Noreen Stevens

Noreen Stevens (born 1962) is a Canadian cartoonist, who created and wrote the lesbian comic strip The Chosen Family.
Stevens was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in interior design, and began the comic strip (originally titled Local Access Only) as a hobby while trying to pursue her main career. Originally published in Winnipeg's LGBT magazine Swerve, where Stevens was also a member of the editorial board, the strip was eventually syndicated to many LGBT publications across North America. Stevens retired the strip in 2004.
Stevens and her partner, Jill Town were the first same-sex couple in Manitoba to be granted adoption rights as a couple. Stevens was also formerly an owner and manager of Winona's Café, the first gay and lesbian café in Winnipeg.