This book collection is representative of my personal experience of coming out of the closet and into life as a lesbian. The first book I purchased, the beginning of the collection, was Now That You Know: What Every Parent Should Know About Homosexuality by Fairchild and Hayward (1989). I used it to help frame a discussion with my parents but found to my surprise, the conversation didn’t need a framework; it just needed to happen.

Since that day I’ve purchased books that represented where I was in my development as a lesbian and in my life span. I wasn’t aware of this fact at the time but by taking the time to develop this bibliography and annotate my collection, it became clear to me that my own development as a lesbian, as a woman, and as a partner is reflected in this collection. In some way these books helped to create and recreate my morphing lesbian identity. The collection spans the gamut of lesbian interests from early lesbian pulp fiction and the humorous graphic novel series by Alison Bechdel to the pragmatic Four Steps to Financial Security for Lesbian and Gay Couples by H.L. Lustig (1999). My most recent acquisitions include Out and About Campus: Personal Accounts by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgendered College Students by K. Howard and A. Stevens, Eds. (2000) and Lesbians in Academia: Degrees of Freedom edited by Mintz and Rothblum (1997). Both have helped me as I begin my own career in academia as an out lesbian feminist in the Mid-West.

Alpert, H., Ed. (1988). We Are Everywhere: Writings By & About Lesbian Parents. Freedom, The Crossing Press.
This book is edited by a friend of mine who recently passed away and includes a story by her partner and co-parent. It includes stories by lesbian parents of many different ethnicities and for years was the only collection of its kind.

Bannon, A. (1995). The Beebo Brinker Chronicles. New York, Quality Paperback Book Club.
This is a collection of four books by Ann Bannon. Odd Girl Out, I Am Woman, Woman in the Shadows, and Beebo Brinker are the original lesbian pulp, the lesbian version of the torrid romance novel.

Barret, E. and P. Cramer, Eds. (1997). Virginia Woolf Lesbian Readings. New York, New York University Press.
This book compiles Woolf’s lesbian-themed writings with insightful commentaries by a variety of academics.

Barrington, J., Ed. (1991). An Intimate Wilderness: Lesbian Writers on Sexuality. Portland, The Eighth Mountain Press.
This collection of forty-five writers, some well-known and others not, addresses the often taboo subject of lesbian sexuality. Using poetry, narrative, and prose the writes illuminate the bright and dark sides of lesbian sexuality.

Bechdel, A. (1986). Dykes To Watch Out For. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This is the first in the nine-book graphic novel series by Alison Bechdel. It is an example of her earlier work and although the main characters have remained the same throughout the series, this first novel is an excellent example of an artist who has yet to reach her full potential. The humor, however, is not lacking.

Bechdel, A. (1988). More Dykes To Watch Out For. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This is the second in the nine-book graphic novel series by Alison Bechdel. It is apparent that her skills as an artist have improved and the emerging story line is both timely and to some degree, accurately portrays some of the humorous aspects of life as a lesbian.

Bechdel, A. (1990). New Improved Dykes To Watch Out For. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This is the third in the nine-book graphic novel series by Alison Bechdel. Her skills as an artist continue to improve and her characters engage in important activities like coming out to family, and navigating the long-term relationship.

Bechdel, A. (1992). Dykes To Watch Out For The Sequel. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This is the fourth in the nine-book graphic novel series by Alison Bechdel. She introduces a new regular character, a disabled woman, and explores relationship issues such as monogamy and long distance relationships.

Bechdel, A. (1993). Spawn of Dykes To Watch Out For. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This is the fifth in the nine-book graphic novel series by Alison Bechdel. She tackles lesbian ‘marriage’ and pregnancy, and lesbian bed death.

Bechdel, A. (1995). Unnatural Dykes To Watch Out For. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This is the sixth in the nine-book graphic novel series by Alison Bechdel. In this offering, Bechdel tackles lesbian motherhood, the unexpected girlfriend visit, and a surprise retrospective look into the life of our characters in college.

Bechdel, A. (1997). Hot, Throbbing Dykes To Watch Out For. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This is the seventh in the nine-book graphic novel series by Alison Bechdel. Bechdel’s art reaches a new level in this book and her story takes on new subjects such as lesbians in higher education, the removable phallus, and depression.

Bechdel, A. (1998). The Indelible Alison Bechdel. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This book chronicles the development and ‘life’ of the Dykes to Watch Out For graphic novel series. The author articulates the challenges of writing and drawing day-to-day, shares some other work she’s done for different organizations and bravely lets the public see her early work, before the Dykes series.

Bechdel, A. (1998). Split-Level Dykes To Watch Out For. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This is the eighth in the nine-book graphic novel series by Alison Bechdel. Commentary includes death of a parent, meeting the partner’s family, changing teams, home buying, and the on-going examination of life-with-child.

Bechdel, A. (2000). Post-Dykes To Watch Out For. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This is the ninth in the nine-book graphic novel series by Alison Bechdel. Bechdel leaves you wondering if there’ll be a tenth book. Topics covered in this installment include living with a man, living with a youngster, tenure-seeking, and gender transitioning.

Clarke, C. (1986). Living As a Lesbian. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This collection of poems talks more to life as a woman than a lesbian. Although some themes are uniquely lesbian but many more are universally woman.

Clunis, D. M. and G. D. Green (1988). Lesbian Couples. Seattle, Seal Press.
Written by two practicing psychologists, this book offers a guide to lesbian couples, promoting healthy relationship activities. The authors admit it is not a complete how-to guide to lesbian relationships but believe it offers sound advice based on their professional and personal experiences.

Dicksion, R. (1990). The Lesbian Survival Manual. Tallahassee, Naiad Press.
This is a collection of cartoons advising lesbians how to navigate through life.

Faderman, L. (1991). Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers: A History of Lesbian Life in Twentieth Century America. New York, Penguin Books.
This book chronicles major movements and trends in lesbian life in the 20th century. Included are major events such as Stonewall but also covers the diversity of the lesbian community from Lesbian Nation activists to lipstick lesbians. Included is a selection of photos which adds an interesting facet to the book.

Fairchild, B. and N. Hayward (1989). Now That You Know: What Every Parent Should Know About Homosexuality. San Diego, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
This book is what the title describes, an information source for parents. For years it was the only book of its kind for parents of gay and lesbian children. It talks to parents about the meaning of homosexuality, what it may or may not mean to the family, offers support group information and other resources.

Hoaglund, S. L. (1988). Lesbian Ethics. Palo Alto, Institute of Lesbian Studies.
Hoagland tackled the issue of lesbian community and how as a group of women, separate from other groups, lesbians must devise their own way of working towards common ends in an ethical manner. Also included were the concepts of moral agency as lesbians, development of space, and working in relation to heterosexism.

Howard, K. and A. Stevens, Eds. (2000). Out and About Campus: Personal Accounts by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgendered College Students. Los Angeles, alyson books.
This book is a collection of stories written by students living life as sexual and/or gender minorities on American campuses. Some write of harassment, of new loves, friends, family and their changing self-awareness. All shed light on the question: what is it like to be a sexual and/or gender minority in college today?

Johnson, S. E. (1990). Staying Power: Long Term Lesbian Couples. Tallahassee, Naiad Press, Inc.
This book is based on a large national study of lesbian couples. Using a scenario/case-study format, the author describes certain couples and relationships then further illustrates her findings based on the chosen couples. The findings suggest that there are a wide variety of actions that help make relationships last.

Katz, J. (1976). Gay American History. New York, Harper Colophon Books.
This interesting book is a documentary of events about involving gays and lesbians. It is compartmentalized into different themes and provides an interesting look at how lesbians and gays have been perceived through time.

Loulan, J. (1987). Lesbian Passion: Loving Ourselves and Each Other. San Francisco, Spinsters/Aunt Lute Book Company.
This book talks to the role of passion in the life of lesbians. It addresses both sexual passion and community and individual passions. It challenges each lesbian to live a life full of passion and purpose.

Lustig, H. L. (1999). Four Steps to Financial Security for Lesbian and Gay Couples. New York, Fawcett Books.
This resource advises lesbian and gay couples about tax issues, how to manage finances, plan for the future, and guard against tax penalties. Also include is a section on co-ownership of property.

Mintz, B. and E. D. Rothblum, Eds. (1997). Lesbians in Academia: Degrees of Freedom. New York, Routledge.
This is a collection of essays by lesbian academics-some out of the closet and some not. They talk about how their sexual orientation intersects with their careers and the challenges, foibles, and happy times they have experienced as lesbian academics.

Pollack, S. and J. Vaughn, Eds. (1987). Politics of the Heart: A Lesbian Parenting Anthology. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This anthology covers the political nature of lesbian parenting and the varied ways lesbian parenting exists. Throughout the book there is a political thread reminding the reader that the notion of lesbian families continues to spur debate.

Pratt, M. B. (1990). Crime Against Nature. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
This collection tells the story of Pratt’s lesbian identity development. It is a Lamont Poetry Selection.

Rafkin, L., Ed. (1990). Different Mothers: Sons and Daughters of Lesbians Talk about their Lives. Pittsburgh, Cleis Press.
This book is a poignant collection of stories about having a lesbian mother. The kids range in age from 5 to 27 and write candidly about the challenges and benefits of having a gay parent. Some kids relate the experience to other issues such as oppression in many different forms while others speak to the internal conflicts that arose when a parent ‘came out’.

Sausser, G. (1986). Lesbian Etiquette. Trumansburg, The Crossing Press.
Sausser covers some basic etiquette issues lesbians face from coming out and staying out, dating, office politics, and of course, cat care.

Williams, J. (1990). Scuttlebutt. Ithaca, Firebrand Books.
Williams tells the somewhat autobiographical tale of life in Navy bootcamp in the 70s. Whether lesbian by declaration or by label, Williams makes clear the taboo nature of lesbianism in the decade when women’s rights were being demanded and denied daily.

Zahava, I., Ed. (1998). Love Shook My Heart. Los Angeles, alyson books.
This collection of stories illustrates the variety and warmth of love shared between two women. Unlike the popular collections of lesbian erotica, these stories focus on the blossoming emotional connection and leave the physical aspects to the reader’s imagination.

Zimet, J. (1999). Strange Sisters: The Art of Lesbian Pulp Fiction 1949-1969. New York, Penguin.
This book is largely graphic in nature, sharing the art of the pulp novels from 1949-1969. Also included are quotes that denigrate the pulp novels which add a humorous contrast to the already bizarre illustrations.