W.H.I.P.S. (fan group)

Collaboration
Name:	W.H.I.P.S. (Also called the Houston Crowd) (in one zine, listed as WHIPS OF HOUSTON)
Members:	see article
Date(s):	originated in 1970s, some members were present using this name at 1995 Escapade
Focus:
Fandoms:	Star Trek: TOS
External Links:
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W.H.I.P.S. was a group of fans from Texas.

W.H.I.P.S. stands for Women of Houston in Pornography (and its "tamer" names: Women of Houston In Professions and Women of Houston in Publishing). It was a collective of female slash fans out of Houston, Texas.

Regarding the name's origin in relation to presenting IDICon, Marnie S, said in a 2012 interview:

We were on the bank account, we had to get a DBA, which is when we actually came out as the WHIPS. Women of — we had to come up with some kind of a excuse for the acronym, which wasn't — We couldn't tell 'em whips and chains. (laughter) We had to go with "Women of Houston in the Professions." So, we could put it on the stupid DBA certificate, and get a bank account. But, our house was collateral on some of this stuff. So, I said, we'd better at least break even... No Fiascos this time, guys. I don't wanna lose my house too!

They were also known as "The Houston Crowd."

A similar group was the The U.K. Group.

Contributions to "Strange Bedfellows"

Some members of this fan group contributed to a section of many issues of Strange Bedfellows, an apa that was active between 1993 and 1997.

Members of the Group

Not all of the members listed below lived in the Houston area.

• Katharine Scarritt
• Pam Rose
• Lezlie Shell
• Cynthia Lockwood
• Dixie
• Mary Lowe
• Barb L
• Linn O'Brien
• Marnie S.
• emh
• CVP
• Kris
• T.M.
• Astra Thibodeaux

Some "out-of-towners" as listed in Strange Bedfellows" #1:

• Lois Welling
• Courtney Grey
• Madelein Lee

Notable Works

• IDICon first slash con
• Best Little Valentine Zine in Texas
• Best Little K/Mas Zine in Texas
• some tribs to Strange Bedfellows