Welcome to Litsy!

Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake lived as a married couple in New England in the first half of the 19th century. What makes this book remarkable is how unremarkable they were - they weren't rich or famous, or particularly noteworthy except in this one aspect of their lives. They were pillars of their church and community, and they left behind enough correspondence and other material for the author to piece together their lives.

“The history of same-sex sexuality has been overdetermined by the selective evidence available for its study. Reliant on religious doctrines, court records, and psychological theories, the history of same-sex sexuality is often framed around the poles of oppression and resistance. The missing evidence of pleasure must be supplied by the imagination.“

This was an interesting read, and remarkable in that so many journals and letters survived about this same-sex marriage in the 1800‘s. In so many ways these women were so much more fortunate than other lesbians. And, heartbreakingly, they felt at odds with their Christian faith and lived their lives agonizing over their love for each other versus their faith.

This story of their forty year marriage shows yet again- queers have always been here.

One might have thought two women would have made #StrangeBedfellows in the early 1800s, but surprisingly, these women were considered wives to each other by most in their community. I‘m excited to listen to this #Audible daily deal soon. #PrideMonth

The DS9 episode is either the first or second episode of the multi-part finale. So awesome and well written! #StarTrekSummerJune

#silhouettesoncovers This is waiting for the days of mandatory 12 hour overtime to be done. (Please universe, soon) #seasonsreadings2016 @RealLifeReading