The lesbian philanthropic group L-Fund is set to honor author Katherine V. Forrest during their annual fundraising Gumbo Gala that will feature the award-winning gumbo of Chef Betty Berrysmith.
The fundraising event, to be held on April 2 at the Palm Springs Pavilion in Palm Springs, will also have a special guest in Kate Kendell, the executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Author Katherine V. Forrest to be honored
Forrest is known for various works of lesbian fiction found in bookstores around the world, including queer classics like the romance Curious Wine and An Emergence of Green.
She’s also known for her nine-volume Kate Delafield mystery series, detailing the travails of the first lesbian police detective in the American lesbian mystery genre. The character, Kate Delafield, is described as an ex-Marine, homicide detective for the LAPD, queer-as-the-day-is-long.”
Aside from her writing, the author has done stints as fiction editor for Naiad Press and is the supervising editor for Spinsters Ink.
She’s also done reviews and articles about LGBT publishing, which have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Brother and Sister, The Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review, and The Lambda Book Report.
Forrest’s work is known for its eroticism and displays of lesbian sexuality.
In 1998, she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award. In 2008, she was the recipient of the Bill Whitehead Award from The Publishing Triangle, as well as the Trailblazer Award from the Golden Crown Literary Society.
The L-Fund and Katherine V. Forrest
The fundraising event is being handled by The L-Fund, a Coachella Valley organization that supports lesbians during one-time financial crisis.
The fund is made available for queer women experiencing unexpected financial catastrophes and in need of money short-term for basic essentials.
Established in 2012, the organization also offers funding for immediate medication needs, medical emergencies, rent, and air conditioning.
Aside from Forrest and Kendell, Gennine Jackson will also be on hand to provide entertainment. Meanwhile, Chef Betty will cook two gumbos for the affair.
For more info about the event, check out their website here.