Lynn Harris

Lynn Harris is a feminist journalist, essayist, and author who lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is the Vice President, Communications with Breakthrough, a global human rights organization that uses media and pop culture to mobilize communities to fight gender-based violence. As well, Harris is the co-creator, with Chris Kalb, of the website BreakupGirl.Net.

Writing

Harris has been a contributing writer for Salon.com[1] and a contributing editor at Glamour Magazine.[2] Her freelance journalism and essays have appeared in The New York Times,[3] Nerve.com,[4] NPR.org,[5] and The Washington Post.[6] She wrote the “Rabbi’s Wife” column for the former Nextbook.org. She is also the dating advice columnist for MSN.com.

Harris’ writing focuses on gender, health, politics, relationships, and culture. Her essay in Salon on female genital mutilation (“Our Daughters Should Not Be Cut”[7]) was a recipient of a 2010 Planned Parenthood Maggie Award for online reporting.[8] One of Harris’ articles for Glamour – “They’re Autistic, and They’re in Love”[9] - won a Mental Health America Media Award. Another piece for Glamour, “Could You Get Hooked On These Pills?” won a Newswomen’s Club of New York Front Page Award.

Harris is also the author of two novels and three nonfiction books. Her most recent title is Death By Chick Lit (2007).[10] The novel’s prequel, Miss Media, was published in 2003.[11]

Breakup Girl

Harris is the co-creator, with Chris Kalb, of Breakup Girl, a character that debuted in her 1996 book He Loved Me, He Loves Me Not: A Guide to Fudge, Fury, Free Time, and Life Beyond the Breakup. (Avon) which she wrote and Chris Kalb illustrated.[12] The character expanded into an online presence in 1997. BreakupGirl.net is a blog presented in the guide of a superhero known as "Breakup Girl" who "mends broken hearts worldwide with the help of the worldwide Web. Through comics, animation, and advice, all delivered with a humorous tone, the Breakup Girl character announces that her task "is to fight crimes of the heart, stop dating indignities, get your stuff back, help you help your mom through your breakup, make good relationships great."[13]

The print adventures of Breakup Girl continued in 2000 with Harris' Breakup Girl to the Rescue! A Superhero's Guide to Love, and Lack Thereof (Back Bay Books), which also was illustrated by Chris Kalb.[14]

Activism

Harris began her position as Communications Strategist with Breakthrough in March 2011.[15] Breakthrough describes its mission as "a global human rights organization that uses the power of media, pop culture, and community mobilization to inspire people to take bold action for dignity, equality, and justice." It is based in India and the United States, and particularly focuses on gender-based violence, and issues relating to sexuality, HIV/AIDS, immigration, and racial justice.

Harris is also the public relations coordinator for the Afghan Women's Writing Project, which "works to nurture and support the voices of Afghan women, who traditionally have not had any outlet for sharing their powerful, often heart-breaking stories and their compelling voices," according to its website.[16] She is also the former public relations director of the Boston chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

As a mentor-editor with The OpEd Project, Harris works with emerging female op-ed writers, offering feedback needed to improve their work and amplify women's voices in media.[17]

Performance

A former stand-up comic, Harris co-wrote and co-starred with Betsy Fast in the Off-Off Broadway production of "Lynn Harris on Ice."[18] Directed by Jim Gaylord, the production was promoted as featuring "cautionary campfire tales about snow sports, skating scandals, dotcom meltdowns, fellas with cold feet, and parents numb with worry."

References

  1. ↑ "Lynn Harris." Salon. http://dir.salon.com/topics/lynn_harris/ Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  2. ↑ Lynn Harris bio. "They're Autistic, and They're in Love." Glamour. http://www.glamour.com/magazine/2009/02/theyre-autistic-and-theyre-in-love?currentPage=4 Retrieved February 28, 2011
  3. ↑ Harris, Lynn. (August 10, 2007). "On the Roof, a Weaning from Weeding." The New York Times. http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/08/10/travel/escapes/10ritual.html Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  4. ↑ Harris, Lynn. "Firestarters." Nerve.com http://www.nerve.com/screeningroom/tv/torchwood Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  5. ↑ Harris, Lynn. (April 15, 2009) "Bottle or Breast: Which is Best? NPR.org http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102361013 Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  6. ↑ Harris, Lynn. (July 21, 2009) "The Stork is Dead." The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072102755.html Retrieved February 28, 2011
  7. ↑ Harris, Lynn. (January 24, 2010). "Our Daughters Should Not Be Cut." Salon. http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2010/01/24/fgm_in_america/index.html Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  8. ↑ "PPFA Maggie Awards for Media Excellence." Planned Parenthood. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/politics-policy-issues/ppfa-maggie-awards-10047.htm Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  9. ↑ Harris, Lynn. "They're Autistic, and They're in Love." Glamour. http://www.glamour.com/magazine/2009/02/theyre-autistic-and-theyre-in-love Retrieved February 28, 2011
  10. ↑ Stadtmiller, Mandy. (August 19, 2007). "Writer's Mock: In Wittiness and 'Death' Author Pokes Fun at Chick Lit" New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/item_Kn4SGXe1gb0ja4h3I7eDqL Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Miss Media: A Novel." Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/059528776X Retrieved February 29, 2011.
  12. ↑ "History." BreakupGirl.net. http://www.breakupgirl.net/friends/history.html Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Introduction." BreakupGirl.net. http://www.breakupgirl.net/friends/ Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Breakup Girl to the Rescue!: A Superhero's Guide to Love, and Lack Thereof " Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/0316340618/ Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Breakthrough: Staff" http://www.breakthrough.tv/about-us/staff#usa Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  16. ↑ "The AWWP Team." The Afghan Women's Writing Project. http://www.awwproject.org/about/credits/ Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Mentor-Editors." The OpEd Project. http://www.theopedproject.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97&Itemid=96 Retrieved March 6, 2011
  18. ↑ "Lynn Harris on Ice Tickets and Information." http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/shows/lynn-harris-on-ice_16363/ Retrieved February 6, 2011
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