Pubs, Politics and Passion

Lesbian feminist writing from the late 1960s to mid1980s framed lesbian community as crucial to lesbian survival. Since this time, contributions to the field have dwindled and the contemporary relevance of this position has been scrutinised. Lesbian community has been branded by some as restrictive and ultimately detrimental to lesbians because it silences difference. This book considers the emerging literature and explores Australian lesbians’ perceptions and experiences of lesbian community/ies (1995-2005). It uses lesbians’ stories to provide a snapshot of Australia’s diverse lesbian community and examine the influence it has on lesbians’ lives. The findings indicate that while shifts in social and political discourse have threatened feminist notions of lesbian community, it continues to fulfill a vital social, political and support function.