Amazon Country
Amazon Country emerged in 1974 as a groundbreaking radio program on Philadelphia’s WXPN, and was the first lesbian radio program in the United States. Created by Victoria Brownworth, Roberta Hacker, and Rose Weber, it was envisioned as a dedicated platform for lesbian and feminist musicians and the women's music movement, filling a significant gap in media representation. From its inception, the program sought to challenge mainstream radio's neglect of marginalized voices by amplifying artists whose work resonated with themes of resistance, empowerment, and identity. In an interview for an article in 2019, Hacker explained, "it was such a time for an explosion of lesbian work driven by the need to uncover our history."
More than just a musical showcase—the show evolved into a cultural hub for lesbian and feminist communities, featuring interviews with influential musicians, poets, and activists, as well as live performances, highlighting the intersection of music and political movements, such as the fight for queer rights, women’s liberation, and anti-racist activism.
Indeed, both former and current hosts have emphasized that Amazon Country has always made its listeners feel less isolated. Reflecting on the show in the same 2019 article, Brownworth wrote that the program "was a subversive underground that connected women to lesbian society and culture in the decades before social media." Likewise, during an interview in 2024, current host Debra D'Alessandro noted that she has received emails from women saying that the show has been their lifeline.
Over the decades, Amazon Country has continued to expand its reach and influence, inspiring similar programs across the United States and abroad. Today, its longevity reflects the enduring need for spaces that celebrate and uplift underrepresented voices in music and beyond.
Liza Cowan Liza Cowan is a prominent member of the Lesbian Separatism movement. Over the years, she has amassed a collection of various radio shows that talk about the Feminist Separatism movement, from both lesbian and`` heterosexual perspectives.
Roberta Hacker grew up outside of Telford, PA, 50 miles outside of Philadelphia. She was a co-host on the first lesbian radio program in the United States, Amazon Country on WXPN-FM at the University of Pennsylvania. Soon, she became the sole host, continuing that work for over a decade. The show is still on air and is the longest-running lesbian radio show in the nation. She also cofounded the Philadelphia Women’s Death Review Team, the first multi-agency, multi-disciplinary effort designed to prevent future violence-related deaths of women.
Victoria Brownworth was an American journalist, writer and editor. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she wrote numerous award-winning articles about AIDS in women, children, and people of color. She was the first person in the United States to write a column about lesbianism in a daily newspaper.
Rose Weber was a cohost of Amazon Country, one of the earliest programs focusing on women’s music and lesbian culture.
