The final event of the City of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival is the world premiere of the feature-length documentary film Jeanne Cordova: Butches, Lies and Feminism. The film was directed by Gregorio Davila (L.A. A Queer History), who will participate in a Q & A with the late Jeanne Cordova’s partner Lynn Harris Ballen – a journalist and activist – following the screening. Admission is free, RSVPs are requested at http://bit.ly/JeanneOCOP2017.
Born in Germany and raised in Los Angeles, Cordova joined the Immaculate Heart of Mary, an order that embraced progressive and pacifist ideologies and sent its nuns to work in the inner cities. Inspired by these social justice ideals, Cordova left the convent to work as a community organizer. By age 22, she’d earned a Master’s degree in Social Work and became an activist for lesbian, feminist, and gay rights. She founded The Lesbian Tide, which became a national newsmagazine, and she later served as Human Rights Editor of the LA Free Press. Cordova went on to the presidency of the Stonewall Democratic Club, and then to becoming a successful entrepreneur at the forefront of organizing and leading the LGBTQ community to enhance its political clout. Cordova passed away in 2016 at age 67.
Conceived to expand the annual celebration of pride with programming that explores LGBTQ history, culture and art, One City One Pride is presented with the support of the City of West Hollywood’s WeHo Arts program.
