Kathleen Hanna

Kathleen Hanna (born November 12, 1968) is an American singer, musician, and pioneer of the feminist punk riot grrrl movement, and punk zine writer. She started her musical career in the 1990s as the lead singer of the feminist punk band Bikini Kill, before fronting the electropunk band Le Tigre in the late '90s and early 2000s. Since 2010, she has been recording as the Julie Ruin. Additionally, Hanna has also been an activist, keenly focusing on feminist issues and has made significant contributions towards the Riot Grrrl movement. In 2009, Hanna made her collective work, ranging from zines, art pieces, to music and journals that focus on the formation of the Riot Grrrl movement, available at the Fales Library at New York University. A documentary film about Hanna, showcasing her life and career, along with her battle with Lyme disease, titled 'The Punk Singer' was released by director Sini Anderson in 2013.

Born on November 12, 1968, in Portland, Oregon, Hanna developed a deep interest in feminism around the age of nine. After graduating high school, she moved to Olympia, Washington, to attend The Evergreen State College in the late 1980s. Here, she took up a job as a stripper to support her tuition. Later, with fellow student Aaron Baush-Greene, she organized a photo exhibit focusing on sexism and violence against women. This gave rise to her first foray into activism. She began her journey into music by doing spoken word performances that addressed violence against women. After a conversation with one of her favorite writers, Kathy Acker, she founded her first band, 'Amy Carter'. Over the years, Hanna has made her mark in several bands, contributing to the punk rock and feminist music scene. Throughout her career, Hanna's outspoken feminism has constantly influenced her work; she became an essential voice for feminism and the Riot Grrrl movement. She is married to Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys.