Daughters of Bilitis
The Daughters of Bilitis /bɪˈliːtɨs/, also called the DOB or the Daughters, was the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States. The organization, formed in San Francisco in 1955, was conceived as a social alternative to lesbian bars, which were subject to raids and police harassment. As the DOB gained members, their focus shifted to providing support to women who were afraid to come out. The DOB educated them about their rights, and about gay history. Historian Lillian Faderman declared, "Its very establishment in the midst of witch-hunts and police harassment was an act of courage, since members always had to fear that they were under attack, not because of what they did, but merely because of who they were." The Daughters of Bilitis endured for 14 years, becoming an educational resource for lesbians, gay men, researchers and mental health professionals.
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American History USA Articles
- Lesbian Pulp Fiction -- the 1950s Phenomenon
In the 1950s the world of pulp fiction expanded to include the lesbian pulp novel, providing a rare artistic outlet for the lesbian community.
Books/Sources
- Different Daughters: A History of the Daughters of Bilitis and the Rise of the Lesbian Rights Movement - Marcia M. Gallo
- Daughters of Bilitis Newsletter - Gay Alliance Toward Equality, Vancouver, B.C.
