This year, two women who dedicated their lives to increasing lesbian visibility – in the queer community and in the mainstream – came together to celebrate Lesbian Visibility Day. Curve magazine founder Franco Stevens and author/activist Jewelle Gomez reflect on their work over the last 30 years and consider the work that still lies ahead.
Franco
I just want to say first off, happy Lesbian Visibility Day.
I was thinking back about the past and 1991 was kind of a big year for both of us. Wasn’t it?
Jewelle
Yeah. Yeah. 91 was major. I mean, doesn’t seem like it was 30 years ago, and when the Gilda stories came out in 91-
Franco
I worked at A Different Light bookstore during that time when I was also starting the magazine. And I must say that that book made a huge impression on me.
Jewelle
City Lights decided to do a new edition and right now Cheryl Dunye bought the rights to it and the hope is she will get to do a TV mini series.
Franco
Oh my god – how amazing would that be? Can I have a cameo doing something in the background?
Jewelle
Well, the Gilda Stories has become like this underground cult novel. It follows an African-American woman, girl really, who escaped from slavery in the South and is rescued by two vampires, benevolent feminist vampires, in the 1850s. And she grows up amongst this particular family of vampires, whose goal is to learn what it means to use your power responsibly.
Franco
Isn’t that a message for the time?
Jewelle
…So it’s really a coming of age story that lasts 200 years, essentially. (laughs) And I think it’s kind of funny that when I started doing the book, I had a hard time. Nobody was interested in black or lesbian vampires.
Franco
Black or lesbian voices. Let’s be frank, Black lesbian voices or women’s voices.
Jewelle
Yeah. Now you can’t swing a cat without bumping into a vampire story or TV show. However, lesbians, women, women of color are still a little sparse on the horizon. But, you know, it’s kind of interesting to me that Gilda and Curve have such a kind of parallel track.
Franco
Yep. I want to know, what are you going to do for Lesbian Visibility Day or Lesbian Visibility Week?
Jewelle
I’m going to go outside. I have a rainbow cap and some other rainbow-ish shawl or something, and just go out and be outside so that I get to see people and people get to see me.
Franco
Let’s go watch the Gilda Stories! I hope, you know, next year for Lesbian Visibility Day or the year after that.
Jewelle
Right. That would be great. That would be great. Yeah.
I think lesbian visibility is one of those reasons that I became a writer. You know, I wanted to feel like I’m not like some ghost or shadow or some hypothetical, you know. I’m a real person, a real woman who’s had effects on the culture and on the politics and been at the core of much of the activism in the 20th century. And you should be able to see who I am and who we are.
So, I’m going to go outside my house for Lesbian Visibility Day.
Franco
That’s fantastic. I think I will go outside my house as well. And you know, like you said, I think both of our missions are aligned. Like our life’s work is lesbian visibility. So you know, what better day to celebrate the work we’ve done?
Well, my friend, I love you. It was so great to see you. Happy Lesbian Visibility Day!
Jewelle
Love you. Bye.
