Lynette Molnar: Provincetown’s Superwoman
by Larita M. Heet, Editor of Jane and Jane Magazine
As excerpted from the May/June 2008 Issue
When Lynette Molnar, lesbian entrepreneur extraordinaire, was honored as one of Provincetown’s “Superwomen” by Provincetown Magazine a couple of years ago, it was no surprise to anyone in P-Town, where “Molnar” is synonymous with “amazing”. Molnar is not merely an entrepreneur, but also a successful, talented photographer, an activist, an event planner and creator, and a marketing guru. Molnar’s passion for the LGBT community has led her to create many now-infamous Ptown events, including Single Women’s Weekend, Women of Color and Allies Weekend, Women’s Week, the “Kiss-In”, and Girl Splash, a new summer event in Provincetown.
If you’re like me, just reading about those activities was enough to make you winded. But for Molar, those achievements are just the tip of the superwoman’s iceberg. She has also co-curated the first international art exhibition on AIDS, and founded a San Francisco photography mentoring program for homeless youth, which is now in its twelfth year. Actively involved in local town boards and advocacy groups, Molnar is also a volunteer with many charitable organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, National Center for Lesbian Rights and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Molnar has received myriad honors and awards, including a National Endowment for the Arts photography fellowship, four Ohio Arts Council individual artists fellowships, two Greater Boston Business Council small business leadership awards, and NGLTF’s community service award.
Her business strategy? Simple, she says. “Figure out what’s missing in the world, and then create it.”
Molnar’s goals — both personal and professional — are clearly defined, a fact that is hardly surprising for the woman who was instrumental in leading the fight, in 1996, for Provincetown to support lesbian and gay tourism. “My professional goals are two-fold: First, as it always has been — to keep creating community for women and [second] to have as many lesbians experience Provincetown as possible. You shouldn’t die without having been here at least once,” she says. “My personal goal is to somehow be with the love of my life for the rest of my life.”
You cannot miss the depth of emotion Molnar conveys when speaking of her lover, the woman she calls her inspiration. “My lover is exceedingly creative, generous, and a genius,” she says.
Molnar offers Jane and Jane readers some unusual - but obviously effective — business advice. “Two things: Pick something you love to do so that even if you’re working 16 hours a day, it won’t feel like work. My second suggestion is somewhat unconventional as business advice: Pick someone to love who fits the equation: 1 + 1 = 3. Stay lovers and, among other things, you will always have a muse.
Sounds like Superwoman has met her match.
Sisters and Vickie Shaw are both performing at The Crown & Anchor, and
Ever the expert on sex and relationships, Vickie doesn’t have to go