Cleo Bonner, also known as Cleo Glenn, served as president of the Daughters of Bilitis and circulation manager of The Ladder magazine in the 1960s. She was one of the first African-American women to belong to this organization. Barbara Gittings referred to Cleo Glenn as a "fireball".[1]
Cleo Bonner | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Cleo Glenn |
| Known for | President of the Daughters of Bilitis |
| Notable work | The Ladder (Magazine) |
Leadership of the Daughters of Bilitis
editCleo Bonner was an early member of the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) and one of the few African American women associated with this organization in the early 1960s.[2] Bonner was also known as Cleo Glenn in order to protect her privacy.[3] She assumed the role of acting president of DOB in the fall of 1963.[4] Bonner served as president of DOB until 1966.[5] Her leadership of DOB was featured in a 1990 article in the Bay Area Reporter.[6]
1964 Convention
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Under the name Cleo Glenn, Bonner served as chair of the 3rd annual 1964 Daughters of Bilitis Convention held on June 20 in New York. [7] Speakers at this convention included Dr. Wardell B. Pomeroy and Dr.Sylvia Fava.[7]
Involvement with The Ladder magazine
editBonner served as circulation manager for The Ladder, the magazine produced and distributed by DOB.[3] The June 1964 edition listed Bonner as president and featured in the 1964 DOB convention on the cover.[8]
Personal life
editCleo was in a committed relationship with a white woman named Helen Cushman when she joined DOB in 1960.[9] She raised a son while working at Pacific Bell telephone company.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Passet, Joanne (2016-11-01). Indomitable: The Life of Barbara Grier. Bella Books. ISBN 978-1-59493-664-7.
- ^ "CAAM | Black California history and LGBTQ+ rights". caamuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ a b "Cleo Glenn (Bonner) (Dates Unknown)". Cleo Glenn (Bonner). Routledge. 2014-02-04. pp. 205–206. doi:10.4324/9781315801681-33. ISBN 978-1-315-80168-1.
- ^ Gallo, Marcia M. (2006). Different daughters : a history of the Daughters of Bilitis and the rise of the lesbian rights movement. New York. p. 90. ISBN 0-7867-1634-7. OCLC 72002732.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Beemyn, Brett Genny (2004). "African Americans" (PDF). GLBTQ Archive.
- ^ "Bay Area Reporter 2 August 1990 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
- ^ a b "one-2011001_b09_i131~026". digitallibrary.usc.edu. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ "The Ladder" (PDF). June 1964.
- ^ a b Gallo, Marcia M. (2006). Different daughters : a history of the Daughters of Bilitis and the rise of the lesbian rights movement. New York: Seal Press. p. 59. ISBN 0-7867-1634-7. OCLC 72002732.