In this episode of Radio Free Women, three members of the National Organization for Women (NOW), discuss the state of abortion after the passage of Roe v. Wade. Mary Bailey (coordinator of the NOW Abortion Coalition), Mary Helen Bloom (member of the national area chapter of NOW), and Mary Garrison (President of the Montgomery NOW chapter) discuss threats to the landmark ruling. They also discuss how women are excluded for the conversation around abortion, as well as where states have the right to regulate and balance issues of state interests with consideration of women's health.
Feminist Radio Network Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
This episode is a Production of Radio Free Women in Washington DC, affiliated with the Feminist Radio Network. The hosts cover issues of class wtihin the Women’s Movement, often from personal experience as lower or working class women. It includes discussions on the differences between the working class, poor working class, and lower class, the overlap between race and class, and the lack of culture within middle class spaces. Furthermore, they cover some common experiences of working and lower class women within the Women’s Movement, from discriminatory treatment from the middle class women in the movement and the lack of solidarity and support from middle class women to those with material needs.
Folk Songs of the Industrial Workers of the World
This recording consists of a collection of songs associated with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), an international union founded in 1905 in Chicago, IL. IWW members, commonly referred to as Wobblies, were prominent participants in the radical labor movement in the early 20th Century in the US. They also had ties to the socialist and anarchist movements of the time. While this recording does not include any information on the singers, writers, or dates recorded, most of these songs were written by Joe Hill and likely are sung by Joe Glazer and Bill Friedland. Joe Hill was a famous labor activist and folk singer in the early 1900s, and Joe Glazer and Bill Friedland kept Joe Hill’s music alive throughout the 20th century. Songs 1-13 are likely sung by Joe Glazer and Bill Friedland, song 14 by Holly Near, and song 15 by Charlie Poole. Songs 1-13 were likely recorded in the 1950s.
Not to be used for publication without the express written consent of Liza Cowan. Contact the Lesbian Herstory Archive for Liza Cowan’s contact information. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Neighborhood Voices: Irving Cooperberg [Partial interview]
Irving Cooperberg discusses the importance of having a physical, experimental space and what it means for the legitimacy and stability of the community. He discusses different LGBT groups and community spaces throughout NYC, and the ways in which they promote life and hope amidst the HIV/AIDs epidemic. He talks about how these spaces give legitimacy to the community and allow for the melding of all different cultures and people. He also discusses the gay Synagogue and its role in the larger gay and lesbian community.
WNYC-TV Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Neighborhood Voices: Sonny Wainwright Interview (Tape 5)
Sonny Wainwright provides discourse about the privilege of marriage as it pertains to illness and becoming a parent. She explains her choice to "live straight" for several years so that she could have a child. It was not until she met Audre Lorde that she realized she had "choices", whom she called her teacher. Wainwright also discusses the need for lesbian illness support groups due to unjust experiences brought on by the illegality of same-sex marriage.
Neighborhood Voices: Sonny Wainwright Interview (Tape 4)
Sonny Wainwright discusses being closeted, her group of closeted friends, and keeping her private life private. She also discusses labels as being necessary because the word “woman” does not define every part of her, and when she is free to be who she is she will no longer feel the need to be labeled a “radical lesbian feminist” because woman will be sufficient. Also mentioned is Wainwrights’ battle with breast cancer, and how it brought her first book Stage V: A Journal Through Illness.
Neighborhood Voices: Sonny Wainwright Interview (Tape 3)
The New York gay bar scene in the 1950s gave Sonny Wainwright and her peers a place to be together without the interference of straight society. She left New York in 1953 to become a college teacher at University of New Hampshire. Wainwright oscillates between ideas of identity and stories of different instances of being outed in her personal and professional life, including a story about developing a relationship with a student at the University of New Hampshire, who outed her sexualty leading to her dismissal.
Neighborhood Voices: Sonny Wainwright Interview (Tape 2)
Wainwright remembers her youth and feeling on the “fringes” of society. Growing up and attending an all girls highschool, she was aware of her feelings about women and only later realized what it meant after graduating high school and meeting her first lover. Despite understanding her identity and sexuality, she made the choice to “live straight” in the 1960s due to the lack of acceptance by society and the threat of losing her job as principal of a junior high school while raising her daughter alone.
Neighborhood Voices: Sonny Wainwright Interview (Tape 1)
Sonny Wainwright discusses coming out in 1948, navigating the Village bar scene as a young college student with her lover Kelly, and the social life of lesbians in the 1950s. Wainwright found support in the bars as well as her close circle of closeted friends prior to the formation of the Gay Women’s Alternative.
Neighborhood Voices: Audre Lorde Interview (Tape 4)
In the final part of the Old Neighborhood Voices interview with Audre Lorde, she wraps up the talk with a discussion on the drama of lesbian life in her youth. She talks about the difficulties and joys of living in community with lesbians in the 1950s and how being on the edge of society gives you a different worldview. She stresses how everyone should view themselves as an outsider so they don't lose perspective on the true sense of power structures at play in the world.
Neighborhood Voices: Audre Lorde Interview (Tape 3)
In the third part of the interview, Audre Lorde discusses the lure of the Village for gay people, black people, and others who wished for an egalitarian environment, and how sometimes they would ignore the homophobia and racism they faced in the neighborhood to hold onto this dream. Also, she discussed in more depth what she thought about the Stonewall riot, and how it felt tied to the black revolutionary movement of the time. Furthermore, she discusses at length the different gay bars she would frequent, their ties to the mafia, and the different women that would frequent them.
Neighborhood Voices: Audre Lorde Interview (Tape 2)
In the second part of the Old Neighborhood Voices interview with Audre Lorde, she talks about living around the Village in the 1950s - from the migrators who came into the gay bars just for the weekend, to the imagined mythos of the Village as a place for anyone outside of white, middle-class America, and to the conflicts between the older residents and the newcomers to the area. Lorde touches on what her apartments were like and the rent situation of the area, as well as scrouging together food to share with her communities as a poor person. Then, Lorde discusses the multiple lives lesbians of the time had to live and the incredible gift that integrating every aspect of herself was as she got older. She touches on the Stonewall Riot, as well as the way she had to stop arbitrarily dividing aspects of herself to make others more comfortable.
Neighborhood Voices: Audre Lorde Interview (Tape 1)
Old Neighborhood Voices interviews Audre Lorde about living as a young Black lesbian in the Lower East Side (now referred to as the East Village). She discusses the interconnectedness of the lesbian communities in the neighborhood, the imperfect support systems they offered each other when there were no other options, and the pressures of living on the edge of society. Lorde also discusses the racism that was rampant in the gay community in the Village, and how the few black lesbians within these communities were met with apathy when discussing political matters. She also discusses the effects of McCarthyism in the 1950s on her lesbian communities, as well as how she gained political consciousness growing up with the Brown v. Board of Education case, as well as by living near the Women’s House of Detention in the Lower East Side and seeing Black incarcerated women for the first time.
This recording is a compilation of songs, music, excerpts, quotes, and recordings by, about, and for women in show business. Featured in part two are songs by Judy Garland; music from various Broadway shows and movie musicals; excerpts from Bette Davis' autobiography;quotes from Dorothy Dandrige; a recording of "Mary C. Brown and the Hollywood Sign" by Dory Previn; a reading of the poem "I Have Come to Claim Marilyn Monroe's Body" by Judy Grahn; and a recording of "There's No Business Like Show Business".
This recording is a compilation of quotes, songs, poems, and performances by, about, and for women in show business. Featured in part one are quotes about working in music from Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin; music by Melanie Safka; a poem to Aretha Franklin by Nikki Giovanni; a letter to Janis Joplin; a performance of Mercedez Benz by Janis Joplin. There are unnamed performances throughout the recording.
Anne Imelda Radice, an art museum director and arts administrator, discusses the life and art of Romaine Brooks. Romaine Brooks was a lesbian portrait artist born in Rome, Italy in the late 19th century. She was known as the "thief of souls" for her ability to capture emotion in her art. The host and Radice have a conversation on how lesbianism was perceived during Brooks' time period, as well as her relationship with her lifelong partner, Natalie Barney.
This episode is titled Women in Welfare and features discussions from Carol Brill, the director of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and welfare advocates Kayla Taylor, and Susan Moore. This episode covers the topics of the welfare system structure, stereotypes and myths about welfare recipients, double standards working mothers face based on class, and the classism within the social work profession. Furthermore, it includes clips from governmental proceedings related to welfare and proposed cuts to welfare benefits. It ends with a discussion on how the issues within the welfare system relate to the Women’s Liberation Movement and demands economic change from politicians who fund big business and the military while disregarding the poor through welfare cuts.
Red Tape, Feminist Radio Network affliliate
In this recording, Sally Gearhart discusses how the Church enforces ideas of masculinity and feminity. The host argues that feminism is incompatible with Christianity and lesbianism allows a woman to love herself and let go of the self-hatred that society and the Church impose.
Leadership, Self-concept, & Group Identity
Four women from working-class backgrounds critique leadership and individualism in second-wave feminism. Karen Kollias, Rita Mae Brown, Dolores Bargowski, and Beverly Fisher discuss the exclusion they experience by middle-class feminists who do not hold the same values of strength and leadership, which are viewed as masculine and therefore threatening. Feelings of guilt and the role of the mother in lower-class homes are also discussed.
Karen Kollias, Rita Mae Brown, Dolores Bargowski & Beverly Fisher
Women's Press Collective Workshop (Clip 3)
A question-and-answer session with members of the Women's Press Collective, including Wendy Cadden, Judy Grahn, and Martha Shelley. They discuss how they fund their projects. The uploaded file has been cropped due to Fair Use restrictions. The full file is available at the Lesbian Herstory Archives.
Judy Grahn & Women's Press Collective Access & Use Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Women's Press Collective Workshop (Clip 2)
A recording of a workshop featuring members of the Women's Press Collective, including Wendy Cadden, Judy Grahn, and Martha Shelley. The panelists describe the founding of the Collective in Oakland, California. The uploaded file has been cropped due to Fair Use restrictions. The full file is available at the Lesbian Herstory Archives.
Women's Press Collective Workshop (Clip 1)
Sidney Abbott at Lesbian Herstory Archives "The Good Old/Bad Old Days: Lesbian-Feminism, Its Origins—What's Helpful to Us Now?" Part 2 of 2
Lesbian feminism, LGBTQ rights organizations, Lesbian separatism
Sidney Abbott reflects on earlier years of the gay and lesbian movements; audience participation turns the presentation into a discussion on turning tides in the movements.
Lesbian Herstory Archives Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Sidney Abbott at Lesbian Herstory Archives "The Good Old/Bad Old Days: Lesbian-Feminism, Its Origins—What's Helpful to Us Now?" Part 1 of 2
Judy Grahn Poetry Reading [Fair use excerpt]
A poetry reading featuring Judy Grahn. Grahn reads from "She Who" and other works. The uploaded file has been cropped due to Fair Use restrictions. The full recording is available at the Lesbian Herstory Archives.
Judy Grahn & Women's Press Collective Access & Use Rights Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Ladder Workshop/Wendy Hayes, 1970s (Part 3)
Creating local Lesbian chapters and national communication through publications: The Ladder, Focus, Sisters, and Lesbian Tide.
Alix Dobkin Performance [Fair Use Excerpt]
Alix Dobkin sings a collection of her songs at an unknown location. The uploaded file has been cropped due to Fair Use restrictions. Full file available to view at Lesbian Herstory Archives.
See the LHA Copyright Statement
Ladder Workshop/Wendy Hayes, 1970s (Part 2)
About the First Lesbian Convention in San Francisco. A discussion of early scientific studies of sexuality (a couple of attendees and host talk about shock therapy). Trigger Warning: Discussion of shock therapy and suicide.
Ladder Workshop/Wendy Hayes, 1970s (Part 1)
Wendy Hayes elaborates her coming out in San Francisco and joining the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB). The Daughters of Bilitis started as a group of women trying to find an alternative to the bar scene in San Francisco.
Berkshire Conference Panel Discussion and Cleo Glenn
Gay Civil Rights, Separatism, Women's Liberation Movement, Activism, Political Movements and Community Struggles
Del Martin, Phyllis Lyon, Barbara Gittings, and Lois Johnson discuss their experiences in Daughters of Bilitis on a panel for the 1987 Berkshire Conference on the History of Women; Cleo Glenn discusses some of her younger life as well as her involvement with Daughters of Bilitis
Del Martin, Phyllis Lyon, Barbara Gittings, and Lois Johnson [panelists]; Cleo Glenn [interviewee]
See the LHA Copyright Statement Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Note that this image is used as a visual representation of the Judy Grahn/Women's Press Collective, and is not part of the collection itself.
This recording begins with announcements for upcoming poetry readings located throughout New York City. The next segment is a pre-recorded interview panel that offers insight into the gay professional led by a woman identified only as Shoshana. She discusses her own background and experiences in the workplace and then asks her panelists questions about their experiences and difficulties they face. The panelists go on to discuss their hesitancy and fears of what the repercussions of being out on the job would mean. Continuing on, the panelists discuss societal pressures and the vagaries of workplace policies and the paranoia it can lead to. As the discussion concludes, the focus and fear society has on the sexual aspect of being gay is explored. This broadcast concludes with Martha Shelley discussing her feelings of nostalgia on turning 30.
Contact LHA at dyv.lha@gmail.com Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
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.
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.
Martha Shelley plays a Lavender Jane song to open the episode and reads a series of local announcements. In the second part of a three-episode interview, Shelley speaks with Florynce Kennedy about intersectional feminism and racial conflict in the feminist movement, defining one's lesbian identity, and working to reject the pathology of oppression. Trigger warning: racial slurs.
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 Because I Said So, playing at the Women's Arts Center. Trigger warning: racial slurs.
Lesbian Nation, October 12, 1972 [Kate Millett, "Since Sexual Politics"]
Sexuality, Revolutionary Movements, Vietnam War
Martha Shelley speaks with Kate Millett, author of Sexual Politics, about a wide range of subjects that includes the Angela Davis trial of 1971, bisexual identity, radical counterculture in American universities, sadomasochism, and the Vietnam War.
Lesbian Nation, undated [Placenta Previa-cesarean]
Recorded by Martha Shelley in San Francisco, an unknown woman reading a poem written about the birth of her child and motherhood.
male vs female biology , Gynocracy, Motherhood, Feminism
In this episode Martha Shelley reads a letter written by Jane Alpert. The letter discusses male vs female biology, motherhood, feminism and the feminist revolution, Gynocracies and patriarchies, as well as gender roles.
In this episode of Lesbian Nation Martha Shelley speaks with Isabel Miller, author of “Patience and Sarah”. They discuss Miller’s writing career, her use of a pseudonym for writing lesbian novels, and the process of getting “Patience and Sarah” published.
In this episode of Lesbian Nation Martha Shelley speaks with poet Susan Caver. In between Caver reading her poetry, Shelley and her discuss the “disturbing” themes in Caver’s poetry which include incest and religion, as well as Carver’s past relationships.
This episode of Lesbian Nation opens with Mary Flowerpot’s comedy segement followed by Martha Shelly interviewing Bertha Harris. Harris is the author of “Catching Saradove” (1969), “Confessions of Cherubino.” (1972), and “Lover” (1976). Shelley and Harris have a conversation about the writing process and intellectualism.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.”
Literature, Poetry, Women’s Press Collective
A recording of Judy Grahn who briefly discusses publishing and two independent presses run by women, the Women’s Press Collective & Mama’s Press in the California bay area. The majority of airtime is dedicated to Grahn’s reading of works from the aforementioned presses. She reads chapter 17 from Sharon Isabel’s autobiographical novel “Yesterday’s Lessons” as well as poetry from “Lesbians Speak Out” & poems of Susan Griffin.
Literature, Daughters of Bilitis, Women's Lib, Publishing
An interview with Julie Lee about her background, work and ongoings with New York City & New Jersey branches of Daughters of Bilitis. This recording also includes a discussion of the book “Lesbian Woman” by Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon, the topics it addresses and Julie Lee’s efforts on east coast distribution of the book.
Lesbian Nation, January 1973 [Women Choose Women Exhibition]
Women Choose Women Exhibition, Interviews, Art
This recording consists of informal interviews and a narrated tour conducted by Martha Shelly as she walks through the museum on the opening of the Women Choose Women exhibit at the New York Cultural Center. Martha Shelley interviews important people tied to this exhibit such as Mario Amaya, director of the New York Cultural Center. Anne Kang, an activist who discusses work with her fellow activists to protest discrimination against work created by women at the Museum of Modern Art and the organization of what would become the Women Choose Women exhibition. Artist Muriel Castanis, a self described “sculpturette” shares her enthusiasm for the exhibition and the New York Cultural Center for hosting it. After the conclusion of this section, Martha Shelley conducts a walking tour of the exhibition and discusses selected works that stood out to her. She bumps into Janet Kogan and asks about her works and how they became part of the show.
This recording features thoughts on feminist credit unions by an unidentified speaker covering topics from the buercratic procedures and structure needed to create and run them, the ethical decisions on how to allocate loans given limited funding and importance of preserving their history.
Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Constructing a History of Power & Sexuality, New York University, undated (Part 2 [no part 1])
This recording is the second part of a keynote address by Catherine Simpson & Jonathan Katz titled “Constructing a History of Power & Sexuality”. The recording of the first part is unavailable; upon digitization it was found that the tape itself was blank, possibly due to user error at the time of recording or from being erased. It consists of a question & answer session with discussion of power from an interpersonal perspective up to a governmental, political level. Psychology and energy, both labor and libido are elaborated on, as well as the impact and ramifications of the Women's Liberation Movement & Gay Liberation Movement on society.
This recording of the “Women’s Showcase” is the third part of three from the NYU hosted event, Women Against Rape. Ellyn Joyce the author of the poetry book “Instinct for Survival” reads selected poems from her own work. Before each reading Ellyn offers a little insight into what inspired her. At the end of the recording she discusses her work at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility and advocates for better treatment of the women imprisoned there.
This recording of the “Women’s Showcase” is the second part of three from the NYU hosted event, Women Against Rape. The opening of the recording features the conclusion of Alice McIntyre’s poetry reading. This part features poetry read by Daniella Guiseppe, Davita Singer and Margie Fine and a comic autobiographical story from Karen Mendelsohn. There are also musical performances by Rosemary Mclaughlin and a self composed piano piece from Elieen Kane, a WBAI radio host.
This recording of the “Women’s Showcase” is the first of three from the NYU hosted event, Women Against Rape. This part features performances & poetry from Nina Miller, Lee Van De Velde, Alice McIntyre and music from Jazz pianist Esther Blue & singer Kathy Rose Salat.
Interview with Martha Shelley, November 7, 2020
On November 7th 2020, MSLIS students Julia Rosenzweig, Tiffany Chan, and Sadie Hope-Gund conducted an interview with Martha Shelley on behalf of Pratt Institute School of Information and the Lesbian Herstory Archives. Martha was the producer of the 1970’s radio show Lesbian Nation, the tapes of which have been preserved in digital format on this website. The interview was recorded remotely from Brooklyn and Portland, and the covered topics regarded: her personal history, activism, and work on Lesbian Nation.
Julia Rosenzweig, Tiffany Chan, Sadie Hope-Gund , Martha Shelley
Environmentalism, Women Political Activists
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.
Lesbian Authors, Lesbian Community, Feminism
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]
Lesbian Authors, Stereotypes, Lesbian Community
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]
Lesbian Community, Lesbian Activism, Lesbian Artists
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] .
Gay Liberation Movement, Lesbian-Great Britan, Lesbian Community
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.
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.
Lesbian Community, Environmentalism, Environmentalism--History
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]
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.
Bertha Harris from Richmond College on writing and her life as a lesbian author.
Lesbian Community, Lesbian Actresses, Play
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.
Lesbian Community, Feminism, Lesbian Activism
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]
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]
Femisnism, Lesbian Community, Lesbian Activism
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).
Lesbian Community, Poetry, Lesbian Activism
A re-broadcast of a poetry reading with Audre Lorde on Staten Island. The poem read include "Times Change and We Change with Them or We Seem to have Lost Touch with Each Other," "Martha," and "The Maiden, and Song."
Lesbians dancing, Martha Shelley on the right.
Note that this image is used as a visual representation of the "Lesbian Nation" radio program, and is not part of the collection itself.
Bettye Lane c/o the Lesbian Herstory Educational Foundation; Digitized by LHEF, Inc. For permission to use email: imageslha@gmail.com
Lesbian Nation, June 8, 1973 [In Search of Sappho]
Lesbian Nation, October 15, 1973 [Esther Newton, pt. 2]
Lesbian Nation, September 24-25, 1973 [Softball Game; N. O. W. Sports; J. Rawcliffe]
Pacific Radio Archives has given institutions permission to provide access to the digitized work online. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner.
Mary Patierno Interview [From the Archives excerpt]
Lesbians Lesbian Activists Lesbians in mass media Television Television journalists
Edited excerpt from an interview with Mary Patierno, cofounder of Dyke TV with Linda Chapman and Anna Maria Simo. In this excerpt, Mary describes the From the Archives segment that was sometimes included in Dyke TV programs.
Amanda Belantara [interviewer] Mary Patierno [interviewee]
San Francisco Dyke March and Gay Pride Footage, 1995
Gay pride parades Lesbian activists Lesbians, Black Gay rights Gay politicians Lesbian musicians
This footage shows events and gatherings from the third annual San Francisco Dyke March on June 18, 1995, themed "A World Without Borders." It includes several women giving brief speeches before the march begins on topics such as domestic violence and gay communities in South Africa. California State Senator Carole Migden and Assistant Secretary of Department of Housing and Urban Development Roberta Achtenberg appear in the march. At the end of the march, Achtenberg gives a speech and the singer Rozalla performs.
Linda Chapman [Executive Producer] Mary Patierno [Executive Producer] Ana Maria Simo [Executive Producer]
Copyright Dyke TV: Linda Chapman, Mary Patierno, Ana Maria Simo. Tapes and digital files held by the Lesbian Herstory Archives. Tapes reproduced with permission from the copyright holders.
San Francisco, California, United States
Gay Pride Parade New York City, 1993 (Part 2)
Gay Pride Day Gay pride parades AIDS (Disease)
Raw footage of the the Gay Pride Parade in New York City near Washington Square Park. Includes shots of spectators and parade participants including the Gay Police Association, RuPaul, Love Lounge, New Jersey Lesbian Coalition, The Eulenspiegel Society, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Long Island, Senior Action in a Gay Environment (SAGE), the Hetrick-Martin Institute, People With AIDS Coalition (PWAC) and PWAC Mother's Support Group, AIDS Resource Center, Community Health Project, The Village AIDS Programs, and Gay Men's Health Crisis. "Boycott Colorado" signs are present throughout, referencing Colorado's 1992 ballot Amendment 2 that prevented protected status under the law for homosexuals or bisexuals.
Lesbians Lesbian community Lesbians in mass media Lesbianism on television
A flyer announcing the third season of Dyke TV and encouraging people to come to a producer's meeting to present ideas.
A Dyke TV flyer announcing various events including screenings, workshops, and parties, as well as new Board of Directors memebrs. The reverse side of the flyer announces New York Dyke TV airtimes and encourages support
A press release announcing that Dyke TV will begin airing in San Francisco and seven other cities, for a total reach to 18 cities. The announcement notes the current cities of distribution, and describes content that will be included in upcoming programming.
New York, New York, United States San Francisco, California, United States
Lebians Homosexuality on radio Lesbians in mass media United Nations Non-governmental organizations China
A fundraising letter asking for support for the Dyke TV Beijing Project to attend the NGO Forum at the United Nations World Conference on Women to record testimonies from women. The letter notes a partnership between Dyke TV and FIRE (Feminist International Radio Endeavor) to also bring recorded testimonies to short wave radio.
A fundraising letter describing some of the past news and features presented by Dyke TV, and asking for donations to continue creating programming. The letter warns that without help, Dyke TV will soon be off the air.
In this interview Mary Patierno, co-founder and executive producer of Dyke TV discusses Dyke TV, a groundbreaking public access program produced in New York City by and for lesbians. Pateirno talks about the program’s history and its goals. She mentions some of Dyke TV’s important news stories and recollects some of the interviews the show conducted with women artists, activists and public figures. Patierno stresses the importance of preserving other Dyke TV footage that currently remains in storage. In addition to providing more detail about the structure of the episodes, Patierno discusses her experience creating the show, the circumstances surrounding the show’s founding, and the show’s legacy as the first lesbian content on television. *Note: The interview was recorded using an online call service.
A flyer advertising jobs at Dyke TV. Positions include camera operator, video editor, news writer/producer, fund-raiser, and public relations. Contains casual descriptions of positions and required skills.
A flyer advertising jobs at Dyke TV. Positions include camera operator, video editor, news writer/producer, fund-raiser, and public relations.
Lesbians Lesbian community Fund raising Lesbian activists
A membership form for Dyke TV detailing donation tiers. Handwritten note in upper right hand corner reads "Yes! Sign me up, and send me DTV's newsletter, Get Turned On!
Lesbians Lesbian community Web sites - Design
A flyer advertising two internet courses. One teaches about the internet being used for lesbian and women's organizations and communication. The second teaches how to design a web page.
A letter requesting support for Dyke TV. The letter asks the recipient to consider becoming a member of the Dyke TV network of grass-roots lesbian television supporters.
Special events Lesbians in mass media Lesbianism on television
A flyer advertising the 1995 fall season premier of Dyke TV, as well as related promotional events and requests for "Lesbian Child" segment participants.
Homophobia Lesbians Lesbian community Sexual orientation
An email sent by David B. O'Donnell containing text from a June 19, 1995 article in the Colorado Daily called "Dyke TV is hateful? Prove it" by Richard Cendo. According to the article, Melanie J. Schurr refers to Dyke TV as a hate show due to its aversion toward "straights." The author argues that the show may be for lesbians, but that there is no evidence that points to it being averse to different sexual orientations.
Advertising Lesbians Lesbian community Television
An invitation for the Dyke TV Does 100! Cocktail Party & 100th Show Screening at Joy Tomchin and Baby Evan's home.
A letter sent to individuals who have previously donated to Astraea, requesting renewed support.
Astraea National Lesbian Action Foundation
In this interview Mary Patierno, co-founder and executive producer of DykeTV discusses DykeTV, a groundbreaking public access program produced by and for lesbians. Pateirno talks about the program’s history and its goals. She mentions some of DykeTV’s important news stories and recollects some of the interviews the show conducted with women artists, activists and public figures. Patierno stresses the importance of preserving other DykeTV footage that currently remains in storage. She also describes the production and post-production process, the ideas behind show segments and reflects on how she would like the show to be remembered. The transcript can be searched when viewed in the document viewer below.