Linda Shear

Linda Shear (born 1948 in Chicago, Illinois) is a singer-songwriter and piano player. On May 13, 1972 she performed in the first out-lesbian concert in the U.S. at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle Campus. She was accompanied by percussionist Ella Szekeley. The Chicago Women's Liberation Rock Band was also on the bill that evening. Soon after, Shear began performing with her band, Family of Woman. Following the dissolution of Family of Woman, Shear began touring and released her album A Lesbian Portrait on her own independent record label, Old Lady Blue Jeans, in 1974. She performed in concert and at women's music festivals, including the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival.

Although Shear had little commercial success, she remains an icon in some lesbian circles. She was interviewed in the 2002 documentary, Radical Harmonies, appears on the breast cancer research benefit CD, High Risk, and appears on video at www.chicagogayhistory.org in the biography section.

On September 28, 2008, after 25 years of domestic partnership, Linda married Windflower Townley. They live in Northern California. Townley is an organizational development consultant. Shear, who earned an MBA in 1982, is a CPA with her own practice specializing in tax, including domestic partnership tax issues.