A STRAEA ’ S L ESBIAN W RITERS F UND ANNUALLY DIRECTS FINANCIAL AWARDS TO EMERGING LESBIAN VOICES IN THE FIELDS OF POETRY AND FICTION . Since its inception in 1991, Astraea has awarded nearly a half million dollars to openly lesbian writers whose work shows extraordinary promise. The judges who select the recipients are among the finest established lesbian writers in the United States. The Fund expresses Astraea’s dedication to nurturing lesbian culture in all its forms and provides financial support to help assist writers buy whatever they may need to continue their work. In addition to The Eleventh Annual Lesbian Writers Fund Awards
Dear Friends, A s we welcome in a new year, we extend warm greetings and deep thanks to all of you who have helped make this past year a productive one for Astraea and for the global community of activist organizations we support. In this issue of the newsletter we present a snapshot of groups organizing outside of the US, which Astraea has supported in the fall cycle of our International Fund. As we go to press, we are reviewing more than 100 proposals from groups working within the US. All of these organizations—and there are hundreds of them—are raising their voices in the name of human rights and human dignity. They are voices that deserve to be heard and which articulate a creative, intelligent and passionate activism. In the face of chilling infringements on civil liberties and rights, escalating U.S. militarism, ubiquitous fundamentalism, and widening economic gaps, Astraea grantees are changing the landscape for social justice in very real ways locally and regionally. We at Astraea are heartened to see so many organiza- tions within the LGBT communities connecting their very important day-to-day work with speaking out for peace and against war. LGBT communities around the world know all too well that violence—or its threat—exact an immeasurable toll on people’s lives and spirits. With that knowledge in mind, on January rd, Astraea joined with many ally organizations, foundations and individu- als as signatories in a New York Times advertisement. The ad called upon President Bush and Congressional leaders to Embrace Peace and Prosperity. Not War, Recession and Poverty In her book, Mobilizing Resentment, Jean Hardisty writes: “ . . . people who have had trouble being heard may be the very people who hold the key to new visions . . .” We believe she’s right. As we enter 2003, Astraea will continue to support those creative, intelligent and passionate voices. Wishing you a peaceful new year, Katherine T. Acey Executive Director
