The Lesbian Avengers are a direct-action group focused on issues vital to lesbian survival and visibility.
Formed in 1992, The Lesbian Avengers are not part of ACT UP, but there is a good deal of cross membership between ACT UP/NY and the NY Avengers. Below is their action outline about how they plan and conduct actions. It is included here because many of the underlying principles are the same and plus it's really good!
More information about the Avengers and ACT UP/NY can be found in Sarah Schulman's My American History (from which this is taken).
To reach the Avnegers write to them c/o the Center, 208 W.13th St, NY, NY 10011.
Their hotline number is 212/967-7711 x3204.The Lesbian Avengers Civil Rights Organizing Project Handbook (off-site)
Venue: Locate an unusual space, not familiar to your audience but large enough for dancing, lounging, and hanging out.
Publicity: Generate n eye-catching flyer early enough to claim that date. Mail it to the mailing list. Distribute huge numbers of them early. Let newsletters, newspapers, and radio shows know in advance. Wheat-paste vigorously.
Music: Music is the key to a great party. If no live DJ will volunteer her time then get someone with diverse and extensive musical knowledge. A good sound system.
Door and security: Two women at the door to collect money and to be sure that every person who enters signs up on the mailing list. Someone else should pick up the cash regularly and store it in a safe place. A few Avengers on alert for security problems at all times.
Food and Drink: Locate nearest all-nit deli for extra ice and beer. Provide some non-alcoholic beverages as well. Large plastic cans and bags are best for ice control.
Set-up: Create clean-up, set-up, and decorating shifts. Have people working at different times to clear up bottles, etc. have plenty of toilet paper and towels on hand.Media Room: Two Avengers in charge of fabulous video and propaganda devices.
Special Events: Go-go girls, kissing booths, Tarot cards, etc. etc.
Other Fundraising Ideas:
-At every Meeting we pass around an envelope labeled Actions and
ask each person to throw in a dollar or two.
-We sell t-shirts and videos but they are also organizing tools.
We don't want to get too weighted down in merchandise business.
-People can throw private parties for birthdays or whatever and
ask friends to make a donation to the Avengers instead of presents.
IDENTIFYING RESOURCES
Lots of lesbians have resources they are willing to share with
the Avengers, even if they don't know want to come to meetings
and organize actions. Find out who has access to free xeroxing
at their offices, or a fax machine. Someone may be willing to
do legal support or design flyers or just wheat-paste. In order
to involve as many women as possible. AVENGERS have to be cooperative,
organized and-more importantly-know how to use mailing lists as
an organizing tool.
YOUR MAILING LIST IS YOUR FRIEND
At every Avenger meeting we pass around a mailing list with names
and phone numbers. New members are invited to add their names
to the list. An updated activist list is presented every week.
This is our activist pool. Whenever we have an action we call
everyone on the list. Whenever we need people to leaflet, wheat-paste,
work on a dance, or build props, we call the list.
At every dance or public event we are since to have a supportive
mailing list t the door. This is our constituent base. They receive
mailings for all actions and events. Since these people have never
come to meetings we wouldn't call them for activist tasks-but
when it comes to filling the streets or our bank account-they
are the ones we count on most.
PHONE TREES
One Avenger is responsible for coordinating a phone tree, in which
other Avengers are responsible for contacting groups of ten off
of our activist list. Every action or call for help goes out over
the phone tree. The main coordinator is responsible for keeping
the phone tree updated each week and for being sure that the callers
are following through. the phone tree can only be activated by
a decision from the big group-that way arbitrary, half-assed,
rumor-based attempts can be avoided. Ideally everyone who has
ever come to a meeting will receive both a mailing and a phone
call for every one of our actions. Anyone who has only come to
our events will receive a mailing.
MARSHALL TRAINING
Actions need marshals-that is, a group of women who take responsibility
for big decisions like when to go into the street, when to sit
down in traffic. marshals need to do a training before an action,
learning legal issues involved, developing a method of communication
and cooperation with each other. And preferably undergoing civil
disobedience training (invite a trainer from your local ACT UP,
Quakers, or peace group). Usually they are identifiable by brightly
colored ribbons tied around their forearms. They serve as the
wall between demonstrators and the police and also are the people
who block traffic as the procession peacefully moves by.
SUPPORT
A coordinated support effort is necessary when there is the possibility/probability
of arrest.
The goal of those doing support is to track the arrestees through
the system and wait for them to be released. Support tpeople have
a responsibility and an obligation to remain until the last person
is released. It is important for those on the inside to know that
they have the support of those on the outside.
Before action
Get support sheets filled out in duplicate. One copy is for the support person on-site and one copy should be kept off-site in case the support person gets arrested by mistake.
During action
Try to avoid getting arrested. Keep a list of people as they are being arrested. Ask them to shout out their names if you don't recognize them. If you see any violence by police try to get badge numbers. Politely ask police (white shirt if possible) what precinct they are being taken to. Once the arrestees are taken away, go meet them at the precinct. When the paddy wagons arrive, try to let the people inside know that you are there for them.
After action
Hang out and wait until the very last person is released. Check off their names as they come out and get information (i.e., are people being treated well, etc.). Contact attorney. Collect summonses for attorney while making sure that the arrestees know when to appear in court.
AVENGER SUPPORT SHEET (fill out both halves. Both halves
have same questions)
Name
Address
Home phone
Date of Birth
Place of employment
Person to notify in case of emergency (name and phone number)
Person to notify if you must spend the night in jail (name and
phone number)
Other (specify medical consideration, notify work, etc.)
MARCHING BAND
A marching band, drum corps, rhythm, section, etc. can really
aids all actions. call them at least two weeks in advance.
SPANISH TRANSLATION
Fact sheets and press releases tot he Spanish language press should
be translated into Spanish. Translators need enough advance time
to do a good job and get their draft to the designer without cramping
her schedule either.
POLICE AND PERMITS
In general Lesbian Avengers do not apply for permits, do not ask
for permission to do actions, and do not negotiate with the police
in advance. Of course special circumstances may require changing
this approach. All is subject to discussion in the group.
LEGAL OBSERVERS
Lawyers need to be contacted at least a week in advance. We usually
need one lawyer and two students or observers for an action. Avengers
need a clear understanding of our legal rights going into an event.
Legal support Avengers should have ongoing communication with
attorneys throughout the action.
XEROX
There are Avengers who work in corporations with massive xerox
possibilities. But they need ample advance warning and assistance
transporting the guerrilla copies.
FAX
There are Avengers who work in corporations that have access to
unlimited FAX. They need advance notice and cooperative assistance.
FLYER PRODUCTION
The Avengers have a bevy of gifted graphic artists who can design
beautiful posters, but they need to be alerted at least a week
in advance and cannot be expected to pick up and drop off copy
in addition to executing their designs.
DEMO-GRAPHICS
The visual design of our actions is a crucial part of Avenger
work. In general we try to make each action look different from
our previous events and have a style and presentation that has
never been used by anyone before. Props play a huge part in this.
Props, floats, shrines, burning torches, papier mache bombs, plaster
statueswhatever! Demo-graphics need to be eye-catching, meaningful,
and visually exciting.
The more creative, imaginative, and individual our actions look,
the more eye-catching, inspiring, and fun they will be.
The design of an action usually begins with the preliminary flyer
announcing the event to the community. Innovative design, contemporary,
clever graphics, and even the color of the paper are all important
ways to convey to the viewer how fearless, open, and new our approach
is. To date our invitational leaflets have been one of the Avengers'
strongest drawing cards.
Usually the flyer features a slogan or phrase that will be a consistent
theme throughout the action. We try to never use a cliche or tired
old rhetoric. Instead we've been able to come up with a wide range
of eye-catching titles. When we built a shrine to the two gay
people burned to death in Oregon, our demo posters said, "Do
Not Let Them Rest in Peace." When we dogged the mayor of
Denver for 48 hours the signs said "Boycott the Hate State."
When we held our New Year's Eve Party, the poster featured a picture
of seventies Blaxploitation film star Pam Grier, in hot pants,
loading a rifle. The poster advertised "Activist a Go-Go."
Our Valentine's Day Action honoring Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas
celebrated "Politically Incorrect Domestic Bliss." Our
demo banners favoring the MultiCultural Curriculum said "Lighten
Up! Teach About Lesbian Lives." The banners for the torchlight
parade down Fifth Avenue said "Wake Up! It's Happening Here"
and for the March on Washington said "Lesbian Avengers: Out
for Power." So whether the theme is whimsical or angry, our
slogans have been clear, clever, and strong.
MEDIA
1. Standard Media
Good efficient Media work is essential to any activist organization. The first thing you need to do is amass a list of media contacts. Go through all the daily papers and weekly publications in your area and identify anyone who writes stories with gay/lesbian themes or people behind the scenes or in other departments who might be openly or discreetly lesbian and gay.
Call every radio and TV station and ask them directly for the names of people on staff (not only news staff) who are particularly interested in lesbian or gay stories. Make personal contacts with anyone in any media outlet who is openly lesbian.Four day before your action, FAX out your press release to the entire media list and then spend the next few days making follow-up phone calls encouraging the press to attend your event.
Use the set Lesbian avenger press release format and letterhead.
At the action itself, speak to every member of the press, and get their name and number. That way you know who has responded, who to add to your list, and who you can call afterwards for more follow-up. Personal contact is the best way to get coverage.
2. Video
Every single action should be covered by an Avenger video team. In this way, even if we don't get television coverage we can always provide TV stations with our own footage after the fact.
Even more importantly, Avenger video teams can put together our own video compilations to be shown across the country and around the world. These video as have proven to be our best organizing tools for starting new chapters. Since the Avenger phenomenon has never been seen before, it is often hard for people to imagine the type of actions and spirit that defines us. Videos are invaluable in communicating our work and attitude.3. Gay and Lesbian Press
The gay and lesbian press ranges from glossy national magazines to typewritten bar rags. There are hundreds of newsletters and newspapers around the country and often they are the only way for gay people to communicate. FAXing and mailing press releases, communiques, and newspaper clippings to the gay media is another good way of encouraging new Avenger chapters and , more importantly, the spirit of activism among lesbians. It also provides crucial coverage of our issues, something that can't be expected of the mainstream.