About Sinister Wisdom

Mission Sinister Wisdom — A Multicultural Lesbian Literary & Art Journal The oldest surviving lesbian literary journal- now celebrating 30 years. Sinister Wisdom is a multicultural, multi-class, female-born lesbian space. We seek to open, consider and advance the exploration of community issues. We recognize the power of language to reflect our diverse experiences and to enhance our ability to develop critical judgment, as lesbians evaluating our community and our world.	"Your silence will not protect you." Audre Lorde
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Policy We publish only Lesbians' work. We are particularly interested in work that reflects the diversity of our experiences: as Lesbians of color, ethnic Lesbians, Jewish, Arab, old, young, working class, poverty class, disabled, and fat Lesbians. We welcome experimental work. We will not print anything that is oppressive or demeaning to Lesbians or women, or that perpetuates stereotypes. We do intend to keep an open and critical dialogue on all the issues that affect our lives, joy, and survival. Sinister Wisdom, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We provide free subs to women in prison and mental institutions (15% of our mailing list), as well as reduced price subs for lesbians with limited/fixed incomes. Enclose an extra $10 on your renewal to help cover the cost of prisoner and reduced price subs (larger donations accepted).	"Empowerment comes from ideas—our revolution is fought with concepts, not with guns, and it is fueled by vision. By focusing on what we want to happen, we change the present. The healing images and narratives we imagine will eventually materialize." Gloria Anzaldúa
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History SINISTER WISDOM, founded 1976 Former editors and publishers: Harriet Ellenberger (aka Desmoines) and Catherine Nicholson (1976-1981) Michelle Cliff and Adrienne Rich (1981-1983) Michaele Uccella (1983-1984) Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz (1983-1987) Elana Dykewomon (1987-1994) Caryatis Cardea (1991 -1994) Akiba Onada-Sikwoia (1995-1997) Margo Mercedes Rivera-Weiss (1997-2000)	"Heterosexuality has been forcibly and subliminally imposed on women. Yet everywhere women have resisted it, often at the cost of physical torture, imprisonment, psychosurgery, social ostracism, and extreme poverty." Adrienne Rich
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Contributors Alma Avotcja Shaba Barnes Denise Brautigam Brenwyn Natasha Carthew Julie Enszer Diane Foster Tina Freimuth Deb Friedman Carole Gale Alix Greenwood Sue Lenaerts H. Madrone Lynn Martin Ruth Mountaingrove Jeanne Neath Mary Oishi Sudie Rakusin Ida VSW Red Kim Rivers Lilith Rogers Zarod Rominski Jan Shade Sandy Tate Ellen Williams Judith K. Witherow Ruth Zachary Editor: Fran Day  Layout & Design: Jan Shade Board of Directors: Judith K. Witherow, Rose Provenzano, Joan Nestle, Susan Levinkind, Fran Day, Shaba Barnes Office Manager: Susan Levinkind Proofreaders: Fran Day and Jan Shade Web Design: Sue Lenaerts Special Thanks to: Cathy Cade, Nann Dunne, Roxanna Fiamma, Moire Martin, Nicole Miller, Rose Provenzano, Senecarol Rising, Annie Soper, Linda Strega, Susan Wiseheart and many others	"I’m not asking you to give up your lives. I’m asking you to live your lives, honorably and with dignity. I’m asking you to fight. I’m asking you to do things for women that women do all the time in political struggle for men…I’m not asking you to get caught. I’m asking you to escape. I’m asking you to run for your life. If you need to run through a brick wall, run through it. If you get some bruises on your arms, it’s better than having him give the bruises to you because you were standing still. None of us has the right to stand still." Andrea Dworkin
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