Twelve years of lesbian activism. Part one gives a history of lesbian life and activism in the United States, with a particular emphasis on 1969-1981. Movements and events are described with relevant songs, music, and actualities interspersed. The program is in part celebrating the opening of a new West Coast Lesbian Collections (now the June Mazer Lesbian Archives), the Bay Area and west coast's new lesbian archives, and the host gives a request for donations (magazines, photos, etc.) to the archives. The host says (@ 57:00) "The rediscovery of and commitment to lesbian herstory is a movement whose potential is just beginning to be recognized."
Part two is a panel discussion, with music, of issues for lesbians in the 1980s. Issues discussed are the state of the lesbian movement, leadership, role of culture, separatism, internal critique, the importance of the ERA and pro-choice as issues for lesbians, what kind of progress has been made, and how we deal with threats from the New Right. Panel is hosted by Barbara Price and the panelists include (in order of appearance) Ginny Berson, Pat Parker, Meg Christian, and Barbara Cameron.
Songs and performances in the recording include played include: Meg Christian's "Hello, Hooray", Ma Rainey's "Prove it on me blues" performed by Theresa Trull, Kay Gardner's "Inner Moods I", Meg Christian's "Scars", Maxine Feldman's "Bar I", Mary Watkin's "Leaving all the shadows behind", Judy Grahn's "A History of Lesbianism", Meg Christian's "Leaping Lesbians", Alix Dobkin's "Living with lesbians", Teresa Trull's "Women loving women", Lily Tomlin performing for the KSAN Gay Liberation Follies, Alix Dobkin's "View from Gayhead", Meg Christian's "Ode to a gym teacher", Chris Williamson's "In the best interests", Pat Aikin's "For straight folks", Robin Flowers' "Still ain't satisfied", Holly Near's "Imagine my suprise", Meg Christian's "Where do we go from here?", Sirani Avedis' "Witches call", Alive!'s "Spirit healer", Alix Dobkin's "Lesbian power authority", Holly Near's "No loss of pride", Robin Tyler's "Dear Phyllis Schlafly", Linda Tillery's "Brand New Thing", Chris Williamson's "Live dream", Margy Adams' "Rag Bag", Sirani Avedis' "Crazy lady". Program produced by Susan Elisabeth and Ginny Berson and engineered by Susan Elisabeth. Producer's received help from Amber Hollibaugh of the Lesbian and Gay History Project and Lynn Fanfa at the Lesbian Herstory Archives.
Program rebroadcast several times in 1981, 1982, and 1983.
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This recording has been digitally preserved as part of Pacifica's American Women Making History and Culture: 1963-1982 grant preservation project, and is available for research and reference . Please contact the archives via telephone: 818-506-1077 or email: americanwomen at pacificaradioarchives dot org for information on how to obtain a copy of this program. Thank you.
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