Jeanne Cordova Quotes
- Activist
- 1948
Jeanne Cordova (1948-2016) was a pioneering lesbian activist, writer, and publisher. She was a leader in the lesbian feminist movement of the 1970s and 1980s, and was a founding member of the Lesbian Tide newspaper, the Lesbian Herstory Archives, and the Lesbian History Project. She was also the aut…Read More
Jeanne Cordova (1948-2016) was a pioneering lesbian activist, writer, and publisher. She was a leader in the lesbian feminist movement of the 1970s and 1980s, and was a founding member of the Lesbian Tide newspaper, the Lesbian Herstory Archives, and the Lesbian History Project. She was also the author of the memoir When We Were Outlaws: A Memoir of Love and Revolution, which chronicles her life as a lesbian activist in the 1970s. Cordova was a passionate advocate for LGBTQ rights, and her work helped to shape the modern queer rights movement.Read Less
Jeanne Cordova (1948-2016) was a pioneering lesbian activist, writer, and publisher. She was a leader in the lesbian feminist movement of the 1970s and 1980s, and was a founding member of the Lesbian Tide newspaper, the Lesbian Herstory Archives, and the Lesbian History Project. She was also the author of the memoir When We Were Outlaws: A Memoir of Love and Revolution, which chronicles her life as a lesbian activist in the 1970s. Cordova was a passionate advocate for LGBTQ rights, and her work helped to shape the modern queer rights movement.
Jeanne Cordova Career Highlights
- In 1971, Cordova co-founded the Los Angeles chapter of the Gay Liberation Front, which was one of the first LGBTQ+ activist organizations in the city.
- In 1973, she co-founded the Lesbian Tide, a groundbreaking lesbian feminist magazine that provided a platform for lesbian voices and issues.
- In 1974, Cordova became the first openly lesbian reporter for a mainstream newspaper, the Los Angeles Free Press.
- In 1976, she co-founded the West Coast Lesbian Collections at the University of Southern California, which is now one of the largest collections of lesbian literature and history in the world.
- In 1981, Cordova founded the Community Yellow Pages, a directory of LGBTQ+ owned and friendly businesses, which helped support and promote the community.
- In 1990, she co-founded the Lesbian Legacy Project, an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of lesbian activism and culture.
- In 1996, Cordova published her memoir, “When We Were Outlaws: A Memoir of Love and Revolution,” which received critical acclaim and was a Lambda Literary Award finalist.
- In 2008, she was inducted into the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at the Stonewall Inn in New York City for her contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.
Key Contributions by Jeanne Cordova
- Cordova was a pioneer in the LGBTQ+ movement, advocating for lesbian visibility and rights at a time when it was not widely accepted.
- She played a crucial role in the development of lesbian feminist culture and literature, providing a platform for lesbian voices and issues through her work with the Lesbian Tide and the West Coast Lesbian Collections.
- Cordova was a strong advocate for intersectionality, recognizing the importance of addressing issues of race, class, and gender within the LGBTQ+ community.
- She was a vocal critic of the mainstream gay rights movement, which she believed often excluded and marginalized the voices of lesbians and other marginalized groups within the community.
- Cordova’s work with the Community Yellow Pages and the Lesbian Legacy Project helped support and preserve the history and culture of the LGBTQ+ community.
What Sets Jeanne Cordova Apart
- Cordova’s activism and writing were deeply rooted in her personal experiences as a lesbian woman, giving her a unique perspective and passion for her work.
- She was a fearless and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, often challenging societal norms and pushing for change.
- Cordova’s work spanned multiple decades and touched on various aspects of the LGBTQ+ community, making her a well-respected and influential figure in the movement.
Takeaways
- Jeanne Cordova’s contributions to the LGBTQ+ community have had a lasting impact and continue to inspire and empower future generations.
- She showed the importance of intersectionality and inclusivity within the LGBTQ+ movement, advocating for the rights of all marginalized groups.
- Cordova’s work serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and the power of activism and community building.