Sinister Wisdom 93 / Southern Lesbian-Feminist Herstory Supplement

In this supplement to Sinister Wisdom 93: Southern Lesbian-Feminist Herstory, we present longer, edited versions of interviews with lesbians whose stories appear in Sinister Wisdom 93. The interviewees edited the interviews presented in this online supplement. Along with the longer interviews are more biographical information and photographs. The audio files and these interview notes are archived at the Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture in the David M. Rubinstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

1. Avery, Byllye – The Birth Place (Gainesville, Florida) and the Black Women’s Health Project

2. Burnell, Donna – Gainesville Women’s Health Center and Florida NOW

3. Carter, Mandy – Southerners on New Ground (North Carolina)

4. Dyke, Mindy – Miami’s Lesbian Task Force of NOW

6. Felicity, LauRose & Calla – domestic violence shelters and legislation in Kentucky

7. Garner, Joan - Southerners on New Ground (Georgia)

8. Harrison, Garnett – legal activism about child sexual abuse in custody cases in Mississippi

9. Hussain, Pat - Southerners on New Ground and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (Georgia)

10. McMichael, Pam - Southerners on New Ground (Kentucky)

11. Parrish, Margaret – Gainesville Women’s Health Center

12. Pharr, Suzanne - Southerners on New Ground (Arkansas)

13. Powell, Carole – Womankind Support Project in Nashville

14. Randall-David, Elizabeth – Gainesville Women’s Health Center

15. Segrest, Mab - Southerners on New Ground (North Carolina)

16. Sims, Mary - Miami’s Lesbian Task Force of NOW

17. Smith, Pam- Gainesville Women’s Health Center

Four songs by songwriter Carol Kraemer, performed by Yer Girlfriend and produced by Ester Records are available here.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT (quotes are from the release statements):

The interviewees have signed releases giving “ permission for any tapes and/or photographs made during this project to be used by researchers and the public for educational purposes including publications, exhibitions, World Wide Web, and presentations.” They “do not give up any copyright or performance rights that [they] may hold.”

"Empowerment comes from ideas."

Gloria Anzaldúa

“And the metaphorical lenses we choose are crucial, having the power to magnify, create better focus, and correct our vision.”
― Charlene Carruthers

"Your silence will not protect you."

Audre Lorde

“It’s revolutionary to connect with love”
— Tourmaline

"Gender is the poetry each of us makes out of the language we are taught."

― Leslie Feinberg

“The problem with the use of language of Revolution without praxis is that it promises to change everything while keeping everything the same. “
— Leila Raven