Lesbian Nation, July 28, 1972
Women’s liberation, Publishing, Coming out, Sexuality
Martha Shelley interviews Gene Damon aka Barbara Grier, founder of the lesbian magazine The Ladder (1956-1972). They discuss the beginnings of The Ladder and how it evolved from a smaller publication within the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) into an independent publication. Grier discusses the shift in content as well once the magazine became independent of the Daughters of Bilitis. Grier felt that under DOB they were focused on presenting a clean public image of lesbians to society at large and that this was reflected in what was published in older versions of The Ladder. Once Grier became the editor, she felt it was important to address topics like sexuality, saying “we began running material that deals with sex honestly and forthrightly.”
7/28/1972
English
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Lesbian Nation, September 29, 1972
Poetry, Love, Relationships
In this episode of Lesbian Nation, Martha Shelley and guests read original poetry. They cover love, relationships, and life as a lesbian in New York City. Mary Flowerpot opens the show with her trademark whimsical comedy segment.
9/29/1972
English
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Lesbian Nation, September 22, 1972
Sexuality, Sexism, Civil Rights
In this installment of Lesbian Nation, Martha Shelley interviews women of the Women’s Lesbian Liberation Committee of the Gay Activists’ Alliance (GAA). Mary Flowerpot also hosts her comedy segment. In Shelley’s interview, the women discuss the emergence of the Lesbian Liberation Committee and their role within the GAA. They talk about what they have done to address issues of sexism in the GAA and how they try to maintain positive discourse with male members.
9/22/1972
English
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Lesbian Nation, September 8, 1972
Police Brutality, Environment, Pollution, Riots/Protests, Publishing
Martha Shelley interviews lesbian students from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale about a number of topics including lesbian publishing, local environmental concerns, and student activism. Mary Flowerpot opens the show with another funny segment before Shelley comes on to address more serious topics. The students discuss a recent incident involving unwarranted police brutality against a local student group (trigger warning).
9/8/1972
English
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Lesbian Nation, October 6, 1972
Psychology, Mental Health, Health Advocacy, Women's Health, Poetry
This episode of Lesbian Nation opens with a Mary Flowerpot humor segment then dives into an interview between Martha Shelley and Phyllis Chesler, renowned psychologist and author. In this interview, Chesler discusses women’s health, delving into her observations on how women are treated in mental health institutions. The episode ends with a poetry reading.
10/6/1972
English
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Lesbian Nation, April 14, 1972
Poetry
Martha Shelley hosts a poetry reading and interview with lesbian poets from the San Lorenzo Bay area. In between reading their poems, the women discuss power and equality dynamics, as well as relationships and trying to get works published in The Ladder. Trigger warning: racial slurs.
4/14/1972
English
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Lesbian Nation, January 21, 1974
Anti-prison movement, Intersectional Feminism
The episode opens with a song from Lavender Jane. Then in the final part of a three-episode interview, Martha Shelley brings back Florynce Kennedy to discuss Bobby Seale's trial and mayoral run in Oakland, Kennedy's experience as part of Assata Shakur's legal team, and intersectionality and conflict between the feminist and black power movements. Following their interview, Viv Sutherland reviews Myrna Lamb's play <em>Because I Said So</em>, playing at the Women's Arts Center. Trigger warning: racial slurs.
1/21/1974
English
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Lesbian Nation, October 29, 1973
Literature, Publishing, Feminism, the American South
Martha Shelley interviews authors Rita Mae Brown and Blanche Boyd about growing up in the American South, publishing their work with the independent feminist press Daughters Inc. rather than a mainstream publisher, and the synthesis and conflict between feminism and art. Among other announcements, Shelley also gives a brief update on the Women's Liberation Center and their right to occupy the 20th Street firehouse.
10/29/1973
English
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Lesbian Nation, October 22, 1973
Political Movements and Community Struggles, Women's Liberation Center, Letters
Martha Shelley and Lois Chaffee discuss the Women’s Liberation Center and an ongoing dispute over its occupancy of 243 West 20th St., as a family services group has tried to claim the space for themselves. Following their conversation, Martha Shelley reads aloud two letters from listeners, one a gay senior at Stuyvesant High School and the other a student at Sarah Lawrence College. Trigger warning: bullying, homophobic slurs.
10/22/1973
English
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