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Lesbian Herstory Archives AudioVisual Collections

Lesbian Nation

Title

Lesbian Nation

Description

Lesbian Nation was a groundbreaking radio show produced and hosted by Martha Shelley (1943 - Present), that specifically focused and revolved around the LGBTQ community during the rise of gay and lesbian liberation movements in the 1970s.

Creator

Shelley, Martha

Date

1972-1974

Collection Items

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Lesbian Nation (1972-08-11)

Tags Music
Lesbian Nation (1972-11-20)

Tags Audre Lorde, Poetry
In Search of Sappho (1973-06-08)

Tags History, Poetry
Lesbian Nation (1973-06-26)

Tags Feminism, Jane Alpert
Lesbian Nation - Softball Game, N. O. W. Sports, J. Rawcliffe on Track (1973-09-24)

Tags Softball, Sports
Lesbian Nation - Esther Newton, pt. II

Tags Esther Newton, Feminism, Jane Alpert, Matriarchy
Lesbian Nation (1973-11-18)

Tags Stonewall
Lesbian Nation (1973-06-12)

Part 1 of a reading of a letter by Jane Alpert titled Mother Right that discusses Jane Alpert's life in the Weather Underground for three years. The letter is split into two parts: an open letter to women activists to leave the left movement to radical feminism and a call to action to build a matriarchy. The episode references rape, emotional manipulation and sexism performed by members of the Weather Underground and the left.

Tags Activism, Feminism, Matriarchy, Weather Underground
Lesbian Nation (1973-04-23)

Second part of the interview with Jill Johnson, writer of the book, Lesbian Nation. Martha and Jill continue their discussion about personal and political relationships in lesbian culture and the complex issue of men in lesbian and feminist spaces. [Music: Can't Stop the Maddness by Birtha and audio from Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About The Godfather but Never Thought to Ask]

Tags Gender, Identity, Writing
Lesbian Nation (1972-08-11)

Martha Shelley interviews Sydney Abbott and Barbara Love about their newly released book "Sappho Was a Right On Woman," The book and discussion touches on topics of lesbian experience including the "evil" lesbian who attempt to rebel against norms, the external and internal pressure of the lesbian experience and the fragmented nature of the women's movement. [Music: Women Like Me by Roberta Kosse and Heroin by the Velvet Underground plays]

Tags Identity, Women's Political Movements, Writing
Lesbian Nation (1973-01-30)

Interview with Jane Kogan about Daughters of Bilitis and why she gave up painting and her life as an activist and artist [The Lady’s Not for Sale by Kris Kristofferson plays] .

Tags Art, Daughters of Bilitis, DOB, Women's Political Movements
Lesbian Nation (1972-09-01)

Introduction of Mary Flowerpot followed by an interview where Martha Shelley and Mary Flowerpot compare and contrast the beginning of the GLF in the United Kingdom and discuss class distiniction, women in the workforce and the drag scene in Europe. Martha Shelley and Mary Flowerpot also read a letter a homophobic letter directed at Joe Johnston that was sent to the Village Voice. At end the episode, Martha Shelley answers phone calls from two lesbians about the firing of a lesbian speaker from WBAI.

Tags Drag, International, International Lesbian Movement, Mary Flowerpot
Lesbian Nation (1973-02-26)

On February 21st, a protest was conducted in Times Square by Committee for Fair Divorce and Alimony Laws protesting the paying of alimony by husbands. A counter protest conducted by National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) in favor of alimony and increased regulations and child support. Martha Shelley conducted interviews with both organizations from individuals at the protests.

Tags Marriage, National Organization for Women, Political Movements and Civil Struggles
Lesbian Nation (1973-09-17)

Martha reads a response letter originally published in "Off Our Backs" from the women of Weather Underground in reply to Jane Alpert's letter. This letter references topics including the bridge between the radical feminism movement and the left, the divisions in the women's movement, and the ideals of the organization. [Music from Bali]

Tags Matriarchy, radical lesbians, Weather Underground
Lesbian Nation (1973-09-10)

Part two of an interview about Marge Piercy's newest book "Small Changes." Discussion included topics like the value of writing about working class characters and language in writing and speech.

Tags Books, Identity, Writing
Lesbian Nation (1972-10-20)

Bertha Harris from Richmond College on writing and her life as a lesbian author.

Tags Books, Identity, Writing
Lesbian Nation (1973-02-20)

Interview about the play "Coming Out: A Documentary Play About Gay Life & Liberation in the U.S.A". by Jonathan Ned Katz with five members of the cast. In the course of the conversation, the cast also discusses issues with relating to other social groups through the play.

Tags Books, Gender, Identity, Theater, Writing
Lesbian Nation (1973-03-13)

Karla Jay and June Rook about the book "Out of the Closet," a gay anthology of views and articles about the gay experience including the gay experience in Cuba and a discussion of the value of the individual perspective. [Bar One by Maxine Adele Feldman]

Tags International, Interviews, Politics
Lesbian Nation (1972-10-13)

Mary Flowerpot plays a recording of Joyce Grenfell's audio drama and a continuation of the story of "Sally Lime, the Third Woman." Later, Martha Shelley interviews Karla Jay and June Rook about the book "Out of the Closet," a gay anthology of views and articles about topics including the gay experience in Cuba and a discussion of the value of the individual perspective. [Music: Bar One by Maxine Adele Feldman]

Tags Femininity & Masculinity, Gender Roles, Interviews, Mary Flowerpot
Lesbian Nation (1972-12-26)

Interview with Julie Lee, an important member of the Daughters of Bilitis, about the New Jersey National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) and her struggles to create a chapter of NOW dedicated to "doubly-oppressed" women (which included lesbians, POC women and improvished women in the community).

Tags Daughters of Bilitis, DOB, National Organization for Women, Political Movements and Civil Struggles

Collection Tree

Audio Collections
- Martha Shelley
  - Lesbian Nation