Lesbians Ignite!

Posted in Non-Fiction

Lesbians Ignite

LESBIANS IGNITE!: In Victoria In The 1990s, Jean Taylor, Dyke Books Inc, Melbourne 2016   878 pages

This book documents the activities of lesbian and feminist activists in the 1990s in much the same way as Brazen Hussies and Stroppy Dykes did for the 1970s and 1980s respectively. And will be launched in Melbourne the first half of 2016.

 
I have not included every single gathering, meeting, demo, rally, book launch or conference held during the 1990s. Those events I have included are mainly the ones of personal interest to myself and therefore necessarily lesbian-oriented and even then I have been extremely selective. And mainly those held here in Victoria even though there were many significant events held both interstate and overseas which I’ve also included.
 
Despite the ridiculous rumour that we had entered a Post-Feminist era it would take another book and then some to describe everything that lesbians and radical feminists did and every significant womyn’s and Indigenous event that happened during the 1990s but hopefully this book covers most of them.
 
In the heart of this book, between chapters five and six, sort of like a centre fold only better, is Sarah Yeomans rollicking personal and political take on lesbian life in Melbourne during the 1990s.

"I’d arrived in Melbourne in time for the second season of The Womens Circus - “Women and Work” 1992 - directed by Donna Jackson. A magical swirling of bold costumes and striking faces in the famous white swimming caps. Grotesquely lit abseilers and acrobats on the factory walls outside. Such skill and daring and drama! So inspired was I that I joined the circus myself in 1994 on the techie crew for “Death: The Musical”. Big butch dykes taught me knots and fire drills and how to wire a lamp. Rehearsals were a dream because the musicians rehearsed simultaneously, and it was all very loud and brash and companionable. We were even given dinner first."

Sarah Yeomans - Melbourne: A Cornucopia of Lesbian Delights

Like the first two books, Brazen Hussies and Stroppy Dykes, the third book of the trilogy, Lesbians Ignite! covers as many of the actions, conferences, marches, publications, musical and theatrical events that went on during the 1990s in Victoria and elsewhere as it was possible to fit into a book this size.

Dyke Books Inc is a not-for-profit, lesbian feminist publishing venture which was established in 2008 with the aim of publishing writing by, for and about lesbians.

 Front cover photo by Meg Irwin

Please note that price includes cost of postage.
$52.00
HomePrinted BooksNon-Fiction