Special Issue: Sinister Wisdom's On Our Backs Issue

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

From 1984 to 2006, lesbians and gender expansive readers across the US had access to a community-produced erotica magazine that was unlike anything ever produced before: On Our Backs. The magazine's name is a satirical play on the title of the radical feminist magazine Off Our Backs, which began publishing in 1970 and was was seen by many, particularly during the so-called "sex wars" that began in the 1970s and continued into the 1990s, as being prudish and anti-pornography. On Our Backs was stridently sex-positive and sought to demonstrate and explore how lesbian and dyke sexuality shows up, in words and images.

What has not been known for many years is that an issue completed in 1995 was never published. Not until 2025 did anyone know a rough xerox of that issue was hanging out in the home of former editor, Bayla Travis, waiting for...well what? In fact, even Bayla didn't know she had the only remaining evidence of this sexy dyke treasure trove. Bayla held onto that issue hoping that someday it would find a way to be seen, to be held in hands, to be enjoyed as it was intended, as a gift to the community. Inspired by recent interest in the 90s history of lesbian art and culture. Bayla reached out to Sinister Wisdom to see if they were interested in publishing this "lost issue" and allowing this moment in dyke history to be an opportunity to call in the expression of dyke sexuality both historical and contemporary, especially from communities that were not centered in On Our Backs back in the day.

We are a multi-racial, multi-generational group gathering to inspire and uplift our community's expression of desire, to continue to claim our freedom to define ourselves outside of the limits of current culture, to expand beyond our wildest imagination of ways to connect to each other with our bodies, minds, and spirits.

This special issue of Sinister Wisdom will reprint the never-before-published 1995 issue of On Our Backs and a companion issue comprised of contemporary reflections.

Some of the questions on our minds as we put together this issue are:

• How has/did On On Our Backs impact your understanding of your sexuality and its relationship to desire and your expression of desire?
• How does the legacy of On Our Backs live in the current moment?
• What does lesbian sexuality look, feel, smell, sound like?
• How do gender / ability / race / age / size / class / geography impact expressions of lesbian sexuality?

Maybe you have other questions sparked by On Our Backs or your own ideas and experiences of lesbian sexuality. Don't limit your submissions to the questions above. As long as you're jumping off from some aspect of the magazine or lesbian sexuality, we're curious to hear from you.

The medium you choose to reflect on these questions is open: we’re accepting essays, poetry, artwork, audio stories, photos, and experimental work.

We are seeking submissions in the following formats:

• Completed works: Generally speaking, submissions should not exceed a word count of 2,400 or 4 pages of images/poetry.
• Pitches: Short descriptions of work yet to be created.
• Reflections: Shorter 1-2 paragraph texts or single images reflecting on how On Our Backs impacted, comforted, titillated, or otherwise inspired you. The intention for these shorter pieces is for them to be included in a digital exhibit or archive that will be accessible online (i.e. separate from the print issue itself).

We are interested particularly in work that reflects the diversity of lesbian and dyke experience and culture. We are seeking contributions from dykes and lesbians of many races, ethnicities, classes, nations, ages, faiths, abilities, sexualities, and genders. We celebrate each lesbian and dyke's contribution to our full diversity and reject any attempt to exclude a self-declared lesbian or dyke.

Deadline:

Nov. 15, 2026

How to Send Your Submissions:

Please use this form to share your work, pitches, and/or reflections: Sinister Wisdom's On Our Backs Issue: Submission Form