Women in the LGBTQ+ Movement

Barbara Gittings was a pioneering lesbian activist and writer who played a crucial role in the early LGBTQ+ rights movement. She co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian organization in the United States, and was instrumental in the publication of The Ladder, the first lesbian magazine.

Audre Lorde, a prominent Black lesbian poet and activist, delivered a groundbreaking speech at the 1970 Second Congress to Unite Women, challenging the exclusion of lesbians from mainstream feminist movements and emphasizing the importance of intersectionality.

Elaine Noble made history in 1974 when she became the first openly lesbian elected official in the United States, serving on the Boston City Council. Her election marked a significant milestone in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

The Radicalesbians was a collective of lesbian feminists founded in 1970. They published a manifesto titled "The Woman-Identified Woman" and advocated for the creation of a separate lesbian culture and community.

Roberta Achtenberg was a lesbian activist and attorney who co-founded the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) in 1977. NCLR is a leading legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin were the first same-sex couple to legally marry in the United States. They exchanged vows in San Francisco in 2004, shortly after the city began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Karla Jay was a lesbian feminist writer and activist who is best known for her book "The Lavender Menace", published in 1975. The book explored the history and culture of lesbianism and its relationship to the feminist movement.

Joan Nestle was a lesbian activist, writer, and co-founder of the Lesbian Herstory Archives in New York City. The archives are dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of lesbian lives and culture.

Kate Brown became the first openly lesbian governor in the United States when she was elected Governor of Oregon in 2015. She is also the first openly bisexual person to be elected governor in the United States.

Radclyffe Hall was a British lesbian writer and poet who is best known for her novel "The Well of Loneliness", published in 1928. The novel was groundbreaking for its portrayal of lesbianism and was met with controversy and censorship at the time.

Sarah Schulman is a lesbian activist, writer, and co-founder of the Lesbian Avengers. The Lesbian Avengers were a direct action group that used humor and protest to advocate for lesbian rights and visibility.

Audre Lorde was a Black lesbian poet, writer, and activist. Her book "Zami: A New Spelling of My Name" is a groundbreaking autobiographical work that explores her experiences as a Black lesbian woman and her involvement in the civil rights and LGBTQ+ movements.

Tammy Baldwin was the first openly lesbian member of the United States Congress. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998 and served until 2013. In 2012, she was elected to the United States Senate, becoming the first openly gay person to serve in the Senate.

Adrienne Rich was a lesbian feminist poet, writer, and activist. Her book "The Politics of Reality: Essays in Feminist Theory" is a collection of essays that explore the intersections of gender, sexuality, and power.

Urvashi Vaid was a lesbian activist and attorney who co-founded the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) in 1973. NGLTF is a leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ people.