Lesbian

'Bracing, nourishing and wonderfully pro-woman' Victoria Smith, author of Hags<BR><BR><BR>'A big-hearted, infuriating, clever and highly entertaining read, just like the woman who wrote it' Kathleen Stock, author of Material Girls<BR><BR><BR>'Personal, passionate memoir-cum-cultural commentary' New Statesman<BR><BR><BR>'Excellent ... Discursive and engaging'Susanna Rustin, author ofSexed: A History of British Feminism<BR><BR><BR>?What does it mean to be a lesbian now? Has the quest for lesbian liberation stalled, and if so, why?<BR><BR><BR>Part-memoir, part frontline reportage and part cultural commentary, Julie Bindel examines what defines lesbian culture, love, friendship and happiness today. She distinguishes the particular challenges facing lesbians from the very different experiences of gay men, and asks: why do lesbians so often seem to face particular hostility? Comparing past attitudes to today, she argues that lesbians continue to suffer from bigotry and discrimination because sexism and enforced gendered roles are still left unchallenged. She explores why many of the biggest assaults on lesbian freedom and wellbeing around the world now come, not just from conservatives, but also from so-called progressives, who are often antagonistic to lesbians organising and socialising autonomously.<BR><BR><BR>Rooted in her own remarkable story, this personal and passionate book is both an investigation into the obstacles to lesbian flourishing, and a testament to the particular delights of being a lesbian.

Wry and exhilarating, Chutzpah is a fearless exploration of what is possible when one person simply refuses to choose between abandoning their roots and abandoning themselves.<BR><BR>LONGLISTED FOR THE 2026 WINGATE PRIZE<BR><BR>"Clear-sighted and courageous, with an extremely dry sense of humour"<BR>DAVID BADDIEL, author of Jews Don't Count<BR><BR>"A gutting, brave story, written with exquisite candour."<BR>Dr. Sara Glass, author of Kissing Girls on Shabbat<BR><BR>Yehudis Fletcher was six years old when she decided to find out if there was actually a G-d.<BR><BR>One Sabbath evening, she dared to defy a fundamental rule. She didn't wash her hands before breaking bread. At the table, Yehudis braced herself for a terrible, biblical punishment: being swallowed by the ground or consumed by fire. But nothing happened.<BR><BR>It was at this moment that she discovered a spark within that would grow to make her invincible.<BR><BR>As the daughter of a rabbi raised in an Orthodox Jewish community, Yehudis struggled to conform to the strict expectations placed upon her and her siblings. Outspoken, curious and desperate to know more about G-d, she felt fenced in by arbitrary rules and questions left unanswered.<BR><BR>As she grew older, these restrictions intensified and her questions for G-d hung heavier than ever. Repeatedly let down by those who were supposed to protect her and pushed on to a path that seemed to take her further away from who she really was, she began to yearn for a life where she could embrace all facets of herself.<BR><BR>When Yehudis's sexuality came to blows with the expectations of her family and her community, the pressure to inhabit a binary position reached fever pitch. Confronted with either losing the faith she loved or losing herself, Yehudis made the most daring decision of all: she decided to stay.<BR><BR>"Chutzpah is a brilliant and fascinating insight into an ultra-orthodox Jewish community."<BR>Harriet Wistrich, author of Sister in Law<BR><BR>"Yehudis's resilience is truly inspirational."<BR>Ashley Blaker, author of Normal Schmormal

Christopher Street: Die Geburt einer Bewegung <BR> <BR> "Für die Homosexuellen ist das Dritte Reich noch nicht zu Ende", schrieb der deutsch-jüdische Historiker Hans-Joachim Schoeps 1963. Es endete für sie sechs Jahre später, in einer Nacht in der Christopher Street von New York. Nah an den Menschen, erzählt Thomas Sparr vom Aufstand im Stonewall Inn und seinen weltweiten Folgen. Es war eine Selbstbefreiung, die gelang und trotzdem bis heute gefährdet ist. <BR> <BR>Es war die Nacht zum 28. Juni 1969. In dieser Sommernacht wehrten sich junge Männer und Frauen im Stonewall Inn, einer Homosexuellenbar in New York, gewaltsam gegen eine Razzia der Polizei. Der kleine "Aufstand der Anstößigen" wurde später zum großen, weltweiten Symbol des Widerstands und der Selbstbehauptung einer entrechteten Minderheit. Im selben Jahr wurde in der Bundesrepublik der Paragraph 175 liberalisiert, während in der DDR Homosexualität bereits straffrei war. Thomas Sparr schildert den Mythos und die Wirklichkeit des Aufstands in der Christopher Street und zeigt seine Folgen bis heute. Wie wirkte er sich in Deutschland aus? Wie veränderte er die Selbstbilder homosexueller Frauen und Männer und wie die Art und Weise, in der andere sie bis heute wahrnehmen? Jahr für Jahr erinnern die Christopher Street Days in Deutschland, in Amerika, in Budapest und erst recht die verbotenen in Teheran wie in Moskau und Minsk daran: Wer sich nicht wehrt, liebt verkehrt.

The book offers unique insights into the politics and practice of commercial sex in the early 2000s through the eyes of male sex worker, Stefan Hülsmann, aka Marc-of-Frankfurt. It is based on sources and documents from his archive in the years 2000 to 2013. Hülsmann was a sex worker and sex workers' rights activist in Germany and Europe between 2000 and 2013, before dying in 2017 by suicide. He left his belongings and archives to the Magnus-Hirschfeld-Gesellschaft. This book explores this historically unique archive of a male sex worker and activist and makes it accessible to scholars, students and activists through introductory texts and a selection of original sources. The book centers the professional and political work of Hülsmann and the creation of his sex worker persona Marc-of-Frankfurt. Sources include meticulously drafted business plans, diary entries of paid sex encounters, drawings and mind maps about Marc's views about himself as a sex worker. Chapters tackle subjects including sex workers' engagement with the law, especially, the legal reform of prostitution laws with the Prostitutionsgesetz (ProstG) in 2001, as well as Marc's ideas and ideals of professionalization post legal change. Further chapters consider Marc's efforts at "communicating sex work" and his activism within German and European sex workers' networks, his efforts at creating a network of male sex workers and his intense activity on the sex worker online forum sexworker.at.

*Shortlisted for the 2026 GORDON BURN PRIZE**<BR><BR>'Compelling, funny, intelligent . . . Thank You for Calling the Lesbian Line is a remarkable piece of work.' Kerry Hudson, Observer<BR>'Utterly essential queer reading.' Lucy Rose, author of THE LAMB<BR>'Deliciously informative and rigorously researched . . . I loved it.' Julia Bell, author of DIRTY WORK<BR><BR>With warmth and humour, Elizabeth Lovatt reimagines the women who both called and volunteered for the Lesbian Line in the 1990s while also tracing her own journey from accidentally coming out to disastrous dates to finding her chosen family. <BR><BR>With callers and agents alike dealing with first crushes and breakups, sex and marriage, loneliness and illness (or simply the need to know the name of a gay bar on a night out), this is a celebration of the ordinary lives of queer women. <BR><BR>Thank You for Calling the Lesbian Line is a timely and vital exploration of how lesbian identity continues to remake and redefine itself in the 21st century and where it might lead us in the future.

A funny, bullshit-free and surprising history<BR><BR>Queer families have always existed<BR> <BR>Even Sappho, the OG lesbian, had a daughter named Cleis, in honour of vaginas everywhere! For centuries, the women of ‘The Golden Orchid Society’ in Qing-dynasty China were getting married and raising daughters together – platonically, obviously... And Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson’s fabulously bisexual open marriage proved women really can have it all – a husband, two kids, a writing career and Virginia Woolf.<BR> <BR>Maybe you’re exploring your options. Maybe you don’t want kids but you have questions. Either way, Kirsty Loehr provides another rollicking guide to the ups and downs of queer parenthood through the ages.

A steamy sapphic romance with a fantastical twist about two bitter tennis rivals who realize they are reluctant soulmates—perfect for fans of Expiration Dates and Here We Go Again. <BR><BR>Juliette Ricci dreams of only one thing: being the best women’s tennis player in the world. She’s worked nonstop with her strict father/coach to prepare for her big chance in the Australian Open. Unfortunately, she’ll be playing Lucky Luca Kacic, an aloof player whose unorthodox style and reigning popularity deeply irritate Juliette.<BR> <BR>For months they’ve traded sly insults in their press conferences leading up to their showdown on the court, and their first ever match is the most anticipated of the season. But Juliette refuses to let her nerves—or Luca’s annoyingly perfect abs—get the best of her.<BR> <BR>Meanwhile, Luca seemingly has everything Juliette desires but there’s one thing missing from her life: love. When she shakes hands with Juliette after an agonizing match and sees her rival’s name appear on her wrist, it feels like a cruel joke. Juliette is a spoiled, arrogant brat who wants absolutely nothing to do with Luca or a soulmate.<BR> <BR>But despite their personal and professional clashes, the two grow closer after late-night massages and one too many shots of limoncello. Their chemistry is tangible, but Luca’s anxiety tells her that Juliette is just messing with her head to throw her off her game, and Juliette can’t understand why Luca is so hot and cold. With the pressure of the world scrutinizing their every move, they will have to decide what’s more important—being together or being number one.

*AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*<BR><BR>An intimate, hilarious memoir of art, friendship, queerness, and found family by Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey, stars of The L Word-including never-before-shared stories and photos from behind the scenes of the show and their personal lives. <BR><BR>"Are you comfortable with nudity?" my manager asked.<BR><BR>In the early 2000s, Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey-both young artists trying to figure it all out-met at auditions for an unknown little TV show. Given that it was a show about lesbians living in Los Angeles, with the first ever ensemble cast of openly queer female characters, Kate and Leisha knew the project was going to be unlike anything else out there-that is, if it even got picked up.<BR><BR>Then, one million people watched the premiere. The show, which came to be called The L Word, turned into a trailblazing phenomenon. Its influence on pop culture, in the political arena, and in the lives of viewers has been lasting, impactful, even life-saving. And in addition to changing the course of television history, The L Word changed Kate and Leisha's lives forever. Suddenly, they were the faces of lesbian culture in a society still hostile to queerness. And one of them wasn't even out yet.<BR><BR>Luckily, they had each other. From their first day on set, Kate and Leisha were so inseparable that the cast joked they were like a pair of pants-you couldn't have one leg without the other. Hence the name for their branded partnership and podcast, PANTS, launched in 2020 and downloaded over twenty million times.<BR><BR>This friendship has seen Kate and Leisha through their greatest triumphs and most painful moments, stumbling from closeted queer kids to LGBTQ+ activists, actors, podcasters, and business owners. Full of never-before-shared glimpses into the making of The L Word, Kate and Leisha's real-life loves and losses, and their experiences as queer icons, So Gay for You is a heartfelt, inspiring love letter to a ride or die friendship over the decades, and a testament to the liberating power of chosen family.

A highly readable cultural history of queer women's lives in the second half of the twentieth century<BR>'An inspiring celebration of lesbian camaraderie, activism and fun' SARAH WATERS<BR><BR>'A cracking read, and a reminder of what shaped where we are now' VAL MCDERMID <BR><BR>'Riveting; indispensable; and suffused with a humane warmth' ALISON BECHDEL<BR><BR>For as long as queer women have existed, they've created gathering grounds where they can be themselves. In A Place of Our Own, journalist June Thomas invites readers into six iconic lesbian spaces over the course of the last sixty years, including the rural commune, the sex toy boutique and the feminist bookstore. She also illuminates what is gained and lost in the shift from the exclusive, tight-knit women's spaces of the '70s toward today's more inclusive yet more diffuse LGBTQ+ communities.<BR><BR>'Thomas's ability to resurrect the past is a testament to her meticulous research. But it's her voice - charming, irreverent, tender - that makes the journey through lesbian history so worthwhile' NEW YORK TIMES<BR><BR>'A must-have for any queer bookshelf' TEGAN QUIN<BR><BR>'Pulses with delicious dykes and the spaces we have made for ourselves over the years' STELLA DUFFY

Explores the role of the South in Black queer lesbian experiences of hurting and healing.Snapping Beans offers a collective narrative of Southern queer lesbian women and gender-nonconforming persons. Throughout the text, the American South acts as both a region and a main character, one that can shame and condemn but also serve as a site of reconciliation. Blending autoethnography and oral histories, Jayme N. Canty explores how both geographic location and social spaces, such as the Church, intersect with categories such as race, gender, and sexuality to shape and mark identity. Just as the intergenerational practice of snapping beans provides an opportunity to slow down, Canty enables readers to make space and to hear a new Southern narrative. Filled with both hurt and healing, Snapping Beans chronicles a multivocal journey of coming out, ultimately revealing a South where Black queer lesbians not only live but also, more importantly, thrive.

A 2025 AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION STONEWALL HONOR BOOK<BR> <BR>In this “searing testament to the strength in claiming one’s destiny” (The Washington Post), a young woman desperately attempts to protect her children and family while also embracing her queer identity in a controlling Hasidic community. This memoir is perfect for fans of Unorthodox and Educated.<BR><BR>Growing up in the Hasidic community of Brooklyn’s Borough Park, Sara Glass knew one painful truth: what was expected of her and what she desperately wanted were impossibly opposed. Tormented by her attraction to women and trapped in a loveless arranged marriage, she ultimately could not conform to her religious upbringing and eventually made the difficult decision to walk away from the world she knew.<BR> <BR>Sara’s journey to self-acceptance began with the battle for a divorce and custody of her children, an act that left her on the verge of estrangement from her family and community. Controlled by the fear of losing everything, she forced herself to remain loyal to the compulsory heteronormativity baked into Hasidic Judaism and married again. But after suffering profound loss and a shocking sexual assault, Sara decided to finally be completely true to herself.<BR> <BR>Kissing Girls on Shabbat is both an unflinching window into the world of ultra-conservative Orthodox Jewish communities and an inspiring celebration of learning to love yourself that ultimately “leaves a mark” (Publishers Weekly).

Zwischen Verfolgung, Liberalisierung und Aufbruch: Am Beispiel Frankfurt am Mains wird die Geschichte sexueller Minderheiten im 20. Jahrhundert erzählt.Nicht ohne Hintersinn werden die Frankfurter Homo, Trans- und Intersexuellen in diesem Buch als 'Maintöchter' tituliert, waren sie doch stets Töchter und Söhne dieser Stadt. Töchter und Söhne freilich, die recht stiefmütterlich behandelt wurden. Soziale Ächtung und staatliche Repression prägten ihren Alltag, viele reagierten aber auch mit beachtlichem Eigensinn und Widerstandswillen. Somit erzählt Alexander Zinn am Beispiel Frankfurts die Geschichte sexueller Minderheiten im 20. Jahrhundert: Er beleuchtet die massive Verfolgung homosexueller Männer in der NS-Zeit, die allmähliche Liberalisierung des gesellschaftlichen Klimas in der Nachkriegszeit und der Aufbruch der neuen Lesben- und Schwulenbewegung nach der Strafrechtsreform von 1969. Dabei wird deutlich, dass es trotz staatlicher Repression immer wieder gelang, Freiräume zu erkämpfen. So gab es selbst in der NS-Zeit einschlägige Treffpunkte, seit den 1950er Jahren wurde die Mainmetropole sogar als ein Eldorado der Homo- und Transsexuellenszene wahrgenommen. Die städtischen Behörden reagierten mit Kontrollen und Auflagen, duldeten die subkulturellen Nischen ansonsten aber. Für die 'Betroffenen' erwies sich die Situation als ambivalent: Viele genossen die kleinen Freiheiten, nicht wenige zerbrachen aber auch an gesellschaftlicher Ablehnung und Isolation.

Unlock the secrets to a fulfilling and transformative sexual exploration with The Art of Scissoring. This comprehensive guide delves into everything from the basics to advanced techniques, enhancing intimacy and emotional connection. Explore female anatomy, dispel myths, and embrace pleasure with consent and communication. Learn mental and emotional preparation, various stimulating techniques, and navigate power dynamics with safety in mind. Promote body positivity, inclusivity, and transform your scissoring journey into a spiritual practice. Empowerment awaits-embark on your journey to pleasure and wellness today.SEO-optimized keywords: Scissoring techniques; Female anatomy; Emotional connection; Intimacy; Consent and communication; Pleasure; Female sexuality; Body positivity; Empowerment; Sexual explorationOne-sentence summary: Dive into The Art of Scissoring and transform your intimate experiences through expert-guided techniques, fostering emotional connection, pleasure, and empowerment.GoodReads Reviews:1. Sandra T., Relationship Coach: "This book is a revelation! As a relationship coach, Ive seen how many couples struggle with intimacy. The Art of Scissoring gives the confidence and knowledge to explore this fantastic realm safely. 5 stars!"2. Jared B., Open-Minded Explorer: "Wow! I was skeptical at first, but this book has totally changed my perspective. Its not just about scissoring-its about connection and discovering whats possible with our bodies. 5 enthusiastic stars!"3. Megan L., Bookworm and Yoga Enthusiast: "Who knew a book could make you feel so connected to your own body? This isn't just a how-to guide, it's a spiritual journey. I felt empowered and enlightened. Highly recommend!"

'Brilliant and powerful' ELIZABETH GILBERT<BR>'So full of wisdom and pleasure that you don't want it to end' MAGGIE NELSON<BR>'Only Melissa Febos could convince us of the ecstasy of abstinence' KATHERINE MAY<BR><BR>A TIME 'must-read' book of 2025<BR>A Vogue, TIME and Vulture 'most anticipated' book of 2025<BR><BR>In the wake of a disastrous two-year relationship, Melissa Febos decided to take a break - for three months she would abstain from dating, relationships and sex. Her friends were amused. Did she really think three months was a long time? But to Melissa, it was. Ever since her teens, she had been in one relationship or another. It was time to focus on herself and examine the lifelong patterns that had got her to this point. When those three months ended, she decided to extend her celibate period, fearing that she had not yet gained the clarity she was searching for. She knew she was taking on a challenge but had no idea that this year would become the most fulfilling and sensual of her life. <BR><BR>No longer defined by her romantic pursuits, Melissa learned to relish the delights of solitude, the thrill of living on her own terms, the pleasures unmediated by lovers and the freedom to pursue her ideals without distraction or guilt. She began to see her life and her self-worth in a radical new way. Her year of divestment transformed her relationships with friends and peers, her work, creativity - and most of all her relationship to herself.<BR><BR>The Dry Season is a memoir of Melissa's year of celibacy, and a profound exploration of independence, sexuality and deep self-knowledge.

Der NYT-Bestseller der weltberühmten Sängerin und Schauspielerin!Wicked gehört mittlerweile zum Standardrepertoire in jeder Musicalausbildung. Auch Cynthia Erivo erlernte die Musik schon lange, bevor genau diese ihr Leben verändern würde. Jetzt ist sie eine der bekanntesten Schauspielerinnen und Sängerinnen der Welt und beweist, dass sich selbst zu entdecken eine niemals endende Reise ist.In bewegenden, persönlichen Anekdoten beschreibt sie, wie sie als queere Schwarze Frau im Showbusiness ihren Platz gefunden hat. Erivo schildert die Herausforderungen, mit denen sie konfrontiert war, und zeigt, wie ihre sensible Emotionalität und ihr unermüdliches Durchhaltevermögen sie an die Spitze gebracht haben. Sie ermutigt Leserinnen und Leser, ihre Träume kompromisslos zu verfolgen, auch wenn der Weg schwierig sein mag. Ihr Buch ist nicht nur eine persönliche Erzählung, sondern auch ein kraftvolles Manifest für Diversität und Selbstakzeptanz. Cynthia Erivo inspiriert damit nicht nur die nächste Generation von Künstlerinnen, sondern alle, die ihre Träumen leben wollen.

'Courageous, moving, bold and beautifully, brilliantly written.' - Daisy Buchanan <BR><BR>I am 13 years old and these are my secrets.<BR>1. I have a crush on Jet from ITV gameshow Gladiators. So strong! So pretty! <BR>2. I still play with Barbie dolls. It's mostly making them scissor. Or snog. Or lie on top of each other with feeling.<BR>3. I just kissed my best friend. Spoiler alert: she's a girl.<BR><BR>From the suburbs of Leeds to the streets of Sydney, from the queer clubs of London to a quiet life by the sea, through love, family, friendship and heartache, join Roxy Bourdillon on a journey to work out exactly who she is.<BR><BR>What a Girl Wants is the perfect read for anyone who's searched for their place in the world, for anyone who's ever been catcalled, anyone who's despaired about their body, fallen in love, had their heart broken and found friends who can put it back together.<BR><BR>From overcoming shame and finding your tribe, to surviving the dating scene and learning to really express yourself, this is a book about joy, empowerment and freedom.<BR><BR>It's a laugh-out-loud treat of a read for fans of Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love and Caitlin Moran's How to Be a Woman - but with a glorious queer twist.

'Not only a dazzling analysis of the workings of sexism, but a balm for the soul. It will teach you how to survive and how to transform the world' Hannah Dawson<BR><BR>We have to keep saying it because they keep doing it.<BR><BR>Do colleagues roll their eyes in a meeting when you use words like sexism or racism? Do you refuse to laugh at jokes that aren't funny? Have you been called divisive for pointing out a division? Then you are a feminist killjoy, and this handbook is for you.<BR><BR>The term killjoy has been used to dismiss feminism by claiming that it causes misery. But by naming ourselves feminist killjoys, we recover a feminist history, turning it into a source of strength as well as an inspiration.<BR><BR>Drawing on her own stories and those of others, especially Black and brown feminists and queer thinkers, Sara Ahmed combines depth of thought with honesty and intimacy. The Feminist Killjoy Handbook unpicks the lies our culture tells us and provides a form of solidarity and companionship that can be returned to over a lifetime.

Eine wilde Achterbahnfahrt durch die Geschichte queerer Frauen Ob bekannte Namen wie Virginia Woolf, Marlene Dietrich und Hildegard von Bingen oder bisher (zu Unrecht) unbekanntere wie die der andalusischen Prinzessin Wall¿da bint al-Mustakf¿, der:des Womanizer:in Catterina Vizzani, der chinesischen Intellektuellen Wu Zao oder der trans* Aktivistin Marsha P. Johnson, die am Stonewall-Aufstand beteiligt war: Kirsty Loehr versammelt sie und noch viele weitere queere Frauen in ihrem außergewöhnlichen Buch feministischer Geschichtsschreibung. Nach der Lektüre sehen wir die Welt in ihrem über Jahrhunderte stramm gezogenen heteronormativen Korsett mit neuen Augen. Witzig und frech im Ton spannt Kirsty Loehr einen kritischen Bogen von der Steinzeit bis heute - und eröffnet uns ein unglaubliches Panorama an queeren Frauen, die es unbedingt zu entdecken gilt.'Rasant, unterhaltsam und herrlich anzüglich.' Kate Lister, Autorin von 'Sex - Die ganze Geschichte''Herzergreifend und urkomisch und voller Liebe. Ein wahrhaft geistreicher Volltreffer queerer Geschichte - es zu lesen ist, als würde man ein Geheimnis lüften. Es ist schockierend, romantisch, wütend, und all das schreit aus den Seiten mit dem Bedürfnis, endlich gehört zu werden.' Connie Glyn

Manga um eine lesbische Liebe, die (noch) nicht sein durfteKiyoko befindet sich nun im Herbst ihres Lebens.Manchmal fällt es ihr schwer, ihre Familie zu erkennen. Doch eines Tages besucht sie jemand, an den sie sich noch gut erinnern kann: Mitsu, mit der Kiyoko eine Romanze erlebt hat. Kurz nach dem Krieg, als sie beide noch Teenager waren, hätte diese Leidenschaft sie fast dazu gebracht, etwas Unwiderrufliches zu tun.Die Tragödie und die Wechselfälle des Lebens haben sie zwar getrennt - trotz gelegentlicher Treffen und Begegnungen -, aber die Magie der Erzählung ermöglicht es, die Zeit bis zu jenen Momenten zurückzudrehen, in denen sie sich nicht vorstellen konnten, ohne einander zu leben.Ein berührender und feinfühliger Manga von Yumi Sudo, der die Liebe von Mitsu und Kiyoko im Wandel der Zeiten erzählt.Weitere Informationen- Einzelband- Empfohlen ab 14 Jahren