LESBIAN
ACTIVIST
GROUPS
Daughters of Bilitis
The Daughters of Bilitis started in 1955 as a social group, offering an alternative to the secret lesbian bars often targeted by police raids. Founded by Rosalie "Rose" Bamberger, a Filipina factory worker, the group was a safe space where she and her friends could meet without fear of harassment. Two key members, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, were journalists who helped grow the group and push for better conditions for lesbians.
Originally based in San Francisco, the Daughters of Bilitis expanded to five chapters across the U.S. They connected lesbians nationwide and launched The Ladder, the first national magazine by lesbians, for lesbians. The Ladder reached hundreds of readers and continued publication until 1972.
Despite their efforts to create a safe community, the Daughters of Bilitis were constantly monitored by the FBI and CIA. To protect their members, the group enforced several strict rules: all members had to be over 21, dress femininely at meetings, and display “good moral character.” They also avoided serving alcohol, relying on donations instead, to reduce the risk of being raided.
Though many members were women of color, the group didn’t fully embrace conforming to the “good girl” image, recognizing that this approach wasn’t always helpful to their cause. While the group disbanded in the late 1960s, some local chapters remained active, and The Ladder continued independently from 1970 until its closure in 1972.
Lavender Menaces
The Lavender Menace was a group of radical lesbians who made waves in the early 1970s by challenging the exclusion of lesbian issues from the feminist movement. The term "Lavender Menace" was originally used as a slur by mainstream feminists like Betty Friedan, co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW), who feared that association with lesbians would harm the movement. In response, activists like Karla Jay, Rita Mae Brown, and other members of the group reclaimed the term and used it to confront the marginalization of lesbian voices.
Their most famous action took place at the Second Congress to Unite Women in New York City in 1970.
The Lavender Menace disrupted the event by storming the stage wearing lavender t-shirts emblazoned with the phrase. They distributed leaflets criticizing the feminist movement for ignoring lesbian issues and demanded that feminism be more inclusive of all women.
This action led to a broader discussion about the intersection of sexuality and feminism, forcing many feminists to acknowledge that lesbian rights were integral to the movement. The Lavender Menace went on to form the Radicalesbians, a group that continued to push for lesbian visibility and rights within the feminist and LGBTQ+ movements.
Although the Lavender Menace group was short-lived, their impact was lasting. Their efforts helped pave the way for a more inclusive feminism that recognized the diverse experiences of women, regardless of sexual orientation.
Lesbian Avengers
Together, they formed the Lesbian Avengers, inspired by the popular '90s TV show The Avengers. They focused on humorous, flashy and educational activism. They staged protests outside schools, encouraging kids and families to ask questions about lesbians. On Valentine's Day, they handed out Hershey Kisses with a note that read, “You’ve been kissed by a lesbian.” Their most iconic protest involved fire-breathing during street demonstrations, which caught the attention of the media and the public alike.
The Lesbian Avengers redefined how lesbians were viewed in mainstream culture and ignited conversations about lesbian representation. They graced the covers of Time magazine, Vanity Fair, and even appeared in an ad for Subaru, marking a cultural shift in how lesbian visibility was perceived.
Despite their success, the group disbanded in 1997 after internal conflicts arose. Many members felt that the leadership wasn’t adequately addressing racial issues within the group, leading to its eventual breakup. Although short-lived, the Lesbian Avengers made a lasting impact, pushing lesbian representation into the national spotlight and challenging the erasure of queer identities in both feminist and LGBTQ+ spaces. Their legacy continues to inspire activists today.
The Lesbian Avengers was a group of radical lesbians who were tired of being erased from society. The group's roots can be traced back to the 1989 murder of Yusef Hawkins, a Black teenager who was killed by a white mob in New York. Around the same time, a movement began in elementary schools to create a more inclusive generation. First-grade teachers developed a 400-page list of activities aimed at teaching children about the traditions, foods, and clothing of different cultures. Only six of those pages were dedicated to LGBT education, which included children's books about having two moms or two dads. This small effort was enough to spark outrage among some parents, who demanded that all lessons about queer communities be removed from the curriculum.
In response to this backlash, Ana Simo, a local theater director and playwright, called on other activist lesbians to strategize a solution.
