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Programs

Our programs leverage the 30 years of history and culture in the Curve magazine archive to build community, connecting and championing lesbian and queer women’s culture across generations

Curve Journalism

The Curve Journalism program responds to the reality that the voices of those in the Curve Community have been marginalized, silenced, and censored out of the national and international conversation. Stories that center the experience of lesbians, queer women, trans people, and nonbinary people are crucial to the wellbeing of our community.

In partnership with NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, we recognize and support the Curve Community. We also published the Curve Quarterly.

Curve Fellowship for Emerging Journalists

This year-long program supports the development of early career journalists whose work fosters fair and accurate coverage and elevates the voices of LGBTQ+ women, trans and nonbinary people. It is open to LGBTQ+ women, trans and nonbinary people with under ten years of experience in their current field who reside in the United States. Fellows receive a $5,000 cash award; 1:1 monthly mentorship and strategy sessions focused on developing skills, navigating the industry, and achieving career goals; an in-person cohort convening; and opportunities for outward facing visibility (conference presentations at NLGJA, writing opportunities for Curve, etc.).

Curve Awardee Reflections

“The long term impact was through my mentorship, overall confidence, and expanded professional network. I got assignments and editor intros through my mentor!” 

“It’s opened so many doors.”  

“I’ve been able to work on increasingly ambitious stories as a result.”  

“I’ve been able to work with and learn from some of the most vital journalists in the industry”

“It gave me the courage to carve my own path in journalism.”

Curve Award for Excellence in Lesbian Coverage

This award honors the contributions of journalists that have dedicated their careers to telling the stories of the Curve Community. The award and its criteria are inspired by notable journalists that have dedicated themselves to covering lesbian social justice issues and communities. Award winners receive a $2,500 cash award, archival support to digitize and memorialize important moments, and a yearlong free digital exhibit, at curvemag.com, archiving major moments & career accomplishments.

Curve Quarterly

The Curve Foundation produces a quarterly online publication, drawing inspiration from the 30-year Curve magazine archive. The Curve Quarterly’s inherently intergenerational work is to draw a throughline from lesbian community in the 1990s to today by revisiting issues and articles from the archive and connecting them with today’s culture. Curve Fellows have the opportunity to publish new work in the Curve Quarterly.

Read the Curve Quarterly

Lesbian Visibility Week

LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people are largely invisible in the world’s narrative, and conservative forces are working to erase lesbian culture and history from society. When a marginalized group is not visible, it becomes easy to discriminate against them. To ensure that we are seen and recognized for our contributions to society, Curve is championing Lesbian Visibility Week as the U.S. host for this worldwide annual event. We produce over 60 events in multiple states and online reaching an average of 350,000 people every year.

This dynamic week of in-person and virtual events includes:

  • Beyond the Rainbow, our signature speaker series
  • The Curve Power List: The most influential LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people making a significant impact on culture
  • Lesbian film series
  • Photo exhibits and art shows
  • Support for grassroots events across North America
  • Market research conducted in partnership with Kantar
 

Monday April 22 - Sunday April 28 2024

#LesbianVisibilityWeekUSA

#LVW24

#UnifiedNotUniform

Curve Conversations

Curve’s intersectional, multi-generational speaker events activate 30 years of history and culture, providing context and a throughline between critical conversations forming our movement from the 1990s to today. Rooted in lesbian history, identities, and joy, Curve Conversations cover various aspects of queer women’s culture and cover such topics as writing, business, finance, lesbian history and our political movement. Authors, filmmakers, politicians, celebrities, and representatives from various industries participate in Curve Conversations throughout the year. All Curve Conversation events are free of charge and accessible.

In the Stacks

In The Stacks is a speaker series that bridges the community directly to culture makers and storytellers who were featured in Curve magazine. The online Q&A event fosters dialogue between authors and readers, encourages audience connections, and elevates our stories.

Curve Photo Contest

The Curve Photo Contest follows the legacy of representation, self-expression, and creativity found in Curve magazine’s lesbian life photo contests. Through an open call, community members submit portraits that express who they are and how they present in the world. The photos are proudly displayed on the Curve Archive website to expand understanding and connection within and beyond the queer community.

Frankly Speaking LIVE

Frankly Speaking LIVE is an online event series where founder Franco Stevens speaks on the legacy of Curve magazine. Franco shares stories and behind-the-scenes snapshots from the production of the iconic magazine and answers questions from the community.

Beyond the Rainbow

Beyond the Rainbow is a groundbreaking conversation series during Lesbian Visibility Week that creates an intersectional, multi-generational space touching on gender, queerness, race, ability, and activism of yesterday and today. Beyond the Rainbow seeks to challenge the possibilities and limits of queer representation as a path toward liberation.

Curve Community Online

Curve Community is a supportive group for LGBTQ+ identifying women and nonbinary people. Hosted on Facebook, the community is a safe space to connect, share stories, access exclusive content, and discuss ideas.

Curve Community Resource

Curve Community is a supportive group for LGBTQ+ identifying women. Hosted on Facebook, the community is a safe space to connect, share stories, access exclusive content, and discuss ideas.

© 2024 The Curve Foundation, All rights reserved.

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