In 1973, during the explosive early years of the lesbian feminist movement, a small but unforgettable publication appeared with a title that refused to be polite:
Dykes & Gorgons.
Part zine, part art manifesto, the publication embraced the radical energy of the era when lesbians were carving out their own spaces in politics, publishing, and culture. Independent feminist presses and grassroots zines were the lifeblood of the movement — produced on kitchen tables, mimeograph machines, and early photocopiers.
The title itself was a statement.
“Dyke,” once used as an insult, was being reclaimed. The Gorgon, the mythological monster whose gaze could turn men to stone, became a symbol of female power and rage.
Zines like Dykes & Gorgons circulated through women’s bookstores, activist networks, and feminist gatherings, helping build the cultural backbone of the lesbian liberation movement.
