Claudia Ann Scott
Claudia Ann Scott | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 31, 1948 Placentia, California, U.S. |
| Died | December 22, 1979 (aged 31) |
| Occupation(s) | Poet, Activist |
| Notable work | Portrait, 1974
In This Morning, 1979 Lesbian Writer: Collected Work of Claudia Scott, 1981 (Published posthumously) |
| Family | Scott O'Hara |
Claudia (Ann) Scott (October 31, 1948 – December 22, 1979) was an American poet and lesbian activist. She was the first of seven children of Robert Hogue Scott and Martha Jane Scott in Placentia, California.[1][2] Claudia spent her childhood in California before moving to Grant's Pass, Oregon, where she graduated from high school.[1] She left Oregon to attend college at Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri, where she came out as a lesbian.[3] She began her writing and activism while in college and concentrated more on both passions as she moved to Chicago.[1] She later moved again to Philadelphia to pursue a romantic interest, where she also was engaged in various community organizations and projects centered around the gay community.[3]
She was published on many occasions in the Lavender Women periodical, Sinister Wisdom, Conditions, and authored three poetry books: Portrait, 1974, In This Morning, 1979, and Lesbian Writer: Collected Work of Claudia Scott, 1981, which was published after her death by former romantic partner and close friend, Frances Hanckel.[3][4][5] Many of her works draw inspiration from the challenges of being part of a fundamentalist Christian family with strong conservative views.[3][1] She died by suicide in 1979, succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in a running car in an enclosed space.[3][1][6] She was close with her youngest sibling, Scott O'Hara, gay pornographic performer and author. The poem For My Youngest Brother, is written by Claudia from his perspective and discusses his sexuality and criticisms of Christianity.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Scott, Claudia (1981). Lesbian Writer: Collected Work of Claudia Scott. Naiad Press.
- ^ Claudia Scott, United States census, 1950; Fullerton, Orange, California; roll 2738, page 2,, enumeration district 30-79.
- ^ a b c d e Enszer, Julie R. (2020-07-08). "Dead Lesbian Poets: A Meditation in Six Parts". Lambda Literary Review. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Scott, Claudia | Lesbian Poetry Archive". www.lesbianpoetryarchive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Women Loving Women: A Select and Annotated Bibliography of Women Loving Women in Literature. (1974). United States: Lavender Press.
- ^ Rofes, Eric E. (1983). I Thought People Like that Killed Themselves. Grey Fox Press.