Spring Remembrances of Blue Lunden

By Sally Willowbee

It’s spring and planting time, and I am planting Forget Me Nots in honor of friends and family who have died. I plant the seeds of these Forget Me Nots for Blue Lunden, who loved both gardening and the color blue.

Two women laughing, one wearing tshirt with DYKE on the front — This photo of Blue (right) was the cover of Lesbian Connection in the 1990s

Blue Lunden was born Doris DuBois on September 8, 1936, in New Orleans. Blue died on August 4, 1999, at the age of 62, at home in her beloved community, Sugarloaf Women’s Village. It is in our memories and our stories and in our love that she lives on. Blue will be remembered for her sparkling blue eyes, her full welcoming smile, and, of course, her laugh. Blue will live on in her daughter, Linda Davidian, and her grandson, Drew, and their children and in the memories of her friends and family of choice.

Blue’s was an “out “butch lesbian in the 1950s and will be remembered for her brave stand. She will be remembered for her long-term activism in the antinuclear movement, the peace movement, and the lesbian and gay movement. And she will be remembered for her stories: many stories of growing up as a young butch lesbian in a non-supporting family and community, stories of her adventures of police harassment in left behind New Orleans, Louisiana and moving to New York City.

Ruth Dreamdigger and Blue Lunden holding signs — Ruth Dreamdigger (left) and Blue Lunden at a protest

It was in New York City that she got clean and sober and began to get involved in peace activism and the women’s, lesbian, and gay movements. Often called the “lesbian mayor” of New York City, Blue could be found at any demonstration she could find. Her city apartment was open women’s space; lesbians from all over the world stayed there. After twenty years and a cross country trip with her partner, Blue settled in the Florida Keys, where she lived there until she died.

One of my own favorite memories was snorkeling with Blue as she pointed out all the different exotic sea flora and fauna with the name for each. She taught me so much about plant life in the tropical Florida Keys. Blue loved nature and the tropical land and waters and shared her knowledge with this newcomer who was so excited to learn everything. We planted and nurtured tropical fruit and nut trees together and picked and ate their exotic fruits. A daughter of the South, she could lounge like a lizard and then burst into “get it done” energy. She always had time to stop and smell the flowers. When I first met Blue, she owned six boats, but none of them floated.

Blue Lunden is wearing a tuxedo jacket, jeans, and a fedora hat — The cover of the documentary film *Some Ground to Stand On* (1998)

A documentary about Blue’s life, Some Ground to Stand On, was completed the year before she died. Blue was excited about going to colleges to show the film, partly because she had never been to college. One of the smartest people I’ve known, Blue only finished eighth grade, so speaking at colleges and universities was important to her.

As one of her family of choice, I look back at that time, during the four years we were lovers/partners, and all the years after that we remained friends and sister community members. It wasn’t the easiest relationship, but we persevered and, along with many others, played an important part in setting up the lesbian community we call Sugarloaf Women Village, which continues today. New stories are being made there now; new herstory is being written.

Thank you, Blue Lunden, for being you.

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