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Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority’s Beta Chapter presents PowHER Lunch ATL
/in Events, Kappa Theta Epsilon, News /by Kappa Theta EpsilonThe Legacy Series: Ruth Ellis
/in Kappa Theta Epsilon, Legacy Series, News /by Kappa Theta EpsilonDuring the month of February, Kappa Theta Epsilon not only celebrates our Founding Day; we celebrate the contributions of African-American lesbian women. In honor of the accomplishments of these distinguished individuals, the Sorority is proud to present The Legacy Series.
LEADER. ACTIVIST. ENTREPRENEUR. ICON.
Born in 1899, Ruth Ellis was known as America’s longest living openly lesbian woman. During her lifetime, she would accomplish many “firsts,” including being the first female proprietor of a printing company in the city of Detroit.
She learned about standing up for herself from her father – who was the first African American mail carrier in the city of Springfield, IL.
Ruth attended Springfield High – an “all-white” school – and faced derision and ostracism
from her classmates. After high school, she went to work for a white man in a print shop. There she learned the trade that would become her livelihood.
At the urging of her older brother, she moved to Detriot in 1937. Ruth went into business for herself, opening up a print shop and servicing the Detroit business and religious communities.
Not long after relocating, she met Ceciline “Babe” Franklin, her partner of more than 35 years. The couple decided to open their home to Black gays and lesbians as a safe haven & a place to socialize. It quickly became known as “the gay spot,” and took on popularity with LGBT
people across the region.
Later in life, Ruth volunteered helping other seniors. In her 80s, she became a sought
after public speaker on LGBT rights and issues.
Today, the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit, Michigan serves homeless LGBT youth in need of a safe haven in her honor.
Ruth was a pioneer – as a Black woman, an openly queer woman of color, and an entrepreneur.
What makes the life of Ruth Ellis so unique, and so significant, is her self-determinism.
She made the decision to define herself and live authentically in a time when that was almost unheard of for African-American women.
Ms. Ellis passed away peacefully on October 5th, 2000. She was 101 years old.
To learn more about the Legacy Series and Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority, visit the hub at http://KappaThetaEpsilon.com/legacyseries.
The Legacy Series: Pat Parker
/in Kappa Theta Epsilon, Legacy Series, News /by Kappa Theta EpsilonDuring the month of February, Kappa Theta Epsilon not only celebrates our Founding Day; we celebrate the contributions of African-American lesbian women. In honor of the accomplishments of these distinguished individuals, the Sorority is proud to present The Legacy Series.
POET. ACTIVIST. REVOLUTIONARY. ICON.
Born in 1944, Pat Parker was a legendary Black lesbian feminist poet and activist. Her work captured the essence of the “otherness” of the Black queer experience, and sought to overcome the challenges #womenlikeus faced.
Through her work with the Black Panther Party and collaborations with other queer writers and artists, Parker left a lasting impression on the queer woman of color experience. Some of her moving, passion-filled performances can be hear on Youtube today.
Womanslaughter, her most well-known work, tells of the experience of her family after losing a sister to homicide at the hands of her abusive ex-husband.
Ms. Parker passed away of complications from breast cancer in 1989. She was 45 years old.
To learn more about the Legacy Series and Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority, visit the hub at http://KappaThetaEpsilon.com/legacyseries.
The Legacy Series: Lorraine Hansberry
/in Kappa Theta Epsilon, Legacy Series, News /by Kappa Theta EpsilonDuring the month of February, Kappa Theta Epsilon not only celebrates our Founding Day; we celebrate the contributions of African-American lesbian women. In honor of the accomplishments of these distinguished individuals, the Sorority is proud to present The Legacy Series.
ARTIST. ACTIVIST. INTELLECTUAL. ICON.
Born into a prominent family on May 19th, 1930, Lorraine Vivian Hansberry’s life could have been one of relative ease, given the times.
Instead, she devoted her efforts to fighting for freedom and justice for people of all backgrounds…
After the death of her father when she was 16, Lorraine became politically active.
She dropped out of university, and after moving to New York, joined Paul Robeson’s activist newspaper, FREEDOM.
A gifted writer and critically acclaimed playwright, Hansberry penned the world-renowned play A Raisin in the Sun. She was the first African-American woman to have a work run on Broadway.
Though she married in the early 1950s, Hansberry questioned her sexuality soon after.
In 1957, she began writing for The Ladder, a lesbian publication created by the Daughters of Bilitis. Out of fear of public backlash, she signed her letters with her initials.
Sadly, Lorraine was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the height of her career. Shortly after her diagnosis, she said:
‘I wish to live because life has within it that which is good, that which is beautiful, and that which is love. Therefore, since I have known all of these things, I have found them to be reason enough and – I wish to live.
Moreover, because this is so, I wish others to live for generations and generations and generations and generations.’
Nina Simone’s 1970 hit To Be Young, Gifted and Black, was written in her honor.
Founder’s Week 2016
/in Events, Kappa Theta Epsilon, News /by Kappa Theta EpsilonThe women of Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority, Incorporated proudly present The 20/09 Experience: The Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority 2016 Founder’s Week Calendar of Events. The Sorority has organized a series of innovative virtual activities to allow affiliates, interests and supporters nationwide to join us in celebration!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Official events kick-off Monday, February 22nd with our REAL LOVE Roundtable. The women of Sigma Xi Theta Fraternity, Inc. will join us for a powerful discussion about building healthy romantic relationships based on the Femme-Stud dynamic.
Tuesday, Feb. 23rd is POISED IN PLUM Spirit day. Members only!
Wednesday, Feb. 24th is the official Founding Day observance. To participate, you must be a Swan.
On Thursday, Feb 25th, we invite you to join us to share information about your business/career path at the Lesbians in Business Virtual meetup. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur, you’ll meet dynamic women in our community who are blazing trails in business and life.
Finally, you can join us Sunday afternoon, Feb. 28th for our Winter edition of the extremely popular Sunday Salon event. After a whirlwind week of activity, it’s a great opportunity to relax and connect with powerful women committed to achievement.
If you joined us for our Inaugural event, you know the conversations are incredible. We can’t wait to have an even more splendid event! This event is by invitation only, so please contact a member to request to attend.
To RSVP for any event, complete the form below.
Welcome to National Swan Month
/in Kappa Theta Epsilon, News /by Kappa Theta EpsilonHappy Birthday, Angela Davis!
/in Kappa Theta Epsilon, News /by Kappa Theta EpsilonFeminist. Activist. Lesbian.
Angela Davis is a consummate scholar, author and activist on the subjects of class, race and gender. Her profound works have been studied the world over by students interested in the intersectionality of those subjects, and how society might achieve true egalitarianism.
She came out as lesbian in 1997.
Today, the ladies of Kappa Theta Epsilon honor Ms. Davis for her contribution to the fight for social justice, and her pivotal role in American education.
To celebrate Ms.Davis’s life and career, the Sorority is sharing some of her most famous quotes, speeches and books.
Happy birthday, Angela!
Angela Davis QUOTES:
“I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change…I’m changing the things I cannot accept.
You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.
I think the importance of doing activist work is precisely because it allows you to give back and to consider yourself not as a single individual who may have achieved whatever but to be a part of an ongoing historical movement.
We have to talk about liberating minds as well as liberating society.
We must always attempt to lift as we climb.
It is important not only to have the awareness and to feel impelled to become involved, it’s important that there be a forum out there to which one can relate, an organization- a movement.”
Angela Davis SPEECHES:
Angela Davis BOOKS:
Her most famous work – Women, Race, and Class
Blues Legacies and Black Feminism
LIFE360 Wellness Symposium
/in Events, News /by Kappa Theta EpsilonJoin the ladies of the Jewel of the South Colony for an educational day of health and wellness activities. On December 5th, 2015, JOTS will host its first Life360 Symposium at the Center for Love and Light.
The event will feature distinguished speakers, business owners and vendors from across the metro Atlanta area. Come out to learn more about healthy living, self-defense, clean eating and more.
Presentation Topics include:
- Reiki and Energy Healing
- Holistic Health and Self-Defense
- Healthy Living & Clean Eating
- STI Testing & Reproductive Health
Bring your health and wellness questions and get answers from the experts.
Enter our raffle to win a wellness basket worth hundreds of dollars!
This event is free and open to the public!
About Kappa Theta Epsilon
Kappa Theta Epsilon is a social service Sorority committed to the personal and professional development of leaders in the LGBT community.
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