Jean O'Leary
| Jean O'Leary | |
|---|---|
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Jean O'Leary of Lesbian Feminist Liberation reads a statement at the 1973 Christopher Street Liberation Day in New York City.
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| Born |
March 4, 1948 Kingston, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 4, 2005 (aged 57) San Clemente, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Lesbian feminist and Gay liberation activist; founder of Lesbian Feminist Liberation and co-founder of National Coming Out Day. |
Jean O'Leary (March 4, 1948 – June 4, 2005) was an American lesbian and gay rights activist. She was the founder of Lesbian Feminist Liberation, one of the first lesbian activist groups in the women's movement, and an early member and co-director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. She co-founded National Coming Out Day.
Before becoming a lesbian and gay rights activist she was a Roman Catholic Religious Sister. She would later write about her experience in the 1985 anthology, Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence.
O'Leary was born in Kingston, New York, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1966, just out of high school, she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary, in order to "have an impact on the world." In 1971, after graduating from Cleveland State University with a degree in psychology, she left the convent, before completing the period of training.
In 1971 O'Leary moved to New York City and did doctoral studies in organization development at Yeshiva University. During this period, she became involved with the nascent gay rights movement, joining the Gay Activists' Alliance (GAA) Chapter in Brooklyn and later lobbying state politicians. In 1972, feeling that it was too dominated by the men of the movement, she left the GAA and founded Lesbian Feminist Liberation, one of the first lesbian activist groups in the women's movement. Two years later, she joined the National Gay Task Force, negotiating gender parity in its executive with director Bruce Voeller and joining as co-executive director.
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