Lesbian Visibility Week runs April 20th to 26th & is celebrated worldwide since it was first established in 2008 as Lesbian Visibility Day. Lesbians are often less visible than gay men & our contributions are often under reported but there are some amazing stories out there. I talked with Leslie Cohen about the legendary nightclub for women Sahara
that she established with three of her friends in May of 1976 that existed until December of 1979 on Manhattan’s fashionable Upper East Side. Cohen, Michelle Florea, Linda Goldfarb & Barbara Russo created New York City’s first upscale women’s club that showcased women in art, politics & music. On Thursday night the line went around the block when both men & women were invited in for political fundraisers & cabaret. Celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Tom Hayden, Patti Smith, Pat Benatar, Warren Beatty, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug & Elaine Noble, the first openly gay state Representative from Massachusetts appeared or performed there. This led to Leslie & her partner Beth Suskin becoming the models for the iconic sculpture “Gay Liberation,” in Greenwich Village which commemorates the Stonewall riots & was declared a national monument by President Obama in 2016. Cohen stated, “I’m happy being a lesbian. I’ve had a lot of joy & a lot of fun & I want young people to know that. I have found love. I’ve been with my now wife for 42 years & it’s possible. You will find happiness.” I talked to Leslie about how Sahara changed the course of her life & her spin on the future of our LGBTQ civil rights in this exclusive audio interview.
LISTEN
For More Info: lesbianvisibilityweek.com
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