UCLA CSW Update Newsletter

Title Lesbian Writers Series

Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3r89c3cc

Journal CSW Update, Fall(2014)

Author Bradley, Ann

Publication Date 2014-10-01

License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ 4.0

eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California 22 FALL 2014 Lesbian Writers Series

Inaugurated on February 18, 1984, at A Different Light bookstore in Los Angeles, this trailblazing series featured an amazing range of lesbian writers

1984 was a ground- Building in downtown Los Angeles. OPPOSITE TOP LEFT: Friday, October 19, 1990, A Different Light Books celebrates the Lesbian breaking year for Southern A Different Light Books (named Writers Series. From left to right: writer/pro- California. Mayor Tom Bradley by co-owner Norman Laurila after ducer and LSW coordinator Sophia Corleone, brought the summer Games of a gay-themed science fiction novel) LWS founder Ann Bradley, writer Carolyn the XXIII Olympiad to Los An- opened in October 1979 at 4014 Weathers, former Los Angeles poet laureate geles, the first time since 1932. Santa Monica Blvd at the Sunset Professor Eloise Klein Healy, LWS coordina- tor Gail Suber (kneeling). Photo by Janice Junction in Silver Lake and ex- In November, the newly incor- Porter-Moffitt. porated City of West Hollywood panded to include stores in San OPPOSITE TOP LEFT: February 24, 1989, at the appointed the world’s first openly Francisco, New York and West Woman’s Building on Spring Street in down- lesbian mayor Valerie Terrigno. A Hollywood that all thrived during town Los Angeles, Carolyn Weathers (left) lesser known, but pivotal event the 80s and mid-90s. The flagship and Jenny Wrenn at the publication party for In a Different Light: An Anthology of Lesbian also took place when L.A.’s first Silver Lake store closed in April Writers, edited by Carolyn Weathers and gay/lesbian bookstore, A Differ- 1992. All four former venues in- Jenny Wrenn and published by their imprint ent Light Books in Silver Lake cluded robust and well-represented Clothespin Fever Books in 1989. launched the first-ever writers collections of lesbian fiction and OPPOSITE MIDDLE LEFT: Ann Bradley introduces series for lesbians – the Lesbian non-fiction, expertly curated by the evening at the publication party for In a Writers Series – on Saturday eve- store co-founder Richard Labonte. Different Light. ning February 18, 1984. Ann Bradley was the second OPPOSITE MIDDLE RIGHT: Saturday, August 25, 1984, staff of A Different Light Books, 4014 Indeed, Southern California was lesbian to work at A Different Light Santa Monica Blvd, in Silver Lake area of home to a number of women’s Books, initially hired for the 1983 Los Angeles. From left to right, manager bookstores—including Westwood’s holiday season. She remained a John Ruggles, co-founder Richard Labonte, Sisterhood Bookstore near UCLA store clerk through November co-owner George Leigh, clerk Ann Bradley, and Pasadena’s Page One—that 1985. clerk Larry, and unidentified woman.Photo by Greyson Vega. included lesbian authors. Regard- On Monday night January 16, OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Carolyn Weathers speaks at less, most lesbian writers remained 1984, writer Carolyn Weathers publications party for In A Different Light. mute about their identities at pub- asked Bradley to join her for a lic readings, even at the Woman’s reading of her memoir Leaving

UCLA Center for the Study of Women 23 owner Laurila whether she could The lesbian writers presented in In a Different launch the Lesbian Writers Series with Weathers and hold subse- Light: an Anthology of Lesbian Writers were quent monthly readings on the from those who read their works at Ann third Saturday night of the month. Bradley’s wildly popular and influential Lesbian Literary history began. The Lesbian Writers Series de- Writers Series, which took place every Saturday buted with Carolyn Weathers on evening at A Different Light Bookstore in Silver Saturday, February 18, 1984, at Lake. A Different Light. Bradley was helped by numerous individuals The LWS was eclectic. Ann Bradley’s only including literary mavens Eloise requirement was that the writer be an open Klein Healy—who would go on to become L.A.’s first poet laureate lesbian. Beyond that, there were no strictures. appointed by Mayor Antonio Vil- All forms were fine. All opinions and tone were laraigosa in December of 2012— welcome—be they funny, sad, bittersweet, and longtime Woman’s Building executive director, writing teacher profound, or angry. and poet/playwright/author Terry Jenny Wrenn and I took this same approach Wolverton. at Clothespin Fever Press. Just be an out lesbian, In an April 1990 interview for L.A. Magazine Bradley remem- and you could write about death and loss or bered, “I started the series because about the adventures of your spacedog Molly I had been a supporter of women writers and I was aware as a les- Moon touring the galaxy. bian that we’d been silenced.” She –Carolyn Weathers had one rule: writers appearing on the Lesbian Writers Series would Texas at Pam Roberts’ Three Guin- ber 1983 issue of the LA Reader be listed on fliers, news releases, eas Bookstore in Newport Beach, and sent it with her holiday cards. and promotional material. No clos- California. Bradley was a fan of The fierce rain that January ets. Labonte, a former Toronto Star Weathers since meeting the Texas evening limited Weathers’ audi- reporter and gay/lesbian literary native and her older sister Bren- ence to about eight intrepid souls aficionado greatly assisted Brad- da—founder of L.A.’s Alcoholism who were so captivated by her ley in the first year of the Lesbian Center for Women, the nation’s story-telling that they begged her Writers Series. Initially, the Los An- first recovery facility to welcome to read the entire twenty-five-page geles Times Book Calendar listed lesbian alcoholics—on September plus memoir of vignettes on grow- the Series as the “Women’s Writers 1, 1980. That September evening ing up in a small Texas town with Series,” until Labonte called and Carolyn cradled the manuscript of her adored older sister. Driving graciously insisted on the correct Crazy, her tragicomic autobiogra- home, Bradley told her that she title for future listings. phy detailing her manic depres- felt compelled to create a wider As a publicist at Cal State L.A., sion, published by Clothespin Fever showcase for Weathers’ literary Bradley also had the exceptional Press in 1989. Bradley later copied luminescence. The next morn- backing of California State Uni- Weather’s delightful story “Track- ing, Bradley asked store manager versity Los Angeles Public Affairs ing Down Vivian” from a Novem- Ruggles, co-founder Labonte, and director and former Santa Monica

24 FALL 2014 Mayor Ruth Goldway who gen- erously supported Joan Nestle’s ..... To acknowledge a January 1989 appearance and the lesbian culture has too CSULA-sponsored March 30, 1989, often been met with appearance by acclaimed African American lesbian poets Cheryl disdain, distrust, and Clarke and Pat Parker for Women’s disbelief as the quoted History Month. Parker’s reading at library catalog cards A Different Light with Clarke on Friday, March 31, 1989 would be have manifested when her last public appearance before they repeatedly used her sudden and untimely death from cancer the following June. the words “so-called” Bradley produced the series for conceptions about from 1984 through the end of lesbians being anything 1990. She introduced series writ- ers for the first six years and then but sexual deviants....The Lesbian Writers Series Gail Suber introduced the writers has given voice to the multifaceted lesbian for the 1990 season and coor- community....Several great women writers are dinated the 1991 lineup. Suber collaborated with Sophia Corleone just beginning to appear in literature anthologies on the 1992 season and assist- used in universities. Interestingly, the first ed with later years. When the Silver Lake store closed in April Book of the Month selection, Lolly Widdowes, a 1992, Suber moved the Series to very well-received book in 1926, was by Sylvia the West Hollywood store, also Townsend Warner, a lesbian. The work, forgotten on Santa Monica Blvd. Writer/ producer Sophia Corleone, who by the dominant culture today, has been reissued first read publicly on the series in and is known to those who keep this hidden 1988, became series coordinator in culture alive....Instead of maintaining our culture 1993 and would later incorporate the series as a stand-alone event, through public libraries, civic arenas or galleries, designating the series as a 501(c)3 lesbians have gravitated toward private centers, and establishing a Lesbian Writers Series mentorship program. When initially bar rooms, small community centers, and the series took place at Plummer private homes, finally bookstores. Park and other locations, Corleone worked with photographer Jan- –Jenny Wrenn, Introduction, ice Porter-Moffitt who brought a In a Different Light: An Anthology of Lesbian Writers book trolley to supply copies for author signings. Carolyn Weathers and then- partner Jenny Wrenn launched Clothespin Fever Press, which was dedicated to lesbian authors, in

UCLA Center for the Study of Women 25 Lesbian Writers Series: 1989 flyer.Kitty Tsui Papers, June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives, http://www.oac.cdlib.org

26 FALL 2014 1986. In its 10 years, the imprint by lesbian historians and writers Eloise Klein Healy, and Sophia published twenty-three books. after UCLA students founded the Corleone to read on a program On February 24, 1989, Clothes- nation’s first lesbian sorority Lamb- that also celebrated the numerous pin celebrated the publication of da Delta Lambda in February of 1988 individuals who had attended the a volume featuring the first five (http://articles.latimes.com/1988- series since its inception, including years of the Lesbian Writers Series, 02-24/local/me-11690_1_lamb- June Mazer Archives board mem- In a Different Light: An Anthology da-delta-lambda-sorority). yet ber Angela Brinskele. of Lesbian Writers, at a party at the were largely unaware of their city’s A letter to Bradley from Unit- Woman’s Building. Bradley contrib- lesbian history. Smith agreed to in- ed States Representative Henry uted the preface to the book and clude Nestle among those legend- Waxman said in part, “It is vital introduced the evening as the “best ary voices in a series that included for every literate American to be prom we’ve never been to!” Audre Lorde. aware of the monumental literary contributions made by lesbian Sophia Corleone with assistance In 1974 Joan Nestle co-founded writers throughout history. It is from Gail Suber expanded the the nation’s first lesbian archives, also imperative to appreciate the reach of the series, featuring such the Lesbian Herstory Archives with barriers they have overcome.” preeminent authors as June Jor- her then-partner Deborah Edel. On Sunday, March 28, 2004, dan, Cherrie Moraga, Joan Larkin, Housed for many years in Nestle’s ONE Archives director Stuart and Angela Davis and bringing Manhattan apartment, the Archives Timmons, also a former clerk at A Joan Nestle back for two more ap- moved to its permanent Park Slope Different Light, celebrated the 20th pearances, which included the last building in Brooklyn in June 1992. anniversary of the Lesbian Writers Southern California public reading (http://www.lesbianherstoryar- Series and Clothespin Fever Press. of the Lesbian Writers Series on chives.org/) Nestle’s 1989 week- Covering the event, the Los Angeles Saturday, November 14, 1998, at long Southern California appear- Times wrote in part, “Ann Bradley Plummer Park in West Hollywood. ances helped raise funds for the was working as a clerk at the gay Nestle had made her Southern Park Slope building including more and lesbian bookstore A Differ- California debut in January of than $800 collected from at the ent Light when she founded the 1989 during a week of events UCLA/CSW event in January 1989. series in 1984. At the time she was scheduled by Bradley with the In 1987, while on the board frustrated by the fact that women assistance of Suber and Corleone, of L.A.’s gay/lesbian Celebration writers reading their works would including readings at UC Irvine on Theatre, Bradley created and not acknowledge their homosexu- January 18, at the UCLA Center for launched the Lesbian Writers ality....” the Study of Women on January Series II to showcase the talents of Also in the March 29, 2004, Los 19, at CSULA on January 20, and lesbian playwrights, film makers Angeles Times feature, LWS coordi- in the Lesbian Writers Series at A and performance artists. The year nator Sophia Corleone noted “For Different Light Books on Saturday, showcased the talents of Robin many years the Lesbian Writers Se- January 21, 1989. Podolsky, Jere Van Syoc and film ries was absolutely the only place At Bradley’s suggestion, the maker Martha Wheelock among where lesbian-themed authors UCLA Women’s Studies Program others. could safely share their work. In and UCLA Center for the Study On Friday, October 19, 1990, many ways, this is still true.” of Women cosponsored Nestle’s A Different Light Books manager 1989 visit with additional fund- Jim Morrow celebrated the 11th Ann Bradley, founder and coordina- ing from CSULA librarian Morris anniversary of the bookstore at an tor of the Lesbian Writers Series from Polan. Mary Margaret Smith of the event thanking Bradley for found- 1984 to 1990, compiled this history. Women’s Studies Program pro- ing the Lesbian Writers Series. For information, she can be reached at duced a 1988-89 series of readings Bradley invited Carolyn Weathers, [email protected].

UCLA Center for the Study of Women 27 Speakers in Lesbian Writers Series, 1984 to 1990 Ann Bradley, Founding October 19 Peggy Collen, 1988 1990 Coordinator Carol Schmidt January 16 Jacqueline January 20 Terry de la Pena, A Different Light Books November 16 Katherine Forrest, DeAngelis, 4014 Santa Monica Blvd. Elizabeth Nonas Gloria Ramos Carolyn Weathers Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA December 21 Winter Solstice February 20 Chaney Holland, February 17 Ashley Black, Celebration Robin Podolsky 1984 March 19 Judith McDaniel, Lynette Prucha, February 18 Carolyn Weathers 1986 Ayofemie Stowe Folayan March 19 Alice Bloch January 18 Marcella Aguilar, April 16 Alice Bloch, Sharon Sumpter April 21 Jacqueline DeAngelis, Judye Best Eloise Klein Healy February 22 Sarah Schulman Aleida Rodriguez, February 15 Katherine Forrest May 21 Marilynn Cruz, March 17 Willyce Kim, Terry Wolverton, March 15 Paula Gunn Allen Eileen Pagan Kitty Tsui Bia Lowe April 19 Judy Grahn June 18 Marylyn Donohue, April 20 Susie Bright (Cancelled) May 19 Robin Podolsky, May 17 Cheri Pies Louise Moore April 21 Teresita Bosch, Lynn McGee, June 21 Pauline Moore July 16 Carolyn Weathers, Karen Sterling, Karen Dalyea July 19 Marylyn Donahue, Jenny Wrenn Terry Wolverton June 19 Louise Moore, Lynn McGee August 20 Katherine Forrest May 19 Ayofemie Stowe Folayan, Pauline Moore August 16 Marc Cugini, September 17 Peggy Collen, Merle Woo July 21 Stacey Sloan, Claudia McMullen Patricia Murphy June 15 Jeanne Cordova Ruchele ZeOeh September 20 Eloise Klein Healy October 15 Janice Lerma, June 16 Patricia Murphy, August 18 Eloise Klein Healy October 18 Robin Podolsky, Kris McHaddad, Jeanne Simonoff, September 15 Marilynn Cruz, Carolyn Weathers Karen Sterling, Sharon Stricker Eileen Pagan November 15 Valerie Miner Savina Teubel July 21 Robin Podolsky, October 20 Katherine Forrest December 20 Winter Solstice November 19 Sophia Corleone, Savina Teubel November 17 Chaney Holland, Celebration Sharon Stricker August 17 Carla Tomaso M’Lissa Mayo December 17 Elizabeth Nonas, August 18 Jacqueline de Angelis, December 15 Winter Solstice 1987 Terry Wolverton Regina Meister, Celebration January 17 Brenda Weathers Karen Minns February 21 Ann Bradley, 1989 September 15 Deborah Bergman, 1985 Nancy Glenn January 21 Joan Nestle Trisha Harper, January 19 Stacey Sloan, March 21 Katherine Forrest February 18 Susie Bright Janice Porter-Moffit Carolyn Weathers April 18 Maria Jose Delgado, March 18 Willyce Kim, October 20 Sophia Corleone, February 16 Bia Lowe, Kitty Tsui Kris McHaddad, Terry Wolverton Gloria Ramos March 31 Pat Parker and Rebecca Roberts March 16 Alice Bloch May 16 Carolyn Weathers, Cheryl Clarke November 16 SDiane Bogus April 20 Gay Male Poets: Jenny Wrenn April 15 Dorothy Allison, November 17 Dorothy Allison, Peter Cashorali, June 20 Tamu, Robin Podolsky Louise Moore, Kenny Fries, Elaine Hall May 20 Michelle Cliff, Mariah Richardson Ron Carillo, July 18 Louise Moore, Ayofemie Stowe Folayan December 15 Katherine Forrest, Bernard Cooper Robin Podolsky June 17 Georgia Cotrell, Eloise Klein Healy May 18 Eloise Klein Healy August 15 Chaney Holland, Carolyn Weathers (held at ONE Archives June 15 Dorothy Love, Karen Minns July 15 Aleida Rodriguez, in West Adams) Synthia Saint James September 12 Celebration of Jessie Lattimore July 20 Karen Minns, Jewish August 19 Bia Lowe, Louise Moore Women’s Culture: Terry Wolverton August 17 Ann Erb, Alice Bloch, September Cherrie Moraga, Grace Huerta, Savina Teubel Ana Castillo (Cancelled) Robin Podolsky October 17 Peggy Collen, October 21 Katherine Forrest September 21 Savina Teubal, Marylyn Donohue November 18 Eloise Klein Healy, Jess Wells November 21 Terry Wolverton Sharon Stricker December 19 Eloise Klein Healy December 16 Marie Claire Blais (Cancelled)

28 FALL 2014 Speakers in Lesbian Writers Series, 1991 to 1994 1991 1992 1993 1994

Gail Suber, Coordinator Gail Suber and Sophia Sophia Corleone, Sophia Corleone, A Different Light Books Corleone, Co-Coordinators Coordinator Coordinator 4014 Santa Monica Blvd. A Different Light Books A Different Light Books Plummer Park, Fiesta Hall Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA 4014 Santa Monica Blvd. 4014 Santa Monica Blvd. 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA West Hollywood, CA January 19 Paula Gunn Allen, Aleida Rodriguez January 18 Paula Gunn Allen January 23 Janet Silverstein, February 19 Cherrie Moraga February 16 Barbara Wilson, January 25 Sara Levi Calderon, Adele Renault March 5 June Jordon Vicki McConnell Jacqueline de Angelis February 6 Sarah Schulman, March 18 Nisa Donnelly, February 17 Sabrina Sojourner, February 8 Minnie Bruce Pratt Carla Tomaso Jacqueline Woodson Lauren Wright Douglas February 15 Becky Birtha, March 6 Jacqueline de Angelis, March 19 Chrystos March 16 Ayofemi Folayan, Canyon Sam Sandra Scoppettone March 25 Sky Lee, Margaret Sloan-Hunter February 29 Monique Wittig April 3 Terri de la Pena, Rebecca Brown April 13 Judy Grahn March 14 Lillian Faderman Canyon Sam April 16 Shani Mootoo, April 20 Sophia Corleone, March 28 Marie Cartier, April 24 Monique Wittig Makeda Silvera Bia Lowe Janet Silverstein, May 15 Jane DeLynn, April 23 Eileen Myles, May 11 Eloise Klein Healy Carolyn Brigit Flynn Jenifer Levin Ana Maria Simo May 18 Teri de la Peña, April 11 Karen Sterling, May 22 June Jordan April 29 Donna Minkowitz, Jewell L. Gomez Teresita Bosch June 5 Lori Anderson, Sara Miles, June 8 Ann Bannon April 25 Joan Larkin, Eloise Klein Healy Robin Podolsky June 15 Suzanne Selby, Eloise Klein Healy June 12 Mary Wings, May 6 Paula Gunn Allen Kris McHaddad, May 16 Dorothy Allison, Anna Livia May 7 Angela Davis Terry Wilson Karen Marie Christa Minns July 10 Olga Broumas, May 14 Bia Lowe, June 23 Rachel Guido deVries, May 30 Joan Nestle T. Begley Carole Maso Rose Romano June 13 SDiane Bogus July 31 Pamela Gray, May 13 Jane Miller July 12 Katherine Forrest June 20 Terri de la Pena, Robin Podolsky May 21 Margaret Randall July 20 Jacqueline de Angelis, Sharon Stricker August 21 Maureen Seaton, June 3 Kim Vaeth, Jeanne Simonoff July 11 Katherine Forrest Bia Lowe Aleida Rodriguez August 17 Karen Marie July 18 Patricia Murphy, September 11 Terry Wolverton, June 10 Terry Wolverton, Christa Minns, Jeanne Simonoff Eileen Myles Elizabeth Pincus Robin Podolsky August 15 Rose Romano, September 18 Aleida Rodriguez, June 11 Jacqueline de Angelis, September 21 Robbi Sommers, Pamela Gray Michelle Cliff Joan Larkin Tee A. Corinne August 22 Susanne Justice, October 16 Jewelle Gomez, June 18 Katherine Forrest September 22 Louise Moore, Kris McHaddad, Dorothy Allison June 25 Suzanne Gardinier, Toni Garcia Angela Counts October 23 Marilyn Hacker Michelle T. Clinton October 19 Beth Brant, September 12 Mafalda Barberis November 6 Nicole Brossard July 9 Sarah Schulman, Carolyn Weathers Edouardo, November 13 Elizabeth Nonas, Jenifer Levin November 15 SDiane Bogus, Yvette Padilla, Diane Salvatore Sharon Stricker Martha Tormey December 4 Judy Grahn November 16 Margaret September 19 Janet Capone, December 11 Julia Penelope Cruikshank, Kyle Anne Bates Teresita Bosch October 17 Aleida Rodriguez, December 21 Elizabeth Nonas, Janice Gould Terry Wolverton October 24 Alison Bechdel November 14 Margaret Randall November 21 Carolyn Weathers, Nisa Donnelly December 12 Lauren Wright Douglas, Vicki McConnell December 19 Terry Wolverton, Elizabeth Nonas

UCLA Center for the Study of Women 29