In a recent interview, Debbie Lempke spoke about writing “Gay and Proud” and the affirmation she felt with its reception. “Gay and Proud” was featured on the Olivia Records compilation album Lesbian Concentrate, which was released in response to Anita Bryant’s ‘Save Our Children’ campaign. Suzanne Shanbaum and Nancy Vogl were in that audience.
In 1973, she performed it to an enthusiastic audience of 1000 women at the West Coast Lesbian Conference at UCLA. She used to perform it at small clubs in Portland while attending Reed College. Lempke wrote “Gay and Proud” before the formation of the Collective. This post recounts an audience member’s transformative experience watching the Collective perform “Gay and Proud.” She recalls that when it was over, “it was hard to remember to clap.” For many women in the Collective’s audience, the song was an anthem preaching unity and acceptance. Written by Debbie Lempke about her upbringing, it was one of the band’s most popular songs and often closed their sets. “Gay and Proud” is the tenth and final track off the Collective’s first, self-titled album.