being a lesbian is a gift in my life and i love learning about the history of fellow lesbians, especially from my very own western new york!! i loved the direct interviews included but often found it slow due to repetition. also wished for more content about femmes, but such is the classic problem re: lesbian historical literature! regardless, i learned so many aspects of working class lesbian culture in the 40s and 50s that I knew nothing about. i am so grateful to be alive at this moment in gay history and even more grateful for everyone who came before that made my life possible.

Here's a quote that made me lol:
"I never liked the word 'queer,' that used to send me up the wall. 'Cause to me straight people are queer, I mean they're really bent...They're weird."

Some other golden lines:
"The phrase 'Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold' captures the duality that lies at the core of lesbian communities of the past—the toughness required to endure and struggle against severe and often violent homophobia, and the light and joy gained from the quest for the perfect love and the faith that a safe and respected place in the world was possible."

"Butch-fem roles coalesced an entire culture into the prepolitical, but none the less active, struggle against gay and lesbian oppression. Working-class lesbians had a key role in shaping their history, transforming their social life, sexual expression, relationships, and identity. Together these changes created the consciousness of kind necessary for the boldness that was to characterize gay liberation."

INCREDIBLE!! a very long and tough read. made me think hard about my identity, butchfem relations, and now i want a blue star tat <3 :'-) lesbians of upstate ny!!! thank u claire!