Bollettino del CLI, cover, 1989

The periodical Bollettino del CLI (1981-2004) was founded by the lesbian-feminist collective CLI (Collegamento fra Lesbiche Italiane).

The CLI was a separatist lesbian-feminist collective that has been meeting in Rome since 1981. The aim of the collective was to investigate lesbian identity and arose from an urgency to have a space of discussion, given the lack of representation of the lesbian component in Italian feminism and in male homosexual activism in general.

In November 1981, the collective published its manifesto in the issue n.0 of its bulletin. The bulletin served as an operative, political and symbolic space, giving validity and visibility to lesbian identities. Published every two months, it featured articles, essays, reviews, poems, cartoons, and coverage of italian and international (mostly european) lesbian events. 

The Bollettino del CLI (later renamed La Bollettina in 1992) became a rich space for the exchange of ideas, fostering discussions on lesbian identity through contributions from figures still considered crucial today, such as Teresa de Lauretis and Liana Borghi. Over the years, the periodical unverwent many changes in its editorial board and visual design, evolving from a mostly text-based bullettin to a full-fledged magazine.

This cover represent a phase of graphic experimentation, marked by the 1989 redesign of the CLI's logo by artist Felice Nusselein. She reworked the Rider-Waite Tarot's Three of Cups card, depicting three dancing women, each holding a cup with a letter of “CLI” above it. The cover's title is set vertically on the right of the page, using a decorative serif typeface.

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