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).