Gay Rights Pioneer Barbara Gittings to Present Womens Studies Lecture at Alfred University

Barbara Gittings, an American gay rights activist heralded as one of Americas most influential lesbians, will present Gay and Smiling: Tales From Our Fifty-Five Years of Activism," during Womens History Month at Alfred University, March 5, 2003 at 7:30 P.M. in Nevins Theater on the Alfred, New York campus.

Barbara Gittings, an American gay rights activist heralded as one of Americas most influential lesbians, will present Gay and Smiling: Tales From Our Fifty-Five Years of Activism," during Womens History Month at Alfred University, March 5, 2003 at 7:30 P.M. in Nevins Theater on the Alfred campus.

Gittings has worked closely with her longtime activist partner, Kay Tobin Lahusen, since the birth of the modern gay rights movement in the 1950s, a time when there were scarcely two hundred of us in the whole United States. It was like a club--we all knew each other," she said.

She will speak about her half-century record of activism and about her unique experience as an American woman. For 44 years Ive had the satisfaction of working with other gay people all across the country to get the bigots off our backs, to oil the closet door hinges, to change prejudiced hearts and minds," Gittings said. She emphasizes that activism is, hard work--but its vital, and its gratifying, and its often fun!"

In 1958 Gittings established the first east coast chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian organization in the U.S., and later served as a charter board member of various organizations including the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Gay Rights National Lobby, the forerunner of the Human Rights Campaign, which today is the most prominent gay community organization in the U.S.    

A librarian by training, Gittings was head of the American Library Associations Gay Task Force during the 1970s and 1980s when she edited the organizations Gay Bibliography and added other gay readings lists to the organizations offerings. Gittings was also active in the movement that successfully challenged the American Psychological Associations anti-gay views during the 1970s.

Gittings has appeared in countless publications, films, and programs, most notably the 1987 documentary, Before Stonewall," and its 1999 sequel, After Stonewall." Gittings has also been featured in the 2001 PBS documentary, Gay Pioneers," and the 1998 documentary, Out of the Past," which will be screened on campus Tuesday, March 4, at 9:00 PM in Nevins Theater.

In addition to Gittings free public lecture and film screening, she will be guest lecturing in various Womens Studies courses including Gay American History and Women in Society.

Gittings three-day residency at Alfred University is sponsored by Spectrum, AUs gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender student organization, in conjunction with the Womens Studies Program and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Editors Note: High resolution photos of Barbara Gittings may be obtained by emailing whitesf@alfred.edu.