A Life Devoted to LGBTQ Activism
An activist all her life for the LGBTQ community, Jeanne Córdova wields a strong reputation for being a most influential figure in the struggle for LGBTQ equality. Herself a butch, Chicana-identified femme, Córdova is remembered above all for her unrelenting idealism and commitment to social justice—believing that a just society would not get very far without serious radical change within the LGBTQ community. Hers was not an event-oriented struggle for marriage equality but directed toward deeper systematic problems, with an eye toward strong social change.
Author of “When We Were Outlaws”
Córdova was best known for her award-winning lesbian history memoir, When We Were Outlaws. The book narrates the experiences of the author during the early gay and lesbian radical movements, personalizing and putting a human face on the struggle for LGBTQ rights. In this memoir, Córdova embodies the activism of the 1970s, detailing her participation in various struggles for justice and equality. When We Were Outlaws has been hailed for its frankness and honesty in rendering the litany of struggles and triumphs that LGBTQ activists faced at a critical juncture in history.
Founder of The Lesbian Tide and the Community Yellow Pages
In the 1970s, Jeanne Córdova founded the lesbian feminist newspaper The Lesbian Tide, itself an important voice for the lesbian community. The publication provided news, analysis, and cultural commentary from a feminist perspective, aiding in identity building and solidarity among lesbians from coast to coast. In the 1980s, Córdova went on to create the Community Yellow Pages, the largest LGBTQ directory in the nation. This turned into a crucial resource in connecting the closeted LGBTQ consumers at the time with community businesses and services, engendering a sense of community and economic empowerment.
Pivotal Role in Early Gay and Lesbian Radical Movements
Córdova was deeply involved in early gay and lesbian radical movements, fighting harder than the marriage equality effort did to secure LGBTQ communities. She has been an organizer of four national lesbian conferences and also a key leader in statewide California work. Her work as President of the Stonewall Democratic Club gave her a leading place in the struggle of LGBTQ rights. For Córdova, the power of collective action had taught her that in the pursuit of justice, one needed more breadth and inclusivity.
Partnership with Lynn Harris Ballen
Jeanne Córdova was a life partner to feminist radio host Lynn Harris Ballen for 26 years. Together, they curated dozens of community spaces, including the ‘Genderplay in Lesbian Culture’ exhibit at ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives and The Palapa Society in Todos Santos, Mexico. With Córdova and Ballen both being veteran activists, they had a particular sense of what the change-makers in society needed, and through all their efforts, they strove to support and cultivate the LGBTQ community.
Right before she died, in early 2016, Jeanne Córdova made a last giant contribution to the causes closest to her heart. She declared that her estate would contribute $2 million to Astraea’s grantmaking work. Created as a result of her bequest, the Jeanne R. Córdova Fund at Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice funds national and international groups leading-edge work in movement-building, human rights, journalism, and the cultivation of LGBTQ culture.
The Jeanne R. Córdova Fund at Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
This fund will specifically serve and support lesbians from South/Latin America and the women of Southern Africa: lesbian, feminist, and lesbian feminists, butch and masculine gender nonconforming communities. Through this gift, Córdova ensured continuity in her legacy of feminist activism and went on to further the work Astraea has done, both internationally and domestically, for its cause over the past 40 years. Her contribution is a lasting dedication to equality and justice movements, reflecting a spirit that moved her life’s work.
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