Oh, honey, let me tell you about Ivy Bottini, a name that holds a special place for folks who care about women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. Ivy Bottini, a real firecracker from New York, passed away on February 25, 2021, down in Florida, specifically Sebring, at the good old age of 94. Now, this woman wasn’t just your everyday neighbor—no, ma’am! She was out there fighting for equality, making sure women and LGBTQ folks got their voices heard.
Born on August 15, 1926, Ivy was a real New Yorker through and through. She had a passion for art and went to the Pratt Institute School of Art during her younger days, right in the mid-1940s. She was into advertising and graphic design back then, and though she started out in art, her life took some twists and turns that would lead her to activism. Honey, that gal sure knew how to make a mark! She didn’t just talk the talk; she walked the walk.
In the mid-1960s, Ivy was involved in the National Organization for Women (NOW), which was a real big deal back then. In 1966, she helped set up the New York chapter of NOW and ended up being its president just two years later. She even came out as a lesbian that same year, 1968, a brave move at a time when folks weren’t too kind or understanding. But did that stop Ivy? No, sir! She was as bold as they come, speaking up and standing her ground.
Over the years, Ivy didn’t just sit back. She kept pushing boundaries, getting folks to listen. In 1969, she even designed a logo for NOW, showing her artistic side, too. But her work wasn’t all about logos and design. She was up on the streets, making noise for causes she cared about. Women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights—you name it, she was there!
But wait, there’s more! Ivy didn’t stop there. She went on to act, and in 1991 she snagged the Drama Logue’s Best Performance Award for her role in “Against the Rising Sea.” By 1998, folks were so taken by her spirit that they named a theater after her—the Ivy Theater in West Hollywood. Can you believe that? A whole theater, all in her honor!
And that’s not even the end of it. Ivy spent her life making sure folks could live freely, especially in the LGBTQ+ community. She made waves, so much so that they planted a tree for her in the Matthew Shepard Memorial Triangle in 2001. That’s the kind of legacy Ivy left behind—a legacy of love, activism, and standing up for what’s right.
Now, Ivy’s life was rich and full of stories, so much so that she even got her life down in a memoir. It’s called The Liberation of Ivy Bottini: A Memoir of Love and Activism. It came out in 2018, telling all about her journey—from a young girl in New York with big dreams, to a powerful activist in California. She lived her life fully, honey, that’s for sure.
So yes, Ivy Bottini may have passed on, but her spirit lives on. She was one heck of a woman who never backed down. Her work continues to inspire many, even today. So next time you think about the folks who paved the way for women’s and LGBTQ rights, just remember, Ivy Bottini was one of them, and she did it with all her heart.
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