Tee Corinne is a lesbian legend. The word "iconic"has become almost a cliché, but Tee truly is an icon. Her gloriously sensualphotographs of lesbians and her books on lesbian erotica helped to shape andexpand lesbian images and lesbian sexuality over the past 30 years.

An artist, photographer, art historian, writer anderoticist, she designed the first 10 years of Naiad Press' covers; she createdthe global sensation The Cunt Coloring Book; she got into a fight with NEA back when it was banning sexual imageryfrom American art; she has worked tirelessly with the Women's Caucus uncoveringa host of lesbian artists and photographers about whom she has writtenextensively; and her photographic portraits of lesbian writers and artists areeverywhere.

When my book about the lesbian cancer epidemic, ComingOut of Cancer, was published in 2000, Iincluded Tee's story "Vibrator Party," about a woman reintegratingherself into the sexual world after a mastectomy. It was a groundbreaking storyin a groundbreaking book about the struggles of lesbians and cancer.

In the years since Coming Out of Cancer was published, the epidemic has not receded. Lastyear it claimed Tee's partner of 17 years, Beverly Brown. And now Tee herselfhas been diagnosed with cancer of the bile ducts, which has produced a 5.5 cmtumor in her liver.

Like many lesbians, Tee has limited health insurance and nosavings. Artist Jean Sirius is currently caring for Tee at her home in theOregon woods, but Tee needs more than the help of close and caring friends. Sheneeds money.

Even if you aren't familiar with her work, you havebenefited from Tee's artistry and iconoclasm over the years. Now the woman whofought so hard to put lesbian images on the map for us to find is in a fightfor her life.

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