Tina Gianoulis is an essayist and free-lance writer who has contributed to a number of encyclopedias and anthologies, as well as to journals such as Sinister Wisdom.
Entries by Tina Gianoulis
arts >> Adam, Margie
A pioneer in the women's music movement, Margie Adam helped create a new political music genre that celebrated lesbian love and the changing lives of women.
social sciences >> Ageism
Discrimination on the basis of age is a serious problem in most demographic groups, including the glbtq communities.
arts >> Allen, Peter
Although not publicly out as a gay man, Australian singer and songwriter Peter Allen signaled his homosexuality through his flamboyant persona and the subtexts of many of his songs.
arts >> American Television, Soap Operas
Treatments of gay relationships on network soap operas have always been limited; recently, however, gays and lesbians have created their own soap operas to tell the convoluted stories of lesbian and gay entanglements.
social sciences >> Androgyny
Androgyny, a psychological blending of gender traits, has long been embraced by strong women, soft men, members of queer communities, and others who do not easily fit into traditionally defined gender categories.
social sciences >> Atlanta
Since the Stonewall rebellion of 1969, queer presence in Atlanta has developed from an almost invisible enclave to one of the largest gay communities in the nation.
social sciences >> Balkan States
Although anti-gay violence is still common in the Balkan states, many brave activists not only work for glbtq rights but also reach across centuries-old barriers to form connections with queers of other ethnic groups.
arts >> Bearse, Amanda
One of the first primetime television actors to come out publicly as a gay person, Amanda Bearse has developed a second career as a film and television director and has become an outspoken advocate of gay visibility.
social sciences >> Belgium
In addition to having many legal protections for glbtq people, Belgium became the second country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
arts >> Bernhardt, Sarah
The most famous actress of her time, Sarah Bernhardt scandalized and titillated Paris by wearing pants, taking men's roles in some of her plays, and having numerous love affairs, some with women.
social sciences >> Beyer, Georgina
As the first open transgender person in New Zealand to be elected to the offices of mayor and Member of Parliament, Georgina Beyer has evinced courage, humor, and personal honesty.
arts >> Beyer, Georgina
As the first open transgender person in New Zealand to be elected to the offices of mayor and Member of Parliament, Georgina Beyer has evinced courage, humor, and personal honesty.
social sciences >> Bono, Chaz
The child of a famous show business couple, Chaz Bono has had to cope with family resistance and intense public scrutiny as he came out, first as a lesbian, then as a transgender man.
arts >> Bono, Chaz
The child of a famous show business couple, Chaz Bono has had to cope with family resistance and intense public scrutiny as he came out, first as a lesbian, then as a transgender man.
arts >> Borden, Lizzie
Bisexual filmmaker Lizzie Borden brings a feminist perspective and a dynamic authenticity to her films about the unexplored politics of women's lives.
arts >> Boulanger, Nadia
Perhaps the greatest teacher of musical composition in the twentieth century, Nadia Boulanger greatly influenced modern classical music.
arts >> Boy George (George O'Dowd)
A pop icon with a rich soulful voice, Boy George, who fronted the band Culture Club in the 1980s, managed to survive homophobia, drug addiction, and fame.
arts >> Cárdenas, Nancy
Poet, journalist, playwright, director, and activist, Nancy Cárdenas was perhaps the first out lesbian public figure in Mexico and a pioneer in the Mexican gay movement.
arts >> Carter, Nell
A dynamic performer on stage, television, film, and record, Nell Carter built a successful and versatile show business career; only after her death was her longtime relationship with a woman revealed to the public.
social sciences >> Chambers, Whittaker
An aura of homosexuality permeated the case in which former communist Whittaker Chambers accused former U. S. State Department official Alger Hiss of spying for the Soviet Union and helped perpetuate the connection in the public mind between homosexuality and treason.
social sciences >> Chicago
The vigorous Midwestern metropolis of Chicago has been a center of gay and lesbian community and organizing since the early part of the twentieth century.
social sciences >> Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
The socially and politically conservative Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has long been antagonistic to the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people.
arts >> Clift, Montgomery
Montgomery Clift was not only an extraordinary actor, but also an isolated and tortured, closeted gay man, who used drugs and alcohol to escape his pain.
arts >> Comedy: Stand-Up, Gay Male
Beginning in the 1980s, a new generation of gay stand-up comics began to appear, telling jokes from the perspective of the gay insider.
arts >> Comedy: Stand-Up, Lesbian
Lesbian stand-up comedy provides an excellent example of how comedy can foster social and political awareness in both minority and mainstream communities.
arts >> Country Music
Although the roots of country music are in conservative rural America, in recent years many gays and lesbians have become attracted to it, and there has been an emergence of gay and lesbian country performers.
social sciences >> Daly, Mary
Radical feminist philosopher, theologian, and linguist, Mary Daly is an outspoken lesbian-feminist separatist who has provoked outrage by challenging established ideas and institutions that she considers destructive to women's power and creativity.
social sciences >> Deaf Culture
Members of the Deaf community, which defines deafness not as a disability but as a separate culture with its own vibrant vernacular, have organized an international support network of glbtq Deaf people.
arts >> DeGeneres, Ellen
No matter how great her contribution to the world of comedy, Ellen DeGeneres will probably be best remembered as the first lesbian to star as a lesbian on her own network television show.
arts >> De Rossi, Portia
Portia de Rossi moved almost effortlessly from a teen modeling career to acting roles in film and television; her widely publicized relationship with Ellen DeGeneres has made her one of the best known lesbians in American pop culture.
arts >> Didrikson, Mildred "Babe"
Despite all her triumphs, Mildred "Babe" Didrikson, one of the greatest women athletes in history, was taunted by charges of "mannishness" and "unnaturalness."
arts >> Dietrich, Marlene
Actress and cabaret performer Marlene Dietrich scandalized society almost as much by wearing trousers in public as by her numerous love affairs with both men and women.
social sciences >> Disability Issues
Disabled queers not only face physical obstacles and the prejudices of the larger society, but also sometimes feel marginalized and isolated within the glbtq community.
arts >> Dobkin, Alix
A lifelong progressive activist and a pioneer in women's music, Alix Dobkin not only helped create a new era of women's music in the 1970s but also paved the way for mainstsream lesbian musicians.
arts >> Duncan, Isadora
The mother of modern dance, Isadora Duncan brought her feminist consciousness to the stage; and in her bohemian private life, she constantly challenged society's rules.
social sciences >> Family
Many glbtq people reject a fixed definition of family imposed by society, and instead claim the right to define their own families as they choose.
literature >> Fernandez, Dominique
A member of the Académie française, novelist and academic Dominique Fernandez pioneered the "psychobiography" and explores the complex question of the outlaw nature of homosexuality.
social sciences >> French Gay Liberation Movement
The French gay liberation movement was born during the early 1970s on the foundation of a courageous, if conservative, homophile movement and the thrust of a massive wave of social activism.
arts >> Freund, Gisèle
Though she was an accomplished and respected photojournalist, Gisèle Freund is today best remembered as a chronicler of the vibrant bohemian community of artists and writers that made its home in Paris during the 1930s.
arts >> Garbo, Greta
Mysterious, aloof, occasionally androgynous, actress Greta Garbo ignited the passions of men and women alike.
arts >> Garland, Judy
The fragile persona and emotion-packed voice of actress and singer Judy Garland are powerfully linked to gay culture and identity; she appealed especially to gay men, but also to lesbians.
social sciences >> Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is a watchdog group dedicated to promoting accurate representations of the glbtq community in the media.
arts >> Gilbert, Sara
Actress Sara Gilbert, who became a favorite with lesbian audiences for her portrayal of tomboy Darlene on the long-running television series Roseanne, came out publicly as a lesbian in 2004.
social sciences >> Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts, a social and service organization for girls, led by adult women volunteers, has long had an inclusive non-discrimination policy.
social sciences >> Goldman, Emma
An energetic political organizer, fiery radical, and a passionate free spirit, anarchist Emma Goldman outspokenly defended the rights of homosexuals.
literature >> Goldsmith, Andrea
Australian novelist Andrea Goldsmith writes books that reflect her own life and dearest concerns--lesbian relationships, her hometown of Melbourne, Australian Jewish culture, and the inevitable, yet unpredictable, effect of the past upon the future.
social sciences >> Greece: Modern
Modern Greece is a conservative society in which there is little tolerance for openly queer lifestyles, but activists have worked since the 1970s to improve the status of gay men and lesbians.
social sciences >> Gustav V, King of Sweden
The last Swedish monarch to exert direct power over his nation's government, King Gustav V was a memorable personality, a successful king, and a bisexual.
social sciences >> Honduras
In the wake of prejudice and violence, queer activists in the tropical nation of Honduras have taken courageous action in the struggle for human rights and dignity.
social sciences >> Hoover, J. Edgar
As head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, J. Edgar Hoover wielded tremendous power for almost five decades; although likely homosexual himself, he participated fully in the McCarthy era's war on homosexuality.
arts >> Hughes, Holly
Lesbian feminist performance artist Holly Hughes has a flair for telling the outrageous stories of everyday lesbian life.
arts >> Interior Design
The career of interior design has been stereotyped as gay; although this stereotype often invites ridicule, it stems from a cultural perception that gay men may have special skills in the area of artistic design and fashion trends.
social sciences >> Israel
Even while struggling with anti-gay prejudice and internal divisions, queer activists in Israel have managed to gain a legal status that is equaled in only the most progressive countries.
social sciences >> Jones, Cleve
Activist Cleve Jones is best known as the originator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, but his life as a gay man has always been firmly interwoven with his life as a political organizer.
arts >> King, Billie Jean
Having helped transform the world of professional tennis, Billie Jean King denied her lesbianism in the 1980s, but in 2000 became the first openly lesbian coach of an Olympic team.
social sciences >> Kowalski, Sharon (b. 1956) and Karen Thompson (b. 1947)
The plight of Thompson and Kowalski brought into sharp focus an issue that many able-bodied gay men and lesbians had never considered: the importance of giving legal status to their chosen families.
arts >> lang, k. d.
Long before she came out, lesbians had made singer k.d. lang their own.
social sciences >> Lesbian Nation
Inspired by Jill Johnston's collection of essays of the same name, the term "lesbian nation" became a rallying cry for political lesbians of the 1970s.
social sciences >> Lyon, Phyllis, (b. 1924) and Del Martin (1921-2008)
Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin were among the founders of a lesbian liberation movement that developed and enlarged the very definition of lesbianism.
arts >> Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras, or Carnival, as it is often called, is a festival known for wild abandon, sexual promiscuity, feasting, drinking, dancing, parading, and elaborate masquerade.
literature >> Martinac, Paula
Writer Paula Martinac's career has been devoted to exploring and documenting the place that lesbians occupy in society, history, and the family.
arts >> McKuen, Rod
The poems and songs of the amazingly prolific Rod McKuen express a bittersweet, aching tenderness that has endeared him to millions of fans.
literature >> McKuen, Rod
The poems and songs of the amazingly prolific Rod McKuen express a bittersweet, aching tenderness that has endeared him to millions of fans.
arts >> Minnelli, Vincente
One of Hollywood's greatest directors, Vincente Minnelli kept his sexual orientation quite private, but his gay sensibility is visible in many of his films.
arts >> Navratilova, Martina
One of the greatest tennis players in history, Martina Navratilova has become an outspoken supporter of gay and lesbian rights.
literature >> Newman, Lesléa
Prolific Jewish femme lesbian-feminist writer of poetry, fiction, and children's books, Leslèa Newman draws on her own multiple identities to describe the complex tapestry that results when a variety of identities are woven together.
social sciences >> Nietzsche, Friedrich
One of the most influential and most misunderstood of modern philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche in his work searched for a primal joie de vivre that he felt had been distorted by religion and that he was unable to realize in his own life.
social sciences >> Nightingale, Florence
Famous as the mother of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale was a tough reformer who fought for her right to a career and an individual identity in the stifling atmosphere of Victorian England.
social sciences >> Noble, Elaine
A dedicated lesbian activist in the early years of the gay liberation movement, Elaine Noble made history as the first openly gay candidate elected to a state-level office when she won a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1974.
literature >> Oliver, Mary
Although Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver has not been an outspoken lesbian activist, her poetry is deeply resonant with contemporary lesbian consciousness, and many lesbians claimed her as one of their own before she publicly came out.
social sciences >> Organized Labor
Early in the gay rights movement activists challenged organized labor to broaden its struggle against discrimination to include sexual identity; consequently labor unions became some of the first mainstream organizations to call for equal rights.
literature >> Ortiz-Taylor, Sheila
A prolific writer and respected teacher, Sheila Ortiz-Taylor has bracketed her career with groundbreaking achievements.
literature >> Paglia, Camille
The frequently outrageous cultural commentary and caustic criticism of Camille Paglia have made her both famous and controversial.
social sciences >> Paglia, Camille
The frequently outrageous cultural commentary and caustic criticism of Camille Paglia have made her both famous and controversial.
social sciences >> Passing
Generally defined as seeking or allowing oneself to be identified with a race, class, or other social group to which one does not genuinely belong, passing is a complex and layered issue in queer culture.
social sciences >> Pastre, Geneviève
One of France's leading lesbian theorists and political activists, Geneviève Pastre is a writer and publisher who has made lesbian feminism the root of her political and literary work.
literature >> Pastre, Geneviève
One of France's leading lesbian theorists and political activists, Geneviève Pastre is a writer and publisher who has made lesbian feminism the root of her political and literary work.
arts >> Perkins, Anthony
In his personal life, American actor Anthony Perkins often seemed as tortured as the troubled characters he played on film, hiding--and perhaps despising--his true nature while desperately seeking happiness and "normality."
social sciences >> Pink Triangle
Originally a mark of criminalization and persecution under the Nazis, the pink triangle was later reclaimed by gays both as a memorial and as a celebration of sexual identity.
literature >> Porter, Dorothy
The work of Australian lesbian poet Dorothy Porter presents a cheeky challenge to a literary establishment whose poetry has often been defined by pretension and obfuscation.
social sciences >> Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon is home to a thriving and increasingly visible queer community that has provided leadership for Oregon glbtq activism since the 1960s.
social sciences >> Prisons and Prisoners
Glbtq prisoners are frequently victimized both by their fellow inmates and by the prison system itself, including indifferent or predatory guards and inequitable regulations.
arts >> Radio
A product of the gay liberation movement spawned by the Stonewall rebellion, queer radio programming remains a significant source of entertainment and information for glbtq communities.
arts >> Rainey, Gertrude ("Ma")
"Mother of the Blues" Gertrude "Ma" Rainey made no secret of her relationships with women.
arts >> Reed, Lou
In the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, bisexual rock musician Lou Reed, pencil-thin, craggy, and dressed in tough leather or androgynous glitz, came to symbolize the rebellious outsider.
arts >> Reilly, Charles Nelson
Funnyman Charles Nelson Reilly gained fame during the 1970s as a regular guest on game shows and celebrity talk shows, but he was also an accomplished character actor, director, and teacher.
literature >> Romance Novels
Appealing to glbtq people who enjoy romantic fantasy, the queer romance novel has recently come into its own.
social sciences >> Roosevelt, Eleanor
An important advocate for the poor and oppressed and one of the most influential women in the world, Eleanor Roosevelt had throughout her life strong attachments to women, some of them probably resulting in sexual intimacy.
arts >> RuPaul (RuPaul Andre Charles)
A six-foot five-inch tall African-American drag queen who usually performs in a blonde wig, RuPaul has given drag a new visibility by infusing it with gentleness and warmth.
social sciences >> Rural Life
Rural life offers both challenges and satisfactions for glbtq people.
social sciences >> Salvation Army
An Evangelical Christian sect founded in the nineteenth century, the Salvation Army has recently become an arm of right-wing conservatism.
literature >> Sassoon, Siegfried
For war poet and memoirist Siegfried Sassoon, the grueling years of World War I left an indelible impression of devastation and futility that colored his entire life.
social sciences >> Sex Work and Prostitution: Female
Sex work has long been the last resort of desperate women and girls, but more recently some women--including some lesbians--have been drawn to the profession by a renegade ideology of sexual liberation.
social sciences >> Situational Homosexuality
Situational homosexuality is same-sex sexual activity that occurs not as part of a gay life style, but because the participants happen to find themselves in a single-sex environment for a prolonged period.
social sciences >> South Africa
The diverse South African glbtq community both thrives and struggles amid the contradictions between a conservative traditional culture and some of the most progressive gay rights legislation in the world.
arts >> Sports: Lesbian
Although lesbians and athletics have long been identified with each other, lesbian athletes, despite great achievements, still face numerous obstacles.
social sciences >> Stereotypes
Stereotypes usually include inaccurate and negative assumptions about groups, thus contributing to racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia.
arts >> Stereotypes
Stereotypes usually include inaccurate and negative assumptions about groups, thus contributing to racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia.
arts >> Tattoos
Tribal tattoos began to be reclaimed in the 1980s by rebellious punks and by gays and lesbians.
arts >> Theater Companies
Gay and lesbian theater companies attempt to create their own communities, while also fostering a sense of solidarity with the glbtq community and educating the larger society.
arts >> Tomlin, Lily
Less well-known for being herself than for the many memorable personages she "becomes" during her performances, comedienne Lily Tomlin has long been a supporter of gay and lesbian rights, but only recently came out herself.
arts >> Tsarouchis, Yannis
A deeply sensual painter, Greek artist Yannis Tsarouchis filled his canvases with homoerotic images of vulnerable men and (to a much lesser extent) strong women.
arts >> Tyler, Robin
Charismatic performer and activist Robin Tyler has spent much of her life enmeshed in the struggle for gay and lesbian rights, from planning national marches to promoting same-sex marriage.
social sciences >> Tyler, Robin
Charismatic performer and activist Robin Tyler has spent much of her life enmeshed in the struggle for gay and lesbian rights, from planning national marches to promoting same-sex marriage.
social sciences >> Vaid, Urvashi
Activist Urvashi Vaid has devoted her energies to trying to create a queer liberation movement that would have as its core the liberation of all people.
social sciences >> Vancouver
With a constant influx of immigrants and a vigorous and adaptable economy, Vancouver is a progressive city with a large and active glbtq community.
social sciences >> Waring, Marilyn
Provocative, intellectual, and earthy, New Zealand's Marilyn Waring is both a contented goat farmer and one of the most innovative political and economic thinkers in the world.
arts >> Waters, Ethel
Perhaps best remembered for her award-winning performances as an actress, Ethel Waters was also a renowned Blues singer, known to have sexual relationships with other women.
social sciences >> Wolff, Charlotte
The life of German-British medical practitioner, psychologist, and writer Charlotte Wolff spanned nearly a century of almost unimaginable changes in the status of both women and glbtq people.
social sciences >> Woman-Identified Woman
A cornerstone of lesbian activism in the 1970s, the concept of the woman-identified woman expressed the need for women to define themselves without reference to male-dominated societal structures.
social sciences >> Women's Liberation Movement
The Women's Liberation Movement, which flourished during the 1970s, constitutes the largest and most widely publicized social movement of women in history.
social sciences >> Women's Suffrage Movement
Women whom we would identify as lesbian or bisexual led the American movement for women's right to vote and hold political office.
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