American Women — Lesbians

  • The Velvet Sledgehammer: March 7, 1985

    Women’s news with Judy Pasternak for the week of March 7, 1985, incorporating KPFA’s Majority Report. Subjects discussed: Katherine Davenport reports on a new law in Montana requiring insurance companies to charge men and women the same rates for the same coverage, including an interview with Ann Brodsky of the Women’s Lobbyist Fund in Helena,…

  • Autonomy in lesbian relationships

    Excerpts from a workshop from the Lavender Visions Conference held in the Spring of 1981 in Old Westbury, NY about autonomy in lesbian relationships. Includes a presentation by an unknown speaker and Q&A. Opening song by Lynne Messinger, “Possessiveness.” Closing song by Betsy Rose and Cathy Winter, “Love Will Have to Do.” Produced by Viv…

  • First Wednesday: November 4, 1981

    First Wednesday, monthly wrap-up of news, views and interviews of interest to the gay male community, brought to you by the First Wednesday News Team of WBAI’s Gay Men’s Department. November 4, 1981 episode. Program contains a presentation by Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights (CLGR) spokesperson Betty Santoro (1938-2005) discussing plans for a second…

  • Voices of lesbian pride

    A celebration of the 10th annual Lesbian Pride Week, featuring poets & artists who will be appearing during this year’s events. Alix Dobkin’s song “Women Loving” opens the program. Jewelle Gomez reads her poem “Flamingos and Bears”. Eleanor Cooper of Lesbian Feminist Liberation talks about Lesbian Pride Week through the years and about the importance…

  • Lesbian Pride Concert 1976 (Part 1 only)

    Music of Casse Culver, Willie Tyson, Alix Dobkin, and Maxine Feldman. Casse Culver performs: “Three Gypsies”, “Sacred River”, “Crystal Skies”. Willie Tyson performs: “Lay Me Down”. Maxine Feldman performs “Amazon”. Willie Tyson again with “Witching Hour.” Program closes at 27:00 with closing credits, then music starts again. Casse Culver performs: “I’m Late Again”. Willie Tyson…

  • A lacy, lacy, lacy card for Valentines Day: lesbians and femininity

    A valentine from us to you with love. With comments from Susan Brownmiller, author of “Femininity,” interviewed by Judy Pasternak and comments by Constance “Melody Austin” Rodgers and “Helen Carruthers”(Names may be fictional?). Also this may be Part 2 of 2.

  • The Velvet Sledgehammer: April 22, 1981

    Poetry reading by Audre Lorde. Recorded on December 12, 1980 at Barnard College, this poetry reading was a benefit for the Women’s Experimental Theater of New York. Lorde reads several poems and excerpts from The Cancer Journals, which had been recently published. Audre Lorde is introduced by WET founder, Sandra Segal and Clare Coss. Program…

  • The Velvet Sledgehammer: June 30, 1982

    Production reel for the June 30, 1982 episode of The Velvet Sledgehammer, produced by Donna Allegra. Program includes tapes from the 1979 1st Third World Lesbian and Gay Conference in Washington, D.C., featuring 1) segments from the Combahee River Collective workshop on racism with Barbara Smith and Damita Frazier, and audience remarks from Zhane Gray…

  • Noretta Koertge: Who was that masked woman?

    Viv Sutherland interviews Noretta Koertge, author of “Who Was that Masked Woman?” recently published by St. Martin’s Press (1981). Koertge, who is also a professor in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at Indiana University, talks about her process writing and publishing her novel, how her lesbianism has impacted her life and work,…

  • Author Alesia Kunz speaks at Womanbooks

    Novelist Alesia Kunz reads from her new book “Shangrila & Linda” and other works in progress at Womanbooks in New York City. She also talks to the audience about publishing one’s own work.