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The only national nonprofit championing lesbian and queer women's stories and culture.

About Us

The Curve Foundation champions LGBTQ+ women’s and nonbinary people’s culture and stories through intergenerational programming and community building. We are inclusive of all who identify as part of the Curve community.

We bring the Curve magazine archive to life, providing context and a throughline between the critical conversations in the 1990s and early 2000s and today; we support the journalists who tell our stories; and we host conversations and events that bring our community together.

With nearly 30% of Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ+, Curve’s mission remains critical. While it’s wonderful that many young people feel safe to live authentically, we are seeing our hard-won rights being stripped away. When our stories and contributions to society are not protected, we see increases in violence against women, mental health issues, homeless youth, and suicide.

  • 1.6 million youth are homeless each year and up to 40 percent of them identify as LGBTQ+. Among young adults ages 18-25, LGBTQ+ people have a 2.2 times greater risk of homelessness than their non-LGBTQ+ peers.

(Source: True Colors Fund, a nonprofit organization working to end homelessness in the LGBT community)

  • 22% of LGBTQ+ women respondents to a national survey have attempted suicide.

(Source: as reported by NPR)

  • LGBTQ+ women experience higher rates of mental illness than the general population.

(Source: The National Association on Mental Illness)

  • LGBTQ+ women are 5 times more likely than non-LGBTQ+ women to experience violent victimization.

(Source: UCLA Williams Institute)

That’s why The Curve Foundation spotlights the roles lesbians hold in society and the contributions we make, creating a positive space for lesbians and queer women with programs like Curve Conversations, Lesbian Visibility Week, and the Curve Fellowship for Emerging Journalists.

  • Positive representation of LGBTQ+ people in media results in a strong positive effect on attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people.

Source: Journal of Applied Social Psychology (Levina 2000) 

  • Positive representation significantly reduces violence against minorities.

Source: Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization (Aneja 2021)

Our work is critical to move the LGBTQ+ community out of a scarcity framework towards a future based on abundance. We dream of a world where we can see each other for who we are and embrace what makes us different; a world where our community doesn’t define our unity through our shared oppression, but through our ability to come together in joy and solidarity.

Join us in shaping this future. Your support, whether through donation, volunteering, or participation in our events, makes a meaningful impact on the lives of those we champion. Together, we can create a world where unity and joy define our LGBTQ+ community.

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Curve Community Resources

Curve Magazine Quarterly

In 2021, Curve magazine became a not-for-profit project of The Curve Foundation. Curve relaunched digitally with an iconic new look that embodies the rich history and exciting legacy of our community’s stories. Going forward, Curve will draw a throughline between what was happening from the time it launched in the 1990s to what’s happening today for the Curve Community.

The Curve Magazine Archive

The Curve Foundation is proud to further its mission of sharing our culture and stories, connecting with each other, and raising visibility by providing a searchable, accessible archive of the 30+ years of Curve and Deneuve Magazine issues.

Ahead of the Curve Documentary

AHEAD OF THE CURVE is the story of one of the most influential women in lesbian history you’ve never heard of and the impact her work continues to have today. Growing up, Franco never saw any representation of queer women-she didn’t even know it was possible for a woman to be gay. When she realized she was a lesbian, it changed the course of her life.

The Curve Test

Films and series that pass the Curve Test help broaden and deepen representation beyond the stories that reduce LGBTQ+ women, trans, and non-binary people to stereotypes. This test is not intended to be used as a weapon to shame. Films and series that don’t pass are not to be condemned. Rather, the test is intended as a tool for conversation, a barometer to help us see which films and series are pushing the movement forward and where we need to put more attention.

Our Socials

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The Curve Foundation

The Curve Foundation

With the support of our community, Curve will work to continue to curate our culture into the future.

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Voting for The Curve Power List 2025 closes on Valentine's Day, February 14! Hurry up and cast your vote today at LesbianVisibilityWeekusa.com/curve-power-list

The Power List recognizes LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary trailblazers who are making a lasting impact across various fields. Our list is based on YOUR nominations, so don't miss this opportunity to contribute!
... See MoreSee Less

Voting for The Curve Power List 2025 closes on Valentines Day, February 14! Hurry up and cast your vote today at LesbianVisibilityWeekusa.com/curve-power-list

The Power List recognizes LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary trailblazers who are making a lasting impact across various fields. Our list is based on YOUR nominations, so dont miss this opportunity to contribute!

NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS! 📸 Submit to the 2025 Curve Photo Contest before Feb 28.

3 winners will have their entry included in a new exhibit about Curve magazine's key '90s lesbian photographers. The event is co-presented by The Curve Foundation and SF LGBT Center during Lesbian Visibility Week (April 21-27, 2025).

This contest follows the legacy of Curve's depiction of queer and lesbian life throughout its 30-year history. The original contest ran from 1995-2006, and since 2023 the annual contest is now back!

All submissions will be proudly displayed in a digital exhibit on Curve's Archive page.

Deadline: February 28, 2025
Submit at: Archive.CurveMag.com
Free to Enter
... See MoreSee Less

NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS! 📸 Submit to the 2025 Curve Photo Contest before Feb 28.
 
3 winners will have their entry included in a new exhibit about Curve magazines key 90s lesbian photographers. The event is co-presented by The Curve Foundation and SF LGBT Center during Lesbian Visibility Week (April 21-27, 2025).  

This contest follows the legacy of Curves depiction of queer and lesbian life throughout its 30-year history. The original contest ran from 1995-2006, and since 2023 the annual contest is now back!

All submissions will be proudly displayed in a digital exhibit on Curves Archive page. 

Deadline: February 28, 2025
Submit at: Archive.CurveMag.com
Free to Enter

Don't forget to RSVP to our film club discussion on D.E.B.S. tomorrow! www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/curve-film-club-debs ... See MoreSee Less

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