PORTLAND, OR, January 18, 2010 – This month Literary Arts awarded Portland-based Gertrude Press – the longest running, independent, LGBTQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer-identified, and allied) literary and arts journal in the world, a fellowship to support the journal’s efforts to provide free copies to public libraries throughout Oregon.
“Gertrude has offered a voice and place of solace for queer identified individuals for over a decade,” says LeAnna Crawford, President of Gertrude’s Board of Directors. “Our roots are firm in providing hope to the thousands of LGBTQA people that feel alone, and the generous award from Literary Arts is an honored step in furthering this cause. We couldn’t be more grateful for the helping hand Literary Arts has offered in getting Gertrude into the hands of the folks who need it.”
Founded in 1998 by Eric Deheloy, MFA, Gertrude Press was created to address a dearth of literary publishing opportunities for queer writers and artists and remains, to-date, one of the only journals to feature all genders and identities in the same issue.
Since 1987, Literary Arts has honored over 500 different Oregon writers and publishers, and distributed more than $550,000 in fellowships and award monies. Literary Arts received over 300 applications from individuals and presses. Gertrude was one of two presses to receive a Literary Arts Fellowship.
“Gertrude serves a fantastic purpose in publishing work from the LBGT communities,” explains Rebecca Wolff, publisher of Fence Books and Fence Magazine, and Literary Arts competition judge. “High kudos for significance and respectable execution.”
About Gertrude
Gertrude Press is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization showcasing and developing the creative talents of LGBTQA individuals. As of its most recent issue, Gertrude Press has published work by more than two hundred individuals from more than thirty U.S. states and ten countries worldwide. To learn more about the organization, please visit www.gertrudepress.org.
Literary Arts, a nonprofit organization that enriches the lives of Oregonians through language and literature. Programs of Literary Arts are Oregon Literary Fellowships, Oregon Book Awards, Portland Arts & Lectures, Poetry in Motion®, Writers in the Schools and Delve: Readers' Seminars. For more information about Literary Arts, please contact James Rishky at 503.227.2583 or visit www.literaryarts.org.
Gertrude Press, a literary and visual arts organization serving the LGBTQ community, is pleased to announce that it has received 501(c)3 non-profit status. All donations to Gertrude Press are now fully tax-deductible. In addition, donors who wish to be recognized will be listed on the Gertrude Press web site at http://www.gertrudepress.org.
