Oh my goodness I've just had to pause to say that the words you quote spoken by Anne in was it The Odd Girl (?) were exactly those uttered by my mother when I came out. I'd fallen for my now wife in 1983 whilst married to a man who's heart I broke but am forever grateful to for letting me go and still being a dear friend. "She has you hypnotised" I wouldn't mind but I'd been the biggest tom-boy all my life! 😂 They both came to love my darling too in the end.
It says a lot about him that he excepted it so well I suppose for him it was the idea that it wasn’t his it wasn’t because he wasn’t man enough for you sort of thing a lot of guys have that when they’re told by their partner a girlfriend or what have you that it really isn’t them they’re interested in a lady i.e. they’re interested in a woman of their own sex and yeah I know maybe I’m not using the right words but that’s been my experience for a couple of them are really upset I do know one or two but that was back in the 70s when I was a little kid watching the goings-on‘s of other people trying to figure how to fit in in the world I would never fit into because it wasn’t just ace I was autistic and my father was hiding it and I was high functioning and the rest is history.
I'd like to recommend to you a documentary film from 1992 called "Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives" where lesbian women talk about their lives in the 50s and what lesbian pulp fiction meant to them. There's also Ann Bannon talking about her writing.
TW for this however, there is at least *two brief underage (young teen and adult) relationships mentioned, familial and relationship abuse, residential schools mentioned, police abuse, r*pe mention, racism, older terminology, possibly an animal in distress and more Naked women and sex are also shown if anyone needs to factor that in
It’s an excellent documentary and I believe most of the lesbians being interviewed were Canadian. I’ve read all of Ann Bannon’s books and she’s a great writer who was a lesbian who wrote novels for other lesbians. Great video! ❤
I’m 51. When I was in my teens and early 20’s I had to really search for anything with lesbians and most of what I found was not good or happy, but at least it was something. My younger self would never have imagined how things have progressed! I am elated that there is so much positive representation now. (My favorite couple is Ava and Sara from Legends of Tomorrow.)
@@PhoebeFayRuthLouise Right?! I would spend so much time scanning and flipping through books just looking for that one reference or side storyline about lesbians. I think it was the 1990’s when I discovered Naiad press published lesbian books. Then I only had to look for that name on the spine.
@@PhoebeFayRuthLouise I think the first of her books that I read was Rubyfruit Jungle. I still have it. Another example of how far things have come-My daughter took an LGBT literature class in college and asked to borrow it because it was on the reading list. I never would have guessed that a book that I hid and snuck around reading would end up being used in a college course by my child. 🌈
@@jennifers5560 Yes, that was the one I had! It’s truly astounding to think you went from hiding that book to lending it to your daughter for a college class! It’s so much easier for the young people today!
Jessica-could you please do a spotlight/maybe a guest appearance interview or something with a couple of older lesbians or some "late bloomer" (previously straight or married to men) lesbians and explore that a little bit? I feel like those who are older and a bit "late to the party" kinda get left out of a lot in the community or taken less seriously. I realize your demographic is primarily 30s and younger but you really do have a lot of middle aged/mature followers here too who love you & Claudia & Rupert equally.
I was twenty-five when I realised I wasn't straight having been married to a man for five years. I was introduced to the only known gay woman in town, twenty years old. We fell in love, moved to London so she could finish her degree. I became the second woman bus driver in London that was back in early eighties. Became civil partners and will celebrate... crikey... is that forty years next year? I'll be sixty four this year, my love will be sixty. I'm now quietly identifying as non-binary, very much thanks to Jessica's wise teachings on the subject. That's the watered down version, hope you found it of some interest. 🌈 👍 🏳️🌈
I was most certainly not a late bloomer but I would LOVE to see this representation!! Upvoted and commenting to boost visibility!! What a great idea. I’m so sorry you often feel left out, my friend. 💕
I know this is a year late so you might not see this but I have one suggestion for you. Her name is Alayna Joy and she does youtube, podcasts, tiktok, instagram, etc. and is currently in school to become a therapist to help other queer people. Alayna was engaged to a man and had primarily had relations with men before she in her 30s realized she was a lesbian and not bisexual. She told her fiance and they broke off the engagement, and a few years later, Alayna has a girlfriend and has shared her story on youtube of compulsive heteronormativity and why she didn't realize her sexuality for so long. She's not an older lesbian persay but the first I thought of where it took her until pretty recently to figure out her sexuality and was previously with men.
I'm Austrian and there is this Austrian actress Romy Schneider who's famous for playing Kaiserin Sissi and the movie plays every new years eve and seeing her in that movie as a young girl was like, my lesbian awakening lol. I thought she was the prettiest person ever and I guess she was my first celebrity crush? years later I found out that she played the main character in a 1953 movie about a young girl falling in love with her female teacher. It ends sad, but there was a kiss between them. The movie is Mädchen in Uniform. The original came out in 1931!
My favorite WLW relationship right now is in The Owl House. Disney may be trash, but this show isn't and having a Neurodivergent, Bi, POC as the main protagonist of a Disney Cartoon on the main channel and prominently advertised is amazing. The show tackles family trauma, healthy boundaries, healthy communication, and the wlw relationship is an enemies to friends to girlfriends arc that features the actual crush stage, as well as not waiting until the show is over to actually make the characters a couple.
I really noticed lately how much my expectations of inclusivity has dropped when I heard myself say things like: "The story was boring but at least they didn't kill off the queer couple." and "They made the mentally ill person the crazy bad girl, but at least they gave her a personality next to her disability." and "I finally found a series that got autism right, but I happen to not relate with the main character, but I watched it anyway because there isn't any other representation." It is sad how little there is out there.
As someone who has more than a passing interest in history, it never fails to amuse me how people reckon the ill-defined past was somehow more innocent, and that folks had "better values". I'm sure that seems like a very reasonable assessment of bygone eras, at least right up until they pick up a book for the fist time. Hopefully it'll be vintage lesbian fiction :p I do love the tagline for that one titled _The Strange Path._ "Her Choice - Normal Marriage or L E S B I A N L O V E" Aka, the least difficult dilemma I've ever been presented. I do hope she picks the latter.
@@bellewells2099 I’ve read some of her books! My favourite was definitely The Mighty Heart Of Sunny St. James. I think I first read it when I came out and my totally straight brain of the time really latched onto it for some strange reason.
I would love to see your reaction to the graphic novel/Netflix show Heartstopper which is full of positive queer representation. It includes a bisexual narrative that's really well done, queer girlfriends Tara and Darcy, queer boyfriends Nick and Charlie, and trans girl Elle!!!
At uni in 2006 we studied oranges are not the only fruit which is a coming of age lesbian story. (My English degree included am optional unit titled "women writing and modernity.") Despite identifying as queer since mid teens (late 90's) it was the first time I had really seen women loving women represented as not just something for the male gaze, I was around 26 before I discovered gay literature or met any openly gay couples as far as I knew until then apart from one ex girlfriend I was the only of my kind here. I live in a big city, but just hadn't been exposed to anything except het culture.
I studied Oranges are not the only fruit for a core unit in my creative writing major around 2014/15. As a young queer woman it was a total surprise to find it included in the unit. I don't think I had ever read anything with wlw in it before. It still has a place on my shelf today.
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood-Hargrave is a historical fiction novel set in 1600s Norway. It has lesbian romance, a witch trial, and tells the story of a village predominantly consisting of women after the most of the men died in a whaling accident. The author did a lot of research and it really takes you back in time.
@@jessicaoutofthecloset I've just seen someone mention Oranges are not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterton (or is it Winterson?) and it reminded me of another favourite author: Rita Mae Brown its eons since I read her but I do remember them being some of the funniest books I've ever read. Need to rummage in my bookshelves... 🤔 Anyone read her books here?
@@judebrown4103 yes! I have read several of hers. I think Rubyfruit Jungle was my favorite, but I think it was because it was the first books of hers that I read.
I took a break from reading the diaries of Anne Lister to watch this, and I'm waiting for a haul of Lesbian books - some fact, some fiction - which are due to arrive tomorrow! I've always been curious about the Lesbian pulp fiction books, but knowing they so often had sad endings puts me off. I used to want to watch WLW films/TV I saw advertised but didn't dare watch them until I came out about 4 years ago. I'm mostly caught up with the most popular stuff now, so I'm sure it won't be that long I'll find myself wandering into the world of 50's lesbian pulp fiction
The analogy of you worrying that Rupert will turn out to be a Winny the Pooh is hilarious!! You’re such a good actress too Also that’s so weird to hear the original name when I’ve always known it in French (winnie l’ourson)
Sarah Waters is a fabulous author of some top notch lesbian historical novels that have been adapted to films. I’m having trouble deciding which Sarah Waters couple is my favorite, but Nan and Florence from “Tipping the Velvet” are a lovely 1890s couple. Nan and Diana’s relationship in Tipping the velvet is extremely fascinating too! Sarah Waters’ lesser known book “The Paying Guests” has a very steamy couple, Frances and Lilian, who find each-other irresistible while trying to maintain a socially acceptable front in post WWI Camberwell England. I highly recommend anything written by Sarah Waters or the film adaptations!
Passing is a good lesbian book. They're both married to men but have a thing and at least one (can't remember) is a WOC and flying under the radar as a white woman. It's such a good intersectional read
They're both white passing WOC but one of them chose to marry a white man and join white society, while the other stayed among Black people. The movie came out late last year with Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson, I haven't seen it yet but I really want to!
Wait i watched the movie and i got gay vibes from them but i thought it probably was nothing and then it wasnt confirmed, but were they gay in the book?
@@maitesoto1953 I didn't know they made a movie! Thanks for the refresher, I read it years ago. It was so artfully done how the woman passing in white society married the hateful racist man. It was such a good demonstration of how passing for white can put you in more harmful atmospheres because white people are more racist in front of other white people.
@@Sara-uq6km the vibes stay gay in the book. I don't remember how far those two physically went with each other, but the writing is a bit thick with it
When I was thirty (and married to a man), I finally came out to myself, with the help of Rita Mae Brown and Katherine Forrest. And my own denied nature, of course. It helped too that I fell in love with my wife of almost 40yrs.
It’s so crazy to me that I started watching your videos way before I knew I was a lesbian. And now that I know, watching your queer history / media vids means even more to me.
"Buy one gay one free" LOL.....and now I have to clean the coffee out of my keyboard. I remember finding one of these types of books at a friends house as a young teen (mid 80's), her mother had gotten married and had exactly one child (to get her parents off her back) and then promptly divorced the guy...she did her "duty" and then told her folks to pound sand and stay out of her love life. Both of my friends parents were gay in the late 60's and figured the stigma of divorce was less than that of being gay, the parents raised her to know that she could love whom ever she chose and it was none of their business as long as she was safe and happy. Her mom said they were great friends, but never shared a bed until they were married for 3 years - and then only because of the pressure to have a baby. Her mom and momma have been together since 1990 and her dad and papa since 1994. They waited to date until my friend was of age so the family couldn't take her away because "immorality"...they had a double wedding when the law legalized gay marriage and live just a few houses apart.
Jessica, once upon a time, I saw one of the lesbian novels hidden down in the basement of the home we were renting. Unfortunately, the book disappeared before I could read it. fast forward to 2001. There was a very interesting bookstore in Philadelphia where I was living at that time. While looking through the stacks and found a novel written by Sarah Waters, Tipping the Velvet'' I was so eager to read the novel (all 481 pages) I practically slept with it. 😎😎😎 I finished 3 days later. The sore eyes were well worth it. 👀👀
LOL... "Two immoral women for the price of one". Priceless. 🤣 I'm not into trashy romance novels. I am also 40-something & straight, but I enjoy LGBTQIA+ friendly YA fiction. I recently read Rainbow Rowell's _Carry On_ series & enjoyed it immensely. (The couple are two guys, not women, but it's still good). There's plenty of value in reading that kind of fiction, no matter who you are. That being said, I may someday read one of those trashy lesbian pulp novels just because they look hilarious. The one with the blonde, the brunette in naughty lingerie lounging on the bed, and the husband looking on 100% looks like it was written by a man. 🤣
Carry On is so good! I also like Rainbow Rowell's book Fangirl, especially because the "fictional" fanfiction the main character writes in that novel is actually the first book of Carry On.
@@sleepingroses761 I have heard that _Fangirl_ is good. I haven't had a chance to read it, yet, but it's in my list of future reading from my library. 🙂 Another fantastic LGBTQIA+ read is an older fantasy series by Mercedes Lackey: _Magic's Pawn_, Magic's Promise _, & _Magic's Price_. Happy reading! 😊 I am definitely more able to come up with books about gay guys than about lesbians. I mean, books with gay guys do often have nice depictions of lesbians in them, but they're usually side characters. It's still nice to see positive representation, though. Sometimes, *any* representation is awesome.
I’m in my 30s and recently started questioning my sexuality, so as an avid book reader i dove into lesbian fiction. I recently finished One Last Stop, which was good and i would recommend for those that are ok with pda. Atm my favorite lesbian book is This Is How You Lose The Time War.
As someone who eagerly awaits to watch Gentleman Jack s2 with my best gay friend, I definitely agree with the immense need for representation in books and media 🙏 It's just a relief to get away from the real world's pressure ...and have an excuse to spend time with my crush asdfgh 🙈
I’ve watched a few of the episodes of series 2 already, it’s great! You’re in for a treat. I love period dramas and the costumes are so accurate, and Anne and Ann are such enjoyable characters
Sarah Waters' The Night Watch is such an amazing book. It has multiple lesbian relationships that are written carefully, they feel real people who just happen to be lesbians. I've read the book at least 3 times and I wrote my literature analysis of it in university.
It’s not a 50’s romance novel, but I think Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg is a great read. It’s got lesbian romance, domestic violence, heartbreak, racism, and even a murder mystery! It was written by a lesbian, so of course love wins in the end!
I am an older straight/CIS female but enjoy this site immensely. How can you not love this family? FGT was a huge hit and I only "wondered" about the gay undertones. Story initially had a main female character care for a male character - so I was confused by the ambiguity of the beginning storyline. Plus, I was used to a hetero story line. Now it makes sense, of course, but since the story did Not fully portray this storyline, it left me wondering. I'm kind of a black/white person with films, sometimes missing underlying tones, but realize the movie was being "careful". The way films are now, it's open season on lesbian stories !! lol
@@KindCountsDeb3773 I agree, when i saw the movie when it first came out, the gayness wasn’t obvious. They were portrayed as “best friends who shared a house.” It was toned down a lot from the book, I think because at the time, mainstream society still wasn’t accepting of lgbtq+. It’s still one of my favorite movies to this day! Parts of it were filmed in and around my hometown, so that makes it extra special! 🥰
Thanks for the additions to my reading list, Jessica! You know, I have to wonder if you're familiar with the now mostly extinct British lesbian subculture know as Aristasia? There were things about it that were so appealing and promising for wlw, and also so much that was problematic at best. I hung out a bit, but ultimately had to dip out, alas.
I am a youth services librarian, so read lots of teen fiction. My favorite lesbian couple so far are Liz and Mack from "You Should See Me In a Crown" by Leah Johnson.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo pays homage to the lesbian pulp fiction of the 1950s and has a very wonderful love story between Lily and Kath. It's set in 1950s San Francisco/Chinatown. The Tea Dragon Society books are also incredibly wholesome, and Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating is super fun!
Don't know about a favourite relationship, but I read Gideon the Ninth/Harrow the Ninth recently and omg, such a good portrayal of WLW queerness not for the male gaze It's such amazing writing and I have many feelings
If anyone's interested, Pulp by Robin Tally, features a fictional pulp fiction writer. It's more of a high-school level book, but the characters and story is absolutely wonderful!
when it comes to represention seeing u and ur wife on your youtube and Instagram just makes me so happy, bc you get to be yourself and have the cutest kid and be happy. idk it just makes me happy to know that being gay wont stop me from being happy.
wlw book recs (some of these feature aromantic-asexual leads and lesbian or bi side characters, check the descriptions and reviews if any pique your interest!): • Weak Heart by Ban Gilmartin (my favourite book ever) • Loveless by Alice Oseman • Radio Silence by Alice Oseman • All Out by Saundra Mitchell (an anthology, but many of the stories are wlw) • The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid • Leah On The Offbeat by Becky Albertalli • One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston • I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston • The Lady’s Guide To Petticoats And Piracy by Mackenzi Lee • the Priory Of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon • Girls Of Paper And Fire by Natasha Ngan • Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis • Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir • This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone • In The Vanisher’s Palace by Aliette De Bodard • also not at all fiction but If Not, Winter by Anne Carson is a great translation of Sappho’s poetry, it was such an important book to me when i was young and looking for lesbian representation. if you don’t know who Sappho is, Jessica has a video about her!
Right now my favorite WLW show is The Wilds! Season two comes out in a few days and I literally can’t wait. It’s about a group of girls stranded on an island after a plane crash, except it’s actually a social experiment. It’s really complicated and confusing at first lmao so I recommend watching multiple times to get the full scope of the story. It deals with heavy themes at times, so it’s probably a good idea to look for content warnings before watching too.
Willow and Tara have to stay one of my favourite queer couples. Someone did point out though that Buffy was also guilty of the trope of either killing off or making evil characters out of all their queer characters (and I noticed a few other non-inclusive problems with the series upon rewatching it), which is a shame, but still love Willow and Tara.
Ooh, well, not wlw, but I really liked Loveless by Alice Oseman for an aro/ace protagonist. For wlw I'd say The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri. On Webtoons I really liked Muted by Miranda Mundt, and 180 Angel by King Katbird. I've got sooo many other recommendations. And I know it's not wlw per say, but there is a wlw relationship that I adore in How to be a Werewolf by Shawn Lenore (also webcomic, but not on Webtoons)
That's such good content, I love learning about queer history! I actually wrote a few of my uni assignments on 'The Price of Salt' by Patricia Highsmith as it was one of those 'lesbian books' in the 50s but it was also so much more - with its hopeful ending, which was basically unheard of in queer literature of the time.
Elisa and Marcela is a really good movie about the true story of two women who legally married in Spain in 1901. They had to trick the authorities to pretend to be heterosexual, but it still is a beautiful story. The movie was released in 2019 and is on Netflix
My recommendation is Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. Lesbian necromancers in space, anyone? I'm definitely going to need to come back and browse the comments for book/show recommendations!
Oh that sounds interesting! Will definitely check it out, thank you. Love Anna Burke‘s Thorn and Compass Rose, although Thorn is my all time favourite ❤️
OMG I just love how you both say the titles and enjoyed this video, and just loved finding out about these books. Thank you so much for sharing this informative video and love you both a lot and so funny as well, made my day a lot better
Have to second the recommendation of Feel Good. It’s on Netflix, and it’s the story of a woman who is an addict and a woman who is straight falling in love. They move in together, like, ten minutes into the first episode, and become really codependent, but the show is about them steadily figuring out how to have a healthy supportive relationship. I can’t recommend it enough, it’s really short and not a single line is wasted
I've never heard it described as relaxation/comfort to consume gay media as a gay person, but I couldn't agree more! I truly get that feeling from this channel.
Some of my all time favorite lesbian books are: The entire Juliana series by Vanda The Chronicles of Dorsa Series Those Who Wait Most all books written by Anna Stone Hell's Belles by Marie Castle
I absolutely loved the first book of the chronicles of dorsa, but I was really disappointed by the second. I’ll have to check out the rest of the list :)
There is a good movie called Bound(1996) that has a feminine woman and Masculine woman versus the Femme's male sweetheart when he steals money from the mob and it is awesome
You asked for my favorite WLW ship, and you will recive! I absolutly ADORE Rangi x Kyoshi in The Rise of Kyoshi and The Shadow of Kyoshi. They just put a smile on my face.
I remember reading Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters fort he first time. it was on tv while Iw as still living at home and my mother was very dismissive of it and wouldn't have it on.
The pulps were originally so-called because from about the early 1920s many cheap novels and genre magazines (eg science fiction, detective fiction etc ) were printed on pulped (recycled) paper. Many of them can now command very high prices from collectors.
I got so excited last week cause my new library has gay and trans books in fiction non fiction. I was way too excited to see it. Got weird looks when I was frantically sending pictures to my friend who got equally as excited.
Hi Jessica, you mentioned Feel Good as a TV show showing a relationship between two women. I just wanted to point out that Mae Martin and their character are nonbinary so that isn't technically correct. Thanks for reading!
i'd recommend PULP by robin tally, its set in both 2017 and (I think, its been a while) 1955 great story about a lesbian pulp author and a lesbian teenager who discovers her book over 50 years later
Did anyone read manga to find representations of LGBT couples? I read yaoi and yuri to find stories that I connect with. (Yaoi (men) and yuri (women) are genres of same-sex couples. Ironically, most yaoi is written by women, and most yuri is written by men.) Two of the really good yuri series are Sunstone and Moonlight Garden.
An awesome but very difficult to come by documentary on this very subject, called, "Forbidden Love: Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives", which was produced in Canada and is only available on VHS as far as I know, unless it might be available for streaming now. It's absolutely fabulous, and goes more into the rest of the scene and the other ways these women had to find their outlets, including the bars and such. It has interviews with people like Ann Bannon, as well as women from a broad spectrum of ages, and going from housewives dealing with their "lesbian feelings" on the side, and all the way to activists, so it's pretty awesome.
This reminds me of the history of lesbian media in Japanese comics, the big difference is that those were written for women but still suffered from many of the same issues, such as the tragic endings.
After experimenting very good lesbian rep I ain't eager to read those books lol can't recommend any tho bc they are only available in portuguese (they are written by brazilian writers). It's interesting to learn about these books because I'd never imagine such a thing existed at that time, I may read one just to get an idea of how they are 👀
I'm interested too! (I'm Brazilian, commenting in English for the sake of consistency). I don't follow any social media and Amazon only suggests me books in English xD (not that I mind but knowing national writers would do some good)
I see that you have over 100 comments to this so far. Here is mine. Thanks to an icon in San Diego, California, Jeri Dilno, I have original paperback books written and published in the 1950’s. Long before Stonewall, New York, USA 1969, these stories relate the fears and shames and TRIUMPHS of Lesbian women in the USA in those years. We DESERVE the histories of Lesbian heroines, especially as they relate to survival and triumph in the face of oppression! ESPECIALLY when they relate to our ordinary, daily, frightened, fighting to survive, selves.
when ordinary life was anything but. I grew up with so many changes going on in the 60/70's. I did not see much gay representation - in society, in the arts or in the news. I'm glad that in my lifetime, that's taken a big leap forward and empowering so many that have needed that for so long. It can only help.
Love your video as always. So its not gonna be a very helpfull sugestion but i love the book Havana from Tessa Reis, its in portuguese because the author (and myself by the way) is from Brazil, its a sweet heartwarming story about two women, how they met and match their lifes together. I also like Fingersmith, Cool for the summer, One last stop, O amor não é fácil (love its not easy).
And i see a very cute anime called Sakura Trick which its about two girls who love and kiss each other in secret because its their way to say "you are my friend but also much more than this", they are so oblivios that things happen rather natural in their relantionship, the malegaze its annoing but whaterever. Also you should check Shera and the princess of power its THE BEST.
Have you considered doing audio version of these or similar types..... btw, back in the 50'sand 60's many New York based writers turned thier hand to writing these "Special Romance" books, since they could be turned out quickly and payed well. For example Lawrence Block, the mystery writer, wroted several "sleazy" novels under a pseudonym so he could tied himself over between mystery novels.
My favourite "WLW" couple, if you can call it that, are Tofslan and Vifslan in the Moomins. Tove Jansson wrote them based on herself and a partner Viveca. They carry a precious stone that is said to be a symbol of their love.
There is a book called pulp by Robin Talley and it is about a lady in the 1950s who discovers lesbian pulp and another lesbian in the modern day who study’s it for a project and how there lives pan out. It is a really great read
I have been in love with you and your wife since I first found your channel a few years ago (and Rupert, of course, though he came along later)! I consider myself fortunate that in today's world there are many female writers of lesbian fiction (especially in my favorite genre, the cozy novel, which are readily available as e-books). But, having watched this video (and read your announcement on the RUclips homepage), I have gone ahead and ordered a couple of the old pulp titles. I am quite interested in one in particular, a Patricia Highsmith anthology. 😇🙏🌈🏳🌈
Thank you for creating this video!! I have been researching these novels for over 10 years! I would recommend anything written by Valerie Taylor or Paula Christian (Christian is one of the few authors who had relatively happy endings to her stories). Just like Christian, Taylor later on in her career wrote more positive endings to her novels! She also was a huge activist throughout most of her life! Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker Chronicles we’re adapted to a play! I wish I could have seems it!! Exploring Gay Pulp Fiction for men is really interesting and dives into a whole different set of other stereotypes. However these were definitely targeted to gay men.
@@jennifers5560 the first lesbian novel I ever read was Curious Wine by Katherine V. Forrest!! I love her work! The Kate Delafield series is one I return to quite a bit. These books at 80s-early 90s, even though Forrest continued to write them into the 2000s I believe! I am on the hunt for all of them. I only have the first 5.
@@gwenbeauvais7973 Katherine Forrest writes great stories! If you are in the U.S. you can try searching Half Price Books, (the comments won't let me type the website address 😐 HPB) they are a good online source for used books. Maybe you can find some titles you don't have.
Favourite WLW couple is Sara Lance and Ava from the recently cancelled DC's legends of tomorrow. It's a little bit of a rivals to lovers dynamic to begin with, but their relationship once they get together is actually super adorable. The whole show is very queer found family vibes especially in the later seasons
Progress is a funny thing sometimes. Making these novels for men to enjoy not only got them into the hands of women who needed to know they weren't alone, but also slowly normalized the idea that lesbians exist all around us. I think in this case at least, that sex sells the idea, then actual representation comes later.
Somehow all my favourite sapphic representation has come from cartoons aimed at older kids. I don't know why. Maybe because the characters aren't sexualised there. Also they all have female writers who are LGBTQ, so it comes from a very authentic sapphic perspective.
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Oh my goodness I've just had to pause to say that the words you quote spoken by Anne in was it The Odd Girl (?) were exactly those uttered by my mother when I came out. I'd fallen for my now wife in 1983 whilst married to a man who's heart I broke but am forever grateful to for letting me go and still being a dear friend. "She has you hypnotised" I wouldn't mind but I'd been the biggest tom-boy all my life! 😂 They both came to love my darling too in the end.
❤️
It says a lot about him that he excepted it so well I suppose for him it was the idea that it wasn’t his it wasn’t because he wasn’t man enough for you sort of thing a lot of guys have that when they’re told by their partner a girlfriend or what have you that it really isn’t them they’re interested in a lady i.e. they’re interested in a woman of their own sex and yeah I know maybe I’m not using the right words but that’s been my experience for a couple of them are really upset I do know one or two but that was back in the 70s when I was a little kid watching the goings-on‘s of other people trying to figure how to fit in in the world I would never fit into because it wasn’t just ace I was autistic and my father was hiding it and I was high functioning and the rest is history.
I'd like to recommend to you a documentary film from 1992 called "Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives" where lesbian women talk about their lives in the 50s and what lesbian pulp fiction meant to them. There's also Ann Bannon talking about her writing.
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TW for this however, there is at least *two brief underage (young teen and adult) relationships mentioned, familial and relationship abuse, residential schools mentioned, police abuse, r*pe mention, racism, older terminology, possibly an animal in distress and more
Naked women and sex are also shown if anyone needs to factor that in
I’ve tried to find bd Forbidden Love but can’t see it. Can you advise?
It’s an excellent documentary and I believe most of the lesbians being interviewed were Canadian. I’ve read all of Ann Bannon’s books and she’s a great writer who was a lesbian who wrote novels for other lesbians. Great video! ❤
I’m 51. When I was in my teens and early 20’s I had to really search for anything with lesbians and most of what I found was not good or happy, but at least it was something.
My younger self would never have imagined how things have progressed! I am elated that there is so much positive representation now.
(My favorite couple is Ava and Sara from Legends of Tomorrow.)
I’m 58 and I totally agree with how the change in my lifetime has been mind blowing!
@@PhoebeFayRuthLouise Right?! I would spend so much time scanning and flipping through books just looking for that one reference or side storyline about lesbians.
I think it was the 1990’s when I discovered Naiad press published lesbian books. Then I only had to look for that name on the spine.
@@jennifers5560 I found a Rita Mae Brown book in the early 80s. I don’t know how many times I read that one book!
@@PhoebeFayRuthLouise I think the first of her books that I read was Rubyfruit Jungle. I still have it.
Another example of how far things have come-My daughter took an LGBT literature class in college and asked to borrow it because it was on the reading list. I never would have guessed that a book that I hid and snuck around reading would end up being used in a college course by my child. 🌈
@@jennifers5560 Yes, that was the one I had! It’s truly astounding to think you went from hiding that book to lending it to your daughter for a college class! It’s so much easier for the young people today!
“Buy one gay one free!”
The whole video is funny, informative, and educational, but that one line - - I’ll be stealing that one!
Just came in the comments to say the same 🤣
That is a great line!
Same here, & now we know who does the "Dad" jokes - poor Rupert
I thought it was “Bi one gay one free” 😂
Top-tier wordplay! 🏅
Jessica-could you please do a spotlight/maybe a guest appearance interview or something with a couple of older lesbians or some "late bloomer" (previously straight or married to men) lesbians and explore that a little bit? I feel like those who are older and a bit "late to the party" kinda get left out of a lot in the community or taken less seriously. I realize your demographic is primarily 30s and younger but you really do have a lot of middle aged/mature followers here too who love you & Claudia & Rupert equally.
I'd love to see this too!
I was twenty-five when I realised I wasn't straight having been married to a man for five years. I was introduced to the only known gay woman in town, twenty years old. We fell in love, moved to London so she could finish her degree. I became the second woman bus driver in London that was back in early eighties. Became civil partners and will celebrate... crikey... is that forty years next year? I'll be sixty four this year, my love will be sixty. I'm now quietly identifying as non-binary, very much thanks to Jessica's wise teachings on the subject.
That's the watered down version, hope you found it of some interest. 🌈 👍 🏳️🌈
I was most certainly not a late bloomer but I would LOVE to see this representation!! Upvoted and commenting to boost visibility!! What a great idea. I’m so sorry you often feel left out, my friend. 💕
I know this is a year late so you might not see this but I have one suggestion for you. Her name is Alayna Joy and she does youtube, podcasts, tiktok, instagram, etc. and is currently in school to become a therapist to help other queer people. Alayna was engaged to a man and had primarily had relations with men before she in her 30s realized she was a lesbian and not bisexual. She told her fiance and they broke off the engagement, and a few years later, Alayna has a girlfriend and has shared her story on youtube of compulsive heteronormativity and why she didn't realize her sexuality for so long. She's not an older lesbian persay but the first I thought of where it took her until pretty recently to figure out her sexuality and was previously with men.
"I have to deal with heterosexuality every single day." Isn't that the truth. 😮💨
I even felt this one as a bisexual, must be even worse if you are gay.
I'm Austrian and there is this Austrian actress Romy Schneider who's famous for playing Kaiserin Sissi and the movie plays every new years eve and seeing her in that movie as a young girl was like, my lesbian awakening lol. I thought she was the prettiest person ever and I guess she was my first celebrity crush? years later I found out that she played the main character in a 1953 movie about a young girl falling in love with her female teacher. It ends sad, but there was a kiss between them. The movie is Mädchen in Uniform. The original came out in 1931!
My lesbian awakening was a cat-dressed character from a kids' tv series, so no need to be ashamed at all 😄
My favorite WLW relationship right now is in The Owl House. Disney may be trash, but this show isn't and having a Neurodivergent, Bi, POC as the main protagonist of a Disney Cartoon on the main channel and prominently advertised is amazing.
The show tackles family trauma, healthy boundaries, healthy communication, and the wlw relationship is an enemies to friends to girlfriends arc that features the actual crush stage, as well as not waiting until the show is over to actually make the characters a couple.
LOVE OWL HOUSE AND SHE-RA!!!
I really noticed lately how much my expectations of inclusivity has dropped when I heard myself say things like: "The story was boring but at least they didn't kill off the queer couple." and "They made the mentally ill person the crazy bad girl, but at least they gave her a personality next to her disability." and "I finally found a series that got autism right, but I happen to not relate with the main character, but I watched it anyway because there isn't any other representation." It is sad how little there is out there.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malina Lo is a YA lesbian novel that talks about this! It's set in 1950s San Francisco
I literally came here to recommend this book
I was just going to say the same thing! Just reading it
Same here. Keep thinking about all those scenes of Lily scoping out the pulp fiction books while watching this video.
I just finished it last week and it's so good!!
Yes! I thought of this immediately too.
As someone who has more than a passing interest in history, it never fails to amuse me how people reckon the ill-defined past was somehow more innocent, and that folks had "better values". I'm sure that seems like a very reasonable assessment of bygone eras, at least right up until they pick up a book for the fist time.
Hopefully it'll be vintage lesbian fiction :p
I do love the tagline for that one titled _The Strange Path._ "Her Choice - Normal Marriage or L E S B I A N L O V E"
Aka, the least difficult dilemma I've ever been presented. I do hope she picks the latter.
In terms of modern fiction wlw, even outside of books: my current fave is Netflix's She-Ra and I am unashamed about it ✨
Me too!
As someone who is now finally Happily bisexual my focus is on the author Ashley Herring Blake
@@bellewells2099 I’ve read some of her books! My favourite was definitely The Mighty Heart Of Sunny St. James. I think I first read it when I came out and my totally straight brain of the time really latched onto it for some strange reason.
@Naema Popp exactly, there's nothing wrong with us! Peace and Kindness to you ☮️💪❤️
Yes, took the words right out of my head!!! 💕
I would love to see your reaction to the graphic novel/Netflix show Heartstopper which is full of positive queer representation. It includes a bisexual narrative that's really well done, queer girlfriends Tara and Darcy, queer boyfriends Nick and Charlie, and trans girl Elle!!!
My favorite would have to be “the price of salt” by Patricia high smith. Which is also the movie, Carol (2015)
Carol is one of my favorite movies
At uni in 2006 we studied oranges are not the only fruit which is a coming of age lesbian story. (My English degree included am optional unit titled "women writing and modernity.") Despite identifying as queer since mid teens (late 90's) it was the first time I had really seen women loving women represented as not just something for the male gaze, I was around 26 before I discovered gay literature or met any openly gay couples as far as I knew until then apart from one ex girlfriend I was the only of my kind here. I live in a big city, but just hadn't been exposed to anything except het culture.
I studied Oranges are not the only fruit for a core unit in my creative writing major around 2014/15. As a young queer woman it was a total surprise to find it included in the unit. I don't think I had ever read anything with wlw in it before. It still has a place on my shelf today.
Hetero - well it is over represented ! lolo
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood-Hargrave is a historical fiction novel set in 1600s Norway. It has lesbian romance, a witch trial, and tells the story of a village predominantly consisting of women after the most of the men died in a whaling accident. The author did a lot of research and it really takes you back in time.
i need to immediately read all of these books
📚🙌❤️
me too!!
@@jessicaoutofthecloset How did I not know there is a book emoji??
@@jessicaoutofthecloset I've just seen someone mention Oranges are not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterton (or is it Winterson?) and it reminded me of another favourite author: Rita Mae Brown its eons since I read her but I do remember them being some of the funniest books I've ever read. Need to rummage in my bookshelves... 🤔 Anyone read her books here?
@@judebrown4103 yes! I have read several of hers. I think Rubyfruit Jungle was my favorite, but I think it was because it was the first books of hers that I read.
I took a break from reading the diaries of Anne Lister to watch this, and I'm waiting for a haul of Lesbian books - some fact, some fiction - which are due to arrive tomorrow! I've always been curious about the Lesbian pulp fiction books, but knowing they so often had sad endings puts me off. I used to want to watch WLW films/TV I saw advertised but didn't dare watch them until I came out about 4 years ago. I'm mostly caught up with the most popular stuff now, so I'm sure it won't be that long I'll find myself wandering into the world of 50's lesbian pulp fiction
The analogy of you worrying that Rupert will turn out to be a Winny the Pooh is hilarious!! You’re such a good actress too
Also that’s so weird to hear the original name when I’ve always known it in French (winnie l’ourson)
Sarah Waters is a fabulous author of some top notch lesbian historical novels that have been adapted to films. I’m having trouble deciding which Sarah Waters couple is my favorite, but Nan and Florence from “Tipping the Velvet” are a lovely 1890s couple. Nan and Diana’s relationship in Tipping the velvet is extremely fascinating too! Sarah Waters’ lesser known book “The Paying Guests” has a very steamy couple, Frances and Lilian, who find each-other irresistible while trying to maintain a socially acceptable front in post WWI Camberwell England. I highly recommend anything written by Sarah Waters or the film adaptations!
As a 28 year old bear with an aversion to wearing pants, I'm officially blaming Winnie the Pooh.
👀😁
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hahaha
Oh honey! 😉
@@amyt3949 Oh bothuh'
I haven’t even watched the video and I’m already loving Jessica’s “so scandalous!” expression in the thumbnail 😂
Passing is a good lesbian book. They're both married to men but have a thing and at least one (can't remember) is a WOC and flying under the radar as a white woman. It's such a good intersectional read
They're both white passing WOC but one of them chose to marry a white man and join white society, while the other stayed among Black people. The movie came out late last year with Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson, I haven't seen it yet but I really want to!
Wait i watched the movie and i got gay vibes from them but i thought it probably was nothing and then it wasnt confirmed, but were they gay in the book?
@@maitesoto1953 I didn't know they made a movie! Thanks for the refresher, I read it years ago. It was so artfully done how the woman passing in white society married the hateful racist man. It was such a good demonstration of how passing for white can put you in more harmful atmospheres because white people are more racist in front of other white people.
@@Sara-uq6km the vibes stay gay in the book. I don't remember how far those two physically went with each other, but the writing is a bit thick with it
omg is that the movie on netflix?
When I was thirty (and married to a man), I finally came out to myself, with the help of Rita Mae Brown and Katherine Forrest. And my own denied nature, of course. It helped too that I fell in love with my wife of almost 40yrs.
So happy for you two.
The book Last night at the telegraph club talks of it (and of butch culture) if anyone is interested.
Therese and Carol from Patricia Highsmith’s The Price of Salt (or Carol) first published in the early 1950’s.
It’s so crazy to me that I started watching your videos way before I knew I was a lesbian. And now that I know, watching your queer history / media vids means even more to me.
"Buy one gay one free" LOL.....and now I have to clean the coffee out of my keyboard.
I remember finding one of these types of books at a friends house as a young teen (mid 80's), her mother had gotten married and had exactly one child (to get her parents off her back) and then promptly divorced the guy...she did her "duty" and then told her folks to pound sand and stay out of her love life. Both of my friends parents were gay in the late 60's and figured the stigma of divorce was less than that of being gay, the parents raised her to know that she could love whom ever she chose and it was none of their business as long as she was safe and happy. Her mom said they were great friends, but never shared a bed until they were married for 3 years - and then only because of the pressure to have a baby. Her mom and momma have been together since 1990 and her dad and papa since 1994. They waited to date until my friend was of age so the family couldn't take her away because "immorality"...they had a double wedding when the law legalized gay marriage and live just a few houses apart.
That is a great story. Thanks for sharing it.
That sounds like a great book or documentary waiting to be written in itself.
🥰
Jessica, once upon a time, I saw one of the lesbian novels hidden down in the basement of the home we were renting. Unfortunately, the book disappeared before I could read it. fast forward to 2001. There was a very interesting bookstore in Philadelphia where I was living at that time. While looking through the stacks and found a novel written by Sarah Waters, Tipping the Velvet'' I was so eager to read the novel (all 481 pages) I practically slept with it. 😎😎😎 I finished 3 days later. The sore eyes were well worth it. 👀👀
LOL... "Two immoral women for the price of one". Priceless. 🤣
I'm not into trashy romance novels. I am also 40-something & straight, but I enjoy LGBTQIA+ friendly YA fiction. I recently read Rainbow Rowell's _Carry On_ series & enjoyed it immensely. (The couple are two guys, not women, but it's still good). There's plenty of value in reading that kind of fiction, no matter who you are.
That being said, I may someday read one of those trashy lesbian pulp novels just because they look hilarious. The one with the blonde, the brunette in naughty lingerie lounging on the bed, and the husband looking on 100% looks like it was written by a man. 🤣
Carry On is so good! I also like Rainbow Rowell's book Fangirl, especially because the "fictional" fanfiction the main character writes in that novel is actually the first book of Carry On.
@@sleepingroses761 I have heard that _Fangirl_ is good. I haven't had a chance to read it, yet, but it's in my list of future reading from my library. 🙂
Another fantastic LGBTQIA+ read is an older fantasy series by Mercedes Lackey: _Magic's Pawn_, Magic's Promise _, & _Magic's Price_. Happy reading! 😊
I am definitely more able to come up with books about gay guys than about lesbians. I mean, books with gay guys do often have nice depictions of lesbians in them, but they're usually side characters. It's still nice to see positive representation, though. Sometimes, *any* representation is awesome.
I’m in my 30s and recently started questioning my sexuality, so as an avid book reader i dove into lesbian fiction. I recently finished One Last Stop, which was good and i would recommend for those that are ok with pda. Atm my favorite lesbian book is This Is How You Lose The Time War.
I haven't read anything else by Rowell, but Attachments is so good. (straight couple, but such good writing)
As someone who eagerly awaits to watch Gentleman Jack s2 with my best gay friend, I definitely agree with the immense need for representation in books and media 🙏 It's just a relief to get away from the real world's pressure ...and have an excuse to spend time with my crush asdfgh 🙈
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I’ve watched a few of the episodes of series 2 already, it’s great! You’re in for a treat. I love period dramas and the costumes are so accurate, and Anne and Ann are such enjoyable characters
Sarah Waters' The Night Watch is such an amazing book. It has multiple lesbian relationships that are written carefully, they feel real people who just happen to be lesbians. I've read the book at least 3 times and I wrote my literature analysis of it in university.
It’s not a 50’s romance novel, but I think Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg is a great read. It’s got lesbian romance, domestic violence, heartbreak, racism, and even a murder mystery! It was written by a lesbian, so of course love wins in the end!
I agree! Every year when I downsize my book collection, this one stays.
I am an older straight/CIS female but enjoy this site immensely. How can you not love this family? FGT was a huge hit and I only "wondered" about the gay undertones. Story initially had a main female character care for a male character - so I was confused by the ambiguity of the beginning storyline. Plus, I was used to a hetero story line. Now it makes sense, of course, but since the story did Not fully portray this storyline, it left me wondering. I'm kind of a black/white person with films, sometimes missing underlying tones, but realize the movie was being "careful". The way films are now, it's open season on lesbian stories !! lol
@@KindCountsDeb3773 I agree, when i saw the movie when it first came out, the gayness wasn’t obvious. They were portrayed as “best friends who shared a house.” It was toned down a lot from the book, I think because at the time, mainstream society still wasn’t accepting of lgbtq+. It’s still one of my favorite movies to this day! Parts of it were filmed in and around my hometown, so that makes it extra special! 🥰
I highly recommend the price of salt (it's so great). It was also adapted to a movie Carol which is also a great watch!
Important to note is The Price of Salt has a happy ending which was rare for its time and clearly still now.
@@teeandessing12 Yeah that's why it surprises me even more that not many people talk about it.
YESSS my fav
It is a great one! Loved the movie,as well. I’m in the Rubyfruit Jungle and Desert Hearts group, but got there in my 30s.
Thanks for the additions to my reading list, Jessica! You know, I have to wonder if you're familiar with the now mostly extinct British lesbian subculture know as Aristasia? There were things about it that were so appealing and promising for wlw, and also so much that was problematic at best. I hung out a bit, but ultimately had to dip out, alas.
I swear Jessica you read my mind! I just recently read Odd Girl Out by Ann Bannon and I thought it was very good especially for its time period.
Ok, so now we need some lesbian pulp fiction book reviews from Jessie and Claud! 📚
I am a youth services librarian, so read lots of teen fiction. My favorite lesbian couple so far are Liz and Mack from "You Should See Me In a Crown" by Leah Johnson.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo pays homage to the lesbian pulp fiction of the 1950s and has a very wonderful love story between Lily and Kath. It's set in 1950s San Francisco/Chinatown.
The Tea Dragon Society books are also incredibly wholesome, and Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating is super fun!
Please do an episode on Stone Butch Blues and Leslie Feinberg
So few lesbians I’ve met know about it and it’s so iconic
Don't know about a favourite relationship, but I read Gideon the Ninth/Harrow the Ninth recently and omg, such a good portrayal of WLW queerness not for the male gaze
It's such amazing writing and I have many feelings
If anyone's interested, Pulp by Robin Tally, features a fictional pulp fiction writer. It's more of a high-school level book, but the characters and story is absolutely wonderful!
I would like to see you interview a woman who lived in the 50s and who had a positive experience after reading one or more of the pulp books. x
when it comes to represention seeing u and ur wife on your youtube and Instagram just makes me so happy, bc you get to be yourself and have the cutest kid and be happy. idk it just makes me happy to know that being gay wont stop me from being happy.
I can remember as a teen secretly reading gay books in the library. Seeing Billy & Teddy in Young Avengers was so awesome
wlw book recs (some of these feature aromantic-asexual leads and lesbian or bi side characters, check the descriptions and reviews if any pique your interest!):
• Weak Heart by Ban Gilmartin (my favourite book ever)
• Loveless by Alice Oseman
• Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
• All Out by Saundra Mitchell (an anthology, but many of the stories are wlw)
• The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Leah On The Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
• One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
• I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
• The Lady’s Guide To Petticoats And Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
• the Priory Of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
• Girls Of Paper And Fire by Natasha Ngan
• Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis
• Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
• This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
• In The Vanisher’s Palace by Aliette De Bodard
• also not at all fiction but If Not, Winter by Anne Carson is a great translation of Sappho’s poetry, it was such an important book to me when i was young and looking for lesbian representation. if you don’t know who Sappho is, Jessica has a video about her!
Right now my favorite WLW show is The Wilds! Season two comes out in a few days and I literally can’t wait. It’s about a group of girls stranded on an island after a plane crash, except it’s actually a social experiment. It’s really complicated and confusing at first lmao so I recommend watching multiple times to get the full scope of the story.
It deals with heavy themes at times, so it’s probably a good idea to look for content warnings before watching too.
Her voice is so relaxing 😌
Willow and Tara have to stay one of my favourite queer couples. Someone did point out though that Buffy was also guilty of the trope of either killing off or making evil characters out of all their queer characters (and I noticed a few other non-inclusive problems with the series upon rewatching it), which is a shame, but still love Willow and Tara.
Ooh, well, not wlw, but I really liked Loveless by Alice Oseman for an aro/ace protagonist. For wlw I'd say The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri. On Webtoons I really liked Muted by Miranda Mundt, and 180 Angel by King Katbird. I've got sooo many other recommendations. And I know it's not wlw per say, but there is a wlw relationship that I adore in How to be a Werewolf by Shawn Lenore (also webcomic, but not on Webtoons)
My favorite lesbian couple is Carol and Therese, I simply love them
That's such good content, I love learning about queer history! I actually wrote a few of my uni assignments on 'The Price of Salt' by Patricia Highsmith as it was one of those 'lesbian books' in the 50s but it was also so much more - with its hopeful ending, which was basically unheard of in queer literature of the time.
Elisa and Marcela is a really good movie about the true story of two women who legally married in Spain in 1901. They had to trick the authorities to pretend to be heterosexual, but it still is a beautiful story. The movie was released in 2019 and is on Netflix
My recommendation is Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. Lesbian necromancers in space, anyone? I'm definitely going to need to come back and browse the comments for book/show recommendations!
Oh that sounds interesting! Will definitely check it out, thank you. Love Anna Burke‘s Thorn and Compass Rose, although Thorn is my all time favourite ❤️
OMG I just love how you both say the titles and enjoyed this video, and just loved finding out about these books. Thank you so much for sharing this informative video and love you both a lot and so funny as well, made my day a lot better
HOnestly I am a big Sarah Waters fan, especially FINGERSMITH and THE PAYING GUESTS.
Tipping the Velvet for me.
''Lebsian water hole'' that sounds like another pulb fiction book title :-D
Have to second the recommendation of Feel Good. It’s on Netflix, and it’s the story of a woman who is an addict and a woman who is straight falling in love. They move in together, like, ten minutes into the first episode, and become really codependent, but the show is about them steadily figuring out how to have a healthy supportive relationship. I can’t recommend it enough, it’s really short and not a single line is wasted
The books were usually sad endings but the Covers were fantastic art. Now it is OK to have a happy ending.
Thank you for the funny and educational video! ❤ I agree with you and Claudia on "Strange Path"...it does look interesting. ☺
I've never heard it described as relaxation/comfort to consume gay media as a gay person, but I couldn't agree more! I truly get that feeling from this channel.
Let’s be honest If Rupert became a large yellow bear with an aversion to trousers he’d just be your average gay
Some of my all time favorite lesbian books are:
The entire Juliana series by Vanda
The Chronicles of Dorsa Series
Those Who Wait
Most all books written by Anna Stone
Hell's Belles by Marie Castle
I absolutely loved the first book of the chronicles of dorsa, but I was really disappointed by the second. I’ll have to check out the rest of the list :)
To add on,
The midnight lie
The love song of ivy k harlow
@@NataliaNNS Hopefully the final installment can end on a good note. 🤞🏾🤞🏾
There is a good movie called Bound(1996) that has a feminine woman and Masculine woman versus the Femme's male sweetheart when he steals money from the mob and it is awesome
Love that movie!
You asked for my favorite WLW ship, and you will recive!
I absolutly ADORE Rangi x Kyoshi in The Rise of Kyoshi and The Shadow of Kyoshi. They just put a smile on my face.
I remember reading Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters fort he first time. it was on tv while Iw as still living at home and my mother was very dismissive of it and wouldn't have it on.
The Killing Eve show was actually inspired by a series of book called Codename Villanelle. Really good, with a better ending than the show’s!!
The pulps were originally so-called because from about the early 1920s many cheap novels and genre magazines (eg science fiction, detective fiction etc ) were printed on pulped (recycled) paper. Many of them can now command very high prices from collectors.
I got so excited last week cause my new library has gay and trans books in fiction non fiction. I was way too excited to see it. Got weird looks when I was frantically sending pictures to my friend who got equally as excited.
Ann Bannon was one of my favorites! Loved the Tales of Beebo Brinker.
You always make me smile 😊 I needed that, thank you.
Hi Jessica, you mentioned Feel Good as a TV show showing a relationship between two women. I just wanted to point out that Mae Martin and their character are nonbinary so that isn't technically correct. Thanks for reading!
i'd recommend PULP by robin tally, its set in both 2017 and (I think, its been a while) 1955 great story about a lesbian pulp author and a lesbian teenager who discovers her book over 50 years later
Did anyone read manga to find representations of LGBT couples? I read yaoi and yuri to find stories that I connect with. (Yaoi (men) and yuri (women) are genres of same-sex couples. Ironically, most yaoi is written by women, and most yuri is written by men.) Two of the really good yuri series are Sunstone and Moonlight Garden.
An awesome but very difficult to come by documentary on this very subject, called, "Forbidden Love: Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives", which was produced in Canada and is only available on VHS as far as I know, unless it might be available for streaming now. It's absolutely fabulous, and goes more into the rest of the scene and the other ways these women had to find their outlets, including the bars and such. It has interviews with people like Ann Bannon, as well as women from a broad spectrum of ages, and going from housewives dealing with their "lesbian feelings" on the side, and all the way to activists, so it's pretty awesome.
This reminds me of the history of lesbian media in Japanese comics, the big difference is that those were written for women but still suffered from many of the same issues, such as the tragic endings.
After experimenting very good lesbian rep I ain't eager to read those books lol can't recommend any tho bc they are only available in portuguese (they are written by brazilian writers). It's interesting to learn about these books because I'd never imagine such a thing existed at that time, I may read one just to get an idea of how they are 👀
Please share some portuguese books. I'm trying to learn the language and reading actually good books will make the process easier
I'm interested too! (I'm Brazilian, commenting in English for the sake of consistency). I don't follow any social media and Amazon only suggests me books in English xD (not that I mind but knowing national writers would do some good)
Hello! I'm also brazilian! Please tell me the names of the lesbian brazilian books I beg you
Red and Blue from This Is How You Lose the Time War are pretty fun
Favourite lesbian couples, Wayhaught (wynonna earp) WildMoore (batwoman) Avalance (Legends of Tomorrow), grace and Anissa (Black Lightning)
I see that you have over 100 comments to this so far. Here is mine. Thanks to an icon in San Diego, California, Jeri Dilno, I have original paperback books written and published in the 1950’s. Long before Stonewall, New York, USA 1969, these stories relate the fears and shames and TRIUMPHS of Lesbian women in the USA in those years. We DESERVE the histories of Lesbian heroines, especially as they relate to survival and triumph in the face of oppression! ESPECIALLY when they relate to our ordinary, daily, frightened, fighting to survive, selves.
when ordinary life was anything but. I grew up with so many changes going on in the 60/70's. I did not see much gay representation - in society, in the arts or in the news. I'm glad that in my lifetime, that's taken a big leap forward and empowering so many that have needed that for so long. It can only help.
I need that dress! Thank you for sharing! I always listen to your history lessons! 🧡
Women's Barracks looks
fun!
Love your video as always. So its not gonna be a very helpfull sugestion but i love the book Havana from Tessa Reis, its in portuguese because the author (and myself by the way) is from Brazil, its a sweet heartwarming story about two women, how they met and match their lifes together. I also like Fingersmith, Cool for the summer, One last stop, O amor não é fácil (love its not easy).
And i see a very cute anime called Sakura Trick which its about two girls who love and kiss each other in secret because its their way to say "you are my friend but also much more than this", they are so oblivios that things happen rather natural in their relantionship, the malegaze its annoing but whaterever. Also you should check Shera and the princess of power its THE BEST.
Oh goodness, I simply ADORE that pink dress. Beautiful!
Have you considered doing audio version of these or similar types..... btw, back in the 50'sand 60's many New York based writers turned thier hand to writing these "Special Romance" books, since they could be turned out quickly and payed well. For example Lawrence Block, the mystery writer, wroted several "sleazy" novels under a pseudonym so he could tied himself over between mystery novels.
My favourite "WLW" couple, if you can call it that, are Tofslan and Vifslan in the Moomins. Tove Jansson wrote them based on herself and a partner Viveca. They carry a precious stone that is said to be a symbol of their love.
There is a book called pulp by Robin Talley and it is about a lady in the 1950s who discovers lesbian pulp and another lesbian in the modern day who study’s it for a project and how there lives pan out.
It is a really great read
I have been in love with you and your wife since I first found your channel a few years ago (and Rupert, of course, though he came along later)! I consider myself fortunate that in today's world there are many female writers of lesbian fiction (especially in my favorite genre, the cozy novel, which are readily available as e-books). But, having watched this video (and read your announcement on the RUclips homepage), I have gone ahead and ordered a couple of the old pulp titles. I am quite interested in one in particular, a Patricia Highsmith anthology. 😇🙏🌈🏳🌈
I’m a big fan of anything written by Anna Burke! I’ve recently started reading Thorn and it’s so good!
Thank you for creating this video!! I have been researching these novels for over 10 years! I would recommend anything written by Valerie Taylor or Paula Christian (Christian is one of the few authors who had relatively happy endings to her stories). Just like Christian, Taylor later on in her career wrote more positive endings to her novels! She also was a huge activist throughout most of her life! Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker Chronicles we’re adapted to a play! I wish I could have seems it!! Exploring Gay Pulp Fiction for men is really interesting and dives into a whole different set of other stereotypes. However these were definitely targeted to gay men.
Back in the day Beebo Brinker was practically required reading for every lesbian!
@@jennifers5560 the first lesbian novel I ever read was Curious Wine by Katherine V. Forrest!! I love her work! The Kate Delafield series is one I return to quite a bit. These books at 80s-early 90s, even though Forrest continued to write them into the 2000s I believe! I am on the hunt for all of them. I only have the first 5.
@@gwenbeauvais7973 Katherine Forrest writes great stories! If you are in the U.S. you can try searching Half Price Books, (the comments won't let me type the website address 😐 HPB) they are a good online source for used books. Maybe you can find some titles you don't have.
@@jennifers5560 I am in Canada, sadly. However, I will still check out the site! Thanks :D
Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn is my favorite fictional lesbian couple!
That's a good favorite.
Thanks
Thank you so much Steph! 💖
@@jessicaoutofthecloset You are most welcome. Thank you for all you do. Find all of your content so interesting 💜
Loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, One Last Stop, and literally any book by Lee Winter 💜
My favourite is Portrait of a Lady on Fire :)
Favourite WLW couple is Sara Lance and Ava from the recently cancelled DC's legends of tomorrow. It's a little bit of a rivals to lovers dynamic to begin with, but their relationship once they get together is actually super adorable. The whole show is very queer found family vibes especially in the later seasons
I didn't realize that got cancelled... that's a bummer. Sara and Ava were a pretty cute couple as the show went on
Representation matters...always!
The DRESS!!
Great video Jessica.❤
I also want to say that dress is so pretty OMG. Where can I find it? 😭
Nomi and Amanita in sense8 are my fave lesbian couple from fiction. :)
Progress is a funny thing sometimes. Making these novels for men to enjoy not only got them into the hands of women who needed to know they weren't alone, but also slowly normalized the idea that lesbians exist all around us. I think in this case at least, that sex sells the idea, then actual representation comes later.
Somehow all my favourite sapphic representation has come from cartoons aimed at older kids. I don't know why. Maybe because the characters aren't sexualised there. Also they all have female writers who are LGBTQ, so it comes from a very authentic sapphic perspective.