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                <text>Lesbian Avengers - DC</text>
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                <text>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. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;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).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;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.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Avengers' flyer for the Promise Keepers protest warned:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We are here to remind you that we are not invisible. &lt;br /&gt;We are not quiet. &lt;br /&gt;We may be part of your families, but we want no part of your vision for our country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The flyer goes on to make its own promises:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We promise to recruit.&lt;br /&gt;We promise to lead.&lt;br /&gt;We promise to fight hate.&lt;br /&gt;We promise to be visible.&lt;br /&gt;We promise to subvert.&lt;br /&gt;We promise to be inclusive.&lt;br /&gt;We promise to reproduce.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;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.</text>
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              <text>What is a direct action?</text>
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              <text>Lesbians--Washington (D.C.)--20th century</text>
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              <text>Lesbian Avengers (Organization)</text>
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              <text>Cort, Cheryl</text>
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              <text>Lesbian Avengers (Organization)</text>
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              <text>1997-11-19</text>
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              <text>Reproduction and use of this material requires permission from the copyright holder. Please contact the Rainbow History Project for more information.</text>
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