Jeanne Córdova (1948-2016) was a pioneering force in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. A lesbian activist, writer, and entrepreneur, she left an indelible mark on the movement throughout the latter half of the 20th century.
Google Doodle honours her with a special Doodle and mentions: “In honor of Pride Month, this Doodle celebrates Chicana activist, feminist, and author Jeanne Córdova, a leader of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. On this day in 2012, Córdova won the prestigious Lambda Literary award for her memoir, When We Were Outlaws: A Memoir of Love and Revolution.”
Source: Google Doodle
Early Life and Activism
Born in Germany in 1948, Córdova's journey to activism began during her college years in California. She became a vocal advocate for lesbian rights and quickly rose to prominence. While earning her master's degree in social work, she served as president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), a pioneering lesbian rights organization. She was also instrumental in organising the first West Coast Lesbian Conference in 1971.
Google Doodle mentions: “During her time in college, she began to advocate for lesbian rights. While earning her master's degree in social work from UCLA, she became president of the Los Angeles chapter of the lesbian rights organization Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) and was a key organizer for the first West Coast Lesbian Conference in 1971. The DOB newsletter she edited evolved into The Lesbian Tide, a national record for the lesbian feminist generation.”
Córdova was a proud lesbian and a strong advocate for a more nuanced understanding of lesbian identity. She believed that LGBTQ+ liberation meant challenging societal norms and fighting for social justice, not merely seeking assimilation. Her work with The Lesbian Tide, a groundbreaking lesbian feminist newspaper she founded, became a national platform for these ideas.
Beyond the Headlines
Córdova's activism extended far beyond publishing. She was a prolific writer, authoring several books including her acclaimed memoir, "When We Were Outlaws: A Memoir of Love and Revolution," which chronicled her experiences in the early days of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. She was also a savvy businesswoman, founding the Community Yellow Pages, a crucial resource for the LGBTQ+ community at a time when visibility and access to information were limited.
Jeanne Córdova's life and work were a testament to the power of activism and the importance of fighting for what you believe in. She held leadership positions within the National Lesbian Feminist Organization and the Stonewall Democratic Club, leaving her mark on both national and local LGBTQ+ movements. Her relentless pursuit of equality and her unwavering commitment to her community continue to inspire generations of activists today.
Google Doodle states: “Córdova devoted much of her time to activism and community organizing, participating in the 1978 National Lesbian Feminist Organization Conference and the campaign to defeat the 1986 California Proposition 64, which would force HIV-positive people into quarantine. She also served on the board of several organizations including the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Press Association.
“In 1999, Córdova and her partner Lynn Harris Ballen moved to Todos Santos, BCS Mexico. In her new home, Córdova worked on When We Were Outlaws: A Memoir of Love and Revolution. She and Ballen also co-founded the first non-profit organization in their town which was dedicated to children’s education and literacy. Córdova returned to her first loves - journalism and writing - when she moved back to Los Angeles. And, with her partner, created The Lesbian Exploratorium which was dedicated to queer art and history projects,” it adds.
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