Acclaimed lesbian writer and activist Elana Dykewomon dies
Elana Dykewomon, celebrated lesbian author and activist, died in her Oakland home on Sunday at age 72.
In an obituary in The Mendocino Beacon, the late writer’s brother Dan Nachman said that she had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in September of last year.
Dykewomon died just as her first play, ‘How to Let Your Lover Die’– written about her longtime partner Susan Levinkind who had died from Lewy body dementia– was about to debut via livestreaming.
Dykewomon: What’s in a name?
Born Elana Nachman in New York City in 1949, she went by the name Dykewomon from 1981 onwards to “avoid etymological connection with men.”
“I chose ‘dyke’ for the power, and ‘womon’ for the alliance,” she wrote in an essay.
She further commented that the name was “an expression of [her] strong commitment to the lesbian community.”
Tributes to the beloved activist and writer have since poured in on Twitter.
“Elana Dykewomon died. Look at her name and it says so much. Writer, activist, teacher, lover, leader, warm and sensitive person,” read one tribute.
Elana Dykewomon: Literary trailblazer
Dykewomon was a critically acclaimed writer, and she left behind a large body of creative work. She was perhaps best known for her important novels about lesbian life.
Her debut novel ‘Riverfinger Women’, a lesbian coming-of-age story, was published in 1974. It was named on The New York Times’ list of 100 Greatest Gay Novels.
It was also ranked #86 in the Publishing Triangle‘s list of 100 Best Lesbian and Gay Novels.
‘Riverfinger Women’ was also awarded with the Lee Lynch Classic Award in 2018 with the novel described as an “essential part of American literary history, LGBT literature, politics, and popular culture.”
Dykewomon’s 1997 novel ‘Beyond the Pale’ won the 1998 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction. Her other literary works- such as ‘They Will Know Me By My Teeth and Fragments From Lesbos’– have also become iconic.
The legacy of Elana Dykewomon
“I am one of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of women inspired by Elana’s life and work,” wrote Julie Enszer in a tribute to Dykewomon.
Enszer is the publisher of ‘Sinister Wisdom’– an international lesbian feminist journal covering literature, art, and politics– which Dykewomon also edited.
“Creating communities is one of Ms. Dykewomon’s legacies,” Enszer added. “She nurtured communities, built lasting friendships, and wove kinship networks throughout her life.”
“She articulated a vision of lesbian separatism that centered lesbians and gave attention, time, and resources to lesbians,” Enszer stated.
She added, “Elana Dykewomon built a life that centered lesbians, and she dedicated her work to lesbians.”
Celebrating a life well-lived
Enszer also said that ‘Sinister Wisdom’ and a cousin of Dykewomon’s are planning an online celebration of the late author’s life that will take place Sunday, September 18, at 4:00 P.M. Pacific time.
Prior to her death, Elana shared this note on Facebook: “I have had a lucky, full, wonderful life. It is highly possible I may recover but I am content either way.”
In May, the Golden Crown Literary Society praised Dykewomon’s legacy.
The organization said her work “depicted the lives of women and lesbians, both contemporary and historical, allowing us to see our stories on the page long before those stories were widely available.”