Lesbian Visibility Week 2026
DAY 1
Day 1
Barbara Grier
November 4, 1933 – November 10, 2011
Barbara was an American writer, publisher, activist, and archivist.
In 1973, she co-founded Naiad Press the world’s largest lesbian publishing house. Her writing started as a book reviewer for the “Lesbiana” column at the first American lesbian magazine, The Ladder, as well as serving as one of the editors.
In 1985, Grier earned the President’s Award for Lifetime Service from the Gay Academic Union.
Barbara C. Jordan
February 21, 1936 – January 17, 1996
Barbara was an American lawyer, professor, and politician.
In 1966, she was the first Black Woman lawyer elected to the Texas Senate since Reconstruction.
In 1973, Barbara was the first African American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives from the 18th District of Texas.
In 1976, she was the first African American woman to deliver a keynote address at a Democratic National Convention.
Barbara received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among numerous other honors.
Jordan’s relationship with her partner, Nancy Earl, came to light with the publication of her obituary. She was the first African American woman to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery.
DAY 2
Day 2
Chrystos
Born November 7, 1946
Chrystos is a First Nations Two-Spirit artist whose work explores Native American civil rights, social justice, lesbian identity, and feminism.
Chrystos’ work on Native land and treaty rights has been widely recognized, and politics are an essential part of that writing.
Even though Chrystos may be better known for poems about social justice, their erotic poetry is lyrically beautiful and full of unique imagery.
Chrystos’ has been included in three edited volumes and five books of poetry, including the first, Not Vanishing. Chrystos is also a lecturer, writing teacher, and artist.
DAY 3
Day 3
Deborah Jean Ratliff
December 13, 1949 – January 27, 2023
Debby was a beloved friend in the Columbus, Ohio community. She volunteered her time and heart to her community throughout her lifetime.
She was an OLOC member for many years, as well as an active member of Central Ohio Rainbow Sisters and Stonewall Columbus.
Debby was a fierce advocate for anyone experiencing injustice and she never hesitated to show up and speak out.
DAY 4
Day 4
Gladys Bentley
August 12, 1907 – January 18, 1960
Gladys was an American Blues singer, pianist, and entertainer during the Harlem Renaissance.
She performed in the 1920s as a black, butch lesbian dressed in her signature tailcoat and top hat. According to one historian, she exerted a ‘black female masculinity’ that troubled the distinctions between black and white and masculine and feminine.
She released eight singles in 1928-1929 and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1990.
DAY 5
Day 5
Jeanne Córdova
July 18, 1948 – January 10, 2016
Jeanne was a Chicana, butch Lesbian writer, a former nun and a second wave feminist.
She was the founder of The Lesbian Tide, a magazine which began for Lesbians in Los Angeles. She coordinated the first National Lesbian Conference in 1973 at the University of California Los Angeles.
Jeanne wrote and published When We Were Outlaws; A Memoir of Love and Revolution which received a Lambda Literary Award.
DAY 6
Day 6
Jewel Thais-Williams
May 9, 1939 – July 7, 2025
Jewel was an American businesswoman and activist based in Los Angeles, California and the first black woman in the United States to own a LGBT nightclub called Jewel’s Catch One.
During the AIDS pandemic, Jewel was an advocate for people with HIV/AIDS; co-founding the Minority AIDS Project, and Rue’s House which was named after her wife and partner of 40 years, a housing facility for women with AIDS and their children.
In 2001, she opened the Village Health Foundation non-profit to educate low-income communities about nutrition and a healthier lifestyle.
DAY 7
Day 7
Margaret Sloan-Hunter
May 31, 1947 – September 23, 2004
Margaret was a pioneering African American lesbian feminist, civil rights activist, organizer and poet/writer.
Born in Chattanooga, Tennesee and raised in Chicago, Illinois she became an influential voice in both the feminist and Black liberation movements.
Margaret was a founding member of Lavender Women in 1971 and was the first and only president of the National Black Feminist Organization. She was a founding editor of Ms. Magazine.
Her book of poetry Black and Lavender was published in 1975.
“I am a Black and female person that lives in a country that is sexist and racist.”
DAY 8
Day 8
Sally K. Ride
May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012
Sally was a trailblazing astronaut and physicist.
She was the first American woman to fly in space on the Challenger Shuttle in 1983 and was subjected to much media attention that was sexist and disrespectful.
Sally was a strong supporter of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) for girls and women.
Sally was survived by her partner of 27 years, Tam O’Shaughnessy. This relationship was not disclosed until written in her obituary.
Pat Parker
January 20, 1944 – June 17, 1989
Pat was an African American, lesbian feminist, activist poet.
She was part of GENTE, the first Lesbian of Color Organization in California. Pat founded the Black Women’s Revolutionary Council and formed the Women’s Press Collective.
She worked tirelessly for social justice in the people of color and lesbian/gay communities and was a force working against domestic violence.
Pat published five volumes of poetry, a collection of essays, and was in numerous anthologies. Pat died of breast cancer on June 17, 1989 at the age of 45.
Are you wanting to celebrate more Lesbians and our herstory?
Check out Tracking Our Way Through Time – a collection of Lesbian tidbits gathered for April Lesbian Visibility by Mev for the Wanderground Lesbian Archive/Library.