"A wide ranging collection of feminism scholarship and rowdy dyke activism. Political fervour; autobiographical insight; theoretical analyses; philosophical treatises; short stories; poetry; together these radical voices add up to a declaration of the necessity for, and a vision of, lesbian civilization."--Publisher's description.

The unseen issues of grief and discrimination—lesbians becoming widows The death of a life partner poses unique challenges for lesbians. Lesbian Widows: Invisible Grief reveals the touching and very personal stories of twenty-five women, including the author, who were widowed at a young age and forced to create a new life without their life partners. The book follows the widows from the time the couple met, to the time when one of the partners died, and beyond, to show how the surviving partner coped with her loss. Many lesbians feel that the intimacy felt between two women in love goes deeper than what can be experienced by heterosexual partners. Lesbian Widows: Invisible Grief reveals themes common to all these women’s experiences while offering practical advice about coping techniques and resources for support. The widows discuss their efforts to create funerals and memorial services, give their accounts of the overwhelming grief throughout the first two years, and explain the legal and financial discrimination they encountered. The author provides a chapter specifically for caring family and friends, another chapter for professionals working with this sensitive population, and a bibliography of helpful coping resources. Lesbian Widows: Invisible Grief explores the topics of: caregivers/caretaking death and dying grief journeys the similarities and differences between lesbian and married widows the lack of support services for lesbian widows the legal and financial discrimination against lesbian widows the effect of being “in” or “out” on grief recovery the issues faced by widows in starting new relationships spirituality gay marriage Lesbian Widows: Invisible Grief provides an insightful look into the grieving and recovery process, inspiring hope with the knowledge that others have survived this tragedy. This moving book is an essential resource for lesbians, friends and family of lesbians, mental health professionals, medical professionals, psychiatrists, LGBT health providers, feminist and lesbian organizations, and anyone involved with grief training programs such as hospice.

Interviews with never-het lesbians, ex-lesbians, married lesbians, bi-sexuals and returnees (lesbian, straight and lesbian again) are analysed from a feminist perspective.

Exploring the rich relational world of lesbians at midlife, this text discusses the difficulties of stigma and the strengths of female same-sex relationships, providing a range of insights into the challenges lesbians face at middle age.

In a groundbreaking book that weaves together their professional experience with the lively, poignant, immediate voices of dozens of gay and lesbian youths, the authors provide an invaluable step-by-step guide to empowering gay youth to understand, accept and celebrate their sexual orientation. Photos.

Settle back for a wild ride through a Southern lesbian's life of soul-searching, rule-breaking, and truth-telling. This belle's kind of coming out was not what her traditional Mississippi family expected. How does she recover from family estrangement in the midst of her career as a psychotherapist? How does she find lasting love and a family-of-choice? From her last boyfriend suggesting she become a lesbian, to coming out to the church ladies at her mama's funeral, these true stories will touch your heart, give you hope, and make you laugh out loud. Based on Elizabeth McCain's award-winning one-woman play, A Lesbian Belle Tells..., this memoir provides story medicine for your soul. It is filled with Southern charm and drama, as well as triumph over tragedy, as only a lesbian belle can tell.