Leslie Ewing

Leslie Ewing (born 1949) is an American cartoonist, activist, and breast cancer survivor. Her comics highlight feminist and lesbian themes and her cartoons have been featured in prominent queer comics, including Gay Comix, Strip AIDS, and Wimmen's Comix. Ewing was the executive director for the Pacific Center for Human Growth from 2008 to 2019.

Early life and education Leslie Ewing was born in Tustin, California. Ewing reported her interests in cartoons grew when her mother would buy her cartoons at the market. Ewing was influenced by cartoons such as Richie Rich and Rick Griffin's Murch the Surf. She was even interested in cartoons featured throughout Playboy magazines. Her comics ran in many periodicals, including Lesbian News, , Wimmen's Comix, and Gay Comix. Ewing remained a contributor to Wimmen's Comix until its last edition in 1992, including comics such as "Buzz-Off!" "Urbanus Jockitus," "Hoodoo Voodoo," "Mid-Dyke Crisis #382," "Baby Butch Dyke!" and "National Healthcare." Ewing was also a prominent cartoonist in Gay Comix, with her first comic "Couple-itus" featured in 1985, and contributed comics including "Mid-Dyke Crisis," "Romance in the Age of Aids," "Mid-Dyke Crisis," and "Four Favorites" until its last edition in 1998. Ewing reported that her comics were inspired by politics after she participated in the March on Washington in 1987, as seen by her contribution to both political comic books: StripAIDS USA and Choices: A Pro-Choice Benefit Comic. Her comic, Mid-Dyke Crisis, ran from 1985 to 2001 as a popular comic strip in Icon and other anthologies.

Activism Ewing stated that her interest in activism began when she went to the 1987 March on Washington, and politics became an important aspect of her comics. She retired in July 2019.

Personal life Ewing is a lesbian. She lost her partner to breast cancer in 2002. Ewing is dedicated to exercise, and features her gym routine lightheartedly throughout her comics.