Ever since I started following you, I have loved your writing, but this right here is the article/ essay/ interview/ whatever that turned me into a paid subscriber. Beautiful writing on an important subject!
Babe’s in Richmond, VA is the lesbian bar I grew up with… They let the local pop punk/punk adjacent scene use their volleyball court for Sunday Daytime Volleyball.
$5 pitchers of PBR, a few rounds of Sunday volleyball, and a bike ride to the next place has been the start of many of my friendships and relationships.
I've loved and lost several lesbian bars in my life (The Lex! Chances in Houston, where I conducted research for a lil undergrad enthnography paper!), and now that I've bi-erased myself (a queer woman married to a cis straight dude), I'd forgotten how much that community meant to me in my 20s. What a beautiful reminder of the need for queer joy.
I love this. My sister who is gay lived in NY for 3 years, with her partner, in their twenties and I’ll put this on my Christmas shopping list for them (I buy up early!) as I’m sure the nostalgia will make it a winner. Also, my daughter is trans and I like the way the author didn’t directly address the question of spaces for lesbians, and for women, and the ‘trans debate’. Perhaps I’m reading more into this than is there, but the focus on genuine inclusion in the whole piece seems to answer it beautifully.
Bloomington IN resident checking in! Always fun to see us in your newsletter (we’ve had some IU people in before I think.) Their drag shows are fun! Never had a bad night there.
Lovely memories, but also hopefully memories for the future. Years back, my old (lesbian) housemate took me out for my birthday, and we hung out in the backyard of Wild Side West where one of the patrons tried to get me to go home with her. So glad that place is still there, I so miss it.
Ever since I started following you, I have loved your writing, but this right here is the article/ essay/ interview/ whatever that turned me into a paid subscriber. Beautiful writing on an important subject!
Excellent timing! I just started reading this book and I’m totally enjoying it. Can’t wait to hit the Wild Rose this weekend!
Babe’s in Richmond, VA is the lesbian bar I grew up with… They let the local pop punk/punk adjacent scene use their volleyball court for Sunday Daytime Volleyball.
$5 pitchers of PBR, a few rounds of Sunday volleyball, and a bike ride to the next place has been the start of many of my friendships and relationships.
I've loved and lost several lesbian bars in my life (The Lex! Chances in Houston, where I conducted research for a lil undergrad enthnography paper!), and now that I've bi-erased myself (a queer woman married to a cis straight dude), I'd forgotten how much that community meant to me in my 20s. What a beautiful reminder of the need for queer joy.
I love this. My sister who is gay lived in NY for 3 years, with her partner, in their twenties and I’ll put this on my Christmas shopping list for them (I buy up early!) as I’m sure the nostalgia will make it a winner. Also, my daughter is trans and I like the way the author didn’t directly address the question of spaces for lesbians, and for women, and the ‘trans debate’. Perhaps I’m reading more into this than is there, but the focus on genuine inclusion in the whole piece seems to answer it beautifully.
Bloomington IN resident checking in! Always fun to see us in your newsletter (we’ve had some IU people in before I think.) Their drag shows are fun! Never had a bad night there.
This is beautiful ❤️
A bit late but loved this, lesbian bars closing is a problem everywhere, we’re losing them in Paris and London too.
I love all of this. And Alibis really is the best, for all peoples. 🫶
Lovely memories, but also hopefully memories for the future. Years back, my old (lesbian) housemate took me out for my birthday, and we hung out in the backyard of Wild Side West where one of the patrons tried to get me to go home with her. So glad that place is still there, I so miss it.