We are thrilled to host June Thomas for an event celebrating A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces that Shaped Queer Women’s Culture! For this event, June will be joined in conversation by Searah Deysach! We are also excited to welcome Gerber/Hart LGBT+ Library & Archive at the event, where they will have a display of archival materials for perusal.

Please note: This event is free to attend, but registration is required! By registering for this event, you agree to wear a face mask throughout the duration of the event, per W&CF’s Covid-19 policies. 

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT HERE! 

A deeply researched and highly readable cultural history of queer women’s lives in the second half of the twentieth century, told through six iconic spaces

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. In A Place of Our Own, 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 vacation spot, and the feminist bookstore.

Thomas blends her own experiences with archival research and rare interviews with pioneering figures like Elaine Romagnoli, Susie Bright, and Jacqueline Woodson. She richly illustrates the lives of the business owners, entrepreneurs, activists, and dreamers who shaped the long struggle for queer liberation. Thomas 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.

At once a love letter, a time capsule, and a bridge between generations of queer women, A Place of Our Own brings the history—and timeless present—of the lesbian community to vivid life.

June Thomas is a journalist and the cohost of Slate’s Working podcast. Thomas was formerly senior managing producer of Slate podcasts and was the founding editor of Outward, Slate’s LGBTQ section. Her work has appeared in outlets including Bloomberg Businessweek, Marie Claire, the New York Times’ T magazine, and the Advocate. After forty years in America, Thomas now lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Searah Deysach is a queer sex educator and the owner of Early to Bed and Trans Essentials. In addition to running her retail store & websites, she lectures to community groups and colleges around the state on topics relating to masturbation, sex toys and positive sexuality. She is committed to working to create a culture where everyone has access to honest information about sex and sexuality.

Gerber/Hart is a LGBTQ+ library and archives located in the Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago. Founded in 1981, Gerber/Hart is one of the largest repositories of LGBTQ+ content in the world. Gerber/Hart focuses on collecting, preserving, and making accessible the LGBTQ history and culture of Chicago and the Midwest. Learn more at gerberhart.org or by following @gerberhart on Instagram and Facebook. And for a deep dive into some of the amazing collections at Gerber/Hart, listen in to their 2022 podcast Unboxing Queer History!

Accessibility: This event is hosted at the bookstore, which is a wheelchair accessible space. Masks are required. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To request ASL interpretation for this event, please email events@womenandchildrenfirst.com by no later than 14 days before the event. For other questions or access needs, please email events@womenandchildrenfirst.com.

Official Website

More events on this date

Tags: A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces that Shaped Queer Women's Culture, A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces that Shaped Queer Women's Culture by June Thomas, Chicago, Edgewater, Gerber/Hart, June Thomas, Searah Deysach, Women & Children First Bookstore