Julia Nicol
South African LGBT+ activist and librarian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Julia Nicol (1956 – 3 April 2019) was a South African activist and librarian. Nicol worked with LGBT groups in South Africa and was a co-founder and leader of the Organisation of Lesbian and Gay Activists (OLGA).
- Librarian
Julia Nicol | |
|---|---|
Nicol in 1989 | |
| Born | 1956 |
| Died | 3 April 2019 (aged 62–63) |
| Alma mater | University of Cape Town |
| Occupation |
|
| Known for | LGBT activism |
| Notable work | co-founder and leader of the Organisation of Lesbian and Gay Activists |
| Partner | Sheila Lapinsky |
Biography
Nicol was born in 1956 in Johannesburg.[1] She went to school at the University of Cape Town and worked as a librarian until her retirement in 1997.[1]
Nicol started working as an LGBT activist in the beginning of the 1980s.[2] She started the first organisation for lesbians in South Africa called Lesbians in Love and Compromising Situations (LILACS).[2] As an activist, Nicol was also involved with The Gay Association of South Africa (GASA) and was a founding member of the Lesbians and Gays Against Oppression (LAGO).[3] Later, LAGO became the Organisation of Lesbian and Gay Activists (OLGA) with Nicol and her partner, Sheila Lapinsky, the only lesbian members of the group and served in leadership roles.[2][4] Lapinsky and Nicol were both directly responsible for ensuring that LGBT rights were part of the wider anti-apartheid movement.[5]
Nicol died on 3 April 2019.[5]