Sinister Wisdom Oral Herstory Project

Sinister Wisdom thrives within the long-standing tradition of lesbian feminist resistance through storytelling. While primarily a literary journal, Sinister Wisdom's volunteers are working to expand platforms for lesbians and queer women beyond the page.

Sinister Wisdom's Oral Herstory Project is a new project that features 1-2 hour interviews with key editorial contributors to Sinister Wisdom. Rebecca Quaintance, our student intern, Maureen Daniels, our graduate student intern, and Roman Pace, a multimedia artist and volunteer, is the team behind this exciting new project.

Featuring interviews with past editors such as Irena Klepfisz, Harriet Desmoines, Elana Dykewomon, and more, Sinister Wisdom's Oral Herstory Project will feature audio and transcriptions of the interviews on our website. Sinister Wisdom is expanding its reach and impact, bringing more mediums for lesbians to express their experiences.

"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