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Joyce Warshow
(March 13, 1937 - October 2, 2007) USA

Joyce Warshow

LGTB activist, filmmaker

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Joyce Warshow came from an activist Jewish background. While not religious, she came from a strong cultural Jewish world. As a child she attended the famous Yiddish summer camp, Camp Boiberik. She lived a rich and full life on her own terms, remaining true to herself and her values. She chose action over passivity. She chose to reform rather than to conform. Her diverse background and interests led her down many paths. As a renowned feminist, filmmaker, psychologist, educator, author, and activist who fully invested herself in every fiber of her work - literally, physically, metaphorically - Joyce touched the lives of many.

Joyce started her career as a NYC junior high school teacher, then earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from Yeshiva University. She maintained a feminist psychotherapy practice for 30 years and authored and edited books, including the groundbreaking anthology "Lesbians At Midlife: The Creative Transition". At age 58, she became a filmmaker, winning international awards for her documentaries on lesbian feminist activities.

As a filmmaker, Joyce was dedicated to presenting a full spectrum of pioneering lesbian activists. She sought to determine how these women's experiences influenced their lives as activists. Her films, Some Ground to Stand On (1998) and The Biography of Blue Lunden and Hand on the Pulse (1992), a documentary about Joan Nestle, profiled older lesbian activists.

She was a formidable champion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. She conducted sensitivity trainings with the New York City Police Department to explore the roots of hate crimes against gays. She was a leading spokesperson against ageism in the LGBT community and was honored by Senior Action in A Gay Environment (SAGE) with its Lifetime Achievement Award for her work. Sadly, she died before she was able to accept the award.

Joyce Warshow died at home at the age of 70. She died with her beloved partner of 25 years, Dorothy Sander, at her side.

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Sources: https://jwa.org/ - http://www.legacy.com/

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