We are marching in one direction across the bridge to protest the presence of the Klan anywhere. We are marching across the bridge in the opposite direction to support intellectual freedom and the arts. And amidst the hypocrisy of our city's politics and relentless cultural war, we are marching, always marching, to form community and to keep visible the struggle for our lives. The Lesbian Herstory Archives is the largest and oldest lesbian archive in the world. Its founders began the collection because they were concerned about the failure of mainstream publishers, libraries, research and cultural institutions, and historical societies to value lesbian culture.
Lesbian culture is inseparable from the legacy of social activism and the struggle for justice.
The Lesbian Herstory Archives has become a mixture of library, museum, and family album. The Archives exists to gather and preserve records of lesbian lives and activities so that future generations will have ready access to materials relevant to our lives. It is a sacred, open, inviting place cultivated and cared for by lesbians. No lesbian is excluded, and every lesbian life can and should be represented. The Archives shall be housed within the community, not on an academic campus that is by definition closed to many women.