Lesbian Avengers - DC

Lesbian Avengers - DC

The Lesbian Avengers were founded in 1992 in New York City as a lesbian direct-action group. Lesbian Avengers were known for their street theater and in-your-face activism. Lesbians would often "eat fire" at their demonstrations as a symbol of taking power back from those who attempt to destroy us. Among their symbols were a bomb with a fuse and t-shirts stating "We Recruit", playing on heterosexual fears. Organizing materials for direct action protests became guides that were often used by other LGBTQ groups. 

The Lesbian Avengers formed a chapter in Washington, DC ahead of the 1993 March on Washington. Beth Armitage was among the principal conveners of the new group. Cheryl Cort was a co-founder of the Lesbian Avengers' second incarnation (1996). The DC Lesbian AVengers have re-organized at least twice since 1993. Weekly meetings were held at Lammas Bookstore (1426 21st St NW).

The DC group became an ally of local AIDS protest organizations and provided a new activist front for local lesbians. The Avengers protested many forms of discrimination: against the Promise Keepers movement, against George Mason University, against harassment of Casa Nova in Pennsylvania.

The Avengers' flyer for the Promise Keepers protest warned:

We are here to remind you that we are not invisible.
We are not quiet.
We may be part of your families, but we want no part of your vision for our country.

The flyer goes on to make its own promises:

We promise to recruit.
We promise to lead.
We promise to fight hate.
We promise to be visible.
We promise to subvert.
We promise to be inclusive.
We promise to reproduce.

DC's chapter was instrumental in organizing the first Dyke March on April 24, 1993. The march, without a permit (a tactic which has become a tradition), drew 20,000 women who set off from Dupont Circle to march through the neighborhood and up to Meridian Hill.