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Ella Matthes Lesbian Icon Publisher Dies

By Charlotte Robinson, April 06, 2024

Ella Matthes the longtime award-winning publisher & editor of Lesbian News Magazine has passed at 81. Matthes successfully ran Lesbian News Magazine from 1975 until 2022. The Lesbian News known as the LN had the distinction & responsibility of being North America’s longest running lesbian publication. Founded in 1975 in Southern California LN began as the lone voice for lesbian issues & evolved throughout the years to become the nation’s foremost voice for lesbians of all ages. Some of the iconic cover stories have included names such as Melissa Etheridge, kd lang, Ellen DeGeneres, Marlee Matlin, Hillary Clinton, Toni Braxton, Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, Judith Light & Janet McTeer. At the young age of fifteen Ella went to work at Great Western Savings in the print shop & developed a passion for printing. Then in her twenties she purchased Superior Printers & ran it for decades. She wanted to address the lack of support & visibility for our lesbian community so in 1975 she purchased Lesbian News Magazine from Deborah Bergman who had recently acquired it from its original owner Jinx Beers. Ella Matthes built a mission statement around her vision for all lesbians stating, “The editorial vision of the LN has always been to inform, entertain & be of service to women who love women of all ages, economic class & color. We hope women from all walks of life will not only find something of themselves in the LN, but also be accepting of those with differing opinions. Lesbian News is our small contribution to the lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender liberation movement.” Rest In Power Ella Matthes...

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