THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Yolanda Retter

December 4, 1947 – August 18, 2007

“She knew that not to be seen was to not exist. She wanted women of color to be seen and she wanted lesbians to be seen. She thought visibility was the way to get our rights.”
– Jeanne Cordova

Librarian, archivist, scholar, “lesbian history and visibility activist.” Author, Lesbian History Project website. Volunteer, prison and parole programs, L.A. Center. Manager of the center’s Liberation House, 1972. Founding member, Lesbianas Latina Americas, 1974. Director of Pasadena Rape Hotline, 1977. Sergeant-at-arms at the Houston Women’s Conference, 1977. Member of national conference planning committee, Lesbians of Color 1978 – 1983. Founding member Lesbianas Latinas, 1980. Board member, last Lesbian Center in Los Angeles, Connexxus/Centro Mujeres. Founding archivist, Lesbian Legacy Collection, International Gay & Lesbian Archives (USC). Los Angeles Public Library Chicano Resource Collection, created first “Latino biography” database, UCLA, 1989 – 1991. Co-edited and contributed to a number of significant books on lesbian and gay culture and history. Research consultant for exhibits and films; such as, HBO movie Walk Out. Degree in sociology, Pitzer College, Claremont California, 1970. Master’s degrees, library science, 1983 and social work, 1987, University of California, Los Angeles. PhD in American Studies, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 1996.

Photo. With Gloria Steinem (photo by Todd Cheney, UCLA)