and staged music festivals for each other. each for festivals music staged and Walker Clinic. Funded primarily Funded Clinic. Walker

the 70s, women made music, produced music, produced music, made women 70s, the year was working with the Whitman- the with working was year

voice in song, In the self-reliant atmosphere of atmosphere self-reliant the In song, in voice mally organized in 1990 and within a within and 1990 in organized mally port organization Salud. Susan Hester organized Hester Susan Salud. organization port

Culver, among others, started here, giving women giving here, started others, among Culver, the Sapphire Sapphos, BLSG for- BLSG Sapphos, Sapphire the organization, ENLACE, as well as the HIV/AIDS sup- HIV/AIDS the as well as ENLACE, organization,

Christian, Cris Williamson, Willie Tyson, Casse Tyson, Willie Williamson, Cris Christian, -- A successor to successor A -- NW St S 1407 — als helped create the area's first Hispanic support Hispanic first area's the create helped als

aspirations. Sweet Honey in the Rock, Meg Rock, the in Honey Sweet aspirations. Black Lesbian Support Group Support Lesbian Black [2] annual event. In 1987, Latina lesbians and bisexu- and lesbians Latina 1987, In event. annual

1973 and 1978, voicing women's concerns and concerns women's voicing 1978, and 1973 together to discuss issues of ageism and became an became and ageism of issues discuss to together

Women's music exploded in DC in between in DC in exploded music Women's Church (on 18th St NW). St 18th (on Church The first Passages conference brought lesbians brought conference Passages first The

Council for Women in 1979. in Women for Council was held at St Thomas St at held was Diversity Embracing Mishpachah in DC. DC. in Mishpachah

when Mayor Marion Barry named her to the DC the to her named Barry Marion Mayor when (AMBi) in DC. AMBi's 1992 conference 1992 AMBi's DC. in (AMBi) the area as well. Rabbi Leila Gal Berner serves Bet serves Berner Gal Leila Rabbi well. as area the

became the first lesbian named to public office public to named lesbian first the became founded The Alliance of Multi-Cultural Bisexuals Multi-Cultural of Alliance The founded Rev. Darlene Garner has served MCC churches in churches MCC served has Garner Darlene Rev.

Coalition of Black Gays in 1978. Alexa Freeman Alexa 1978. in Gays Black of Coalition much of the text at this address. Hutchins co- Hutchins address. this at text the of much the Metropolitan Community Church since the 70s. the since Church Community Metropolitan the

and Valerie Papaya Mann helped create the DC the create helped Mann Papaya Valerie and native Washingtonian Loraine Hutchins who wrote who Hutchins Loraine Washingtonian native 1983. Rev. Dolores Berry has served prominently in prominently served has Berry Dolores Rev. 1983.

Coalition of Black Gays, and Carlene Cheatam Carlene and Gays, Black of Coalition pinnings for bisexuality. It was co-authored by co-authored was It bisexuality. for pinnings 1979 and has served in MCC-DC's ministry since ministry MCC-DC's in served has and 1979

ty, Rev. Dolores Berry co-founded the National the co-founded Berry Dolores Rev. ty, crucial text (1991) provided philosophical under- philosophical provided (1991) text crucial many years. Rev. Candace Shultis came to town in town to came Shultis Candace Rev. years. many

Mindy Daniels. In the African American communi- American African the In Daniels. Mindy - This - NW St 3rd 6104 — Name Other Any Bi [1] Women have led faith communities in DC for DC in communities faith led have Women

lowed in later years by Mayo Lee, Lori Jean, and Jean, Lori Lee, Mayo by years later in lowed events in the first part of the 80s. the of part first the in events

lead the Gay Activists Alliance (1972-73), fol- (1972-73), Alliance Activists Gay the lead Avengers' drag king contest at the Hung Jury. Jury. Hung the at contest king drag Avengers' 80s. The Toy Box Revue produced “women of color” of “women produced Revue Box Toy The 80s.

Patricia Radomski became the first woman to woman first the became Radomski Patricia appeared in the mid-90s with the Lesbian the with mid-90s the in appeared American performance site in NE DC in the early the in DC NE in site performance American

Washington Women's Law Caucus in 1975. 1975. in Caucus Law Women's Washington In the deveoping social scene, drag kings drag scene, social deveoping the In formers at the Coffeehouse, a major African major a Coffeehouse, the at formers

Mautner and Elaine Noble created the created Noble Elaine and Mautner Lesbians of African Descent Voices Everywhere). Voices Descent African of Lesbians and Chi Hughes were among regularly featured per- featured regularly among were Hughes Chi and

extending financial rights to women. Mary-Helen women. to rights financial extending Women in the Life and CLOAVE (Collective CLOAVE and Life the in Women val until 1988. Papaya Mann, Michelle Parkerson, Michelle Mann, Papaya 1988. until val

34, the DC law protecting sexual orientation and orientation sexual protecting law DC the 34, organizations for African American lesbians: American African for organizations Takoma Park Junior High in1982, repeating the festi- the repeating in1982, High Junior Park Takoma

In 1973, Freund helped ensure enactment of Title of enactment ensure helped Freund 1973, In The 90s also saw the creation of two social two of creation the saw also 90s The music festival, at festival, music

Freund created NOW’s Task Force on Sexuality. on Force Task NOW’s created Freund published in September 1992. 1992. September in published urban women's urban

movement created their own organizations Eva organizations own their created movement funding for Woman's Monthly (WOMO) which first which (WOMO) Monthly Woman's for funding Sisterfire, the first the Sisterfire,

Lesbians and bisexuals active in the feminist the in active bisexuals and Lesbians The Passages conference provided initial provided conference Passages The Roadwork staged Roadwork

women. events as a community archive. community a as events from 1981 to 1993. to 1981 from

community center for lesbian and bisexual and lesbian for center community facto Spector began filming local social and political and social local filming began Spector Spring Cotillions, Spring

de a soon was it Farmer Mary Under SE. St 7th conference in 1993. In the early 90s, Cheryl 90s, early the In 1993. in conference educational and social events, including the popular the including events, social and educational

clinic formed. In 1973, Lammas Books opened on opened Books Lammas 1973, In formed. clinic and helped put together the Embracing Diversity Embracing the together put helped and lesbians. DC's Gay Women's Alternative sponsored Alternative Women's Gay DC's lesbians.

1972 to 1975. It wasn't until 1979 that a lesbian a that 1979 until wasn't It 1975. to 1972 izing, participated in the creation of AMBi in 1991 in AMBi of creation the in participated izing, support and social organization for African American African for organization social and support

Georgetown offered women's health nights from nights health women's offered Georgetown Hutchins, a leader in bisexual politics and organ- and politics bisexual in leader a Hutchins, The 80s brought the Sapphire Sapphos, a major a Sapphos, Sapphire the brought 80s The

Center) formed. The Washington Free Clinic in Clinic Free Washington The formed. Center) nation's first Dyke March in April 1993. Loraine 1993. April in March Dyke first nation's than 30 years ago. ago. years 30 than

Center (later known as the DC Rape Crisis Rape DC the as known (later Center 1993. The fire-eating Avengers staged the staged Avengers fire-eating The 1993. Patsy Lynch began creating our visual heritage more heritage visual our creating began Lynch Patsy

Center opened on R St NW. The Women's Crisis Women's The NW. St R on opened Center organized a local chapter of Lesbian Avengers in Avengers Lesbian of chapter local a organized Biren (JEB), Sharon Farmer, Leigh Mosley, and Mosley, Leigh Farmer, Sharon (JEB), Biren

In 1972, the Washington Area Women's Area Washington the 1972, In ership in AIDS protest organizations, DC lesbians DC organizations, protest AIDS in ership mentaries of gay rights demonstrations. Joan E. Joan demonstrations. rights gay of mentaries

the feminist movement" in 1970. in movement" feminist the Without Fear in 1991. Building on women's lead- women's on Building 1991. in Fear Without 1970 Lilli Vincenz made the earliest 16mm docu- 16mm earliest the made Vincenz Lilli 1970

, a "journal of record for record of "journal a , backs our off created tive women, DC women organized the first Walk first the organized women DC women, ers who document our LGBT history. In 1968 and 1968 In history. LGBT our document who ers

ideology to a national audience. A feminist collec- feminist A audience. national a to ideology Fed up with violence and threats against threats and violence with up Fed DC is rich in talented photographers and filmmak- and photographers talented in rich is DC

newspaper carried the collective's the carried newspaper Furies The time director time musical group, the DC Feminist Chorus. Feminist DC the group, musical

themselves what they had relied on men to do. to men on relied had they what themselves provided a firm foundation for LSP as its first full first its as LSP for foundation firm a provided 1978, Flo Hollis organized the area's first community first area's the organized Hollis Flo 1978,

sought to empower women by training them to do to them training by women empower to sought 1990 broadened support programs. Amelie Zurn Amelie programs. support broadened 1990 duce multicultural women's performances. Also in Also performances. women's multicultural duce

bisexual women in the 70s. The Furies collective Furies The 70s. the in women bisexual Creation of the Lesbian Services Program in Program Services Lesbian the of Creation organization emerged in 1978 to organize and pro- and organize to 1978 in emerged organization

A spirit of self-reliance liberated lesbian and lesbian liberated self-reliance of spirit A mally organized in 1990. in organized mally company in the country. Amy Horowitz's Roadwork Horowitz's Amy country. the in company

. . Blade Washington the led to the Black Lesbian Support Group which for- which Group Support Lesbian Black the to led formed the first woman-owned audio engineering audio woman-owned first the formed

, later to become to later , Blade Gay the edited and duced homes for group discussions. These meetings These discussions. group for homes women. Casse Culver and Boden Sandstrom Boden and Culver Casse women.

. From October 1969, Nancy Tucker pro- Tucker Nancy 1969, October From . Insider ended, African American lesbians met in area in met lesbians American African ended, Center, became an important performance site for site performance important an became Center,

The newsletter, local a co-edited later Freund Eva ing with cancer. After the Sapphire Sapphos Sapphire the After cancer. with ing Sophie's Parlor, a coffeehouse at the Women's the at coffeehouse a Parlor, Sophie's

and Citizen Homosexual The edited Vincenz Lilli the Mautner Project in 1989 to support women liv- women support to 1989 in Project Mautner the . Know You Know I and Changed the and Changer

in 1973 to produce the first records for lesbians, for records first the produce to 1973 in The Olivia collective created Olivia Records here Records Olivia created collective Olivia The

Sandstrom in 1975 to provide sound and technical sup- port for productions of women's music in metropolitan The social innova- Washington, DC. The company started out at 1715 tion, self-affirmation, New Hampshire Ave. NW Woman Sound advertised books, readings, and concerts. and ferment in the regularly in the Washington Blade and supported local arts and political performers. [26] Sophie's Parlor — 1736 R St NW In the organizations of DC's lesbian and bisexual women is early and mid 70s, the coffeehouse at the [31] Woman's Monthly Women's Center became an important perform- a largely untold story. Their energy — 2401 H St NW - The and creativity has had ramifications ance space for lesbian entertainers such as Cris first issue of the maga- Williamson, Meg Christian, and Casse Culver. nationally as well as locally. zine, popularly known as Women sought places and oppor- Sophie's Parlor began a radio show, first on WOMO, appeared in September 1992. WOMO is an WGTB and later on WPFW, which ran for tunities to meet. The Showboat and important chronicle of events, organizations, and per- the Kavakos in the 30s and 40s and decades bringing music and women's issues to a sonalities in the lesbian women's community. As larger public. the Redskin in the 50s were among founder Nancy McMurray wrote on the tenth anniver- the few public social spaces for [27] (Steve's) Spring Rd Café — 3700 14th St sary, "The WOMO archive, the older it gets, becomes women. By the early 60s, there were NW The Spring Rd. Café, at 14th and Spring more and more valuable for its witness to views nobody only the Rendezvous Grill and Rd., once painted purple, was a weekend haven else had. It is part of our collective self-portrait, and Steve's (the Spring Rd Café). for lesbians during the 1960s. Evenings at 'proof' that we were here." Even as gay clubs emerged in the 70s, women were often unwel- Steve's sometimes turned rowdy. [32] Women In The Life —1623 Connecticut Ave NW come. Both the Lost & Found and (rear) Women In the Life ("WITL") was created in [28] Tracks — 1111 First St SE the Grand Central disco initially 1993 to empower and enrich the lives of lesbians of Tracks, the very popular dance made a practice of carding women color through educational, social and cultural program- club at M and First Streets SE, to exclude them. To its credit, DC's ming, and support services. Sheila Alexander-Reid started a Women's Night for les- activist community fought such dis- started WITL because there were no safe spaces for bians on the last Tuesday of the crimination. Pat Price, editor of the lesbians of color to socialize, network, and share their month. The events regularly Gay Blade (under the pen name Pat sisterhood. Initially WITL brought lesbians of color attracted more than 2,000 women. Women's Kolar), was one complainant to the together through informal social events, such as poetry Nights were frequent distribution points for OUT's Office of Human Rights about Grand readings, dances, community fundraisers, and work- Safer Sex Sirens to hand out safe sex literature. Central's discrimination in 1974. shops. A controversial later event called Lesbo-agogo House parties and clubs exclu- started in July 1991 and featured lesbian go-go sively for women offered alterna- dancers. tives. Lilli Vincenz recalls JoAnna's, which opened in the summer of [29] Washington Area Women's Center — 1968, as "the first nice club for 1736 R St NW The Women's Center began as a women." The 70s brought more DC feminist venture in an R St NW townhouse. women's clubs: Phase One (1971), Despite financial problems, the center initiated Club Madame (1974), and The many groundbreaking activities for area women. Other Side (1978). In 1971, Vincenz In April 1972, 30 lesbian feminists met at the cen- RAINBOW HISTORY PROJECT created the first regularly scheduled ter to plan a new Lesbian Office for the center. collecting, preserving and promoting house party, the Gay Women's Open Other gay and lesbian groups in the city raised the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered House, at her home in Arlington. funds for the Women's Center, including the Gay history of metropolitan Washington, DC She recalled, it was "just people Activist Alliance's community center on 13th St socializing. And then we had discus- NW. One of the longest lasting creations of the P O Box 11013 Washington, DC 20008 sion groups; sometimes musical center was the Sophie's Parlor coffeehouse. The tel: 202.907.9007 groups ... Meg Christian, the very Women's Center moved five times, to three loca- [email protected] first lesbian performer, came and tions on 18th St NW, P St NW, and finally to 1350 www.rainbowhistory.org sang." Pennsylvania Ave SE before finally closing in the design by Gina M. Farthing DC's women began taking a early 1990s. Two of its 18th St homes were photograph by Patsy Lynch, Amy Horowitz more public role in the 60s. At the shared with the Whitman-Walker Clinic. Mattachine Society of Washington, (c) Rainbow History Project 2004 [30] Woman Sound — 19 Logan Circle Woman Sound was formed by Casse Culver and Boden

and staged music festivals for each other. each for festivals music staged and Walker Clinic. Funded primarily Funded Clinic. Walker

the 70s, women made music, produced music, produced music, made women 70s, the year was working with the Whitman- the with working was year

voice in song, In the self-reliant atmosphere of atmosphere self-reliant the In song, in voice mally organized in 1990 and within a within and 1990 in organized mally port organization Salud. Susan Hester organized Hester Susan Salud. organization port

Culver, among others, started here, giving women giving here, started others, among Culver, the Sapphire Sapphos, BLSG for- BLSG Sapphos, Sapphire the organization, ENLACE, as well as the HIV/AIDS sup- HIV/AIDS the as well as ENLACE, organization,

Christian, Cris Williamson, Willie Tyson, Casse Tyson, Willie Williamson, Cris Christian, -- A successor to successor A -- NW St S 1407 — als helped create the area's first Hispanic support Hispanic first area's the create helped als

aspirations. Sweet Honey in the Rock, Meg Rock, the in Honey Sweet aspirations. Black Lesbian Support Group Support Lesbian Black [2] annual event. In 1987, Latina lesbians and bisexu- and lesbians Latina 1987, In event. annual

1973 and 1978, voicing women's concerns and concerns women's voicing 1978, and 1973 together to discuss issues of ageism and became an became and ageism of issues discuss to together

Women's music exploded in DC in between in DC in exploded music Women's Church (on 18th St NW). St 18th (on Church The first Passages conference brought lesbians brought conference Passages first The

Council for Women in 1979. in Women for Council was held at St Thomas St at held was Diversity Embracing Mishpachah in DC. DC. in Mishpachah

when Mayor Marion Barry named her to the DC the to her named Barry Marion Mayor when (AMBi) in DC. AMBi's 1992 conference 1992 AMBi's DC. in (AMBi) the area as well. Rabbi Leila Gal Berner serves Bet serves Berner Gal Leila Rabbi well. as area the

became the first lesbian named to public office public to named lesbian first the became founded The Alliance of Multi-Cultural Bisexuals Multi-Cultural of Alliance The founded Rev. Darlene Garner has served MCC churches in churches MCC served has Garner Darlene Rev.

Coalition of Black Gays in 1978. Alexa Freeman Alexa 1978. in Gays Black of Coalition much of the text at this address. Hutchins co- Hutchins address. this at text the of much the Metropolitan Community Church since the 70s. the since Church Community Metropolitan the

and Valerie Papaya Mann helped create the DC the create helped Mann Papaya Valerie and native Washingtonian Loraine Hutchins who wrote who Hutchins Loraine Washingtonian native 1983. Rev. Dolores Berry has served prominently in prominently served has Berry Dolores Rev. 1983.

Coalition of Black Gays, and Carlene Cheatam Carlene and Gays, Black of Coalition pinnings for bisexuality. It was co-authored by co-authored was It bisexuality. for pinnings 1979 and has served in MCC-DC's ministry since ministry MCC-DC's in served has and 1979

ty, Rev. Dolores Berry co-founded the National the co-founded Berry Dolores Rev. ty, crucial text (1991) provided philosophical under- philosophical provided (1991) text crucial many years. Rev. Candace Shultis came to town in town to came Shultis Candace Rev. years. many

Mindy Daniels. In the African American communi- American African the In Daniels. Mindy - This - NW St 3rd 6104 — Name Other Any Bi [1] Women have led faith communities in DC for DC in communities faith led have Women

lowed in later years by Mayo Lee, Lori Jean, and Jean, Lori Lee, Mayo by years later in lowed events in the first part of the 80s. the of part first the in events

lead the Gay Activists Alliance (1972-73), fol- (1972-73), Alliance Activists Gay the lead Avengers' drag king contest at the Hung Jury. Jury. Hung the at contest king drag Avengers' 80s. The Toy Box Revue produced “women of color” of “women produced Revue Box Toy The 80s.

Patricia Radomski became the first woman to woman first the became Radomski Patricia appeared in the mid-90s with the Lesbian the with mid-90s the in appeared American performance site in NE DC in the early the in DC NE in site performance American

Washington Women's Law Caucus in 1975. 1975. in Caucus Law Women's Washington In the deveoping social scene, drag kings drag scene, social deveoping the In formers at the Coffeehouse, a major African major a Coffeehouse, the at formers

Mautner and Elaine Noble created the created Noble Elaine and Mautner Lesbians of African Descent Voices Everywhere). Voices Descent African of Lesbians and Chi Hughes were among regularly featured per- featured regularly among were Hughes Chi and

extending financial rights to women. Mary-Helen women. to rights financial extending Women in the Life and CLOAVE (Collective CLOAVE and Life the in Women val until 1988. Papaya Mann, Michelle Parkerson, Michelle Mann, Papaya 1988. until val

34, the DC law protecting sexual orientation and orientation sexual protecting law DC the 34, organizations for African American lesbians: American African for organizations Takoma Park Junior High in1982, repeating the festi- the repeating in1982, High Junior Park Takoma

In 1973, Freund helped ensure enactment of Title of enactment ensure helped Freund 1973, In The 90s also saw the creation of two social two of creation the saw also 90s The music festival, at festival, music

Freund created NOW’s Task Force on Sexuality. on Force Task NOW’s created Freund published in September 1992. 1992. September in published urban women's urban

movement created their own organizations Eva organizations own their created movement funding for Woman's Monthly (WOMO) which first which (WOMO) Monthly Woman's for funding Sisterfire, the first the Sisterfire,

Lesbians and bisexuals active in the feminist the in active bisexuals and Lesbians The Passages conference provided initial provided conference Passages The Roadwork staged Roadwork

women. events as a community archive. community a as events from 1981 to 1993. to 1981 from

community center for lesbian and bisexual and lesbian for center community facto Spector began filming local social and political and social local filming began Spector Spring Cotillions, Spring

de a soon was it Farmer Mary Under SE. St 7th conference in 1993. In the early 90s, Cheryl 90s, early the In 1993. in conference educational and social events, including the popular the including events, social and educational

clinic formed. In 1973, Lammas Books opened on opened Books Lammas 1973, In formed. clinic and helped put together the Embracing Diversity Embracing the together put helped and lesbians. DC's Gay Women's Alternative sponsored Alternative Women's Gay DC's lesbians.

1972 to 1975. It wasn't until 1979 that a lesbian a that 1979 until wasn't It 1975. to 1972 izing, participated in the creation of AMBi in 1991 in AMBi of creation the in participated izing, support and social organization for African American African for organization social and support

Georgetown offered women's health nights from nights health women's offered Georgetown Hutchins, a leader in bisexual politics and organ- and politics bisexual in leader a Hutchins, The 80s brought the Sapphire Sapphos, a major a Sapphos, Sapphire the brought 80s The

Center) formed. The Washington Free Clinic in Clinic Free Washington The formed. Center) nation's first Dyke March in April 1993. Loraine 1993. April in March Dyke first nation's than 30 years ago. ago. years 30 than

Center (later known as the DC Rape Crisis Rape DC the as known (later Center 1993. The fire-eating Avengers staged the staged Avengers fire-eating The 1993. Patsy Lynch began creating our visual heritage more heritage visual our creating began Lynch Patsy

Center opened on R St NW. The Women's Crisis Women's The NW. St R on opened Center organized a local chapter of Lesbian Avengers in Avengers Lesbian of chapter local a organized Biren (JEB), Sharon Farmer, Leigh Mosley, and Mosley, Leigh Farmer, Sharon (JEB), Biren

In 1972, the Washington Area Women's Area Washington the 1972, In ership in AIDS protest organizations, DC lesbians DC organizations, protest AIDS in ership mentaries of gay rights demonstrations. Joan E. Joan demonstrations. rights gay of mentaries

the feminist movement" in 1970. in movement" feminist the Without Fear in 1991. Building on women's lead- women's on Building 1991. in Fear Without 1970 Lilli Vincenz made the earliest 16mm docu- 16mm earliest the made Vincenz Lilli 1970

, a "journal of record for record of "journal a , backs our off created tive women, DC women organized the first Walk first the organized women DC women, ers who document our LGBT history. In 1968 and 1968 In history. LGBT our document who ers

ideology to a national audience. A feminist collec- feminist A audience. national a to ideology Fed up with violence and threats against threats and violence with up Fed DC is rich in talented photographers and filmmak- and photographers talented in rich is DC

newspaper carried the collective's the carried newspaper Furies The time director time musical group, the DC Feminist Chorus. Feminist DC the group, musical

themselves what they had relied on men to do. to men on relied had they what themselves provided a firm foundation for LSP as its first full first its as LSP for foundation firm a provided 1978, Flo Hollis organized the area's first community first area's the organized Hollis Flo 1978,

sought to empower women by training them to do to them training by women empower to sought 1990 broadened support programs. Amelie Zurn Amelie programs. support broadened 1990 duce multicultural women's performances. Also in Also performances. women's multicultural duce

bisexual women in the 70s. The Furies collective Furies The 70s. the in women bisexual Creation of the Lesbian Services Program in Program Services Lesbian the of Creation organization emerged in 1978 to organize and pro- and organize to 1978 in emerged organization

A spirit of self-reliance liberated lesbian and lesbian liberated self-reliance of spirit A mally organized in 1990. in organized mally company in the country. Amy Horowitz's Roadwork Horowitz's Amy country. the in company

Washington Blade Washington the . . led to the Black Lesbian Support Group which for- which Group Support Lesbian Black the to led formed the first woman-owned audio engineering audio woman-owned first the formed

duced and edited the the edited and duced , later to become to later , Blade Gay homes for group discussions. These meetings These discussions. group for homes women. Casse Culver and Boden Sandstrom Boden and Culver Casse women.

. From October 1969, Nancy Tucker pro- Tucker Nancy 1969, October From . Insider ended, African American lesbians met in area in met lesbians American African ended, Center, became an important performance site for site performance important an became Center,

Eva Freund later co-edited a local newsletter, newsletter, local a co-edited later Freund Eva The ing with cancer. After the Sapphire Sapphos Sapphire the After cancer. with ing Sophie's Parlor, a coffeehouse at the Women's the at coffeehouse a Parlor, Sophie's

Lilli Vincenz edited edited Vincenz Lilli The Homosexual Citizen Homosexual The and the Mautner Project in 1989 to support women liv- women support to 1989 in Project Mautner the Changer and the Changed the and Changer I Know You Know You Know I and .

in 1973 to produce the first records for lesbians, for records first the produce to 1973 in The Olivia collective created Olivia Records here Records Olivia created collective Olivia The

Sandstrom in 1975 to provide sound and technical sup- port for productions of women's music in metropolitan The social innova- Washington, DC. The company started out at 1715 tion, self-affirmation, New Hampshire Ave. NW Woman Sound advertised books, readings, and concerts. and ferment in the regularly in the Washington Blade and supported local arts and political performers. [26] Sophie's Parlor — 1736 R St NW In the organizations of DC's lesbian and bisexual women is early and mid 70s, the coffeehouse at the [31] Woman's Monthly Women's Center became an important perform- a largely untold story. Their energy — 2401 H St NW - The and creativity has had ramifications ance space for lesbian entertainers such as Cris first issue of the maga- Williamson, Meg Christian, and Casse Culver. nationally as well as locally. zine, popularly known as Women sought places and oppor- Sophie's Parlor began a radio show, first on WOMO, appeared in September 1992. WOMO is an WGTB and later on WPFW, which ran for tunities to meet. The Showboat and important chronicle of events, organizations, and per- the Kavakos in the 30s and 40s and decades bringing music and women's issues to a sonalities in the lesbian women's community. As larger public. the Redskin in the 50s were among founder Nancy McMurray wrote on the tenth anniver- the few public social spaces for [27] (Steve's) Spring Rd Café — 3700 14th St sary, "The WOMO archive, the older it gets, becomes women. By the early 60s, there were NW The Spring Rd. Café, at 14th and Spring more and more valuable for its witness to views nobody only the Rendezvous Grill and Rd., once painted purple, was a weekend haven else had. It is part of our collective self-portrait, and Steve's (the Spring Rd Café). for lesbians during the 1960s. Evenings at 'proof' that we were here." Even as gay clubs emerged in the 70s, women were often unwel- Steve's sometimes turned rowdy. [32] Women In The Life —1623 Connecticut Ave NW come. Both the Lost & Found and (rear) Women In the Life ("WITL") was created in [28] Tracks — 1111 First St SE the Grand Central disco initially 1993 to empower and enrich the lives of lesbians of Tracks, the very popular dance made a practice of carding women color through educational, social and cultural program- club at M and First Streets SE, to exclude them. To its credit, DC's ming, and support services. Sheila Alexander-Reid started a Women's Night for les- activist community fought such dis- started WITL because there were no safe spaces for bians on the last Tuesday of the crimination. Pat Price, editor of the lesbians of color to socialize, network, and share their month. The events regularly Gay Blade (under the pen name Pat sisterhood. Initially WITL brought lesbians of color attracted more than 2,000 women. Women's Kolar), was one complainant to the together through informal social events, such as poetry Nights were frequent distribution points for OUT's Office of Human Rights about Grand readings, dances, community fundraisers, and work- Safer Sex Sirens to hand out safe sex literature. Central's discrimination in 1974. shops. A controversial later event called Lesbo-agogo House parties and clubs exclu- started in July 1991 and featured lesbian go-go sively for women offered alterna- dancers. tives. Lilli Vincenz recalls JoAnna's, which opened in the summer of [29] Washington Area Women's Center — 1968, as "the first nice club for 1736 R St NW The Women's Center began as a women." The 70s brought more DC feminist venture in an R St NW townhouse. women's clubs: Phase One (1971), Despite financial problems, the center initiated Club Madame (1974), and The many groundbreaking activities for area women. Other Side (1978). In 1971, Vincenz In April 1972, 30 lesbian feminists met at the cen- RAINBOW HISTORY PROJECT created the first regularly scheduled ter to plan a new Lesbian Office for the center. collecting, preserving and promoting house party, the Gay Women's Open Other gay and lesbian groups in the city raised the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered House, at her home in Arlington. funds for the Women's Center, including the Gay history of metropolitan Washington, DC She recalled, it was "just people Activist Alliance's community center on 13th St socializing. And then we had discus- NW. One of the longest lasting creations of the P O Box 11013 Washington, DC 20008 sion groups; sometimes musical center was the Sophie's Parlor coffeehouse. The tel: 202.907.9007 groups ... Meg Christian, the very Women's Center moved five times, to three loca- [email protected] first lesbian performer, came and tions on 18th St NW, P St NW, and finally to 1350 www.rainbowhistory.org sang." Pennsylvania Ave SE before finally closing in the design by Gina M. Farthing DC's women began taking a early 1990s. Two of its 18th St homes were photograph by Patsy Lynch, Amy Horowitz more public role in the 60s. At the shared with the Whitman-Walker Clinic. Mattachine Society of Washington, (c) Rainbow History Project 2004 [30] Woman Sound — 19 Logan Circle Woman Sound was formed by Casse Culver and Boden tive to the bars.” The group's annual Spring Cotillion was a highlight of the season. GWA met at the through Whitman-Walker Clinic, BLSG offers dis- Washington Ethical Society on upper 16th St NW not like real work- cussion and support groups for African American and was an all-volunteer organization. ing, because we lesbians. love it and it's [7] Gay Women's Open House — 5411 South 8th fun.” By 1973, Place, Arlington - Lilli Vincenz opened her home as [3] Club Madame — 500 8th St SE BB and Lammas moved to a gathering place for women, first announced in the Lorisette Gatch’s club for women offered dancing 321 7th St SE and Gay Blade in April 1971. For many women, it and social space, “with a French accent,” from became the LGBT offered a secure comfortable space to meet other 1974 to 1978. Nancy Hayward, a founder of community's first women. The open house was held Wednesday Parents of Gays - DC, records a visit to the club bookstore and a evenings, from 1971 to 1978. After 1978, it met in the book Now That You Know. lesbian community center. Lammas sponsored a soft- monthly for about a year. The event inspired other ball team, hosted readings and concerts, and other [4] DC Rape Crisis Center — 1609 Connecticut Gay Women's Open Houses in Bowie, on 17th St in events of interest to lesbians. Mary Farmer ran Ave NW The group formed in the summer of Washington, DC, and briefly in Prince George's Lammas after Winsett and Reeves, turning the shop 1972 as the Women's Crisis Center. From the County. One oral history recalls " …it was a great into a bookstore, performance space, and lesbian com- start it offered "medical, legal, and personal coun- environment because it wasn't a bar and it was in munity center. The store hosted concerts, staged read- seling for women, also self-defense". For over her living room. She opened up her house … And it ings of new works, and functioned as the information thirty years, the center has aided women who was cruising without cruising in that it was a very center for many of the activities in the lesbian communi- have been sexually assaulted. It originally met in comfortable environment, but yet people there were ty. In 1986, Lammas opened a the basement of a Mt. Pleasant house and later predominately single and just trying to reach out and Dupont Circle branch at 1426 occupied space at 1609 Connecticut Ave NW. find one another." 21st St NW, which offered [5] The [8] Hill Haven — 516 8th St SE The women's bar many of the same services as Furies — opened in late 1989 and provided a new gathering the Capitol Hill store. The origi- 219 11th place on Capitol Hill for lesbians and bisexuals. nal store on Capitol Hill closed St SE & in 1989. Jane Troxell, Rose 1861 California NW The Furies collective was [9] Hung Jury — 1819 H St NW The club opened Fennell, Marge Darling & Susan Fletcher took over among Washington, DC's best known communal in 1984 and was one of the city's longest running Lammas in March 1993. The 21st Street store present- living groups in the early Seventies. The twelve clubs for lesbian and bisexual women. Hung Jury ed Sweet Honey in the Rock, Norma McCorvey (Jane women (including Joan Biren, Charlotte Bunch, hosted First Friday dances for Women in the Life as Roe of Roe v. Wade), Alice Walker, Gloria Steinem, Lily and Sharon Deevey) living here constituted an well as the first local drag king contest in 1996. Tomlin to name a few. The store provided space for the important experiment in lesbians of diverse social Lesbian Avengers meetings and held numerous [10] JoAnna's — 430 8th St SE and economic backgrounds living together and fundraisers for women's organizations. Lammas sold As When it opened in 1968, working to make their political and social beliefs a books and gifts at every feminist and lesbian confer- JoAnna's was not only the first les- day-to-day reality. From January 1972 until mid- ence in DC for years. Seven years later the store bian bar, but it was the first bar to 1973, the collective published its groundbreaking moved to 1607 17th St NW before closing in 2001. The provide a dance floor for same-sex newspaper The Furies and distributed it national- last owner was Sylvia Colon. dancing, an innovation quickly ly. When the collective disbanded in late spring copied by other clubs. In 1971 and [12] Lesbian Avengers 1972, "the core of the newspaper staff decided to 1972, JoAnna’s held a women’s — 1426 21st St NW continue the paper as a project separate from the film festival the first Sunday of the The non-violent direct collective." month. JoAnna's closed briefly in 1972 and then re- action Lesbian Avengers [6] Gay Women's Alternative — opened in 1973, featuring Billie's Gold Dust Review, formed in 1992 to 7750 16th St NW Seven women a drag show. empower lesbians, bring (including Ina Alterman, Maryl attention to lesbian [11] Lammas Books — 321 7th St SE Judy Kerley, Leigh Geiger, and Ann issues and to work with Winsett and Leslie Reeves founded Lammas as a Meltzer) created GWA in 1980. For other LGBT groups on jewelry and craft shop in 1970 at 115 8th St SE. In 12 years, GWA provided education- lesbian issues. Known as “fire eaters,” Avengers also the final lesbian issue of Motive in 1972, Winsett al and social opportunities for les- advertised “we recruit.” The DC chapter used direct wrote "We work about fifty hours a week … But it's bian and bisexual women in the action efforts in confronting George Mason University metropolitan area. GWA was “an and in support of AIDS actions in the city. The alternative to the closet; an alterna- Avengers often met at Lammas' shop in Dupont Circle

and organized the first annual Dyke March. Sisterfire introduced a special mix of emerging and internationally recognized women performers [13] Center & other venues From 1985 to 1997, the such as Alice Walker, Tracy Chapman, Ronnie Lesbian annual Passages conference focused on issues in Gilbert, and Elizabeth Cotten. Health — women's lives. Ina Alterman, Hope Brown, Marti 1606 17th St NW Building on earlier women’s Burt, Lee Dotson, Jerrie Linder, Ruth Meeron, Cheryl [21] Red Capricorn — 12222 Rockville Pike health nights at the Washing-ton Free Clinic, Jennings, Kate Seelman, and Helen Zanes organ- Marti Biton opened a coffeehouse/night club for Lorraine Biros co-founded the Lesbian Resource ized the first conference. The conference, held first women in 1994, bringing a performance and and Counseling Collective at the Whitman-Walker at the Washington Ethical Society, began as social space for lesbians to Montgomery County, Clinic. In 1979, Barbara Lewis and Lauren Taylor Passages: A Conference on Aging and Ageism for MD. co-founded the Wednesday evening Lesbian Lesbians of All Ages. Kate Seelman recalled "We Health Clinic. With the 1990 establishment of the expected 150 and 300 showed up." In later years [22] Redskin Lounge — 1628 L St NW (demol- Lesbian Services Program (LSP) at 1432 U St the conference focus expanded to a wide-ranging ished) Redskin followed the Maystat and Jewel NW, under the leadership of Amelie Zurn, DC’s repertoire of issues as Passages became a general Box clubs at this address. In the mid to late 50s, lesbian and bisexual women had access to full- conference for lesbians. the Redskin was a popular women's club. fledged health and support programs. Since Zurn, LSP has been led by Nancy Meyers and [18] Phase One — 525 8th St SE [23] Sapphire Sapphos — 816 I St NE The currently by Ellen Kahn. DC's longest running gay club group originally met in the basement of La opened in mid-summer 1971. Zambra (1406 14th St NW), at All Souls Church, [14] Mautner Project — 1707 L St NW In 1989, With a dance floor, pool tables, and later at the ENIKAlley Coffeehouse (816 I St Susan Hester created the Mautner Project to sup- and a bar, the Phase was a suc- NE), which the Sapphire Sapphos took over in port lesbians with cancer. The Mautner Project is cess. One oral history recalls the the mid-80s. They briefly ran a coffeehouse here named for Mary-Helen Mautner, who died of false fur under the Phase's bar. called Essie's. Papaya Mann recalls "some peo- breast cancer in 1989. During her illness Mary- The Phase fielded its own softball team. ple got the idea that we should start a social club Helen was fortunate to have a support network of or a support group. And it was both of those friends and family. She realized that other les- [19] Playing Fields — 23rd and Constitution The things. So it was mostly black women coming bians were not so fortunate. The Mautner Project playing fields at 23rd and Constitution NW became together attempting to attract other women who has set standards for lesbian health programs the site of women's softball games in the summer of wanted to be together. And there was an empha- around the country. 1972. A notice in the Gay Blade directed readers to sis on women with children being very accepted. diamond 18 and noted, "If you don't see the number, So we all, we created an extended community, [15] mothertongue — 1811 14th St NW Since sort of family type of energy." October 1998, mothertongue has presented a look for the dykes." Football games moved to this monthly evening "where all women may speak location in the autumn of 1972. One Saturday [24] Showboat — 1310 H St NW (demolished) freely and powerfully and have their creative and morning during the Lammas team's practice, a limo The Showboat opened in 1936 and was one of artistic voices heard … Through monthly pulled up and out climbed Ann Richards who wanted the most popular lesbian clubs of the 30s and women's spoken word events and writing/per- to learn how to throw out the first ball at a major 40s. In the 30s, nightly entertainment was pro- formance workshops, mothertongue encourages league baseball game. The Guy Mason Field in vided by a lesbian couple, Chloe and Loverboy. women to use their voices, art, talents, and skills Glover Park was another popular area. to build just and inclusive communities." mother- [25] Sisterspace [20] Roadwork — 1475 Harvard tongue is held the third Wednesday of each — 1515 U St NW St NW In 1978, Amy Horowitz month at the Black Cat club on 14th St. Sisterspace grew formed Roadwork as a "multira- out of a book cor- [16] The Other Side — 1345 Half St SE Owners cial women's cultural organiza- ner in Cassandra Burton's Consignment Carroll and Jansen opened a popular women's’ tion" to create a national/interna- Boutique on U St and by 1995 was an independ- bar in 1978 on the site of early gay male dance tional audience for Sweet Honey ent bookstore. With Faye Williams, Burton has clubs. This was their second lesbian club (after as well as to organize and pro- turned Sisterspace and Books into one of DC's the Phase One). The Other Side was a popular duce performances by women. most popular spots for African American women. women's dance bar and restaurant for a decade, Roadwork started at 1724 20th St Williams says "This is more than a bookstore … adding weekend drag shows in the 1980s. NW, later moving to Harvard St This is where people come to connect." NW. In 1982, Roadwork launched Sisterspace provides discussion and meeting [17] Passages —7750 16th St NW, Marvin Sisterfire "as celebration … and space for women in the community, as well as acknowledgement of women as vital carriers of cul- ture." Sisterfire was conceived in Bernice Johnson Reagon's living room, and over the next six years tive to the bars.” The group's annual Spring Cotillion was a highlight of the season. GWA met at the through Whitman-Walker Clinic, BLSG offers dis- Washington Ethical Society on upper 16th St NW not like real work- cussion and support groups for African American and was an all-volunteer organization. ing, because we lesbians. love it and it's [7] Gay Women's Open House — 5411 South 8th fun.” By 1973, Place, Arlington - Lilli Vincenz opened her home as [3] Club Madame — 500 8th St SE BB and Lammas moved to a gathering place for women, first announced in the Lorisette Gatch’s club for women offered dancing 321 7th St SE and Gay Blade in April 1971. For many women, it and social space, “with a French accent,” from became the LGBT offered a secure comfortable space to meet other 1974 to 1978. Nancy Hayward, a founder of community's first women. The open house was held Wednesday Parents of Gays - DC, records a visit to the club bookstore and a evenings, from 1971 to 1978. After 1978, it met in the book Now That You Know. lesbian community center. Lammas sponsored a soft- monthly for about a year. The event inspired other ball team, hosted readings and concerts, and other [4] DC Rape Crisis Center — 1609 Connecticut Gay Women's Open Houses in Bowie, on 17th St in events of interest to lesbians. Mary Farmer ran Ave NW The group formed in the summer of Washington, DC, and briefly in Prince George's Lammas after Winsett and Reeves, turning the shop 1972 as the Women's Crisis Center. From the County. One oral history recalls " …it was a great into a bookstore, performance space, and lesbian com- start it offered "medical, legal, and personal coun- environment because it wasn't a bar and it was in munity center. The store hosted concerts, staged read- seling for women, also self-defense". For over her living room. She opened up her house … And it ings of new works, and functioned as the information thirty years, the center has aided women who was cruising without cruising in that it was a very center for many of the activities in the lesbian communi- have been sexually assaulted. It originally met in comfortable environment, but yet people there were ty. In 1986, Lammas opened a the basement of a Mt. Pleasant house and later predominately single and just trying to reach out and Dupont Circle branch at 1426 occupied space at 1609 Connecticut Ave NW. find one another." 21st St NW, which offered [5] The [8] Hill Haven — 516 8th St SE The women's bar many of the same services as Furies — opened in late 1989 and provided a new gathering the Capitol Hill store. The origi- 219 11th place on Capitol Hill for lesbians and bisexuals. nal store on Capitol Hill closed St SE & in 1989. Jane Troxell, Rose 1861 California NW The Furies collective was [9] Hung Jury — 1819 H St NW The club opened Fennell, Marge Darling & Susan Fletcher took over among Washington, DC's best known communal in 1984 and was one of the city's longest running Lammas in March 1993. The 21st Street store present- living groups in the early Seventies. The twelve clubs for lesbian and bisexual women. Hung Jury ed Sweet Honey in the Rock, Norma McCorvey (Jane women (including Joan Biren, Charlotte Bunch, hosted First Friday dances for Women in the Life as Roe of Roe v. Wade), Alice Walker, Gloria Steinem, Lily and Sharon Deevey) living here constituted an well as the first local drag king contest in 1996. Tomlin to name a few. The store provided space for the important experiment in lesbians of diverse social Lesbian Avengers meetings and held numerous [10] JoAnna's — 430 8th St SE and economic backgrounds living together and fundraisers for women's organizations. Lammas sold As When it opened in 1968, working to make their political and social beliefs a books and gifts at every feminist and lesbian confer- JoAnna's was not only the first les- day-to-day reality. From January 1972 until mid- ence in DC for years. Seven years later the store bian bar, but it was the first bar to 1973, the collective published its groundbreaking moved to 1607 17th St NW before closing in 2001. The provide a dance floor for same-sex newspaper The Furies and distributed it national- last owner was Sylvia Colon. dancing, an innovation quickly ly. When the collective disbanded in late spring copied by other clubs. In 1971 and [12] Lesbian Avengers 1972, "the core of the newspaper staff decided to 1972, JoAnna’s held a women’s — 1426 21st St NW continue the paper as a project separate from the film festival the first Sunday of the The non-violent direct collective." month. JoAnna's closed briefly in 1972 and then re- action Lesbian Avengers [6] Gay Women's Alternative — opened in 1973, featuring Billie's Gold Dust Review, formed in 1992 to 7750 16th St NW Seven women a drag show. empower lesbians, bring (including Ina Alterman, Maryl attention to lesbian [11] Lammas Books — 321 7th St SE Judy Kerley, Leigh Geiger, and Ann issues and to work with Winsett and Leslie Reeves founded Lammas as a Meltzer) created GWA in 1980. For other LGBT groups on jewelry and craft shop in 1970 at 115 8th St SE. In 12 years, GWA provided education- lesbian issues. Known as “fire eaters,” Avengers also the final lesbian issue of Motive in 1972, Winsett al and social opportunities for les- advertised “we recruit.” The DC chapter used direct wrote "We work about fifty hours a week … But it's bian and bisexual women in the action efforts in confronting George Mason University metropolitan area. GWA was “an and in support of AIDS actions in the city. The alternative to the closet; an alterna- Avengers often met at Lammas' shop in Dupont Circle

and organized the first annual Dyke March. Sisterfire introduced a special mix of emerging and internationally recognized women performers [13] Center & other venues From 1985 to 1997, the such as Alice Walker, Tracy Chapman, Ronnie Lesbian annual Passages conference focused on issues in Gilbert, and Elizabeth Cotten. Health — women's lives. Ina Alterman, Hope Brown, Marti 1606 17th St NW Building on earlier women’s Burt, Lee Dotson, Jerrie Linder, Ruth Meeron, Cheryl [21] Red Capricorn — 12222 Rockville Pike health nights at the Washing-ton Free Clinic, Jennings, Kate Seelman, and Helen Zanes organ- Marti Biton opened a coffeehouse/night club for Lorraine Biros co-founded the Lesbian Resource ized the first conference. The conference, held first women in 1994, bringing a performance and and Counseling Collective at the Whitman-Walker at the Washington Ethical Society, began as social space for lesbians to Montgomery County, Clinic. In 1979, Barbara Lewis and Lauren Taylor Passages: A Conference on Aging and Ageism for MD. co-founded the Wednesday evening Lesbian Lesbians of All Ages. Kate Seelman recalled "We Health Clinic. With the 1990 establishment of the expected 150 and 300 showed up." In later years [22] Redskin Lounge — 1628 L St NW (demol- Lesbian Services Program (LSP) at 1432 U St the conference focus expanded to a wide-ranging ished) Redskin followed the Maystat and Jewel NW, under the leadership of Amelie Zurn, DC’s repertoire of issues as Passages became a general Box clubs at this address. In the mid to late 50s, lesbian and bisexual women had access to full- conference for lesbians. the Redskin was a popular women's club. fledged health and support programs. Since Zurn, LSP has been led by Nancy Meyers and [18] Phase One — 525 8th St SE [23] Sapphire Sapphos — 816 I St NE The currently by Ellen Kahn. DC's longest running gay club group originally met in the basement of La opened in mid-summer 1971. Zambra (1406 14th St NW), at All Souls Church, [14] Mautner Project — 1707 L St NW In 1989, With a dance floor, pool tables, and later at the ENIKAlley Coffeehouse (816 I St Susan Hester created the Mautner Project to sup- and a bar, the Phase was a suc- NE), which the Sapphire Sapphos took over in port lesbians with cancer. The Mautner Project is cess. One oral history recalls the the mid-80s. They briefly ran a coffeehouse here named for Mary-Helen Mautner, who died of false fur under the Phase's bar. called Essie's. Papaya Mann recalls "some peo- breast cancer in 1989. During her illness Mary- The Phase fielded its own softball team. ple got the idea that we should start a social club Helen was fortunate to have a support network of or a support group. And it was both of those friends and family. She realized that other les- [19] Playing Fields — 23rd and Constitution The things. So it was mostly black women coming bians were not so fortunate. The Mautner Project playing fields at 23rd and Constitution NW became together attempting to attract other women who has set standards for lesbian health programs the site of women's softball games in the summer of wanted to be together. And there was an empha- around the country. 1972. A notice in the Gay Blade directed readers to sis on women with children being very accepted. diamond 18 and noted, "If you don't see the number, So we all, we created an extended community, [15] mothertongue — 1811 14th St NW Since sort of family type of energy." October 1998, mothertongue has presented a look for the dykes." Football games moved to this monthly evening "where all women may speak location in the autumn of 1972. One Saturday [24] Showboat — 1310 H St NW (demolished) freely and powerfully and have their creative and morning during the Lammas team's practice, a limo The Showboat opened in 1936 and was one of artistic voices heard … Through monthly pulled up and out climbed Ann Richards who wanted the most popular lesbian clubs of the 30s and women's spoken word events and writing/per- to learn how to throw out the first ball at a major 40s. In the 30s, nightly entertainment was pro- formance workshops, mothertongue encourages league baseball game. The Guy Mason Field in vided by a lesbian couple, Chloe and Loverboy. women to use their voices, art, talents, and skills Glover Park was another popular area. to build just and inclusive communities." mother- [25] Sisterspace [20] Roadwork — 1475 Harvard tongue is held the third Wednesday of each — 1515 U St NW St NW In 1978, Amy Horowitz month at the Black Cat club on 14th St. Sisterspace grew formed Roadwork as a "multira- out of a book cor- [16] The Other Side — 1345 Half St SE Owners cial women's cultural organiza- ner in Cassandra Burton's Consignment Carroll and Jansen opened a popular women's’ tion" to create a national/interna- Boutique on U St and by 1995 was an independ- bar in 1978 on the site of early gay male dance tional audience for Sweet Honey ent bookstore. With Faye Williams, Burton has clubs. This was their second lesbian club (after as well as to organize and pro- turned Sisterspace and Books into one of DC's the Phase One). The Other Side was a popular duce performances by women. most popular spots for African American women. women's dance bar and restaurant for a decade, Roadwork started at 1724 20th St Williams says "This is more than a bookstore … adding weekend drag shows in the 1980s. NW, later moving to Harvard St This is where people come to connect." NW. In 1982, Roadwork launched Sisterspace provides discussion and meeting [17] Passages —7750 16th St NW, Marvin Sisterfire "as celebration … and space for women in the community, as well as acknowledgement of women as vital carriers of cul- ture." Sisterfire was conceived in Bernice Johnson Reagon's living room, and over the next six years