Robin Tyler (born Arlene Chernick, April 8, 1942) is the first lesbian or gay comic to come out on national television, a feminist and pioneer in the grassroots struggle for LGBTQ civil rights and marriage equality in the U.S., and a producer.[1] She emceed and produced the main stage at three marches on Washington for LGBTQ rights, including the historic first National March On Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979. Tyler coined the phrase "We are everywhere" as a rallying cry for the LGBTQ community. This became the powerful signature chant of the 1979 march, appearing on banners and posters. The chant "We are everywhere" has continued as a popular rallying cry for LGBTQ equality.[2]
Produced the main stages at the first three LGBT Marches on Washington DC, including the historic first national march in 1979. The first out lesbian comic. Successfully sued state of California for gay marriage. Half of comedy duo, Harrison and Tyler.
Tyler arrived in New York City from Manitoba, Canada, in 1962 at 20 years of age. One of her first jobs was in New York City's famous Club 82, a nightclub known for its female impersonators and drag performances. Tyler, in her impersonation of Judy Garland, took this gender performance and "subverted it even further [...] as she was a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman."[3] In October of that same year the club was raided and the drag queens hauled off to jail. Tyler was among them, even despite insisting to police that she was actually female. With her one phone call Tyler resourcefully called the New York Post. The headline the following day read, "Cops Grab 44 Men and a Real Girl in Slacks."[4] Tyler was promptly released.
National marches on Washington for lesbian and gay rightsEdit
Tyler produced and emceed the main stages for the first three historic lesbian and gay marches on Washington DC, and she called for the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979. While initially this first march was considered controversial even among LGBTQ communities, after the murder of Harvey Milk on November 27, 1978, LGBTQ people from across the country rose up in anger and protest, flooding Washington DC.[5] The first march took place on Oct 14, 1979, and brought between 75,000 and 125,00 LGBT people to the Washington Monument grounds.[6][7]
At the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, in 1987, Tyler, wearing a black tuxedo as she emceed the event, produced "The Wedding" on a special stage built on the Washington Mall. Over 6,000 people attended The Wedding where hundreds of gay couples took part in a mock marriage ceremony in protest of the fact that LGBT people were not allowed to legally marry. This was the first protest and act of mass civil disobedience in support of gay marriage in the United States.[2]
ActivismEdit
In 2004 Tyler and her late wife, Diane Olson, were the first couple to file a law suit against the state of California for the right to be married, launching a seven-year legal battle for marriage equality in the state. Ultimately it was their successful lawsuit that brought marriage equality to California. After winning their suit, Tyler and Olson became the first lesbian couple to be married in Los Angeles.[8] The City Council of Los Angeles unanimously voted that their wedding day, June 16, 2008, should be known officially as “Marriage Equality Day."
In 2000, when radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger called LGBTQ people "biological errors," among other slurs, Tyler became the National Protest Coordinator for StopDrLaura.com, spearheading a campaign against Schlessinger's homophobic propaganda.[9] Protests were subsequently held across the country, including one produced by Tyler in front of Paramount Studios, the company slated to produce Schlessinger's new syndicated television talk show. Paramount Studios responded by promising that Dr. Schlessinger would no longer express anti-gay sentiments. To this Tyler quipped, "If (former Klan leader) David Duke were to do a cooking show and promised not to say anything about race, would any network still give him a show? We have a right to demand corporate responsibility to stop bigotry."[10] Schelssinger's planned television show was subsequently canceled.
In 2003, as the US Supreme Court was hearing the case Lawrence v. Texas, Tyler co-organized national demonstrations across the United States. When the decision from the court came down affirming that sodomy laws were unconstitutional, thousands of LGBTQ rights activists rallied by Tyler came together in celebrations across the country.[11]
Comedy careerEdit
Tyler became the first out lesbian on U.S. national television when she revealed her sexuality on a 1978 Showtime special, The 1st Annual Funny Women’s Show, hosted by Phyllis Diller.[1][12] She has released two comedy albums, "Always a Bridesmaid Never A Groom" in 1979, and "Just Kidding" in 1985.[13] In her earlier career she was one half of the lesbian, feminist comedy duo, Harrison and Tyler.
Lesbian music festivalsEdit
Along with the lesbian and gay marches on Washington, Tyler also produced a series of 25 popular women's music and comedy festivals, including the annual West Coast Women's Music and Comedy Festival, which ran from 1980 through 1994. Hers were the first trans-inclusive women's festivals in the country.[14][15]
ReferencesEdit
^ ab"The Trailblazing Women of Stand-Up Comedy". National Women's History Museum. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
^Olsen, Craig (2023). P.S. Burn This Letter. Great Britain: Sphere. p. 49. ISBN978-0-7515-8594-0.
^Pasternack, Dan. "Robin Tyler". McSweeney's Internet Tendency. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
^"1979 March on Washington". www.houstonlgbthistory.org. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
^Courlt; Milloy; Tofani, Loretta (1979-10-15). "25,00 Attend Gay Rights Rally At the Monument". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
^Ghaziani, Amin (2008). The dividends of dissent how conflict and culture work in lesbian and gay marches on Washington. University of Chicago Press. ISBN0-226-28995-8. OCLC 495413819.
^"L.A.'s first married same-sex couple eats wedding cake to celebrate". Los Angeles Times. 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
^"Pioneer: Robin Tyler". The Pride LA. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
^"Muzzling Dr. Laura". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
^"Pioneer: Robin Tyler". The Pride LA. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
^"Archives of the glbtq Encyclopedia Project". www.glbtqarchive.com. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
^"A TERF's fist gave rise to trans-inclusive women's music festivals". TransAdvocate. 2014-08-17. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
^"Robin Tyler's Political Stage". www.mydigitalpublication.com. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
August 27, 2023
robin, tyler, born, arlene, chernick, april, 1942, first, lesbian, comic, come, national, television, feminist, pioneer, grassroots, struggle, lgbtq, civil, rights, marriage, equality, producer, emceed, produced, main, stage, three, marches, washington, lgbtq,. Robin Tyler born Arlene Chernick April 8 1942 is the first lesbian or gay comic to come out on national television a feminist and pioneer in the grassroots struggle for LGBTQ civil rights and marriage equality in the U S and a producer 1 She emceed and produced the main stage at three marches on Washington for LGBTQ rights including the historic first National March On Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979 Tyler coined the phrase We are everywhere as a rallying cry for the LGBTQ community This became the powerful signature chant of the 1979 march appearing on banners and posters The chant We are everywhere has continued as a popular rallying cry for LGBTQ equality 2 Robin TylerBornArlene ChernickApril 8 1942 1942 04 08 age 81 Winnipeg Manitoba CanadaOccupation s Comic producer and activistKnown forProduced the main stages at the first three LGBT Marches on Washington DC including the historic first national march in 1979 The first out lesbian comic Successfully sued state of California for gay marriage Half of comedy duo Harrison and Tyler SpouseDiane OlsonPartnerPat HarrisonWebsitewww wbr robintyler wbr com Contents 1 Early career 2 National marches on Washington for lesbian and gay rights 3 Activism 4 Comedy career 5 Lesbian music festivals 6 ReferencesEarly career EditTyler arrived in New York City from Manitoba Canada in 1962 at 20 years of age One of her first jobs was in New York City s famous Club 82 a nightclub known for its female impersonators and drag performances Tyler in her impersonation of Judy Garland took this gender performance and subverted it even further as she was a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman 3 In October of that same year the club was raided and the drag queens hauled off to jail Tyler was among them even despite insisting to police that she was actually female With her one phone call Tyler resourcefully called the New York Post The headline the following day read Cops Grab 44 Men and a Real Girl in Slacks 4 Tyler was promptly released National marches on Washington for lesbian and gay rights EditTyler produced and emceed the main stages for the first three historic lesbian and gay marches on Washington DC and she called for the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979 While initially this first march was considered controversial even among LGBTQ communities after the murder of Harvey Milk on November 27 1978 LGBTQ people from across the country rose up in anger and protest flooding Washington DC 5 The first march took place on Oct 14 1979 and brought between 75 000 and 125 00 LGBT people to the Washington Monument grounds 6 7 At the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987 Tyler wearing a black tuxedo as she emceed the event produced The Wedding on a special stage built on the Washington Mall Over 6 000 people attended The Wedding where hundreds of gay couples took part in a mock marriage ceremony in protest of the fact that LGBT people were not allowed to legally marry This was the first protest and act of mass civil disobedience in support of gay marriage in the United States 2 Activism EditIn 2004 Tyler and her late wife Diane Olson were the first couple to file a law suit against the state of California for the right to be married launching a seven year legal battle for marriage equality in the state Ultimately it was their successful lawsuit that brought marriage equality to California After winning their suit Tyler and Olson became the first lesbian couple to be married in Los Angeles 8 The City Council of Los Angeles unanimously voted that their wedding day June 16 2008 should be known officially as Marriage Equality Day In 2000 when radio host Dr Laura Schlessinger called LGBTQ people biological errors among other slurs Tyler became the National Protest Coordinator for StopDrLaura com spearheading a campaign against Schlessinger s homophobic propaganda 9 Protests were subsequently held across the country including one produced by Tyler in front of Paramount Studios the company slated to produce Schlessinger s new syndicated television talk show Paramount Studios responded by promising that Dr Schlessinger would no longer express anti gay sentiments To this Tyler quipped If former Klan leader David Duke were to do a cooking show and promised not to say anything about race would any network still give him a show We have a right to demand corporate responsibility to stop bigotry 10 Schelssinger s planned television show was subsequently canceled In 2003 as the US Supreme Court was hearing the case Lawrence v Texas Tyler co organized national demonstrations across the United States When the decision from the court came down affirming that sodomy laws were unconstitutional thousands of LGBTQ rights activists rallied by Tyler came together in celebrations across the country 11 Comedy career EditTyler became the first out lesbian on U S national television when she revealed her sexuality on a 1978 Showtime special The 1st Annual Funny Women s Show hosted by Phyllis Diller 1 12 She has released two comedy albums Always a Bridesmaid Never A Groom in 1979 and Just Kidding in 1985 13 In her earlier career she was one half of the lesbian feminist comedy duo Harrison and Tyler Lesbian music festivals EditAlong with the lesbian and gay marches on Washington Tyler also produced a series of 25 popular women s music and comedy festivals including the annual West Coast Women s Music and Comedy Festival which ran from 1980 through 1994 Hers were the first trans inclusive women s festivals in the country 14 15 References Edit a b The Trailblazing Women of Stand Up Comedy National Women s History Museum Retrieved 2022 10 12 a b PRIDE on FX retrieved 2022 10 12 Olsen Craig 2023 P S Burn This Letter Great Britain Sphere p 49 ISBN 978 0 7515 8594 0 Pasternack Dan Robin Tyler McSweeney s Internet Tendency Retrieved 2023 08 19 1979 March on Washington www houstonlgbthistory org Retrieved 2022 07 07 Courlt Milloy Tofani Loretta 1979 10 15 25 00 Attend Gay Rights Rally At the Monument Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2022 07 07 Ghaziani Amin 2008 The dividends of dissent how conflict and culture work in lesbian and gay marches on Washington University of Chicago Press ISBN 0 226 28995 8 OCLC 495413819 L A s first married same sex couple eats wedding cake to celebrate Los Angeles Times 2013 06 26 Retrieved 2022 07 07 Pioneer Robin Tyler The Pride LA 2016 06 09 Retrieved 2022 10 11 Muzzling Dr Laura Tampa Bay Times Retrieved 2023 08 05 Pioneer Robin Tyler The Pride LA 2016 06 09 Retrieved 2022 10 11 Archives of the glbtq Encyclopedia Project www glbtqarchive com Retrieved 2022 10 12 Robin Tyler Discogs Retrieved 2022 10 11 A TERF s fist gave rise to trans inclusive women s music festivals TransAdvocate 2014 08 17 Retrieved 2022 07 07 Robin Tyler s Political Stage www mydigitalpublication com Retrieved 2022 07 07 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robin Tyler amp oldid 1172029454, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
