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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.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 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
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 10, 2025
It's Julie, she's awesome. Read it.
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.
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 7, 2025
It’s just not a very good book
June 22, 2025
lowkey problematic what the hell.
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.
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..
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.
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 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
June 27, 2026Okay so I bought this book without any previous knowledge of it and with only reading the back thinking it would be a fun and interesting read. Then i kid you not two pages in the heavy transphobia started. I kept reading and it only became worse the further in I got. Quickest I've ever put a book down I have to say.
October 24, 2025
I admire Julie Bindel so much, I'm so grateful for her work!
July 5, 2026
Before I begin, I think I should make it very clear that I am being VERY generous with that one star, which has only earned its place because I felt that the very little of this book that wasn't focused on bashing trans women and was actually about lesbian history was actually quite interesting. Now, onto everything wrong with this book:
I picked up this book amongst other LGBTQ+ non-fiction works in Waterstones (yes, I'm also pissed that I paid a full £10.99 for this) and read the blurb to think, wow, this is really interesting. I've never read this kind of book in full, only short snippets for essays for university. I thought this would encourage me to do more non-fiction reading, but honestly, I wish I'd never picked it up.
The blurb in itself is very misleading. Yes, all of the things it describes such as "love, friendship, and happiness" is talked about, but nothing in comparison to the sheer amount Bindel talks about trans women. I'm being very particular in my language here, because throughout the entire 200 pages of this book, trans men are only referenced once, and trans ideology is meant in terms of trans women only.
I'd also like to make clear that the only reason I read until the end is because I don't believe you can make a full assumption about a piece without reading the whole thing. A small piece of me was hoping that the further I got into the book, the closer I'd get to Bindel realizing error in her ideology. Obviously, that has not happened. I will also admit that I didn't read any reviews of this book before buying, which I now will do every single time I pick up a book, even a fiction one, to avoid spending money on books that don't have the same ideology I align myself with.
The conclusion I have come to at the end of this is the very real possibility that Bindel is not remotely queer in the slightest. She consistently talks about how sexuality is in fact a choice and that she discovered her sexuality in relation to radical feminism. It appears that she only has love for women as far as she has love for feminists, especially considering how badly she slates any women who don't share her ideology. Ironic, I know, as I'm writing this review out, but I'm not calling her any bad names or using year six bullying tactics, I'm explaining my perspective in what I would consider a respectable manner. Bindel accuses any women who appear to have any kind of relation with a man or trans woman to be submissive slaves to the patriarchy, and makes it clear she thinks less of them than she does the dirt under her feet.
I made a list on my phone of points to talk about in this review, very unprofessional ones, but I do want to share them all just in case it makes one person stop and think twice about picking up this book, or any of hers for that matter.
"Stop using Billy Porter to promote transphobia." Billy Porter, born William Ellis Porter II is an American singer, actor, writer, director, and businessperson (as per Wikipedia). I first saw him in Pose, a 2018 drama television series surrounding New York City's ball room subculture. He is an incredible activist in LGBTQ+ politics and one of the first openly gay celebrities that I ever recognized. Bindel uses the argument that because he wore a tuxedo dress to the Academy Awards in 2019, he proves that men can be in touch with femineity without being transgender. If she wants to use a celebrity queer icon to push her transphobic agenda, Billy Porter is definitely not the one.
"I don't think the n word should have been censored in a non-fiction book when it's detailing racism." This point may be controversial coming from a white woman, but when talking about racism, especially when its used in the context of a direct quote, I think it's almost more disrespectful to censor the terminology. This is obviously not a word that I or anyone else should be using on the regular, in notes or reviews or anything like that, but a published non-fiction work where its within the context of racism and bigotry? I don't think it should have been censored.
"'Not on' is not a professional language." This isn't the only example of unprofessional writing, in fact the vast majority of this book is written very informally to the point where I feel like I'm being ranted at in conversation rather than reading a respectable published book, but this example in itself did make me giggle when reading it. Equally, the context in which she's talking really emphasises the fact that she disagrees (though I can't remember what about) so using 'not on' almost devalues that entirely because its so blasé.
"The way this is described, you'd think there were doctors on the streets harassing masc lesbians to be trans." There a multiple instances in the book where Bindel talks about doctors recommending gender reassignment surgery over identifying with a queer sexuality, and I want to make it clear that I'm not talking about foreign countries but only the UK specifically, lesbianism is far more accepted than transgenderism. It takes so long for gender reassignment surgery to become an option for some many trans people, with psyche evaluations and counselling and medical intervention. There are so many hoops that people have to jump through, so forgive me if I don't believe these circumstances are as prevalent as Bindel makes them out to be. Especially considering the recent rise in transphobia and the rise of far right politics, there are most definitely no doctors rallying in the streets to chop off body parts.
"Questioning Stonewall is an INSANE take." Shockingly enough, Stonewall is constantly criticised in this book. If I'm being perfectly honest, before reading this book, Stonewall was the only queer activism I had ever heard of. Admittedly, I didn't realise it was its own charity based within the UK named after the Stonewall riots, but its the only activism I could pull to mind in relation to queer rights, and bashing it constantly is so incredibly tone deaf.
"How anyone can find an issue with David Tennant is baffling." "Having compassion for JK Rowling whilst slating David Tennant really tells you everything you need to know." Two birds with one stone here. Bindel suggests that JK Rowling is a woman she really looks up to and could, to some degree, consider her friend. Simultaneously, she is incredibly rude about national icon David Tennant, essentially saying that his prominent allyship with transgenderism (ignoring his allyship with the LGBTQ+ community as a whole) is brainwashing and that celebrities shouldn't be pushing ideologies. Ha ha, ironic. What's that statistic? Oh yeah, the one where, according to Psychology Today, more than 25% of people regret their Harry Potter tattoos, in comparison to the 9% of trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people aged 18 and over having detransitioned, according to Advocates for Trans Equality.
"Why is transphobia only directed at trans women and not trans men? Every time she says trans as a collective, she says they're all men. Patriarchally affirming I guess? For trans men?" I've said earlier on about how Bindel only really talks about trans women. I would like to further that point but the fact that she only uses their chosen name if she can't find their dead name. She also uses pretransition pronouns, or in some instances, calls them an 'it'. Funny how pronouns work, isn't it?
Overall, this was an awful read. I can't even say the writing was good and kept me engaged, because from an editorial standpoint, it wasn't even good writing. It was unprofessional, sloppy, and at every single turn, now matter what she was focusing on, a curve would always appear leading back to trans people. For a book about lesbian history, she spends an awful lot of time talking about transgenderism.
I would like to be clear also that I am not diminishing the stories of the women contacted for this book, especially those who have suffered from sexual assault. I'm not saying that they're not valid in their feelings, or that they should be discounted based on views alone (should they be less inclined towards transgenderism) because the reality is that they've been wronged. They been wronged, harmed, and chances are that these events are what have swayed their viewpoints, which in all honesty, is understandable. I do feel for them and hope that over the years, they have found the help they need and will continue to do so.
Julie Bindel, however, should learn to stop centering men. Its ironic, really, that all she talks about is how lesbians shouldn't centre men by letting trans women into their lives, but lets talk honestly here. She believes men are out there parading as women. She is spending her whole book talking about these evil men. Until she stops centering men in her life, maybe she should take a step back from radical feminist activism.
I picked up this book amongst other LGBTQ+ non-fiction works in Waterstones (yes, I'm also pissed that I paid a full £10.99 for this) and read the blurb to think, wow, this is really interesting. I've never read this kind of book in full, only short snippets for essays for university. I thought this would encourage me to do more non-fiction reading, but honestly, I wish I'd never picked it up.
The blurb in itself is very misleading. Yes, all of the things it describes such as "love, friendship, and happiness" is talked about, but nothing in comparison to the sheer amount Bindel talks about trans women. I'm being very particular in my language here, because throughout the entire 200 pages of this book, trans men are only referenced once, and trans ideology is meant in terms of trans women only.
I'd also like to make clear that the only reason I read until the end is because I don't believe you can make a full assumption about a piece without reading the whole thing. A small piece of me was hoping that the further I got into the book, the closer I'd get to Bindel realizing error in her ideology. Obviously, that has not happened. I will also admit that I didn't read any reviews of this book before buying, which I now will do every single time I pick up a book, even a fiction one, to avoid spending money on books that don't have the same ideology I align myself with.
The conclusion I have come to at the end of this is the very real possibility that Bindel is not remotely queer in the slightest. She consistently talks about how sexuality is in fact a choice and that she discovered her sexuality in relation to radical feminism. It appears that she only has love for women as far as she has love for feminists, especially considering how badly she slates any women who don't share her ideology. Ironic, I know, as I'm writing this review out, but I'm not calling her any bad names or using year six bullying tactics, I'm explaining my perspective in what I would consider a respectable manner. Bindel accuses any women who appear to have any kind of relation with a man or trans woman to be submissive slaves to the patriarchy, and makes it clear she thinks less of them than she does the dirt under her feet.
I made a list on my phone of points to talk about in this review, very unprofessional ones, but I do want to share them all just in case it makes one person stop and think twice about picking up this book, or any of hers for that matter.
"Stop using Billy Porter to promote transphobia." Billy Porter, born William Ellis Porter II is an American singer, actor, writer, director, and businessperson (as per Wikipedia). I first saw him in Pose, a 2018 drama television series surrounding New York City's ball room subculture. He is an incredible activist in LGBTQ+ politics and one of the first openly gay celebrities that I ever recognized. Bindel uses the argument that because he wore a tuxedo dress to the Academy Awards in 2019, he proves that men can be in touch with femineity without being transgender. If she wants to use a celebrity queer icon to push her transphobic agenda, Billy Porter is definitely not the one.
"I don't think the n word should have been censored in a non-fiction book when it's detailing racism." This point may be controversial coming from a white woman, but when talking about racism, especially when its used in the context of a direct quote, I think it's almost more disrespectful to censor the terminology. This is obviously not a word that I or anyone else should be using on the regular, in notes or reviews or anything like that, but a published non-fiction work where its within the context of racism and bigotry? I don't think it should have been censored.
"'Not on' is not a professional language." This isn't the only example of unprofessional writing, in fact the vast majority of this book is written very informally to the point where I feel like I'm being ranted at in conversation rather than reading a respectable published book, but this example in itself did make me giggle when reading it. Equally, the context in which she's talking really emphasises the fact that she disagrees (though I can't remember what about) so using 'not on' almost devalues that entirely because its so blasé.
"The way this is described, you'd think there were doctors on the streets harassing masc lesbians to be trans." There a multiple instances in the book where Bindel talks about doctors recommending gender reassignment surgery over identifying with a queer sexuality, and I want to make it clear that I'm not talking about foreign countries but only the UK specifically, lesbianism is far more accepted than transgenderism. It takes so long for gender reassignment surgery to become an option for some many trans people, with psyche evaluations and counselling and medical intervention. There are so many hoops that people have to jump through, so forgive me if I don't believe these circumstances are as prevalent as Bindel makes them out to be. Especially considering the recent rise in transphobia and the rise of far right politics, there are most definitely no doctors rallying in the streets to chop off body parts.
"Questioning Stonewall is an INSANE take." Shockingly enough, Stonewall is constantly criticised in this book. If I'm being perfectly honest, before reading this book, Stonewall was the only queer activism I had ever heard of. Admittedly, I didn't realise it was its own charity based within the UK named after the Stonewall riots, but its the only activism I could pull to mind in relation to queer rights, and bashing it constantly is so incredibly tone deaf.
"How anyone can find an issue with David Tennant is baffling." "Having compassion for JK Rowling whilst slating David Tennant really tells you everything you need to know." Two birds with one stone here. Bindel suggests that JK Rowling is a woman she really looks up to and could, to some degree, consider her friend. Simultaneously, she is incredibly rude about national icon David Tennant, essentially saying that his prominent allyship with transgenderism (ignoring his allyship with the LGBTQ+ community as a whole) is brainwashing and that celebrities shouldn't be pushing ideologies. Ha ha, ironic. What's that statistic? Oh yeah, the one where, according to Psychology Today, more than 25% of people regret their Harry Potter tattoos, in comparison to the 9% of trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people aged 18 and over having detransitioned, according to Advocates for Trans Equality.
"Why is transphobia only directed at trans women and not trans men? Every time she says trans as a collective, she says they're all men. Patriarchally affirming I guess? For trans men?" I've said earlier on about how Bindel only really talks about trans women. I would like to further that point but the fact that she only uses their chosen name if she can't find their dead name. She also uses pretransition pronouns, or in some instances, calls them an 'it'. Funny how pronouns work, isn't it?
Overall, this was an awful read. I can't even say the writing was good and kept me engaged, because from an editorial standpoint, it wasn't even good writing. It was unprofessional, sloppy, and at every single turn, now matter what she was focusing on, a curve would always appear leading back to trans people. For a book about lesbian history, she spends an awful lot of time talking about transgenderism.
I would like to be clear also that I am not diminishing the stories of the women contacted for this book, especially those who have suffered from sexual assault. I'm not saying that they're not valid in their feelings, or that they should be discounted based on views alone (should they be less inclined towards transgenderism) because the reality is that they've been wronged. They been wronged, harmed, and chances are that these events are what have swayed their viewpoints, which in all honesty, is understandable. I do feel for them and hope that over the years, they have found the help they need and will continue to do so.
Julie Bindel, however, should learn to stop centering men. Its ironic, really, that all she talks about is how lesbians shouldn't centre men by letting trans women into their lives, but lets talk honestly here. She believes men are out there parading as women. She is spending her whole book talking about these evil men. Until she stops centering men in her life, maybe she should take a step back from radical feminist activism.
March 16, 2026
horrific terf rhetoric that i had the misfortune of getting out of the library having done no prior research into the author. contains straight up lies and enough bullshit to make me want to throw it through a wall. also completely dismissive of asexual/aromantic people for some reason.
fucking awful read
fucking awful read
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.
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
March 24, 2026
DNF - I did not expect this to be so transphobic.
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.
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.
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).
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