LGBTQ+ veterans who were ejected from the military due to their sexuality will be able to receive up to £70,000 in compensation from today 13 December.
The ban on openly gay soldiers, which was lifted in 2000, had resulted in veterans being prohibited from serving in the armed forces due to their sexuality or gender identity.
Those who were discovered to be LGBTQ+ faced horrific treatment, including physical and sexual abuse, so-called ‘conversion therapy’ and blackmail, as well as dismissal from the service.
Now, veterans eligible for compensation can apply to receive a £50,000 payout under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme.
An additional £20,000 can be applied for by those who endured harassment or ill-treatment while serving in addition to being dismissed or discharged. All eligible veterans can also request to have their rank restored and discharge reason amended.
‘Moral stain on our nation’
Defence secretary, John Healey said: ”The historic treatment of LGBT veterans was a moral stain on our nation.
“Our government is determined to right the wrongs of the past and recognise the hurt that too many endured.”
Government modelling has estimated that the maximum number of impacted veterans is 4,000. It isn’t known how many will apply for compensation.
In September, LGBTQ+ veterans who were awarded a special badge of their service refused to wear it until they were paid compensation for the injustice they faced while in the UK’s armed forces.
In August, LGBTQ+ veterans charity, Fighting With Pride, was awarded a grant to help create the UK’s first memorial to LGBTQ+ veterans.
The charity, which campaigned to get justice for servicemen and women affected by the pre-2000 ban on homosexuality in the armed forces, was awarded a £350,000 government grant to create the memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, USA
Social time 1:00 – 1:30 PM; facilitated discussion 1:30 – 3:00 PM
Join us for lively discussions, mutual support, sharing information, and all the while celebrating who we are. Everyone is welcome; there is no charge. Whether you’re in the closet or out, you are welcome!.
There are important, commonsense things LGBTQ people and families can do to protect themselves to ensure our identities, families, and wishes are legally clear and respected.
For decades, LGBTQ legal organizations and advocates have set the foundation and created pathways forward for us as LGBTQ people to be safe and recognized. Those include the ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, GLAD Law, the Transgender Law Center, and more.
Some recommendations include:
Keep physical and electronic copies of key documents, such as your marriage certificate, in multiple places. It never hurts to have documentation in case you need to show proof of your relationship or family status.
Establish health care proxies and medical or financial powers of attorney, should an accident or emergency happen to you or your spouse, especially if you have children.
There are an increasing number of avenues to becoming a parent, but parentage may be challenged without a court order. Have a legally protected relationship with your children, whether you are married or not, by getting a court judgment or equivalent. Those orders are proof of legal parentage that provide the most legal security and must be recognized across all 50 states. They can be helpful on issues related to education, health insurance, Social Security benefits, inheritance, and more. The process for obtaining parentage orders takes place in family court and varies from state to state. Specific details can be found here: https://familyequality.org/resources/securing-lgbtq-parentage-by-state-stepparent-second-parent-and-confirmatory-adoption/
If you are transgender, make sure your gender markers and identification documents are up to date. Have physical and electronic copies of all your legal documents including your name change order, and your new and old IDs.
If you transitioned after a marriage, you may be able to amend your name on your original marriage license.
If you transitioned after becoming a parent, there may be avenues in your state to amend and/or align your parentage order with your identification documents as much as possible.
You may want to have medical documents on file with your doctors, such as advance directives and medical power of attorney, to avoid having to scramble in a crisis. For example, if you want to continue receiving trans health care if you are in a coma, you can spell that out or other wishes. Visit CaringInfo.org which is a helpful resource on this topic.
Queer and transgender parents may encounter bias in the context of an investigation by child protective services. If you learn you are being investigated, document everything. Look into getting an attorney immediately – don’t wait until a case is filed against you in court. The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and GLAD Law can offer technical assistance.
If you made a will in one state and then move to another one, it’s recommended to connect with an estate attorney to make sure your will aligns with the new state’s requirements.
Don’t let money deter you from seeking resources. You can find pro bono lawyers, you can request waivers for legal fees, you can self-represent yourself in court. Voluntary acknowledgments in particular are very accessible. You can find attorney referrals through Lambda Legal, ACLU, and NCLR’s hotlines.
Right now there is a lot of uncertainty. It’s hard to provide broad legal advice without knowing individual circumstances, but what we do know is that LGBTQ people and advocates have faced hostility before; and have long been in the work of supporting each other.
The most important thing people can do is connect with your local community, including your state equality group if one exists in your state, CenterLink: the Community of LGBTQ Centers, and your local PFLAG and ACLU chapters, who have been doing this work for a long time and will continue to do work to support local LGBTQ residents. They will be able to provide localized resources and support, and know best what is permissible in your individual jurisdiction.
LGBTQ+ parents are reportedly scrambling to secure their parental rights before Donald Trump takes the oath of office.
Attorney Meghan Alexander told Advocate she usually receives about three calls a week from LGBTQ+ parents seeking second-parent adoptions. The week Trump won, she fielded 26 calls. Since then, they have just kept coming.
Project 2025, which is believed to be the blueprint for the Trump administration, essentially calls to eliminate LGBTQ+ rights and states, “Only heterosexual, two-parent families are safe for children.”
“The advice is the same as it’s been for the last couple of decades, which is to do a second-parent adoption,” Alexander explained. “Do not depend on the federal government or the gay right to marry to give you parental rights.”
A 2023 report from a coalition of LGBTQ+ advocacy groups explains that second-parent adoption “can be used to establish a legal relationship between a parent and a child OR to obtain an adoption decree for someone who is already a legal parent through another pathway to parentage, such as the marital presumption.”
Shelbi Day, Chief Policy Officer for Family Equality, told LGBTQ Nation when the report was released that even married LGBTQ+ couples cannot rely on the marital presumption and should take further steps to protect themselves.
She said that the presumption can be challenged in some states and that Family Equality “strongly suggests that parents take additional steps to establish legal parentage to ensure that children have legal stability and access to all of the rights and benefits of legal parentage no matter where people travel and no matter what happens between the parents in the future.”
This is also true even if both parents are on a child’s birth certificate, which she said “does not establish a legal parent-child relationship.”
Alexander dispensed similar advice to Advocate. She also said parentage orders are not as effective as second-parent adoptions, at least in Texas where she practices, because these orders have not been challenged extensively in the courts. Adoptions, on the other hand, have been repeatedly upheld.
LGBTQ+ family law expert Nancy Polikoff agreed, saying adoptions are better understood and more “universally recognized.”
“When we are looking at the possibility of cutting back on LGBT family recognition, states that are not inclined to recognize the legitimacy of parenting by LGBT people are going to be emboldened to deny that status whenever they can,” she said.
“Nobody is expecting Obergefell to be overturned anytime soon,” she continued. “Unfortunately, I think parentage is one of those places where if a court is just not going to be as protective in a particular state, I think they are going to have more leeway to discriminate under a Trump administration.”
In addition to many parents simply not knowing this is the best path to protecting there families, another barrier looms large: Second-parent adoptions can carry a hefty price tag.
“It makes me sick to think there are people who need this done and cannot get it done,” Haley Swenson told Advocate. Swenson and her wife, Alieza Durana, rushed to complete a second-parent adoption of their son after Trump won the election.
Unable to afford the $3,500 they needed to begin the process, they reached out to friends and family for help.
“It’s unclear what they want to do, and that lack of specificity is what’s really scary if you’re a queer parent because you don’t really know how to protect yourself,” Swenson said of the incoming administration.
“So since we know there was this one thing we could do to protect ourselves, and we hadn’t done it yet, it was like, ‘OK, there are so many unknowns — let’s at least take care of what we can.”
The best path toward obtaining legal parentage rights may vary by state. Check out this report for more information.
Please join us for Heart Circle, where we “sit” gently together, holding space for each other and sharing deeply. Heart Circle is where community is forged, and it is the central ritual of our community. This circle is for Gay, Bi, and Queer men. To be clear, trans men are men. RSVP/Register for the Heart Circle. You will receive the Zoom meeting link via email.
If you are new to The Billys, please be our guest the first couple times you join us at an online Heart Circle or Sunday Afternoon Delight. If you regularly attend any of these, they will remain free for all who need them to be,though as you are able please strongly consider supporting these by donating to our General Fund.
Horizons Foundation announced the 44 recipients of grants totaling $753,372 through its flagship Community Issues (CI) funding program this year. CI grants provide general operating support to grassroots LGBTQ organizations and programs based in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. They fund vital work across a diverse range of service areas, including youth, advocacy and civil rights, arts and culture, community building and leadership, and health and human services. View the full list of 2024 CI grantee partners.
The total awarded amount—more than $750,000—is the highest in the history of Horizons’ CI funding program, with individual awards ranging up to $20,000, an increase from last year’s maximum award of $15,000. This marks a significant growth in the foundation’s commitment to sustaining and expanding the infrastructure of the LGBTQ community.
Notably, 45% of this year’s grantees are multi-year partners. Horizons’ commitment to increase multi-year funding is in alignment with its focus on building long-term sustainability and impact within LGBTQ organizations. These multi-year grants provide organizations and programs with the stability to carry out their critical missions over time, enabling them to focus on growth and development rather than short-term funding gaps.
“These grant awards strengthen our LGBTQ community by providing essential funding to support their ongoing work in advocacy, resilience, and empowerment,” said Joshua Delfin, Senior Program Officer at Horizons Foundation. “With Horizons’ commitment and the support of our donors and philanthropic partners, these organizations will continue to be at the forefront of change and stand as a testament to the vitality of the LGBTQ Bay Area community.”
Horizons’ cross-sectional funding invests in the leadership and diversity of the LGBTQ community and organizations that address multiple populations. Some of the organizations and programs receiving funding include LGBTQ Connection, a queer youth-focused program for Napa and Sonoma County residents; The LGBT Asylum Project, San Francisco’s only organization exclusively dedicated to legal representation for LGBTQ asylum seekers; and The Castro Country Club, a safe and sober community center for people recovering from addiction.
“In today’s political climate, LGBTQIA+ youth, peers, and elders face escalating violence, harassment, and discrimination leading to severe impacts on mental health and rising rates of suicidal ideation,” said Solicia Aguilar, Program Director at LGBTQ Connection. “This funding strengthens our ability to provide critical, direct services and connect people to vital resources across Sonoma and Napa Counties.”
“In 2025, we anticipate more need for our services, as fear of anti-immigrant policies take shape,” said Okan Sengun and Kenan Arun, Co-Executive Directors of The LGBT Asylum Project. “Horizons’ funding enables us to provide free legal services for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ immigrants.”
“We are a small organization that struggles to get our foot in the door of foundation funding,” said Billy Lemon, Executive Director of The Castro Country Club. “Horizons targets our kind of organization with focus and intention. This grant will help fund our workforce development cafe, which is the heart of our organization and provides a safe space for folks to gather 365 days a year.”
As part of its commitment to community-driven philanthropy, Horizons Foundation relies on a participatory grantmaking model in which community reviewers guide its awards decisions. The grant review process is led by members of the LGBTQ community, ensuring that grant decisions reflect the needs, values, and priorities of the communities they serve. This inclusive, grassroots approach strengthens Horizons’ commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, particularly in the Bay Area. Click here for more information on the 2024 Community Issues funding program and to learn more about Horizons Foundation’s work.
About Horizons Foundation
Horizons Foundation is the first community foundation in the U.S. of, by, and for the LGBTQ community. Established in 1980, invests in LGBTQ organizations, strengthens a culture of LGBTQ giving, and builds a permanent endowment to secure our community’s future. We envision a world where all LGBTQ people live freely and fully. Learn more at horizonfoundation.org.
The Fukuoka High Court of Japan has become the third of Japan’s eight high courts to rule that the government’s policy against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. However, the court upheld a lower court ruling that dismissed three same-sex couples who had sought 1 million yen ($6,540) each for being denied their constitutional rights to gender and legal equality, individual dignity, and the pursuit of happiness.
The couples, who live in the southwestern cities of Fukuoka and Kumamoto, had their damage claims dismissed by the Fukuoka District Court in 2023 after the court ruled that the government wasn’t obliged to compensate them or legalize marriage equality legislation despite being in “state of unconstitutionality,” The Mainichi reported.
High Court Judge Takeshi Okada ruled that civil laws forbidding same-sex marriages violate the nation’s constitution, saying, “There is no longer any reason to not legally recognize marriage between same-sex couples.” However, he noted that any change in national marriage laws must be decided by Japan’s legislature, known as the National Diet.
As the judge read his ruling, a 35-year-old plaintiff identified in the media as Kosuke couldn’t stop crying. Despite this, his 37-year-old partner Masahiro said “[the judge] understood our suffering, and I felt very reassured.”
Opponents of marriage equality in Japan have noted that Article 24 of the Japanese constitution specifically states, “Marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes and it shall be maintained through mutual cooperation with the equal rights of husband and wife as a basis.”
However, marriage equality advocates have also pointed out that the constitution’s other articles state, “The people shall not be prevented from enjoying any of the fundamental human rights,” and, “All of the people are equal under the law and there shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.”
Regardless, in October the Tokyo High Court ruled similarly, echoing another one made by the Sapporo High Court in March, which said that limiting marriage to couples of the opposite sex is “unconstitutional” and “discriminatory.” Despite the rulings, the country’s judiciary doesn’t have the power to overturn existing civil marriage codes.
Marriage equality has divided the country’s court system in opposing rulings over several years. Meanwhile, Japan’s conservative government lags behind increasingly supportive public opinion. Seventy percent of the Japanese public supports marriage equality, but it faces opposition from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The party lost its parliamentary majority in last Sunday’s election and will likely have to compromise on more liberal policies pushed by the opposition parties, like marriage equality, the aforementioned publication noted.
Right now, Japan doesn’t offer national LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protections or same-sex marriage. As a result, LGBTQ+ people in Japan often face inequities in employment, housing, education, and health care.
More than 200 Japanese municipalities offer some form of recognition for same-sex couples. Such recognition can help same-sex couples rent apartments together, visit each other in city hospitals, and receive other services that married heterosexual couples enjoy.
Though several jurisdictions offer “partnership certificates,” they’re entirely symbolic and don’t offer federal benefits given to married heterosexual couples.
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have pushed for a national bill that would enshrine equal civil rights and non-discrimination protections into law. However, the conservative party of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida helped defeat the effort in the lead-up to the 2021 Olympic Summer Games.
Japan remains the only country in the G7, a political and economic forum of seven of the world’s most advanced economies, that has not legalized marriage equality. Currently, the only Asian countries that have legalized same-sex marriage are Taiwan, Nepal, and Thailand.
This year, The International Conference on Stigma, held November 19–21 at Howard University’s Blackburn Center, provided a critical platform for addressing stigma’s impact on marginalized communities. This year’s theme, “Stigma No More… It’s 2024!”, encouraged bold conversations about health inequities, particularly those affecting Black women.
One pivotal panel, Spilling the Tea, Part III: Real Conversations between Cis and Trans Women, brought attention to the unique challenges Black cisgender and transgender women face in accessing HIV testing and treatment. Moderated by Shelley Turner, a seasoned advocate, the panel included voices like Diamond Phillips, Chasity Nicole Petty Carter, and Sahara Rivera—experts dedicated to inclusive healthcare and community health navigation.
HIV Among Black Women: An Overlooked Crisis
Black women represent 13% of the U.S. female population but accounted for 51% of new HIV diagnoses among women in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . Yet, public health narratives often portray HIV as primarily affecting men who have sex with men, leaving cisgender women underrepresented in prevention efforts.
Chasity Carter underscored this disconnect during the panel:
“We don’t see how Black women are being tested or catching HIV because it’s never shown. The conversation is often seen as only a gay disease, and that has to shift for cis women, queer or not, to view it as a possibility for them as well.”
The lack of representation perpetuates harmful stereotypes and deprives women of accurate information about prevention options, such as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). The US HIV surveillance report of 2019 estimated PrEP coverage for cisgender women at risk of HIV was just under 10% compared with 27% for gay men and 32% for transgender women.
Trans Women of Color Face Dual Stigma
Transgender women of color experience some of the highest HIV prevalence rates globally, with 44% of Black trans women in the U.S. living with HIV according to the Human Rights Campaignand AIDSVu. Yet, as panelist Sahara Rivera, an advocate focused on specializing in HIV Prevention and Transgender Health, highlighted, systemic inequities force trans women to prioritize survival needs over testing and treatment:
“Is HIV testing the need they’re focused on when food, housing, money, and transportation are such high priorities to survive?”
And it’s a real question that many individuals have to consider daily when prioritizing certain factors in their day-to-day routines. Especially in an increasingly expensive economy. Efforts to reduce stigma and increase access to healthcare must address these intersecting social determinants or else we’re only scratching the surface of the problem. Programs like Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) and other wraparound services can mitigate these barriers but remain underfunded in many regions .
Urban vs. Rural Healthcare Disparities
Access to HIV testing and treatment often depends on geographic location. While urban centers typically offer more resources, rural areas lack adequate infrastructure, leaving many underserved. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 23% of Black Americans in rural areas report difficulty accessing healthcare, compared to 12% in urban areas .
Sahara Rivera noted the disparity:
“There’s a BIG gap. A lot of these centers are in major cities or downtown areas, making them inaccessible for rural communities. And rural centers that do exist often don’t receive enough resources to stay functional.”
This challenge is especially pronounced in Southern states, which have some of the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses but also the lowest Medicaid expansion rates, further limiting access to care.
Solidarity Between Cis and Trans Women
The panel emphasized the importance of solidarity between cisgender and transgender women to combat shared challenges. It’s essential in addressing HIV testing disparities, as shared experiences and mutual support can dismantle stigma and promote inclusive healthcare. Trans women, especially those of color, face unique barriers to HIV testing, including discrimination, economic instability, and a lack of culturally sensitive services. At the same time, cisgender women often underestimate their own risk, partly due to misconceptions about HIV as a “gay disease” and a lack of awareness about testing options like home tests or free screenings. For instance, many cisgender women assume annual OB-GYN visits cover comprehensive HIV testing, which is often not the case. Rivera stressed the need for more inclusive education:
“Cis women think, ‘I’ve got my tests done for the year,’ without realizing there’s more to testing and treatment than what’s covered in a typical OB-GYN visit.”
Building alliances across gender identities is crucial for dismantling stigma and fostering inclusive healthcare systems. It requires open dialogue and allyship between cis and trans communities, emphasizing shared health goals and access equity. Collaborative initiatives, such as peer-led education and community-based outreach programs, have shown success in increasing testing rates and fostering trust in healthcare systems.
Attendees at the International Conference on Stigma
A Path Forward
To reduce HIV stigma and improve healthcare outcomes for Black women, public health efforts must center on culturally competent care, expanded access to resources, and accurate representation in media campaigns. A 2022 report from the National HIV/AIDS Strategyemphasized the importance of addressing stigma at structural and interpersonal levels to achieve the goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030 .
As we move out of 2024 and into 2025, the fight against HIV stigma must intensify now more than ever, ensuring that no woman—cisgender or transgender—feels invisible in this battle. By fostering solidarity and prioritizing systemic change, we can create a future where stigma no longer hinders progress and every community has equitable access to care.
Voters in Odessa, Texas, rejected three incumbent City Council members just one month after they voted to implement a harsh anti-trans bathroom ban, replacing one with the city’s first out gay council member.
Craig Stoker, the executive director for Meals on Wheels in Odessa, won his November election for at-large City Council member with 56 percent of the vote — in the same county President-elect Donald Trump won 76 percent of the vote.
Stoker beat Denise Swanner by campaigning on infrastructure — specifically roads and garbage pickup — in contrast to the incumbent, whose campaign sent out mailers comparing the two’s opposite positions by listing their only similarity as the fact that they are both in relationships with men.
“I understood the outcome was too important. If I could pull this off, what I would have the ability to do completely outweighed whatever they were slinging at me,” Stoker told The Texas Tribune. “And the ability to represent people who have probably never had a voice in the City Council chamber became too important to me.”
The Odessa City Council banned transgender individuals from using bathrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, showers, and similar public facilities that align with their gender identity after a contentious open meeting in October. Those who violate the ban could be convicted of a class C misdemeanor and receive a fine of up to $500, also giving legal standing to alleged victims to sue for damages up to $10,000 in civil court.
Mayor Javier Joven strongly supported the ban, stating that it was “important to prioritize the safety and privacy of the majority.” He lost he reelection bid to Cal Hendrick, who campaigned on repairing infrastructure.
The Ector County Republican Party did not endorse any local candidates in this year’s elections, with Chair Donna Kelm reasoning that abortion and LGBTQ+ issues should be left to the state legislature.
“None of it was truly about me. It was their fear of losing a seat, losing an election, losing the title,” Stoker continued. “I came into this campaign with the mindset that I’m going to have to rely on the work I’ve done in the community and the reputation I’ve built preceding me. That’s all I got.”
For half a century, Lesbian Connection has been more than just a magazine — it’s been a lifeline, newsletter, public forum and rallying cry for queer women worldwide. Launched in September 1974 as a humble, grassroots publication, this reader-written magazine has survived the test of time, connecting women-loving women through personal stories, advice columns and community updates long before social media made such communication second nature.
The inspiration for Lesbian Connection magazine, affectionately known as “LC”or “Elsie” by its readers, struck during a cross-country road trip in 1973. Michigan taxi driver Margy Lesher and her then-girlfriend, Goldie, decided to hop in their car and “go around the country looking for the lesbians,” Lesher recalled.
The couple stayed with other lesbians they met along the way and collected names and addresses to stay connected with the greater Sapphic community. Feeling inspired after their weekslong journey, the duo decided to host the first Midwest Lesbian Conference in Lansing, Michigan, in the spring of 1974. However, they found it challenging to advertise the event, so they started the magazine so lesbians around the globe could share with one another and promote events of mutual interest.
Margy Lesher and her puppet monkey, Shyne, at the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival in 1983.Joan E Biren via Lesbian Connection
“From our travels, we realized there were women all over doing things. They were starting bookstores and starting to publish books and records. Lesbian albums had just started coming out, and I figured it was great to have all these things, but if lesbians didn’t know about them, they were never going to succeed,” Lesher said, adding that the goal of the magazine was “to have a way that all the lesbians who were doing all these great things [could] get the word out about what they were doing.”
ADVERTISING
Lesher formed a cohort of nine lesbians called “The Ambitious Amazons,” and the group, along with several other volunteers, took over a women’s center in Lansing, Michigan, to assemble the first issue. With ink-stained fingers, the women stapled together mimeographed pages to get the copies out to their earliest subscribers.
Since the beginning, Lesbian Connectionhas run almost entirely on subscriber donations. Each cover reads, “Free to lesbians worldwide, but the suggested donation is $7/issue (more if you can, less if you can’t).” The publication — which comes out every two months — is still going strong today, operating out of two small homes in Lansing.
Filing Fortran computer cards and working on a magazine mailing at the Lesbian Center in 1983.Joan E Biren via Lesbian Connection
Longtime reader, contributor and editor Nancy Manahan said she first stumbled upon Lesbian Connection in San Francisco in the mid-1970s, likely at the feminist bookstore Old Wives Tales. The raw, unfiltered nature of the content immediately struck her, she recalled, and she has subscribed ever since.
“It’s not monitored in a way that squelches debate or anger or opinions, and so it’s just so lively and real, and I think that’s kind of unusual and amazing that there’s so much tolerance for diversity and conflict,” she said. “It’s so much fun.”
Manahan added, “A magazine that is created by readers entails a certain kind of buy-in, because all the readers know that nobody is forcing anything on us. Everybody is completely welcome to express their outrage.”
Margy Lesher working at home in 1976.Lesbian Connection
In recent years, readers have debated how transgender and nonbinary lesbians fit into Lesbian Connection, leading to some readers canceling their subscriptions. However, longtime reader Kathy Munzer said she feels these conversations are necessary for the community to learn and grow.
“We’re coming from different places. We need to listen to each other. I just think we could learn from each other,” Munzer said.
Munzer added that Lesbian Connectionis a vital resource for the community. Regardless of how heated the debates may get, she said, the core mission of Lesbian Connection is to foster a sense of togetherness for an oppressed group.
“The stories are inspiring, and no matter where you live, it makes you feel like you’re not alone. You’re part of a loving, kind, smart, and caring community,” she said.
In the magazine, they also included a section called “Contact Dykes” where subscribers could list their contact information for lesbians traveling in their areas. The list is still going strong 50 years later.
Lesbian Connection staffers choosing cover art for an upcoming issue in Margy Lesher’s living room in 1989.Lesbian Connection
Cheryl VanDeKerkhove, now in her 60s, was just 23 when she started working as a full-time staff member at Lesbian Connection in the early ’80s. She said she has always appreciated that the publication never shied away from debate.
“They do allow voices to come through that they know are not going to be well received in the community, because it gives the community a chance to educate itself, and it gives the community a chance to have the discussions that are really difficult,” she said. “That’s a constant that’s been going on since it started in the ’70s.”
AsLesbian Connectionembarks on its second half-century, those behind the magazine say its mission is more important now than ever, especially with a second Trump presidency on the horizon. Manahan said she hopes younger readers subscribe to the magazine to arm themselves with knowledge for the new era of politics our country is about to enter.
“We are heading into a time that may bear a horrifying resemblance to what some of us struggled with half a century ago, and it might be really instructive to see the strategies and the courage and the risks that some of us in the ’60s and ’70s and ’80s and ’90s took all those years ago that younger generations may be faced with again,” she said.
