Old Lesbians Organizing for Change
Encyclopedia
Old Lesbians Organizing For Change is a national organization founded in 1989 that educates and empowers American lesbian
s over the age of 60 to oppose ageism
in their lives and their communities.
In 1983 the book, Look Me in the Eye: Old Women, Aging and Ageism, was written by two lesbians (Barbara Macdonald and Cynthia Rich). Inspired by this book, lesbians over the age of sixty put together the First West Coast Conference by and for Old Lesbians, held at the California State University Dominguez Campus
in Carson, California
, in April 1987. Even before it was over, a group had begun planning for another, and in August 1989 the Second West Coast Conference was held in northern California.
Some of those who had attended these two events wanted to focus specifically on challenging ageism, and sixteen old lesbians went on to take the necessary steps to form an ongoing organization.
At the first organizational meeting, a name was chosen, a statement of purpose
was drafted, tasks were assigned, a coordinator was designated and future meetings were scheduled. The Old Lesbian Organizing Committee (later renamed Old Lesbians Organizing for Change) had begun. They soon began putting out a newsletter
and sending speakers to conferences and workshops. They were a part of the National Lesbian Conference in Atlanta in 1991 as well as the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation
in 1993. By 1992 they had attained nonprofit status, incorporating in Texas
, and in 1994 they attained tax-exempt status.
In 1996 they held their first national gathering, at the University of Minnesota
in Minneapolis. The second national gathering was held in 1999 in San Francisco, and the third was held in 2002 in Minnesota
. It was then decided to hold these meetings once every other year, so the fourth meeting was held in 2004 in Houston, Texas
, and the fifth was held in 2006 in Durham, North Carolina
. The sixth was held in 2008 in Los Angeles, California
. In 2010 Old Lesbians Organizing for Change had their seventh national gathering, in Cleveland, and presented the first Del Martin Old Lesbian Pride Award to Kathy Glass, born in 1932, and Carmah Lawler, born in 1929.
Old Lesbians Organizing for Change continues to publish a quarterly newsletter, The OLOC Reporter. Furthermore, they have produced a line of greeting card
s depicting old lesbians. They also support the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project, which strives to collect and document the life stories of lesbians 70 years of age and older. OLOC also authored and published a groundbreaking document entitled The Facilitator's Handbook: Confronting Ageism, subtitled Consciousness Raising for Lesbians 60 and Over.
The organization has been cited in the Encyclopedia of lesbian and gay histories and cultures as "taking the lead in [the] struggle" against ageism, and a pamphlet
of theirs was quoted in the best-selling text Women and gender: a feminist psychology.
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
s over the age of 60 to oppose ageism
Ageism
Ageism, also called age discrimination is stereotyping of and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their age. It is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to justify age based prejudice, discrimination, and subordination...
in their lives and their communities.
In 1983 the book, Look Me in the Eye: Old Women, Aging and Ageism, was written by two lesbians (Barbara Macdonald and Cynthia Rich). Inspired by this book, lesbians over the age of sixty put together the First West Coast Conference by and for Old Lesbians, held at the California State University Dominguez Campus
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Dominguez Hills is a public university located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County and was founded in 1960...
in Carson, California
Carson, California
Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
, in April 1987. Even before it was over, a group had begun planning for another, and in August 1989 the Second West Coast Conference was held in northern California.
Some of those who had attended these two events wanted to focus specifically on challenging ageism, and sixteen old lesbians went on to take the necessary steps to form an ongoing organization.
At the first organizational meeting, a name was chosen, a statement of purpose
Statement of purpose
A statement of purpose, or personal statement, is a brief and focused essay about one's career or research goals, and is frequently required for applicants to universities, graduate schools, and professional schools. It is a required document when applying for admission to most professional...
was drafted, tasks were assigned, a coordinator was designated and future meetings were scheduled. The Old Lesbian Organizing Committee (later renamed Old Lesbians Organizing for Change) had begun. They soon began putting out a newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
and sending speakers to conferences and workshops. They were a part of the National Lesbian Conference in Atlanta in 1991 as well as the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation
March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation
The March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation was a large political rally that took place in Washington, D.C. on April 25, 1993...
in 1993. By 1992 they had attained nonprofit status, incorporating in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and in 1994 they attained tax-exempt status.
In 1996 they held their first national gathering, at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in Minneapolis. The second national gathering was held in 1999 in San Francisco, and the third was held in 2002 in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. It was then decided to hold these meetings once every other year, so the fourth meeting was held in 2004 in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, and the fifth was held in 2006 in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
. The sixth was held in 2008 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. In 2010 Old Lesbians Organizing for Change had their seventh national gathering, in Cleveland, and presented the first Del Martin Old Lesbian Pride Award to Kathy Glass, born in 1932, and Carmah Lawler, born in 1929.
Old Lesbians Organizing for Change continues to publish a quarterly newsletter, The OLOC Reporter. Furthermore, they have produced a line of greeting card
Greeting card
A greeting card is an illustrated, folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment. Although greeting cards are usually given on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas or other holidays, they are also sent to convey thanks or express other feeling. Greeting cards,...
s depicting old lesbians. They also support the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project, which strives to collect and document the life stories of lesbians 70 years of age and older. OLOC also authored and published a groundbreaking document entitled The Facilitator's Handbook: Confronting Ageism, subtitled Consciousness Raising for Lesbians 60 and Over.
The organization has been cited in the Encyclopedia of lesbian and gay histories and cultures as "taking the lead in [the] struggle" against ageism, and a pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
of theirs was quoted in the best-selling text Women and gender: a feminist psychology.
External links
- http://www.oloc.org/ Old Lesbians Organizing for Change official website