''Sinister Wisdom'' is an American

lesbian A lesbian is a Homosexuality, homosexual woman.Zimmerman, p. 453. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate n ...

literary, theory, and art journal published quarterly in

Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland and Emer ...

. Started in 1976 by Catherine Nicholson and Harriet Ellenberger (Desmoines) in

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...

, it is the longest established lesbian journal, with 105 issues . Each journal covers topics pertaining to the lesbian experience including creative writing, poetry, literary criticism and

feminist theory Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical, fictional, or philosophical discourse. It aims to understand the nature of gender inequality. It examines women's and men's social roles, experiences, interests, chores, and feminist ...

. ''Sinister Wisdom'' accepts submissions from novice to accredited writers and has featured the works of writers and artists such as

Audre Lorde Audre Lorde (; born Audrey Geraldine Lorde; February 18, 1934 – November 17, 1992) was an American writer, womanist, radical feminist, professor, and civil rights activist. She was a self-described "black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet," who ...

and

Adrienne Rich Adrienne Cecile Rich ( ; May 16, 1929 – March 27, 2012) was an American poet, essayist and feminist. She was called "one of the most widely read and influential poets of the second half of the 20th century", and was credited with bringing "th ...

. The journal has pioneered female publishing, working with female operated publishing companies such as Whole Women Press and Iowa City Women's Press. Sapphic Classics, a partnership between ''Sinister Wisdom'' and A Midsummer Night's Press, reprints classic lesbian works for contemporary audiences.

History and mandate

Catherine Nicholson and Harriet Ellenberger (Desmoines), two lesbians from

, attended a lesbian writing workshop in

Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Tennessee, Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Di ...

, in 1976 with the idea of a lesbian literary journal already in mind. Predecessors in the lesbian literary realm such as '' The Ladder'' and the ''Amazon Quarterly'' inspired Nicholson and Ellenberger (Desmoines) to create their own journal for Southern lesbians. After attending the workshop, Nicholson and Ellenberger (Desmoines) submitted a leaflet calling for any lesbian writing to be part of a new journal. Ellenberger in particular called for "revolution, reversal, and transformation" and wanted a place that was outside of the patriarchal realm for lesbians to communicate and express themselves. ''Sinister Wisdom'' was named after novelist and later ''Sinister Wisdom'' contributor Joanna Russ' novel ''

The Female Man ''The Female Man'' is a feminist science fiction novel by American writer Joanna Russ. It was originally written in 1970 and first published in 1975 by Bantam Books. Russ was an ardent feminist and challenged sexist views during the 1970s with ...

''. "Sinister" in this context means "on the left side", which is in direct contrast with the "right": the patriarchal, "rational" values that dominate society and seek to oppress the left. Ellenberger (Desmoines) writes in her first "Notes for a Magazine":

The Law of the Fathers equates "right-over-left, white-over-black, heterosexual-over-homosexual, and male-over-female with good-over-evil." ''Sinister Wisdom'' turns these patriarchal values upside down as a necessary prelude to creating our own.

Ellenberger (Desmoines) believed that lesbians writing and publishing for lesbians outside of the traditional,

patriarchal Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of Dominance hierarchy, dominance and Social privilege, privilege are primarily held by men. It is used, both as a technical Anthropology, anthropological term for families or clans controll ...

realm was the best way to connect to their audience. In addition to separatist content, the journal utilized the talents, time, and money of only women in a

grassroots A grassroots movement is one that uses the people in a given district, region or community as the basis for a political or economic movement. Grassroots movements and organizations use collective action from the local level to effect change at t ...

approach. This went against the publishing business that was mostly controlled by men. In July 1976, the first issue of ''Sinister Wisdom'' was released and was well received. Nicholson and Ellenberger (Desmoines) were the editors. The journal promised three issues a year with subscriptions costing $4.50. The journal's first issue did not have a theme; the contents received for the issue were submitted on the basis of the original leaflet made by Nicholson and Ellenberger (Desmoines) and are thus diverse in subject and style. The second issue called for submissions pertaining to the overall theme of Lesbian Writing and Publishing and was released in the fall of 1976. The publication of the third issue in the spring of 1977 marked ''Sinister Wisdom's'' first year, and while Nicholson, Ellenberger (Desmoines), and their team still asked in every issue for more subscriptions and submissions, the journal could continue. By Issue 7, Nicholson and Ellenberger (Desmoines) introduced some changes: the cost of subscriptions would be raised from $4.50 to $7.50 to cover costs, the number of issues released in the year would be raised from three to four, and ''Sinister Wisdom'''s publishing headquarters would move from Charlotte to

Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln is the capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County. The city covers with a population of 292,657 in 2021. It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 73rd-largest in the United Sta ...

. In Lincoln, the team at ''Sinister Wisdom'' worked with Iowa City Women's Press and Whole Women Press, two publishing businesses dedicated to publishing the work of women and lesbians and whom Ellenberger (Desmoines) thanks for helping keep the journal afloat. To continue to publish outside of the patriarchal system, the journal had to pay for their office space, supplies, printing, and mailing out of pocket. Ellenberger (Desmoines) continued to urge readers to buy subscriptions for those who could not afford it, buy gift subscriptions, or donate extra money to ''Sinister Wisdom.'' Exhausted by the strains of editing and producing the journal, by 1978 Nicholson and Ellenberger began looking for women to replace them. At a party dedicated to female publishing in New York City, the two spoke with

and

Michelle Cliff Michelle Carla Cliff (2 November 1946 – 12 June 2016) was a Jamaican-American author whose notable works included ''Abeng'' (1985), '' No Telephone to Heaven'' (1987), and ''Free Enterprise'' (2004). In addition to novels, Cliff also wrote ...

. Both Rich and Cliff were very well known in the world of lesbian literature and had been previous contributors to ''Sinister Wisdom.'' The pair decided to take on the project. Nicholson and Ellenberger (Desmoines)'s final issue was Issue 16 in the Winter of 1981, published outside of the journal's new headquarters in

Amherst, Massachusetts Amherst () is a New England town, town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,263, making it the highest populated municipality in Hampshire County (althoug ...

. Rich and Cliff promised to commit themselves to sustaining the quality of publications ''Sinister Wisdom'' was known for. As an activist and writer of color, Cliff noted in her first "Notes for a Magazine" that she was interested in including more submissions dealing with the intersections of race and lesbianism. The journal from Issue 17 of the spring of 1981 was the start of a more

intersectional Intersectionality is an analytical framework for understanding how aspects of a person's social and political identities combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege. Intersectionality identifies multiple factors of adv ...

journal, moving away from separatism and towards the inclusion of other forms of oppression that coincide with the experiences of lesbian women. In the Summer of 1983, Rich and Cliff wrapped up their final issue at ''Sinister Wisdom'' and the journal was turned over to Michaele Uccella and

Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz (September 9, 1945 – July 10, 2018) was an American essayist, poet, academic, and political activist. Early life Born Melanie Kaye in 1945 in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, her parents had angli ...

. By Issue 33, the magazine was turned over by Uccella and Kaye/Kantrowitz to notable feminist writer Elana Dykewomon. Dykewomon promised in this first issue as editor that she would work towards getting ''Sinister Wisdom'' to be recognized as a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

. Dykewomon also became the publisher of the journal. By the spring of 1992, with the release of Issue 46, the journal received their

501(c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...

from the government, recognizing the journal as a non-profit organization. ''Sinister Wisdom'' began to be published by Sinister Wisdom Inc., as it continues to be today. Issue 55, published as the spring and summer issue for 1995, was edited by Caryatis Cardea, Jamie Lee Evans, and Sauda Burch. The journal was then turned over to Akiba Onáda-Sikwoia. Onáda-Sikwoia states in her "Notes for a Magazine" that she wanted to boost the number of subscriptions but that her efforts had not yielded the projected 400 new subscriptions she was hoping for. At this point, ''Sinister Wisdom'' provided 80 free subscriptions to incarcerated lesbians, an initiative that the journal has continued to the present. In 1997, Onáda-Sikwoia turned the journal over to Margo Mercedes-Rivera-Weiss, who would edit the journal until 2000. Fran Day, a feminist writer active in the lesbian community worked as the editor from 2000 until her death in 2010. Merry Gangemi was the editor from 2010 until 2013. The current editor is Julie R. Enszer.

Magazine and its content

''Sinister Wisdom'' has 111 publications; four new, seasonal publications are released every year. The journal features primarily lesbians' work, and is particularly interested in writing, art or photography that reflects diversity of experiences which includes, but is not limited to: lesbians of color, ethnic lesbians, Jewish, Arab, old, young, working-class, poverty class, disabled, and fat lesbians. Each issue of ''Sinister Wisdom'' is different in content and follows various structures. A section called "Notes for a Magazine" is written by the editor(s) of the issue, which explains the contents and theme of the journal, updates readers on any changes the journal will make, and calls for submissions. This letter from the editor(s) can be found usually at the beginning or at the end of the journal. Some issues dealing with specific topics are edited by guest editors. The content and structure of the journals is dependent on the contributors submissions and if the journal is following a specific theme. Each journal features a "Call for Submissions" section that lets readers and contributors know what the upcoming issues will be focusing on. The contributions to the journal often represent different mediums, such as art, photography, short stories, personal accounts, poems, interviews, feminist and queer theory, and literature reviews. The order of the contributions do not follow a specific pattern. The back of the journal usually contains classified ads calling for specific submissions, workshops, conferences, publications, videos, and requests for correspondence. Ads also often advertise feminist bookstores where copies of ''Sinister Wisdom'' can be purchased, as well as other lesbian literature and arts journals for readers to subscribe to.

Identity and diversity

''Sinister Wisdom'' is dedicated to representing the diverse nature of the lesbian community. Works featured in the journal include the experiences of lesbians from a variety of cultural, racial, religious, and class backgrounds. Several of the journal's issues have been dedicated to highlighting the experiences of specific affinity groups. * Issues 29/30, "Tribe of Dina: A Jewish Women's Anthology", were published in 1986. This iteration of the journal highlights the experiences and creations of Jewish lesbians, including editor Elana Dykewomon. * Issue 39, "On Disability", was published in Winter 1989/1990. * Issue 41, "Il Viaggio Delle Donne: Italian-American Women Reach Shore", was published in Summer/Fall 1990. * Issue 45, "Lesbians & Class", was published in Winter 1991/1992. * Issue 53, "Old Lesbians/Dykes", was published in Summer/Fall 1994. Works featured in the journal highlight the experiences of lesbians over the age of sixty, specifically dealing with topics such as sexuality, ageism, family, and death. In Winter 2009/2010, issues 78 & 79 were published as a sequel to the 1994 issue in a collection entitled "Old Lesbians/Dykes II". * Issue 54, "Lesbians and Religion", addresses the experiences of lesbians from a number of religious and spiritual backgrounds. * Issue 97, "Out Latina Lesbians", was published in Summer 2015. This issue, edited by Nívea Castro and Geny Cabral, highlights the experiences of Latina lesbians and includes a number of pieces written in English, Spanish, or a mixture of both. * Issue 107, "Black Lesbians—We Are the Revolution!", amplifies the voices of African-American lesbians and queer women. This issue includes discussions of black and queer activism and the ways in which it is or isn't effective, and calls upon black lesbian/queer creatives to imagine a brighter future for activism.

Digital archives

''Sinister Wisdom,'' in agreement with Reveal Media is in the process of digitizing back issues from 1976 to 2001. In this agreement, Sinister Wisdom has made these back issues available on its website as downloadable PDFs to increase accessibility to lesbian literary content for readers.

Editors and publishers

* Harriet Ellenberger (aka Desmoines) and Catherine Nicholson (1976–1981) *

and

(1981–1983) * Michaele Uccella (1983–1984) *

(1983–1987) *

Elana Dykewomon Elana Dykewomon (; October 11, 1949 – August 7, 2022) was an American lesbian activist, author, editor, and teacher. She was a recipient of the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction. Early life and education Dykewomon was born Elana Mich ...

(1987–1994) * Caryatis Cardea (1991–1994) * Akiba Onada-Sikwoia (1995–1997) * Margo Mercedes Rivera-Weiss (1997–2000) * Fran Day (2000–2011) * Julie R. Enszer & Merry Gangemi (2010–2013) * Julie R. Enszer (2013 to present)

Notable contributors

– notable poet, essayist, and activist *

– poet, writer, and activist *

Anita Cornwell Anita Cornwell (born September 23, 1923) is an American lesbian feminist author. In 1983 she wrote the first collection of essays by an African-American lesbian, ''Black Lesbian in White America''. Biography Born in Greenwood, South Carolina ...

– writer * Susan Hawthorne – writer, poet, publisher *

Joanna Russ Joanna Russ (February 22, 1937 – April 29, 2011) was an American writer, academic and feminist. She is the author of a number of works of science fiction, fantasy and feminist literary criticism such as ''How to Suppress Women's Writing'', as w ...

– novelist *

– poet, novelist, editor, and activist *

Minnie Bruce Pratt Minnie Bruce Pratt (born September 12, 1946) is an American poet, educator, activist and essayist. She retired in 2015 from her position as Professor of Writing and Women's Studies at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York where she was invi ...

– poet, activist, and teacher *

Deena Metzger Deena Metzger (born September 17, 1936) is an American writer, healer, and teacher whose work spans multiple genres including the novel, poetry, non-fiction, and plays. Her novel ''La Negra y Blanca'' won the 2012 Oakland Pen Award for Literatur ...

– writer *

– writer and literary critic *

Pat Parker Pat Parker (born Patricia Cooks; January 20, 1944June 17, 1989) was an American poet and activist. Both her poetry and her activism drew from her experiences as an African-American lesbian Feminism, feminist.Pat Parker. Contemporary Authors On ...

– poet

Other publications

In 2013, ''Sinister Wisdom'' began reprinting classic lesbian literature and poetry publications for a new audience to enjoy under Sapphic Classics. This initiative is in partnership with A Midsummer Night's Press, an independent publishing company specializing in poetry. Often these publications serve as an issue of ''Sinister Wisdom''. * ''Crime Against Nature'' by Minnie Bruce Pratt, ''Sinister Wisdom'', Issue 88. This collection of stories and poems detailed Pratt's loss of custody of her two children when she came out as a lesbian. This book won Pratt the 1989

James Laughlin Award The James Laughlin Award, formerly the Lamont Poetry Prize, is given annually for a poet's second published book; it is the only major poetry award that honors a second book. The award is given by the Academy of American Poets, and is noted as one ...

. * ''Living as a Lesbian'' by

Cheryl Clarke Cheryl L. Clarke (born Washington DC, May 16, 1947) is an American lesbian poet, essayist, educator and a Black feminist community activist who continues to dedicate her life to the recognition and advancement of Black and Queer people. Her schol ...

, ''Sinister Wisdom'', Issue 91. This personal account details Clarke's life as a lesbian and pays tribute to women. * ''What Can I Ask-New and Selected Poems 1975–2014'' by Elana Dykewomon, ''Sinister Wisdom'', Issue 96. This collection is the compiled poems and works of Elana Dykewomon. * ''The Complete Works of Pat Parker'', ''Sinister Wisdom'', Issue 102. This collection is chosen works of Pat Parker. This collection won the

Lambda Literary Award Lambda Literary Awards, also known as the "Lammys", are awarded yearly by Lambda Literary to recognize the crucial role LGBTQ writers play in shaping the world. The Lammys celebrate the very best in LGBTQ literature.The awards were instituted i ...

. *''For the Hard Ones: A Lesbian Phenomenology (Para las duras: Una fenomenología lesbiana)'' by Tatiana de la Tierre'', Sinister Wisdom'' 108. This collection is a compilation of poetry exploring queer Latina sexuality in both Spanish and English. Other publications: * ''A Gathering of Spirit (Expanded)-'' This is an expanded version of the popular Issue 22/23, which showcases the work of Native American lesbians.

Notes

External links