The Activist
Political Work
Click on The Publisher (top menu) to view Cordova’s publications such as the Lesbian Tide and Community Yellow Pages
Jeanne Córdova is a pioneer founder of the gay and lesbian movement in Southern California. Her life of activism includes organizing major conferences including the National Lesbian Conference (at UCLA, 1973); campaigning against Prop 6 and serving as Media Director for STOP Prop 64. She was a founder of many key organizations, such as the LA Gay Press Association, and was President of Stonewall Democratic Club. Córdova has combined community activism and publishing: she edited and published the Lesbian Tide and founded the Community Yellow Pages, the nation’s largest LGBTQ business directory, and has written extensively as a journalist and author. She has an MSW, masters degree in community organizing, UCLA 1972.
Political Coming Out Birthday: Entered Gay & Lesbian Movement on October 3, 1970.
- Co-founder & President of LEX, the Lesbian Exploratorium Project. 2007 through present. A lesbian guerilla action cultural group which produces history, culture, and arts events for Southern California lesbians and queers.
- MUJU, “Marry Us, or Jail Us Action Alliance,” Formed and participated in post-Prop.8 civil disobedience action against the California Supreme Court’s repeal of same-sex marriage statute. (May 2009).
- Writer-producer of ONE Archives exhibit, “GenderPlay in Lesbian Culture” — March-May 2008. (See photos). Curated and designed by LEX.
- Co-founder, Palapa Society de Todos Santos, A.C. President, 2001-2006. First non-profit organization founded in this Mexican pueblo town of 6,000 people. The organization founded a center for its teaching English after school program, its scholarship program for high school and college youth, and other activities.
- President, International Gay & Lesbian Archives (1996).
- Founder of Lesbian Legacy Collection at One Institute (1996).
- Producer & founder of “The IGGYS”, first annual cultural awards benefit for IGLA.
- The Queer Salon, Co-founder/Chair of literary and cultural group. 1993-1994.
- Co-Founder, Charter Board of Directors, Vice President, CONNEXXUS, Los Angeles Lesbian Center. 1984-1990.
- Co-founder/President, THE ALLIANCE for Lesbian Professional and Business Women (1986-87, 1989-1991).
- Founder, PASS THE TORCH, a lesbian mentorship program. 1988.
- Media Director for “STOP 64” California campaign to defeat Lyndon LaRouche’s Aids quarantine measure on the ballot. 1986.
- Founder and Chair of LESBIANS AGAINST LAROUCHE. Raised $50,000 toward successful defeat of Prop. 64. 1986.
- Founder/Organizer. BROTHERS FOR SISTERS Annual Connexxus campaign raised $30,000 from gay men’s community toward support of Lesbian Center. 1985.
- Founder, “Jeanne Cordova Promotional Services” which won bids from Christopher Street West (1981, 1982) and Gay Community Services Center (1981, 1982) to sell advertising for their Gay Pride and Center dinner program books. Netted $10,000 profit for GCSC and was the first entreprenteur to turn program books into successful fundraisers.
- Founder GAY TREES. Asked by Sheldon Andelson & Roberta Bennett to raise funds for new New A.G.E. (New Alliance for Gay Equality) to defeat the Briggs Initiative, Cordova went into business organizing a Christmas Tree lot which sold exclusively to gays and lesbians in West Hollywood. After defeat of Prop. 6, GAY TREES became a private business. 1978-1982.
- Founder, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Press Association. 1983
- President, STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB 1979-1981.
- Democratic National Convention: Ted Kennedy vs. Jimmy Carter. 1980.
California State Delegate to the Democratic National Convention,
Madison Square Garden 1980. Kennedy/Carter. - Founder/Director of DESTINATION: NEW YORK. California statewide campaign. Elected 80 gay men and lesbians from the United States to form the National Gay &Lesbian Democratic Caucus at the 1980 Convention. This was historic in that it was the first time gays and lesbians were represented as a voting caucus at any national political convention.
- Key organizer of the FIRST NATIONAL LESBIAN CONFERENCE. UCLA 1973. Attended by 2,000 lesbians from 38 states, this was the largest gathering of lesbians in the history of America at that time.
- Key organizer of the FIRST WEST COAST LESBIAN CONFERENCE held at Metropolitian Community Church 1971. Brought 700 lesbians from California, Washington and Oregon to discuss politics in Los Angeles.
- Founder/President, The Los Angeles Lesbian Center. 1971.
First lesbian center opened in Los Angeles. - President, Los Angeles Daughters of Bilitis (D.0.B.). 1970-1971.
