What is the Lavender Menace?

Question: What is the Lavender Menace?

Answer: The term "Lavender Menace" was coined by Betty Friedan, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1969 to describe the presence of lesbians in the early women's rights movement. Betty Friedan and others believed the presence of lesbians was hurting the movement. She went so far as to omit the Daughters of Bilitis from the list of sponsors of the First Congress to Unite Women in November 1969.

Later a group of radical lesbian feminists reclaimed the name and called themselves The Lavender Menace. The lesbians who formed the Lavender Menace were part of feminist and gay rights groups, including NOW and the Gay Liberation Front. Early members included Rita Mae Brown, Karla Jay, Lois Hart and Barbara Love.

The Lavender Menace staged an action at that Second Congress to Unite Women in 1970 by storming the stage and taking over discussion. They encouraged audience members to join them in discussing lesbian issues and heterosexism. By doing so, they educated feminists about the connection of sexism, homophobia and heterosexism.

The Lavender Menace changed its name to Lesbian Liberation and finally to Radicalesbians. The group disbanded around 1971.