The IVY Theatre was created in 1998 in honor of
Ivy Bottini and to continue her legacy through the arts.
Who is Ivy Bottini?
Ivy Bottini
is an artist, actor, comedian,
director, mother and political activist. She is a founder of the
first chapter of the National Organization for Women in 1966 and
designed their national logo in 1969.
Ms. Bottini founded the first
AIDS organization in Los Angeles, AIDS Network.
She founded the Los Angeles Lesbian/Gay
Police Advisory Board. She spearheaded the defeat of the historic
Briggs (No
on 6), No on LaRouche and No On 64 Initiatives.
In 1991 she received Drama Logues’ “Best
Performance Award” for the highly acclaimed Against the
Rising Sea.
A Lifetime of Accomplishments
1966 – Co-founder of first chapter of National Organization
for Women (NOW) in New York City and acts as president of the chapter
from 1968 to 1970. She designs National NOW logo while visiting California
in 1969.
1974 - Tours the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii as
first Lesbian/Feminist one woman show.
1977 - Creates and hosts first Lesbian/Gay radio show on mainstream
network, KHJ, Los Angeles.
1981 - Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as Commissioner for “California
Commission on Aging” – the first “out” lesbian
or gay to be appointed to a state board or commission.
1983 - Founding member of AIDS Project LA, the first community service
organization to address the disease’s ravages.
1998 - The “Ivy Theatre” in Los Angeles is founded
and named in her honor.
2000 – Appointed co-chair of Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board
of the City of West Hollywood.
2001 – On the organizing committee of Alliance for Diverse
Community Aging Services and served as founding board member of the
Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing Corporation, a non-profit that breaks
ground on its new GLBT Elder Housing structure in Hollywood called “Encore
Hall” in April, 2005.
Few women, lesbian or straight, can lay claim to as large an impact
on her society and community than does Ivy Bottini.
From Ivy
Bottini – Painting an Activist
History in Our Midst
Interview,
04.07.05
By Ryan Gierach |
