lesbian history Archives

butch

lesbian history

Against a black background, yellow text reads, "S - stone" on the left side of the image. On the right, there is a white and teal stencil of Leslie Feinberg, a masculine-presenting person with short hair and a serious expression. The top of Leslie's button-up shirt and tie is visible.

lesbian sex

The Gay B C’s of Sex: S Is for Stone

Slick back your hair and cuff those sleeves — we’re heading back to the 1940s and ’50s.

Ro White —

Jan 5, 2023

lesbian history

photography

A black and white photo shows seven smiling queer women sitting on top of telephone booths. Three people stand below them. Two others are visible on a balcony behind them. The image is surrounded by a border of pink, orange, green and yellow flowers.

book features

That Was the Era: Photographer Phyllis Christopher on Her Book “Dark Room”

“It was a political statement to portray sex, to portray queer sex, as it was to demand civil rights in the daytime.”

Ro White —

Jun 21, 2022

lesbian history

LGBT history

A black and white photo of a pair of hands holding a rosary in a lap.

book lists

Read About the Real-Life Inspiration for “Benedetta” and More with these 5 Books on Queer & Trans Nuns

If you’d like more backstory on the real-life story of Sister Benedetta that inspired this film while you wait for its wide release, or just want more to read about…

Rachel —

May 6, 2021

essay collection

lesbian history

lgbt book reviews

Jenn Shapland Names What Needs Naming in “My Autobiography of Carson McCullers”

It has taken over 50 years for us to get the full, queer truth about Carson McCullers’s life, and now I know why. We were waiting for Jenn Shapland.

Kate Gorton —

Jan 7, 2020

billie holiday

dogs

lgbt history

Lesbian and Bisexual Women of History Who Were Obsessed with Their Dogs, Part 4

We’re back for a barely conceivable fourth installment looking at the big dogs, little dogs and doggy dogs of more lesbian and bisexual women of history who were obsessed with…

Sally —

Dec 6, 2019

lesbian history

United Kingdom

politics + activism

Attempting to Excavate British Queer History

The tipping point was at the start of June, when I saw a rainbow sign outside the big Sainsbury’s on the edge of town. It dawned on me there might…

Sally —

Oct 22, 2019

lesbian history

LGBT history

lgbt history

Precious and Adored: Reading Victorian Love Letters, Writing Queer History

When Rose Cleveland and Evangeline Simpson met in 1890, they fell for each other hard. Their once-hidden letters are collected in a new book.

Lizzie Ehrenhalt —

Jun 12, 2019

lesbian history

the queer south

lgbt book reviews

“The Lesbian South” Carries Lesbian History, Ideology and Gossip into the Present

Along with the Civil Rights Movement, the blues, and the Moon Pie, we also have the American South to thank for a 50-plus year bounty of lesbian literature.

fonseca —

Jan 3, 2019

#lgbthistorymonth

90s nostalgia

Hothead... "fuckin' what???" tell us, how does one become a homicidal lesbian terrorist? How does one NOT YOU ASSHOLE? What fucking planet did you grow up on?!?

lgbt history

Revisiting “Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist” in a World Needing Her More Than Ever

Despite her early resonance, Hothead Paisan has faded from lesbian and queer cultural memory. Today we’re bringing her back.

Maddy —

Jan 3, 2019

lesbian history

LGBT history

lgbt history

The Queer Spirits of Christmas Past

Demonic witch queens are always queer. Fact.

Siobhan —

Dec 24, 2018

dogs

eleanor roosevelt

lgbt history

Lesbian and Bisexual Women of History Who Were Obsessed With Their Dogs, Part 3

Eleanor Roosevelt, Frida Kahlo, Naomi “Micky” Jacob, Elsie de Wolfe and Elisabeth Marbury — and their puppers!

Sally —

Nov 21, 2018

#lgbthistorymonth

lesbian history

book lists

13 Mind-Expanding Nonfiction Books to Read for LGBTQ History Month

Pick up one of these 13 books about LGBTQ history and learn about your queer and trans ancestors!

Casey —

Oct 18, 2018

lesbian history

Most Popular

The Gay B C’s of Sex: S Is for Stone

That Was the Era: Photographer Phyllis Christopher on Her Book “Dark Room”

Read About the Real-Life Inspiration for “Benedetta” and More with these 5 Books on Queer & Trans Nuns

Jenn Shapland Names What Needs Naming in “My Autobiography of Carson McCullers”

Lesbian and Bisexual Women of History Who Were Obsessed with Their Dogs, Part 4

Attempting to Excavate British Queer History

Precious and Adored: Reading Victorian Love Letters, Writing Queer History

“The Lesbian South” Carries Lesbian History, Ideology and Gossip into the Present

Revisiting “Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist” in a World Needing Her More Than Ever

The Queer Spirits of Christmas Past

The Gay B C’s of Sex: S Is for Stone

That Was the Era: Photographer Phyllis Christopher on Her Book “Dark Room”

Read About the Real-Life Inspiration for “Benedetta” and More with these 5 Books on Queer & Trans Nuns

Jenn Shapland Names What Needs Naming in “My Autobiography of Carson McCullers”

Lesbian and Bisexual Women of History Who Were Obsessed with Their Dogs, Part 4

Attempting to Excavate British Queer History

Precious and Adored: Reading Victorian Love Letters, Writing Queer History

“The Lesbian South” Carries Lesbian History, Ideology and Gossip into the Present

Revisiting “Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist” in a World Needing Her More Than Ever

The Queer Spirits of Christmas Past