The Rise and Fall of Political Lesbianism and Lesbian Separatism (Timeline) by Yaakov Aldrich

Love Your Enemy? The Debate Between Heterosexual Feminism and Political Lesbianism (1981)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 10:50:30 UTC

This pamphlet, co-written by Sheila Jeffreys and the Leeds Revolutionary Feminsts, revolutionized the discussion around political lesbianism, and indeed was the first time the phrase was used in writing. The Leeds Revolutionary Feminists directly advocated for all women to choose lesbianism as a form of political praxis, and to reject men from their lives and social circles. This writing shows how political lesbianism and lesbian separatism went hand in hand during the Second Wave of feminism in the US.

Jeffreys, S. (1981). Love your enemy? : the debate between heterosexual feminism and political lesbianism. Onlywomen Press.

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The Lesbian Heresy: a Feminist Perspective on the Lesbian Sexual Revolution (1993)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 10:53:54 UTC

This book variously argues against the porn industry and male supremacy, and more controversially, agains BDSM practices in the lesbian community. Jeffreys advocates for women to become lesbians and then create intentional community together on the basis of equality amongst themselves and political struggle with mainstream straight and gay society.

Lesbian Nation: The Feminist Solution (1973)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 10:55:07 UTC

This book advocates for all women to declare themselves lesbians, and then to form the titular "Lesbian Nation." Johnston is famous for saying that "All women are lesbians except those that don't know it yet."

Johnston, J. (1973). Lesbian Nation. New York : Simon and Schuster.

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An interview with Ti‐Grace Atkinson: Her speeches and speechmaking (2009)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 12:18:56 UTC

This article is a lightly edited partial transcription of a 21/2 hour interview with Ti-Grace Atkinson, one of the founding mothers of political lesbianism, in which she discusses public communication and speechmaking.

Reynolds, B. K. (1973). An interview with Ti‐Grace Atkinson: Her speeches and speechmaking. Today’s Speech, 21(4), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/01463377309369112

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My sexual revolution (2009)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 12:19:55 UTC

Julie Bindel, a famous radical feminist and political lesbian, reflects on the historical achievements of political lesbianism, and advocates for the ideology in the modern day.

Bindel, J. (2009, January 30). Julie Bindel on political lesbianism. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/30/women-gayrights

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Once a Fury (2020)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 12:33:44 UTC

This documentary profiles 10 members of the Furies collective. They discuss their activities at the height of the radical feminist movement and the societal pushback they experienced whilst advocating for political lesbianism and lesbian separatism.

Rhodes, J. (2020). Once a Fury [Review of Once a Fury].

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Rubyfruit T-shirt (1980)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 12:34:25 UTC

This is a yellow t-shirt with the text "Rubyfruit" in red across the chest. Rubyfruit Jungle is the name of a lesbian coming of age novel, by Rita Mae Brown, a former member of the Furies Collective, political lesbian, and activist for Lesbian rights.

(2024). Womenslibrary.org.uk. https://womenslibrary.org.uk/gwl_wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Rubyfruit-T-shirt-c-1980.jpg

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Lesbianism as a Political Strategy (1987)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 12:35:26 UTC

This article by Paula Krebs is a central text in the polticial lesbianism canon. It advocates against the corporatization and normalization of lesbianism, and advocates for feminists to become self-aware of their own choices regarding sexual identity and to choose lesbianism as a way to forward the aims of Feminism.

Krebs, P. (1987). Lesbianism as a Political Strategy [Review of Lesbianism as a Political Strategy ].

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Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence (1980)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 16:32:50 UTC

This essay brought the central ideas of political lesbianism into mainstream feminist discussions. It analysed the way heterosexuality is assumed to be women's default sexuality by society and by women themselves, and made the groundbreaking assertion that women can choose to be lesbians.

Rich, A. (1982). Compulsory heterosexuality and lesbian existence. Antelope Publications.

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A real lesbian meets political lesbians (1971)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 16:33:56 UTC

This black-and-white photograph portrays a group of women sitting in a room, presumably a meeting of various lesbians. The title implies that one of the woman is a "real" lesbian, ie, a woman who loves other women, while the other women in the photo are merely political lesbians, who do not date men.

Tobin, Kay. A real lesbian meets political lesbians | DPLA. (2024). Dp.la. https://dp.la/item/6ae40222824200db9b364ee7e98c821f?q=political+lesbian

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In the early 1960s, the Second Wave of the feminist movement begins.

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 16:36:07 UTC

The feminist Sex Wars begin. The Second Wave fizzles out during the 1980s.

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 16:38:53 UTC

By the 21st century, all that's left of political lesbianism and lesbian separatism are retrospectives.

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-10 16:49:55 UTC

Welcome to the Political Lesbianism Timeline!

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-17 14:14:13 UTC

This exhibit provides an overview of the sister movements of political lesbianism and lesbian separatism, tracking their rise and fall through the history of Second-Wave feminism.

Exhibit guide: Historical context is outlined in blue, photographs are outlined in red, texts in green, physical objects in purple, and video/audio artifacts in black.

The timeline's background is the Labrys lesbian flag, which was adopted in the 1970s by lesbian feminists and eventually fell out of favor.

Lesbian-feminist dialogue (1972)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-17 14:17:41 UTC

This recording contains 9 speeches by various lesbians and feminists on various topics, including lesbian separatism, political lesbianism, and tensions between the lesbian and feminist communities.

Lesbian-feminist dialogue | DPLA. (2024). Dp.la. https://dp.la/item/1ced86079f633cc2567bf70e7b874e4f?q=lesbian+separatism

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The Woman-Identified Woman (1970)

yaakovaldrich — 2024-10-17 14:18:55 UTC

This pamphlet argues for a new definition of lesbian, one based around political opposition to the patriarchy and anger towards male dominance. Lesbians, the article argues, exist in a category created by sexism in society, and women should seek to enter that category in opposition to men.

Radicalesbians. (1970). The Woman-Identified Woman / Women’s Liberation Movement Print Culture / Duke Digital Repository. Duke Digital Collections. https://repository.duke.edu/dc/wlmpc/wlmms01011