Syd Lapan

Syd Lapan is an activist who was involved in the Colorado Springs gay and women’s liberation movements in the 1970’s.

Syd moved to Colorado Springs from Westminster in 1971 to attend Colorado College. It was during her time at Colorado College, when she was living on the 3rd floor of Loomis Hall, that she realized she liked women.

While at CC, she went to Tutt Library to look at their card catalog and see what books were available on homosexuality. There wasn’t much at the time.

She befriended another lesbian at CC, Marcy Wexler, who helped introduce her to other lesbians.

Syd transferred to Pikes Peak Community College to pursue a trade a couple years later, as opportunities for women with a liberal arts degree were limited. There, she studied the budding field of computers. From there, she would go on to work for the Hewett Packard plant for a time.

When she started attending El Paso Community College, she moved to a little cottage in Manitou Springs.

However, within the women’s liberation movement, she found herself at odds with the majority of the base. While many members of the women’s liberation movement were lesbians, straight women wanted to distance themselves from the “man-hating lesbian” stereotype. The women within NOW referred to their lesbian contingent as the lavender menace.

Questions for Syd

Some basic info first

1. When were you born?

2. What are your pronouns, and what identities do you use for yourself?

3. When did you first come to Colorado Springs, and when did you leave?

4. How would you describe your experience of being a lesbian in Colorado Springs while you were here?

5. Were there any places in the Springs that were significant for the local gay and lesbian community?

6. How did you get into activism, both through the Gay Sisters Alliance and GLF, and otherwise?

7. What was Colorado College like for the gay and lesbian community?

8. Were there any significant events for these organizations or you as an individual that should be included in the local history timeline?

9. One struggle has been finding out about the experiences of trans people in the past. Did you know any trans people during your time here?

10. Are there any other people or organizations that you want to ensure are reflected in this archive?

11. Do you happen to have any photos or materials related to your time in Colorado Springs, activism-related or otherwise, that you'd be down to share with the archive?

Anything to add?