Gay Women's Alternative

The Gay Women's Alternative, DC (GWA) (1981–1993) was an incorporated social-educational non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural, intellectual, and social lives of lesbians of the Washington, D.C., area.

[4] Speakers included black poet Audre Lorde, artist Joan E. Biren, television journalist Maureen Bunyan, and comedian Kate Karsten.

The GWA came about as a result of a series of gay political activist efforts set by the Mattachine Society of Washington (MSW), 1961.

This public event visibly broke the barriers of "closeted existence for gay people" in DC and create hope for a non-discriminatory future.

[12]In 1993, the GWA was forced to shut down due to the lack of funding and the emergence of several other LGBT non-profits that provided more resources for the lesbian community.

[16] On April 27, 1985, the GWA hosted its first annual conference, "Putting The Pieces Together: The positive Integration of Women's Professional, Social, and Personal Roles," at the Dupont Plaza Hotel.

[17] The goal of the conference was to provide the lesbian community with information and strategies that will allows them to become more effective in maintaining multiple rules and enhance social and professional lives.

The program included a variety of talks, such as a keynote presentation by Maureen Bunyan, "Coming Out- A lifelong Process," by Esther Katzman, "Coping with stress, Tension, and Burnout," by Jeannette Paroly, "Starting Your Own Business – Women as Entrepreneurs," and more.

[21] Other sources of outreach was spent targeting new members within Gay and Lesbian groups at universities, North east Gay/Lesbian Student Association conference, and at local gay-owned shops such as the Lambda Rising bookstore.

A panel was held at the University of Maryland Gay and Lesbian Student Union in March 1988, featuring a member from the GWA.