Ivy Bottini
August 15, 1926 — February 25, 2021
Why
Legendary activist. For over 50 years she devoting herself to civil rights for both feminists and the LGBTQ community.
Who
Ivy Bottini was born on August 15, 1926 on Long Island, New York, to a blue-collar family.
Her love of illustration and graphic design blossomed early, and during her years in elementary and high school she made drawings for book reports, created maps for geography class, and designed posters for her school’s activities.
In 1944 she obtained a full scholarship to study at Pratt Institute School of Art in Brooklyn, NY. After graduating in 1947 with a certificate in graphic design and illustration, she began working for ad agencies in New York City. She eventually found a home for 16 years as art director and illustrator for Newsday, at the time a major East Coast paper from Long Island.
Despite being attracted to women since childhood, Bottini felt she could not openly come out as a lesbian in the 1940s and 50s. She dated men and even got engaged to a few of them. She ended all of them but her last one, marrying her husband Eddie in 1952.
Before the marriage Bottini had anxiety attacks that manifested themselves an an inability to swallow food. But a…
