A devoutCatholic, Córdova entered theImmaculate Heart of Mary convent after high school in 1966, but left in 1968 as she began to discover her sexual identity and became dissatisfied with the Church.[14][15] She completed her social work degree while becoming a community organizer/activist and later a journalist.[13] She began her lesbian and gay rights career asLos Angeles chapter President of theDaughters of Bilitis (DOB).[16] During her DOB presidency she opened the firstlesbian center in Los Angeles, in 1971.[17]: 136, 190 Under Córdova the DOB chapter newsletter evolved intoThe Lesbian Tide (1970–1980),[18] with Córdova serving as editor and publisher of what became "the newspaper of record for thelesbian feminist decade".[19] The publication ranked "highest in the criteria of journalistic excellence".[20]
Córdova was elected as a delegate to the firstNational Women's Conference for International Women's Year in Houston[22] (1977), where she was a moving force behind the passage of the lesbian affirmative action resolution.[23] She was Southern California media director of the campaign to defeat the anti-gay ballot Proposition 6Briggs Initiative (1978),[21] which sought to purge lesbian and gay teachers from California's public schools. She went on to be the founder of the National Lesbian Feminist Organization's first convention (1978),[23] and president of theStonewall Democratic Club (1979–1981).[24]
During the 1980s and 1990s, Córdova founded and published theCommunity Yellow Pages (1981–1999),[28] the first, and later the nation's largest, LGBT business directory; theNew Age Telephone Book (1987–1992);[29] andSquare Peg Magazine (1992–94), covering queer culture and literature.[30] In 1995, she was elected board president ofONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, and co-founded the Lesbian Legacy Collection at the ONE Archives withYolanda Retter.
In 1999, Córdova sold theCommunity Yellow Pages and went to live for eight years in Todos Santos, BCS Mexico. She and her spouse, Lynn Harris Ballen,[30] co-founded a non-profit organization for economic justice, The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, AC,[31] and Córdova served as its first president until 2007.
Returning to Los Angeles, Córdova and Ballen co-founded LEX – The Lesbian Exploratorium, which sponsored the art and history exhibitGenderplay in Lesbian Culture[32] (2009) and created the Lesbian Legacy Wall at ONE Archives[33] (2009). Córdova then organized and chaired the 2010 Butch Voices Los Angeles Conference.[34][35]
Córdova's life partner was Lynn Harris Ballen,[30] a feminist radio journalist[37] and the daughter of South African freedom fighterFrederick John Harris. They lived in the Hollywood Hills, California and Todos Santos, BCS Mexico, and created various media projects together - includingSquare Peg Magazine[38] and history-themed lesbian feminist cultural events, exhibits, and literature.[39]
Córdova, aged 67, died on January 10, 2016 frommetastaticbrain cancer at her home inLos Angeles, California.[40] Prior to death, Córdova wrote "A Letter About Dying, to My Lesbian Communities", a farewell missive published in several lesbian-related publications in September 2015, in which she informed the community of her terminal illness;[41][42] and donated a $2 million legacy gift toAstraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, creating the Jeanne R. Cordova Fund.[43][44] Her obituary appeared in theLos Angeles Times[45] and she was remembered onLast Word,BBC Radio 4's weekly obituary program in January 2016.[46]
Ivan Coyote; Zena Sharman, Arsenal Pulp Press (2011)- Lammy finalist, eds. (2011). "The New Politics of Butch".Persistence: All Ways Butch and Femme.ISBN9781551523972.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: editors list (link)
Chris Freeman; James J. Berg, eds. (2008). "A Tale of Two Hangouts: Gay & Lesbian Civil Wars in the '70s".Love, West Hollywood. Alyson Books.ISBN9781593500559.Lammy finalist
Karen Tulchinsky, ed. (1999). "Cheap Gold: a seduction".Hot & Bothered 2. Arsenal Pulp Press.ISBN978-1551520681.
Nancy Manahan, ed. (1997). "Camp Fires".On My Honor, Lesbian Girl Scouts. San Francisco: Madwoman Press.ISBN978-1886231023.
Lynne Yamaguchi Fletcher, ed. (1995). "A Tale of Two Brothers".Tomboys!:Tales of Dyke Derring-Do. Alyson Publications.ISBN9781555832858.
"The Mantra of Orgasm".Sexy & Spiritual/Viva Arts Quarterly - A Journal of Latino(a) Gay and Lesbian Writers. 1994.
Lily Burana; Roxxie. Cleis Press, eds. (1994). "Conversation With A Gentleman Butch".Dagger: On Butch Women.ISBN978-0939416820.
Joan Nestle, ed. (1992). "Butches, Lies & Feminism".Persistent Desire: A Femme Butch Reader. Alyson Publications.ISBN978-1555831905.Lammy Award winner
Nancy Manahan;Rosemary Curb, eds. (1985). "My Immaculate Heart".Lesbian Nuns: Breaking the Silence. Naiad Press, reprinted by Warner Books.ISBN978-1935226635.Lammy Award winner
Peg Cruikshank, ed. (1980). "Trauma in the Heterosexual Zone".The Lesbian Path. Naiad Press.ISBN978-0912516967.
Karla Jay; Allen Young, eds. (1975). "How To Come Out Without Being Thrown Out and What's A Dyke To Do?".After You're Out. Pyramid Books.ISBN978-0515042634.
1983: Community Recognition Award, Southern California Women for Understanding for founding and publishing Community Yellow Pages, an LA community institution (1983)
1994: Uncommon Women: selected as a notable woman, compiled by the Legacy Foundation NY (1994)
1995: Pioneer of the Movement award (for role in co-founding the gay civil rights movement on the West Coast in the 1970s). Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Graduate Student Conference,University of Southern California (1995)[48]
2019: Selected as one of 200 women inscribed in the Place du Panthéon, Paris, 2019. Monumental Feminist Memorial, Les MonumentalEs collective.[55]
2024:Google Doodle celebrating her (June 6, 2024), "In honor ofPride Month this Doodle celebratesChicana lesbian activist, feminist, and author Jeanne Córdova, a pioneering leader of the LGBTQ+ rights movement."[56]
^abStein, Mark (2004).Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in America. USA: Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 259.ISBN9780684312613.
