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Lesbians: Where Are We Now?
What does it mean to be a lesbian now? Has the quest for lesbian liberation stalled, and if so, why?
Part-autobiography, part frontline reportage and part cultural commentary, Julie Bindel examines what defines lesbian culture, love, friendship and happiness today. She distinguishes the particular challenges facing lesbians from the very different experiences of gay men, and why do lesbians so often seem to face particular hostility? Comparing past attitudes to today, she argues that lesbians continue to suffer from bigotry and discrimination because sexism and enforced gendered roles are still left unchallenged. She explores why many of the biggest assaults on lesbian freedom and wellbeing around the world now come, not just from conservatives, but also from so-called progressives, who are often antagonistic to lesbians organising and socialising autonomously.
Rooted in her own remarkable story, this personal and passionate book is a testament as much to the peculiar joy of being a lesbian as much to the obstacles to lesbian flourishing. It is a much-needed contribution to the debate in the era of progressive misogyny and gender theory.
Part-autobiography, part frontline reportage and part cultural commentary, Julie Bindel examines what defines lesbian culture, love, friendship and happiness today. She distinguishes the particular challenges facing lesbians from the very different experiences of gay men, and why do lesbians so often seem to face particular hostility? Comparing past attitudes to today, she argues that lesbians continue to suffer from bigotry and discrimination because sexism and enforced gendered roles are still left unchallenged. She explores why many of the biggest assaults on lesbian freedom and wellbeing around the world now come, not just from conservatives, but also from so-called progressives, who are often antagonistic to lesbians organising and socialising autonomously.
Rooted in her own remarkable story, this personal and passionate book is a testament as much to the peculiar joy of being a lesbian as much to the obstacles to lesbian flourishing. It is a much-needed contribution to the debate in the era of progressive misogyny and gender theory.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2025
4 people are currently reading
1368 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 13, 2025
spent the entire opening of the book being transphobic and spinning trans inclusion as harmful to lesbians. trans women are not our enemies, men and the patriarchy are and it’s disheartening to find lesbians use transphobia as an excuse for defending it.
June 9, 2025
Why did goodreads recommend me THIS for PRIDE? She even talks about hating pride because it’s for perverts…
First and last terfy book I’ll read. Her whole argument is basically “trans women are creepy” which is literally the same hurtful sentiment that is spread about lesbians? Hello?
First and last terfy book I’ll read. Her whole argument is basically “trans women are creepy” which is literally the same hurtful sentiment that is spread about lesbians? Hello?
June 17, 2025
TERF drivel
Lesbians (the like... real ones) don't claim this book or its harmful transphobic agenda
Lesbians (the like... real ones) don't claim this book or its harmful transphobic agenda
Want to read
June 20, 2025I nearly had this book shipped overseas, because I was so excited for a recent release with a focus on lesbian history.
I went to follow the author on social media and immediately noticed that we have 0 connections in common, which made my spidey senses go off. I know hundreds of lesbian activists & authors, so the fact that no one I’m connected with followed this author was alarming to me.
I did about 75 more seconds of research on the author and yep, she’s a TERF. So glad I didn’t spend the money to have this book sent to me from the UK!
I went to follow the author on social media and immediately noticed that we have 0 connections in common, which made my spidey senses go off. I know hundreds of lesbian activists & authors, so the fact that no one I’m connected with followed this author was alarming to me.
I did about 75 more seconds of research on the author and yep, she’s a TERF. So glad I didn’t spend the money to have this book sent to me from the UK!
May 10, 2025
It's Julie, she's awesome. Read it.
June 26, 2025
Gross and transphobic. Immediately in the introduction she refers to a lesbian trans woman as a straight man claiming to be a lesbian….
I get the whole “gender is construct” but you can argue that without being disrespectful and hateful to trans people.
Very much a J K Rowling branch of “feminism” that sets us back and undermines any message she is trying to convey regarding lesbianism. Such is her disdain for men that she targets trans women for being born male, treating the trans movement as an attack on women. In fact she seems to have a distain for anyone who isn’t a lesbian.
Gutted I wasted an audible credit on this. Tried to get through as much as I could but DNF
I get the whole “gender is construct” but you can argue that without being disrespectful and hateful to trans people.
Very much a J K Rowling branch of “feminism” that sets us back and undermines any message she is trying to convey regarding lesbianism. Such is her disdain for men that she targets trans women for being born male, treating the trans movement as an attack on women. In fact she seems to have a distain for anyone who isn’t a lesbian.
Gutted I wasted an audible credit on this. Tried to get through as much as I could but DNF
May 3, 2025
Book Review: Lesbians: Where Are We Now? – A Feminist Reckoning with Lesbian Identity and Politics
Julie Bindel’s Lesbians: Where Are We Now? is a provocative and unapologetic examination of lesbian identity in contemporary society, framed through a radical feminist lens. As a seasoned journalist and activist, Bindel interrogates the shifting landscapes of sexuality, feminism, and political solidarity, offering a critique that is both incisive and deeply personal. The book challenges mainstream narratives about LGBTQ+ progress, arguing that lesbian visibility and autonomy have been eroded by broader cultural and political forces.
Thematic Core: Lesbian Erasure and Feminist Resistance
Bindel’s central thesis revolves around the paradoxical invisibility of lesbians in an era of purported LGBTQ+ inclusivity. She contends that while queer identities have gained mainstream acceptance, lesbianism—particularly when defined by women’s exclusive attraction to other women—has been marginalized within both feminist and gay rights movements. The book explores how this erasure manifests in media, politics, and even within LGBTQ+ spaces, where lesbian-specific issues are often subsumed under broader umbrella terms.
A recurring theme is the tension between lesbian feminism and contemporary gender politics. Bindel questions whether the current focus on gender identity has come at the expense of sex-based rights and lesbian solidarity. Her arguments are likely to spark debate, particularly her critiques of what she perceives as the dilution of lesbian identity in favor of more fluid or inclusive categorizations.
Political and Social Analysis: A Call to Action
Beyond critique, Lesbians: Where Are We Now? serves as a rallying cry for reinvigorating lesbian feminism as a distinct political force. Bindel emphasizes the need for lesbians to reclaim their history, forge alliances with other women, and resist co-optation by ideologies that, in her view, undermine female autonomy. She reflects on the legacy of 20th-century lesbian separatism, asking whether its principles might offer a blueprint for resistance today.
The book also delves into the material realities of lesbian life, from the decline of women-only spaces to the economic and social pressures that shape lesbian relationships. Bindel’s analysis is grounded in her decades of activism, lending weight to her calls for systemic change.
Strengths and Controversies
Bindel’s writing is sharp, combative, and often polemical—qualities that will resonate with readers who share her ideological commitments but may alienate others. Her refusal to shy away from contentious topics (e.g., the conflict between lesbian rights and trans-inclusive feminism) ensures the book’s relevance in ongoing cultural debates. However, some may find her arguments overly binary or dismissive of intersectional perspectives.
The book’s strength lies in its unflinching honesty and its refusal to concede to political expediency. Bindel’s passion for lesbian visibility and her critique of neoliberal “equality” frameworks are compelling, even for those who might disagree with her conclusions.
Conclusion: A Necessary Provocation
Lesbians: Where Are We Now? is not a neutral survey but a manifesto—a demand for lesbians to assert their place in feminist and queer discourse. Bindel’s work is a reminder that progress is not linear and that some battles thought won must be fought anew. While her perspective is divisive, the book undeniably succeeds in reigniting critical conversations about women’s autonomy, sexual boundaries, and the future of feminism.
Key Themes:
Visibility vs. Erasure: The paradox of lesbian invisibility in an era of LGBTQ+ acceptance.
Feminist Legacy: Reassessing the role of lesbian separatism and women-only spaces.
Political Conflicts: Tensions between sex-based rights and gender identity movements.
Material Realities: Economic and social challenges unique to lesbian life.
Verdict: 4/5
A bold, contentious, and vital contribution to feminist and lesbian literature, Lesbians: Where Are We Now? is essential reading for those engaged in debates about sexuality, gender, and women’s rights. Bindel’s voice is uncompromising, and her arguments—whether agreed with or contested—demand engagement.
Julie Bindel’s Lesbians: Where Are We Now? is a provocative and unapologetic examination of lesbian identity in contemporary society, framed through a radical feminist lens. As a seasoned journalist and activist, Bindel interrogates the shifting landscapes of sexuality, feminism, and political solidarity, offering a critique that is both incisive and deeply personal. The book challenges mainstream narratives about LGBTQ+ progress, arguing that lesbian visibility and autonomy have been eroded by broader cultural and political forces.
Thematic Core: Lesbian Erasure and Feminist Resistance
Bindel’s central thesis revolves around the paradoxical invisibility of lesbians in an era of purported LGBTQ+ inclusivity. She contends that while queer identities have gained mainstream acceptance, lesbianism—particularly when defined by women’s exclusive attraction to other women—has been marginalized within both feminist and gay rights movements. The book explores how this erasure manifests in media, politics, and even within LGBTQ+ spaces, where lesbian-specific issues are often subsumed under broader umbrella terms.
A recurring theme is the tension between lesbian feminism and contemporary gender politics. Bindel questions whether the current focus on gender identity has come at the expense of sex-based rights and lesbian solidarity. Her arguments are likely to spark debate, particularly her critiques of what she perceives as the dilution of lesbian identity in favor of more fluid or inclusive categorizations.
Political and Social Analysis: A Call to Action
Beyond critique, Lesbians: Where Are We Now? serves as a rallying cry for reinvigorating lesbian feminism as a distinct political force. Bindel emphasizes the need for lesbians to reclaim their history, forge alliances with other women, and resist co-optation by ideologies that, in her view, undermine female autonomy. She reflects on the legacy of 20th-century lesbian separatism, asking whether its principles might offer a blueprint for resistance today.
The book also delves into the material realities of lesbian life, from the decline of women-only spaces to the economic and social pressures that shape lesbian relationships. Bindel’s analysis is grounded in her decades of activism, lending weight to her calls for systemic change.
Strengths and Controversies
Bindel’s writing is sharp, combative, and often polemical—qualities that will resonate with readers who share her ideological commitments but may alienate others. Her refusal to shy away from contentious topics (e.g., the conflict between lesbian rights and trans-inclusive feminism) ensures the book’s relevance in ongoing cultural debates. However, some may find her arguments overly binary or dismissive of intersectional perspectives.
The book’s strength lies in its unflinching honesty and its refusal to concede to political expediency. Bindel’s passion for lesbian visibility and her critique of neoliberal “equality” frameworks are compelling, even for those who might disagree with her conclusions.
Conclusion: A Necessary Provocation
Lesbians: Where Are We Now? is not a neutral survey but a manifesto—a demand for lesbians to assert their place in feminist and queer discourse. Bindel’s work is a reminder that progress is not linear and that some battles thought won must be fought anew. While her perspective is divisive, the book undeniably succeeds in reigniting critical conversations about women’s autonomy, sexual boundaries, and the future of feminism.
Key Themes:
Visibility vs. Erasure: The paradox of lesbian invisibility in an era of LGBTQ+ acceptance.
Feminist Legacy: Reassessing the role of lesbian separatism and women-only spaces.
Political Conflicts: Tensions between sex-based rights and gender identity movements.
Material Realities: Economic and social challenges unique to lesbian life.
Verdict: 4/5
A bold, contentious, and vital contribution to feminist and lesbian literature, Lesbians: Where Are We Now? is essential reading for those engaged in debates about sexuality, gender, and women’s rights. Bindel’s voice is uncompromising, and her arguments—whether agreed with or contested—demand engagement.
September 18, 2025
The numerous one star reviews from those who admit to not have even read this book speak of it's genius and importance
July 21, 2025
This is a book for all women. Lesbians have done more for feminism than most. At a time when their very existence is under threat by patriarchal redefinitions of sex and sexuality, Bindel gets to the root of the problem. She knows the history, the harms and the fight. And after reading this you will not only know them too, you will be armed for the next challenge.
July 31, 2025
I enjoyed this and it was thought-provoking. A lot of what Julie wrote about with regard to LGB history circa 70s-90s felt familiar and yet an age (or another world) ago. For context, I'm late 30s, so there's a generation between us. I wonder how it happens that the knowledge and connection between women seems to somehow get cut off between generations? Something I'll reflect on..
August 8, 2025
Was really excited to read this until i got a few pages in and realised its just glorified transphobia trying to hide under the cover of “lesbian rights”. In 2025 and were trying to argue that trans people are anti-lesbian rights and that its the new gay conversion therapy is a wild thing
June 22, 2025
lowkey problematic what the hell.
June 7, 2025
It’s just not a very good book
October 24, 2025
I admire Julie Bindel so much, I'm so grateful for her work!
Read
April 29, 2025While I may not agree with everything in this book, I resonated with many ideas, and it did make me think and question many things. It's well written and the narration by the author is very engaging. The last chapter lost me however. Being a lesbian is, in my opinion, not a choice.
September 25, 2025
Lesbian stories are important stories, and there is much in this book to relate to. However, the transphobia is unacceptable, and the linguistic gymnastics around transness in this text does not justify or rectify that.
This malice in the queer community that works to exile our trans peers reminds me of the "girl boss" era of feminism. Some women were empowered and thrust forward, sure, but many demographics of women were excluded. As younger generations try to rectify this, we are reminded that we are always stronger as one. We only get as far as those we leave behind. Trans women are women, and they belong in the lesbian community.
As a millennial, I believe I speak for many of us when I say building multigenerational communities - especially in queer spaces - is deeply important. But some elders in these spaces, once our radical and hopeful leaders, are now just as exclutionary and judgemental as their non-queer, non-radical peers. This is a painful and tense reality. Excluding transness from lesbianism or queerness is far from radical, it's simply dated and small minded.
Lesbians are not made lesser by accepting and including trans women. Lesbianism does not survive without radical intersectionality. Our communities do not survive without radical solidarity. Our experiences as women are, and have always been, made more beautiful by our diversities and complexities. Long live lesbians - all of us.
This malice in the queer community that works to exile our trans peers reminds me of the "girl boss" era of feminism. Some women were empowered and thrust forward, sure, but many demographics of women were excluded. As younger generations try to rectify this, we are reminded that we are always stronger as one. We only get as far as those we leave behind. Trans women are women, and they belong in the lesbian community.
As a millennial, I believe I speak for many of us when I say building multigenerational communities - especially in queer spaces - is deeply important. But some elders in these spaces, once our radical and hopeful leaders, are now just as exclutionary and judgemental as their non-queer, non-radical peers. This is a painful and tense reality. Excluding transness from lesbianism or queerness is far from radical, it's simply dated and small minded.
Lesbians are not made lesser by accepting and including trans women. Lesbianism does not survive without radical intersectionality. Our communities do not survive without radical solidarity. Our experiences as women are, and have always been, made more beautiful by our diversities and complexities. Long live lesbians - all of us.
April 26, 2025
I have just read this via Audible with Julie Bindel reading. This is a very timely book looking at the question of where lesbians are today politically and in terms of visibility. Julie draws on her own background from coming out through to her political journey through the 70s to today. I may not agree with her one everything (born a lesbian or not - it really doesn't matter unless we start having a hierarchy of lesbian identity and oppression - and I have seen that happen, the 'I'm a better lesbian than you are' nonsense!). I lived through a similar time line, but had an easier time for all kinds of reasons, and I remember well the days when our political identity and views led to signifiant change and, eventually, gaining hard fought for rights. Did we take our eye of the ball? Possibly. Lesbians were at the forefront of so many challenges to power. Now being rendered invisible and this book acts as a call to arms, not violence, but the arms we have always used of words and action. We fight again. I recommend this as a chapter in lesbian history which shows what has been achieved, what is under threat, and what we need to do - come back together.
December 13, 2025
I finished the whole book, with increasing nausea and anger. Interesting to learn about the links between lesbians and feminine rights. I started to read this book first to learn more about my people, as a late in life lesbian, and then continued it to try to understand why some feminists and lesbians are anti trans women, a position i find hard to understand.
The arguments in this book are not logical - using sipperly slope, straw man and ad hominem arguments that contradict themselves. she talks about how gay men suffer from misogyny because they aren’t man enough but cant see how the same misogyny applies to trans women. she talks about the drag queens and gays that protected her from homophobic men shouting at then when she was a young lesbian in the 80s, and yet doesn’t see the betrayal she now does by casting all trans people as rapists and trojan horses trying to get into woman’s spaces to spread the patriarchy.
Overall, I feel like the author could have more compassion to women who were unlucky enough to be born with balls, if she is truly a feminist and supports femaleness and female people.
The arguments in this book are not logical - using sipperly slope, straw man and ad hominem arguments that contradict themselves. she talks about how gay men suffer from misogyny because they aren’t man enough but cant see how the same misogyny applies to trans women. she talks about the drag queens and gays that protected her from homophobic men shouting at then when she was a young lesbian in the 80s, and yet doesn’t see the betrayal she now does by casting all trans people as rapists and trojan horses trying to get into woman’s spaces to spread the patriarchy.
Overall, I feel like the author could have more compassion to women who were unlucky enough to be born with balls, if she is truly a feminist and supports femaleness and female people.
May 30, 2025
Saw this book on a Goodreads list of books to read for Pride month - got immediately suspicious when the "Readers also enjoyed" section is full of books by Abigail Shrier; and when the blurb for this book talks about lesbians being under fire for "organizing autonomously." Sure enough, Julie Bindel is also a TERF. A quote on her Goodreads author page states "Feminists don't care if men want to dress and identify as women." Gross! Fuck off Julie!
I know it's literally just a suggestions list but it's absurd for the Goodreads editors to not take like a 30 second look into whose voices they're uplifting for Pride month, at a time when trans folks are under more attack than ever before.
I know it's literally just a suggestions list but it's absurd for the Goodreads editors to not take like a 30 second look into whose voices they're uplifting for Pride month, at a time when trans folks are under more attack than ever before.
June 30, 2025
dnf at 16%
oh god not another transphobic book under the guise of feminism (-2 stars)
julie bindel starts off strong in the introduction, referring to mey rude, a trans journalist, as "a man claiming to be a lesbian." how does one start off a book that's supposed to be feminist like this??
maybe one day i'll finish this and bring other moments of transphobia to light, but not today, and not during pride month 2025
other than the transphobia, the narration was quite compelling (3 stars, aka the objective rating)
final comments: the patriarchy is the enemy, not trans people. if the patriarchy didn't exist, the gender identities that bindel hates so much wouldn't even exist.
oh god not another transphobic book under the guise of feminism (-2 stars)
julie bindel starts off strong in the introduction, referring to mey rude, a trans journalist, as "a man claiming to be a lesbian." how does one start off a book that's supposed to be feminist like this??
maybe one day i'll finish this and bring other moments of transphobia to light, but not today, and not during pride month 2025
other than the transphobia, the narration was quite compelling (3 stars, aka the objective rating)
final comments: the patriarchy is the enemy, not trans people. if the patriarchy didn't exist, the gender identities that bindel hates so much wouldn't even exist.
May 11, 2025
This was a book I really enjoyed for the anecdotes and the insight into lesbian history. I’m not young enough (born in 1969) to share the unfortunate and shocking belief that lesbian and gay rights were automatically bestowed on us as a natural and inevitable result of social progress; and I’m not old enough, having started to come out in my university years, to have been part of the fight for those rights. How agonising and exhilarating that must have been. Respect!
September 2, 2025
A good book covering the historical and current state of lesbian liberation in the UK and elsewhere without walking on eggshells around issues of women's sex-based oppression, but as a regular listener of the Lesbian Project podcast I found it to be a little repetitive and it didn't offer as much as I'd hoped in the way of fresh content.
September 3, 2025
pre-ordered this book for my sister for her birthday because it sounded really good so unfortunately didn’t see the reviews that have been made since it came out. she DNF’d about a third of the way through because of how disgustingly transphobic this book was. nothing but anti trans ranting. disappointing that a lesbian doesn’t know her own history.
July 17, 2025
I used to love reading Julie Blindel, I’m not sure if she changed or if I did, maybe a bit of both. There are some good things in this honestly, but a few things I’m really not comfortable with (not gonna get into it because it’s not that important).
September 2, 2025
DNF after a few pages for disgusting transphobia. she forgets thats trans women had a huge role in the stonewall riots and helped us pave the way for the rights we have today. she can join JK Rowling in the bin.
Read
November 22, 2025کار «زنستیزی پرگرسیو» به جایی رسیده که نویسندهی بینوا خودش را مجبور دیده کلمهی لزبین را با تأکید بر جنسیت مؤنث تعریف کند
"My definition of a lesbian is a woman (i.e. female) who is sexually attracted to other women (i.e. other females)."
"My definition of a lesbian is a woman (i.e. female) who is sexually attracted to other women (i.e. other females)."
December 31, 2025
Defining your sexuality by your victimhood is a rich stance to take. Pride being perverted, trans people being the root of all evil; I'm surprised the author was even able to string proposition-conclusions with how heavily she relied on fallacious claims or personal anecdotes.
June 8, 2025
Stop promoting TERFs during Pride Month.
August 28, 2025
So transphobic I could not even finish it. She depicts trans women as the main enemy of lesbian existence and culture. They're not.
February 12, 2026
Transphobic as fuck. I’d give it a 0 if I could
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews