Lisa Ben

Groundbreaking Publisher

In 1947, there was no such thing as desktop publishing software, but that was the year Lisa Ben began a new genre of publishing from her desktop typewriter. By typing the same text twice with five carbons under both, she created the first lesbian or gay publication in the United States.

Vice Versa, the earliest known lesbian publication, appeared in June 1947. Only nine issues were published. The twelve copies and the less than 20 pages of each issue broke new ground, though.

There were lots of magazines on newsstands, "yet, there is one kind of publication which would, I am sure, have great appeal to a definite group," Ben wrote in the first issue.

"Hence the appearance of Vice Versa, a magazine dedicated, in all seriousness, to those of us who will never quite be able to adapt ourselves to the ironbound rules of Convention" she wrote.

LisaBen (which is an anagram of the word "lesbian" and not the real name of the anonymous woman) was a secretary for RKO Studios in Los Angeles who didn't have much to do. Her boss was aware of that, she said, but he wanted her to type so she would at least look busy. She was a lesbian, so creating a lesbian publication was only natural.

" If anyone came around, I had to zip it into my briefcase quick," Ben said.

Since Ben tackled a taboo topic, she couldn't use the U.S. Mail to distribute her publication because it might be against the law, although she did mail early issues to friends because she didn't know any better. Later copies were handed to friends and bar patrons who were encouraged to pass them on.

A primitive for publishing and a less than perfect means of distribution were good enough to lead the way for today's lesbian and gay media. But pioneers never have the benefit of the equipment and knowledge that comes after them. Their job is, by definition, a hard one. If we are willing to work hard, in what new direction could we lead our community?

Like Ben, try to look busy.