Lesbian : Politics, Culture, Existence

A history of feminist and lesbian thinking from the 1970s to the presentAcross almost 50 years of writing, Susan Hawthorne’s essays on lesbian culture and politics take the reader on a journey through the concerns of radical feminists engaged in the Women’s Liberation Movement. Not only does she trace the experiments of lesbians creating a vibrant woman-loving culture, but she also traces the backlash against lesbians and a history of violence perpetrated by the state, corporations and individual men. She begins with a recollection of a rape in her pre-feminist days, followed by a critique of the institution of heterosexuality and the role of lesbian feminism as a strategy. She is soon asking questions about lesbian existence. The essays span reflections on lesbian literature and the development of lesbian culture, including the politics of physical expression in circus. Susan Hawthorne writes about cultural appropriation, depoliticisation and the erasure of lesbian inventiveness. She researches violence against lesbians including rape, torture and murder and the way in which this violence is ignored and often distorted by the media. Her investigations include lesbian refugees, lesbian economics, violation of lesbian human rights and the impact of the transgender industrial complex on the existence of lesbians as a political force.

When I was in my 20s, I read that fragment of Sappho in whichshe says that someone will remember us in the future. Who is theunmarked ‘us’? For me, obviously, this ‘us’ means lesbians, and thefragment must have worked as a spell, for indeed in the future shewas finally remembered for who she was, for who we are. It is dueto the work of writers such as Susan Hawthorne that our culture ispreserved and able to flourish. This collection of essays shows oureverlasting tenacity, courage, and beauty, be it in the poetry of our lovefor women or in the bravery of defending our rights and the planetthat has borne us.— Monalisa Gomyde, Lesbian literature researcher, translator, and writer, Brazil

LεzbIәn is a great book and its coverage of different aspects of beinglesbian is outstanding. The significance of lesbian culture throughpoetry and artistic creations features throughout the book. The highlightfor me is an essay on lesbians who are tortured by their familiesor the state. Hawthorne also challenges the takeover of transgenderismand the denial of lesbian existence by men who claim to be lesbians,because they say they are. A must-read for every person who caresabout justice.—Lynne Harne, lesbian activist and co-editor, All the Rage

I was very pleased to be asked to comment on this collection of Susan’simportant contributions to the theory and culture of lesbian feminismover five decades. It was lovely for me to be reminded of these, andI particularly enjoyed the pieces on theorising heterosexuality,separatism, and the problem of men trying to crash and destroythe Women’s Circus to satisfy their sexual fetishism. There is suchrichness here, and this book is a treat for old lesbians like me and fora new generation.— Sheila Jeffreys, author, The Lesbian Heresy and Trigger Warning: My Lesbian Feminist Life

Susan Hawthorne bestows on her readers an impressive garland oflesbian essays that take us from etymologies to lesbian flights at theWomen’s Circus in Australia. On the tightwires of lesbian culture, heressays maintain a balance between the tensions of lesbian history andthe building blocks of a lesbian future.— Janice G. Raymond, author Doublethink and A Passion for Friends