LAURA WISE
By day, Laura Wise is an L.A.-based therapist helping LGBT clients find health and happiness. After hours, Wise puts on her event-organizing hat as the founder of HER/LA, a feminist pop-up festival that brings together bands, artists, DJs, food and drink, and magickal spell-casting priestesses (really!) The inaugural event in April sold out a week in advance-proving to Wise that there is a huge need for feminist spaces and discussion. One of the biggest barriers between women and equality, she says, is the misconception that feminism is outdated and exclusionary. Or worse, that it´s no longer needed. “I see women in the media being portrayed as sex objects and being valued only for their physical appearances,” Wise told the blog Dopes on the Road earlier this year. “Women who rebel against these stereotypes are still deemed ´radical´-it´s 2015! Women should feel empowered enough to look, dress and act however they please.” In addition to running HER/LA, Wise serves as co-chair of the Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board for the city of West Hollywood and has organized massive events for AIDS/LifeCycle and The Lesbian Center. Keep an eye out for the second pop-up on the West Coast. “Women are seeking empowering activities like HER/LA,” she says. “I can´t wait for our next event!” -KL
What Do You Think?