Sinister Wisdom

Sinister Wisdom is a multicultural, lesbian literary & art journal by and for lesbians. The magazine is the oldest surviving lesbian literary journal; now more than 30 years in print. SW is published quarterly in Berkeley, California and provides free subscriptions to incarcerated and institutionalized women as well as reduced-price subscriptions for lesbians with limited/fixed incomes.

History & Mandate

Founded in 1976 by Harriet Ellenberger (Desmoines) and Catherine Nicholson in Charlotte, North Carolina, Sinister Wisdom features only lesbians' work, and is particularly interested in writing, art or photography that reflects diversity of experiences: lesbians of color, ethnic Lesbians, Jewish, Arab, old, young, working-class, poverty class, disabled, and fat lesbians. Author Caryatis Cardea referred to the magazine as a work of "political honor...a commitment to acknowledge the power of language and the privilege of being published...the recognition of multiple struggles, and the accordance of mutual respect among a cultural diversity of lesbians This magazine is now edited in Sebastopol, California by Fran Day.

Selection of Contributors

Former editors and publishers

Harriet Ellenberger (aka Desmoines) and Catherine Nicholson (1976-1981)
Michelle Cliff and Adrienne Rich (1981-1983)
Michaele Uccella (1983-1984)
Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz (1983-1987)
Elana Dykewomon (1987-1994)
Caryatis Cardea (1991 -1994)
Akiba Onada-Sikwoia (1995-1997)
Margo Mercedes Rivera-Weiss (1997-2000)
Fran Day (2000 to present)

References

Ellenberger, Harriet, 'Sinister Wisdom' 43/44 15th Anniversary Retrospective, 1991, pg. 8
Cardea, Caryatis, 'Sinister Wisdom' 43/44 15th Anniversary Retrospective, 1991, pg. 7