Harlem, New York (January 17, 1953 – March 14, 2024) 71 yrs

Joan Gibbs was a lawyer, activist, and a founding editor of Azalea, the first literary journal for Black lesbians. She also co-founded Dykes Against Racism Everywhere, the first anti-racist lesbian organization in the United States. She achieved legal victories on behalf of organizations and activists within the United States. She helped craft a political campaign that led to passage of New York City Council Resolution 0285, calling on the U.S. Congress and President Joe Biden to end the U.S. embargo against Cuba and the restrictive travel ban on US citizens. She represented the Haitian American Anti-Defamation League when the CDC deemed the group to be a risk for HIV/AIDS. Gibbs represented Black Liberation Army activist Sundiata Acoli . She wrote a letter to representative Maxine Waters criticizing her vote in support of a resolution calling on Cuba to extradite Assata Shakur.