Oral interpretation allows audiences to make aesthetic, rather than moral, decisions about lesbian literature. To perform lesbian literature, the interpreter should be aware of lesbian literary criticism. Three theories of lesbian criticism form part of a lesbian literary canon: (1) revision (rereading existing texts from a feminist perspective, and recovering neglected texts); (2) intertextuality (producing a text through transformation of other texts, forming a feminist self-definition); and (3) l'Ecriture feminine (writing in French using words that are primarily feminine). This criticism becomes a springboard for the oral interpretation of lesbian literature. Performance of literature provides information on how disenfranchised groups wish to be treated and how they are being treated now. In this way, disenfranchised groups (groups that have little or no voice in society) can improve their status in society. "Trigger-scripting" (using carefully selected scripts of literature to trigger planned-for responses from specialized audiences) is one method to raise consciousness levels within the feminist movement. Oral interpretation allows interpreters to present literary scripts while using their voices and bodies to suggest the experiences in the literature for a better communication of the text. Another method of reading accentuates the power of interpreting women's literature through imitation, protest, and exploring the female experience. Because audiences tend not to be threatened by the performance of literature, consciousness-raising can occur. (A selected bibliography and 26 references are appended.) (MM)