Nancy Lanoue

Lanoue was born the youngest of three children. Her father was Frederick Lanoue, a swimming coach and the inventor of "drownproofing." From when she was six years old, Lanoue taught alongside her father. When Frederick Lanoue died of a cerebral hemorrhage while teaching his method to Marine Corps recruits, she became the instructor, teaching his method over the summer.Osborne, Karen Lee. "Knowing Nancy Lanoue." Outlines: The Voice of the Gay and Lesbian Community, vol. 1, no. 22, 29 Oct. 1987, p. 11. Archives of Sexuality and Gender. Accessed 2025-06-07.

At eighteen, Lanoue went to Sarah Lawrence College. Her mother died six months into her time in college. She then completed a joint master's degree at Columbia University in journalism and international affairs.{{Cite web |last=Forman |first=Ross |date=2015-03-25 |title=Thousand Waves marks 30 years of mission-driven work |url=http://windycitytimes.com/2015/03/25/thousand-waves-marks-30-years-of-mission-driven-work/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Windy City Times |language=en-US}}

Lanoue worked as a reporter for the New York Post and Reader's Digest Press.{{Cite web |title=Nancy Lanoue |url=https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/lanoue-nancy/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame |language=en-US}} She took self-defense courses to feel safer while on assignment. Lanoue studied Seido karate under its founder, Shihan Tadashi Nakamura, and discovered a passion for the practice.{{Cite news |last=Zagorski |first=Susan |date=February 7, 1988 |title=Karate's Ancient Art Lifts Spirit While Tempering Body's Skills: [Final Edition, C] |work=Chicago Tribune |pages=5 |via=Proquest}}

In 1979, Lanoue founded the Safety Fitness Exchange (SAFE) in New York City. SAFE was the city's first community organization specializing in women's self-defense and rape prevention.

In 1984, Lanoue and her partner, Jeanette Pappas, moved to Chicago, hoping to build a gym and self-defense training center. They opened The Women's Gym in 1985, which became a gathering location for lesbians. Two years later, Lanoue was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy.Griffin, Jean Latz. "Making a 1000 Waves." Outlines: The Voice of the Gay and Lesbian Community, 26 May 1999, pp. 29+. Archives of Sexuality and Gender. Accessed 2025-06-07. Two years after Lanoue's diagnosis, Pappas was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The couple closed the gym in 1989 as they pursued treatments for Pappas in California. Pappas worked to provide information about breast cancer to Chicago's lesbian community. Lanoue continued with this after Pappas died in 1989.

In 1990, Lanoue opened Thousand Waves Spa a center focused on women. The next year, her new partner, Sarah Ludden, moved to Chicago from California to assist in running the organization, expanding to the Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center. As the organization grew, it expanded to provide classes for children, and then for adults of all genders. Lanoue served as the training consultant for the Pink Angels Anti-Violence Project."Right: Although This Self-Defense T-Shirt by Chicago Women's Seido." Outlines: The Voice of the Gay and Lesbian Community, vol. 5, no. 6, Nov. 1991, p. 40. Archives of Sexuality and Gender. Accessed 2025-06-07.

In 1994, Lanoue competed in the 1994 Gay Games, winning a gold medal in the black belt masters Kata division and a bronze medal in the sparring competition for women thirty-five and over.Seabaugh, Cathy. "Chicagoans Bring Back Games Medals." Outlines: The Voice of the Gay and Lesbian Community, vol. 8, no. 2, July 1994, pp. 26+. Archives of Sexuality and Gender. Accessed 2025-06-07.

In October 1990, Lanoue was involved in the first gathering of lesbians in Chicago concerned about cancer. She went on to co-found the Lesbian Community Cancer Project (LCCP).{{Cite web |last=Maxwell |first=Carrie |date=2025-04-15 |title=Lesbian Community Cancer Project honored with tribute wall at Howard Brown clinic |url=http://windycitytimes.com/2025/04/14/lesbian-community-cancer-project-honored-with-tribute-wall-at-howard-brown-clinic/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Windy City Times |language=en-US}} She served as its first board president.

• 1993: Inducted into Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame
• 1998: Honored at 7th annual Lesbian Community Cancer Project Coming Out Against Cancer benefit"Local News Briefs …." Outlines: The Voice of the Gay and Lesbian Community, vol. 11, no. 21, 7 Jan. 1998, p. 14. Archives of Sexuality and Gender.

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Category:1952 births

Category:American lesbians

Category:Health activists

Category:Living people