Lorrie Sprecher is a lesbian-feminist author and punk musician.

Her debut novel, Sister Safety Pin, details the life of a 20-something lesbian named Melany as she struggles to come to terms with her sexuality, her lovers, her future, and her place in the changing world of punk rock. Peppered heavily with references to seminal punk bands, the novel follows Melany through a small series of relationships, attaining her undergraduate degree, and contemplating "if a lesbian... especially a punk lesbian... is supposed to get a Ph.D." Honed with sharp wit, the story unfolds against a backdrop of 1980s California, New York, and D.C.; a time when punk rock was shifting faces and the AIDS crisis was exploding among the gay community. Met with glowing reviews, Sister Safety Pin has become an enduring classic among its lesbian audience.

After the publication of her novel, Sprecher turned her attention to music, forming the one-woman band Sugar Rat. Her music is politically charged, most recently addressing the bombing of Afghanistan. Her debut album, Rats Have Rights, was self-distributed and is available through independent outlets. She recently released her follow-up to Rats, entitled The Opposite of Popular.

Sprecher is a vocal member of ACT UP, an organization dedicated to fighting AIDS, and has been arrested six times in Washington D.C. during various protests.

She holds a Ph.D. in English literature and is currently working on her second novel while pursuing Sugar Rat.

• Sister Safety Pin (1994)

• Rats Have Rights (2001)
• The Opposite of Popular (2003)

Lorrie Sprecher Online