California Wasn't Good For Us

A benefit

reading for 

Reid Gómez

featuring Jewelle Gomez,

Reid Gómez,

Kim Shuck

and L. Frank, Master of Ceremonies

April 20, 2008, 2-4pm

small press traffic

1111 8th Street, San Francisco

Timken Lecture Hall

Map

Reid Gómez is a Diné writer and second generation San Franciscan. Her Grandfather came to San Francisco to work the docks and joined the infamous ILWU. She has been active in the literary and non-profit community since 1989, writing, reading, and performing at BRAVA! for Women in the Arts, Intersection for the Arts, the Jon Sims Center, the Women's Building and the National Queer Arts Festival. In 1995 she won the Emerging Writers award from the Astraea Lesbian Writers Fund.

In 2002 while working for the American Indian Film Institute, the Advocates of Indigenous California Language Survival, and Jon Sims Center, her appendix ruptured and went misdiagnosed for two weeks. She very nearly died. During the following years, she's been hospitalized three times and undergone four major surgical procedures. As a result of the many complications, she is now faced with chronic pain, mobility limitations, and a permanent disability due to the damage to her abdominal tissues and membranes.

Since September 23, 2002, Reid has received absolutely no financial support from state or federal sources, as is often the case with our community. She has no health insurance and is unable to work. Her strength continues to improve and good days she can manage 2 hours of work, in addition to her daily 5 hours of physical therapy. Her only opportunity to earn income is through her writing; she is in need of a computer and data recovery.

She has generously offered her talents at various benefits over the years, for no financial compensation – most memorably the Kitchen Table Press benefit at the Women's Building. When she first entered the hospital, there was talk of a benefit but none have been held until now. This is the first and only time a public call has gone out for support for this artist.

Jewelle Gomez, L. Frank, and Kim Shuck have generous offered their support, and we invite you to join them.

For more information and/or to make a contribution, please email: californiawasntgoodforus@yahoo.com.

Photo: Great Grandma Minnie