#mazerarchives

Continuing our series, Lesbian Magazines Through the Decades we have DYKE, A Quarterly published in New York from 1975 to 1979. Liza Cowan and Penny House created the magazine as a space for Lesbian cultural analysis. It was radically political but also extremely personal with letters and submissions from Lesbians searching for community. DYKE was intended to be a platform curated for dykes, the group felt that devoting any time to explaining our way of life to the straight masses was a waste and energy should be put only to strengthening Lesbian culture. In a statement from the magazine this is made clear when they say “Lesbian community – Lesbian culture- means Lesbian only DYKE is a magazine for Dykes only! We will speak freely among ourselves. We are not interested in telling the straight world what we are doing. In fact, we hope they never even see the magazine. It is none of their business.” Here at the June L. Mazer Lesbian collection is open to anyone who wants to learn about Lesbian history.

Starting off our new weekly series, Lesbian Magazines Through the Decades, with The Ladder, which is known to be the first Lesbian Magazine. Founded in 1955 In San Francisco, The Daughters of Bilitis formed and became the first Lesbian rights group in the United States. In 1956 they published their first copy of The Ladder. The Ladder worked as a Lesbian social club, a way for Lesbians to connect that was safer than going to gay bars that were frequently raided. The Ladder was a collection of Lesbian life at the time, consisting of short stories, poems, information on local events, and a section for readers to send in their responses. Covers were drawn in the beginning, and over time Lesbians began to come out from the shadows and play themselves on the cover. In a time when it was not safe to be out, The Ladder was a lifeline for Lesbians to be able to create community. A full collection of The Ladder can be found at the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives.