clips of the parade on the news, half naked people and the protesters in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, no wonder the public has such a negative image! Last year at my first parade I was almost a bit frightened, waiting for an explosion of naked gays and lesbians screaming and yelling… well, obviously that never happened, and I was lucky if I saw one pair of breasts.

Walking up the cement steps at 5th. Avenue was like walking into “Gay Land”! My eyes were immediately met with those beautiful block-long strings of rainbow balloons. There’s something almost surreal about seeing these, and having them be the symbol that welcomed me couldn’t have been more perfect. The one thing about New York City in general that I love is all of the different cultures and beliefs that come together in one city, and this parade is the perfect example of this! Thousands of smiling faces, all different shapes and colors. No violence, no arguments, no “sectioning” of like people. There was even a healthy smattering of straight couples. I silently wondered if my partner and I would have been met with the same acceptance if we had appeared hand in hand at a “straight” parade!

As we walked down 5th Avenue my partner made a comment about how incredible it was to be holding each other as we walked down the famous Avenue, and we gripped each other a little tighter in our own private state of satisfaction as we entered the “heart” of the parade. Bands were practicing, dancers were warming up, statuesque drag queens were fixing their costumes. We stopped for a bit and watched the Brazilian group as they worked up a sweat. Drums and dancers, they were able to capture the very essence of carnivalle, their sexual identity melted away, as their talent as pure performers took hold.

We continued our trek, trying to find a spot in the packed streets. St. Patrick’s Cathedral didn’t let any of us down on their rigid stand on “homosexuality”. The entire block the church sat on was blocked off; we couldn’t even walk on the sidewalks. As we stood in the hot sun waiting to cross to the other side, this obstacle soon turned into a minor inconvenience as the “31st. Annual Pride Parade” was announced over the loudspeaker. Cheers and clapping followed, and we all remembered why we were here, to celebrate our pride, our diversity… not to fight a battle of ignorance. Not today anyway.

Settling behind a barricade, spring water in one hand, my partner in the other, we were ready for the show, and they certainly did not let us down. There are no words that can describe the level of talent when all of us “gays” get together! Music that made your body move uncontrollably to the beat, even though the temperature was well over 90 degrees. Floats sporting perfectly toned men and women, singers and dancers. If there was a talent it was showcased here, all with the message of pride in who you are, not only as a gay person, but as a diverse individual. Everyone cheered with great respect as the Stonewall Vets came through. Truly, they are our “parents”. They obviously felt the crowd’s unanimous “thank you” as they rode by, heads held high, waving and smiling.

2:00 brought one minute of silence for all of those we’ve lost along the way. The parade was full of groups dedicating themselves to not only finding a cure for AIDS, but also those who unselfishly give of themselves to enhance and better the lives of those living with the disease. Naturally I wondered why these people never made the news! We all may have lost some wonderful, beautiful people due to ignorance and inactivity, but their presence was felt as the crowd cheered 60 seconds later, in a celebration of their life and their memory.

Then my favorite part of the parade passed by, the most moving part for me. The PFLAG groups began to proudly march, signs in hand blaring “We love our gay son just the way he is!” I’m not ashamed to say that these groups always bring more than a few tears to my eyes. To have that kind of love, acceptance and support is something that we all seek, and for just a moment these people are able to give just a small bit of that to everyone in the crowd. This is why I personally make the pilgrimage each year, to be with my own. To enter a world where you’re not only accepted exactly how you are, but you’re diversity is actually celebrated! No strange looks, no covering up, just the freedom to be who you are, and to love who you choose.

We left the parade hot, sweaty and sunburned, and thoroughly proud of who we were. The yearly parade is our “transfusion” of normalcy. For one day we are able to enter a world free from prejudices, judgment and scorn. Not only for the gay community, but also for the worlds’ community as a whole. Our car full of rainbow stickers and gay flags, we were confident and proud of who we were, and more than ready to take on our little town upstate.

Of course we did manage to get lost for four hours between the Bronx and New Jersey on the way home, but that’s another story!

Pre-Menopause by HEXANGYL

This article is the first in a series of three which are meant to be both informative and helpful to you. In this issue we will deal with the symptoms and treatments associated with pre-menopause.

DEFINITION:

The term menopause by definition is merely the cessation of menses (menstrual periods). A better and broader understanding of the word menopause is that it is a period of time (no pun intended) in a woman's life, approximately between the age of 35-58, where women physiologically, psychologically, and emotionally shift gears as hormone production changes.

YOU KNOW IT'S COMING WHEN...

- Your periods become irregular. Some of us menstruate more frequently and some of us skip periods.

- You begin to have "hot flashes" (flushes) and sweats of the face, neck, and upper body, and excessive perspiration - especially at night.

- You begin to notice vaginal changes such as decrease of moisture and elasticity.

- You may have stress incontinence or urinary frequency.

- You have joint pain, backaches, and headaches.

- You experience insomnia which is usually a result of the "hot flashes".

Not all women have all of the above symptoms (Thank Goodness!), but 40-70% have hot flashes while 49% have episodes of excessive sweating. The most common sign that we are entering the perimanopausal period is menstrual irregularity. The majority of us experience a decrease of bleeding with each period and the cycles become spaced further apart.

TREATMENT:

While there is little we can do that really treats menopause as such, we can treat the symptoms which can be very annoying.

The following are traditional treatments for the various symptoms. For hot flashes it is recommended that you use a fan, a cold washcloth or a cold shower, and sleeping naked or even walking around naked will definately cool you off! For the joint pain you may wish to take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory meds such as Advil, Ibuprofen, or Motrin. There are also prescription meds for inflammation which your doctor may prescribe.

Additionally, there are non-traditional treatments and alternative remedies. For hot flashes you can add such items to your diet as tofu, green soy beans, and other soy products which contain phytoestrogens, which is an estrogen-like compound found in plants. NOTE: Tofu has 10 times as much phytoestrogens as soy drinks. For the joint pain gammalinolenic acid from borage seed oil and evening primrose oil may decrease the tenderness, swelling, and pain of the joints. Topical Capsicum from chili peppers incorporated into a cream applied directly to the joints helps to relieve the ache. Since it is derived from a chili pepper, it does sting some when applied. Gluten free vegan diets which excludes all foods from animal sources - meat, dairy, eggs, etc. ( a little harsh for me though) is also said to minimize the pain. Fish and fish oil - requires large quantities of capsules (10-18 grams per day) or oily type fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, or bluefish 3 times a week. These fish oil capsules and fish are natural blood thinners and anti-inflammatory agents. Zinc also reduces joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.

In conclusion, I want to point out that there are other medical conditions that can mimmick pre-menopausal symptoms and, therefore, you should seek out medical advice before deciding that menopause is indeed what you are experiencing.

GayScopes by LILLITH

In this space, of the next issue, I will answer your Horoscope questions concerning love, life and happiness.

If you have a question for "Ask Lillith", please e-mail me directly at the link below.

Include your question and date of birth. I will NEVER reveal ANY of your personal information!

I will do my best to answer as many of your questions as possible!

For your monthly horoscope visit the Lillith GayScopes Site HERE.