Chicana Lesbians: The Girls Our Mothers Warned Us About

by Carla Trujillo

Literary Nonfiction. LGBT Studies. "CHICANA LESBIANS is a love poem, a bible, a dictionary, nothing so simple as a manifesto--this book is yet another reason to believe--to believe in the girls our mothers warned us about, brown girls, lesbians, making their own love poems, bibles, dictionaries, manifestoes, reasons to believe."--Dorothy Allison"When I was selling books at a Chicana conference, I noticed book buyers were literally afraid to touch this anthology. I say now what I said then, 'Don't be scared. Sexuality is not contagious, but ignorance is.' If you've ever been curious, been there, been voyeur, been tourist, or just plain under-informed, misinformed, or unaffirmed, here is a book to listen to and learn from."--Sandra Cisneros

Genres: Lesbian, Queer, Nonfiction, LGBT, Poetry, Feminism, Anthologies

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Sof!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey! cried.

[fausto · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Although I have to declare I prefer "Compañeras: Latina Lesbians," this anthology had the privilege of being especifically about chicanas, and that speaks tomes about the content. Is less bilingual that Compañeras, but its specificity shows the special sensibility (cultural sensibility) of the chicana lesbian experience, the mix of mexican folk/oral traditions, the struggles between the lesbian-feminist movement and La Raza, the impact of motherhood in the lives of mexicana womyn and the mexican community/familia values. I specially love the short stories by Emma Pérez, Terri de la Peña, and Cherrie Moraga
I love the large scope of Compañeras, but certanly as mexican I felt a deep conection with the experiences of chicano/as that differ greatly from others latina/os.
A must read!

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This eclectic collection of essays, fragments, poems and stories of Chicana lesbians has just planted a seed in my brain. I hereby swear I will read everything Emma Pérez has published and will publish. That final essay was life changing. Thanks Carla Trujillo for putting this together thirty years ago and for it being so relevant still in 2023.
‘We, the subjects, write; we, the subjects, speak. But, do you listen? Can you hear?’

[Ummzahra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found stories and voices like mine...

[sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

"all those horrible things that they say about us are society's creation about us, but who we are essentially, and the essence of our being, to me, is that of a tremendous individual."

this is a book that sandra cisneros calls a "book to listen to and learn from" and she couldn't be more right. 'chicana lesbians' is a book that i'll be reading again and again in the future, it's a book that i'll be referencing as much as i can and it's a book that i've sat with and learned so much from. i owe so much to the women who contributed their writings to this anthology, call me dramatic but their words have given me such a sense of comfort from just knowing there's other women who've felt and thought the same as me at one point. feeling connected to someone simply through their words is a powerful thing.

[bbyreaper · Rating 4 out of 5]

emotional, vulnerable, academic but familial. brings up ideas ive struggled with inside my head and made me reconsider queer identity inside “la raza”. gave me useful language to carry forward.

the pieces of poetry work well with longer academic analyses. the collection of authors and their works are organized well.

felt validating

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving this so much. Grateful for it's existence.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 stars

[Lizeth Estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return to read Gulf Coast

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! There were a few pieces that were kind of meh but overall, this is an amazing collection that really sheds light on what it means to be a Chicana and a Lesbian and a woman. Some parts are in Spanish but they can be easily translated on BabelFish for nonspeakers. Just a wonderful and touching collection.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, basically, an anthology of poems, fiction, and essays about - dun dun dun! - being Chicana and a lesbian. It's more than that, though; it's beautiful, and inspiring, and cuts through stereotypical bullshit to the heart of reality. It's truly lovely. And, like usual, I can't think of much else to say about it because I liked it that much. Just read it, and you'll understand.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books need to be read over and over. This is one of them. Rereading a powerful book is like a late-night phone conversation with your best friend. I promise it won't be another 10 years before I open your cover again.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me, a lot. And I don't mean that in a creepy way.