By Bobbi Becker, Special to the On-line Forty-Niner
April 22, 1997
Professor Angela Bowen of Cal State Long Beach and member of the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Concerns will be making a presentation on Audre Lorde today at 5 p.m. on the 5th floor in the Library Faculty Development Center.
Bowen, a new member of the faculty in the women's studies and English departments, explored the life of Lorde in her dissertation for her Ph.D. Bowen said that no one was looking at the total life of Lorde. She felt there was so much more to write about Lorde than what was being done.
"I am what I am today because of my discovery of Audre Lorde in my 30's," Bowen said. "I am a speaker, an out black lesbian, and a teacher."
Bowen's desire to be an activist was encouraged when she met Lorde in 1991 while attending a meeting on feminist issues. Lorde encouraged her to get involved with the National Coalition of Lesbian and Gays.
Lorde was well known as an international black lesbian writer and poet. Her most famous work, currently in its tenth printing, is "Sister Outsider." She has a degree in English and philosophy and has published more than 50 books.
Lorde is an icon within the women's and the gay and lesbian movements because she has crossed so many barriers including race, gender and sexual orientation, Bowen said. Lorde worked with women's groups in other continents such as Europe and Africa. She was an activist until she died of breast cancer in 1992.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Resource Center sponsors regular events to encourage visibility and tolerance of the lesbian, gay and bisexual campus community.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Resource Center sponsers regular events to
encourage visibility and tolerance of the lesbian, gay and bisexual campus
community