Editing Daughters of Bilitis (section)

===Methods===

The early gay rights movement, then called the [[Homophile Movement]], was centered around the male [[Mattachine Society]], formed in 1950. Although the Mattachine Society began as a provocative organization with roots in its founders' [[Communism|communist]] activism, the leadership decided it was more prudent and productive to convince heterosexual society at large that gays were not different and did not comprise a threat, rather than to agitate for change. In 1953 they changed their focus and started to become more politically active.<ref>Adam, p. 63-64</ref> 

The Daughters of Bilitis followed this conservative model by encouraging its members to [[cultural assimilation|assimilate]] as much as possible into the prevailing [[heterosexual]] culture.<ref name="glbtq">Theophano, Theresa. "[http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/daughters_bilitis.html Daughters of Bilitis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629110236/http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/daughters_bilitis.html |date=2011-06-29 }}" at glbtq.com. Retrieved November 11, 2007</ref>

There was ongoing debate over the propriety of [[butch and femme]] dress and role play among DOB members. As early as 1955 members made a rule that women who attended meetings, if wearing pants, should be wearing women's slacks. However, many women remember this rule was seldom observed; at many meetings women were wearing [[jeans]], and in the 1950s the only type for sale were men's.<ref>Gallo, p. 24</ref> 

Barbara Gittings recalled that even years later, in preparation for a national convention, members of the DOB persuaded a woman who had worn men's clothing all her life "to deck herself out in as 'feminine' a manner as she could... Everyone rejoiced over this as though some great victory had been accomplished... Today we would be horrified at anyone who thought this kind of evangelism had a legitimate purpose."<ref>Katz, p. 429</ref>

In the 1959 mayoral race in San Francisco, challenger Russell Wolden made homosexuality a public issues, claiming that [[incumbent]] [[George Christopher (mayor)|George Christopher]] was making the city safe for "sex deviants".<ref>Lyon, Phyllis. "S.F. Election Aftermath" The Ladder; 1959 vol. 4 issue 3: p.23</ref> Wolden's campaign distributed materials that stated, "You parents of daughters — do not sit back complacently feeling that because you have no boys in your family everything is all right... To enlighten you as to the existence of a Lesbian organization composed of homosexual women, make yourself acquainted with the name Daughters of Bilitis."<ref name="Faderman, p. 149" /> 

The DOB kept only two copies of the subscription list of ''The Ladder'', an attempt to protect it from getting into the hands of anyone who might use it against the subscribers. DOB leaders moved the list from its headquarters and later learned that San Francisco police had searched their office after its removal.<ref>Faderman, p. 150</ref> Even the [[FBI]] was curious enough to attend DOB meetings; an agent reported in 1959, "The purpose of the DOB is to educate the public to accept the Lesbian homosexual into society."<ref name="Faderman, p. 149" />

====National conventions====

In 1960, the DOB held their first convention in San Francisco. Press releases announcing the convention were sent to local radio and newspapers, prompting ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' columnist [[Herb Caen]] to direct a jab at Russell Wolden and publicize the convention, writing: "Russ Wolden, if no one else, will be interested to learn that the Daughters of Bilitis will hold their nat'l convention here May 27–30. They're the female counterparts of the [[Mattachine Society]] — and one of the convention highlights will be an address by Atty. Morris Lowenthal titled, 'The Gay Bar in the Courts.' Oh brother. I mean sister. Come to think of it, I don't know what I mean...."<ref>"Here and There." ''The Ladder'', Mar 1960, Vol. 4 Issue 6, p26.</ref> The blurb was reprinted in the March issue of ''The Ladder''.

Two hundred women attended the conference, as did the San Francisco police, who came to check if any of the DOB members were wearing men's clothes. Del Martin brought them inside to see all the women wearing dresses, stockings and heels.<ref>Gallo, p. 62-63</ref> The attendees listened to speakers, including a debate between two attorneys about the legality and morality of gay bars, a presentation by the [[American Civil Liberties Union]], and an [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal]] priest who "served up damnation with dessert".<ref name="impressions">Sanders, Helen. "Impressions." ''The Ladder''; Jun 1960, Vol. 4 Issue 9, p24.</ref> He went on a "tirade" telling the audience they were [[sin]]ners, to which they listened politely.<ref>Gallo, p. 63-65</ref> The DOB gave awards to men who were allied with them, whom they called "Sons of Bilitis", or SOBs. These included their lawyer, photographer, and members of the Mattachine Society who assisted them with the convention.

The second national convention, held in 1962, was notable for  being covered on television on the [[KTTV]]'s ''Confidential File'', a nationally syndicated show. This was probably the first American national broadcast that specifically covered lesbianism.<ref>Capsuto, Steven (2000). ''Alternate Channels: The Uncensored Story of Gay and Lesbian Images on Radio and Television,'' pg. 43. Ballantine Books. {{ISBN|0-345-41243-5}}.</ref> The DOB held further conventions every two years until 1968. [[Cleo Bonner]], under the name Cleo Glenn, gave the welcoming address at the 1964 convention.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gallo|first=Marcia M.|title=Different Daughters: A History of the Daughters of Bilitis and the Rise of the Lesbian Rights Movement|publisher=Seal Press|year=2007|pages=97}}</ref>