N. Leigh Dunlap

N. Leigh Dunlap (born 1961) is an American graphic designer, actor, illustrator, cartoonist and copywriter. Throughout her career, Dunlap has published much material surrounding LGBTQ+ activism and was a winner of the 2nd Lambda Literary Award under the humor category.

Early life and education Dunlap attended Stephens College on an academic scholarship but never finished. She published weekly strips in the newspaper from 1985 to 1995. Some of her featured panels also include other characters, such as Page Turner. Through her publications in the newspaper, Dunlap created characters that resonated with readers while also forcing them to question their own viewpoints on various issues. The first book was published by New Victoria Publishers, whereas the latter was published by St. Martins Press. Switching to St. Martins Press allowed Dunlap to gain more exposure, as New Victoria Publishers was a smaller organization supporting only women. Her books, like the publications in The Washington Blade, align with themes of relationships, life events, and softball. She aims to evoke feelings in readers through the clever use of suggestive sketches that are open to varying interpretations. Dunlap's style of cartooning can be described as minimalist, which requires the reader to engage with the text more. She incorporates elements of queer theory through the main character's attitudes and actions concerning monogamy, lesbianism, feminism, and more. Overcoming publication distribution issues and working within sometimes stringent parameters are just some obstacles Dunlap faced within her cartooning career. thumb

Other works (1987–1993) After retiring cartooning, Dunlap switched to other art projects, including Judaica, graphic design, copywriting and theater. She published much of her work on her Lost Tribes website and blog, neither of which she keeps updated at present.

In 1993, Dunlap published a section in a book titled A Certain Terror: Heterosexism, Militarism, Violence & Change. The book addresses a compilation of subjects, and Dunlap's contribution is titled "What exactly is heterosexuality and what causes it?" Like many of Dunlap's other work, the excerpt addresses themes of feminism, homophobia, and heterosexuality/homosexuality. The company created two plays, one called the Last Summer at Bluefish Cove and the other called A Late Snow: A Play in Two Acts. Dunlap and Bornstein were able to get some of the highest profile lesbian activists of the time involved. The play follows the journey of eight women in Bluefish Cove, one of which is played by Dunlap.

As contributor

Personal life Dunlap has been married since 1986, and has two children. Her son was born in 1999, and her daughter was born in 2000.

Though Dunlap has always been interested in multiple areas of art, the thing she enjoys the most is acting. The messages that Dunlap attempts to convey in her work are reflective of the experiences she was undergoing in a harsh political climate combined with the rise of AIDS.