June Thomas and Alison Bechdel: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women's Culture
Friday 14th June
Topping & Company Booksellers of Edinburgh, 2 Blenheim Place, Edinburgh EH7 5JH
7.10pm
7.30pm
‘An inspiring celebration of lesbian camaraderie, activism and fun’ SARAH WATERS
‘A must-have for any queer bookshelf’ TEGAN QUIN
We can't wait to welcome June Thomas to Edinburgh to hear all about her new thoughtful exploration of lesbian geographies, A Place of Our Own. June will be in conversation with cartoonist Alison Bechdel, for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of lesbian camaraderie, activism and fun. Do join us in celebrating one of the literary highlights of 2024.
A Place of Our Own
For as long as queer women have existed, they’ve created gathering grounds where they can be themselves. From the intimate darkness of the lesbian bar to the sweaty camaraderie of the softball field, these spaces aren’t a luxury – they’re a necessity for queer women defining their identities.
Blending memoir, archival research and interviews, journalist June Thomas invites readers into six iconic lesbian spaces over the course of the last sixty years, including the rural commune, the sex toy boutique, the holiday destination and the feminist bookstore. She also illuminates what is gained and lost in the shift from the exclusive, tight-knit women’s spaces of the ’70s toward today’s more inclusive yet more diffuse LGBTQ+ communities.
About June Thomas and Alison Bechdel
June Thomas has been a writer, editor, and podcaster at Slate since 1997. She was the founding editor of Outward, Slate's LGBTQ section, and has hosted several podcasts, including The Waves and Working.
Alison Bechdel is an American cartoonist. Originally known for the long-running comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, she came to critical and commercial success in 2006 with her graphic memoir Fun Home. She was a 2014 recipient of the MacArthur "Genius" Award.