1. Edythe D Eyde better known by her pen name Lisa Ben, was an American editor, author, active fantasy-fiction fan and fanzine contributor, and songwriter.
15 Facts About Lisa Ben
1. 2.
Lisa Ben created the first known lesbian publication in North America, Vice Versa.
3.
Lisa Ben was active in lesbian bars as a musician in the years following her involvement with Vice Versa.
4.
Lisa Ben's father, Oscar E Eyde was a Norwegian-born insurance agent and her mother, the former Olive Elizabeth Colegrove, was a housewife.
5.
Lisa Ben's father served in civilian defense after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
6.
Lisa Ben became active in science fiction fandom in early 1941, first through contact with Forrest J Ackerman and science fiction fanzines, to which she contributed cartoons and letters of comment.
7.
Lisa Ben was an early and active member of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, of which she would eventually become secretary after her move to Los Angeles.
8.
Lisa Ben began frequenting lesbian bars with her new friends and, while she was never directly caught up in one of the frequent police raids on such bars, was on one occasion questioned by police.
9.
Lisa Ben initially mailed three copies to friends and distributed the rest by hand, particularly at the If Club, one of Los Angeles' first lesbian bars.
10.
Lisa Ben ceased publication after RKO was sold, forcing her to change jobs.
11.
Lisa Ben had accomplished her goal of increasing her circle of friends, and she wanted to spend more time enjoying her new lifestyle rather than writing about it.
12.
Lisa Ben was inspired to write her songs out of a determination to create gay entertainment that was neither profane nor demeaning to gay people, particularly after being discouraged by the self-deprecating jokes and songs made by performers in gay clubs.
13.
Lisa Ben's music has appeared on the soundtracks of several documentary films.
14.
In 1972, Eyde as "Lisa Ben" was honored by ONE, Inc as "the father [sic] of the homophile movement" for her creation of Vice Versa.
15.
Lisa Ben appeared in the 1984 documentary Before Stonewall, discussing her life and work and performing several of her parody songs.