Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear

by Lesléa Newman

This collection of humorous stories starring Leslea Newman and her butch, Flash, who live in Lesbianville, U.S.A., is based on her popular column, which has run in lesbian and gay periodicals all over the country. Nothing is sacred and nobody's feelings are spared in this clever and caustic collection which will make readers laugh, think, and want to shop.

Genres: Queer, LGBT, Nonfiction, Humor, Lesbian, Essays, Butch Femme

189 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

Lesléa Newman (born 1955, Brooklyn, NY) is the author of over 50 books including Heather Has Two Mommies, A Letter To Harvey Milk, Writing From The Heart, In Every Laugh a Tear, The Femme Mystique, Still Life with Buddy, Fat Chance and Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a funny and introspective look into the life of a butch/femme couple. Leslea (high femme extraordinaire) writes about the adventures she and Flash, her beloved butch companion, have wandering around Lesbianville, USA. The book is told through Leslea's funny, Jewish femme point of view. The essays deal with subjects such as a day at the mall (fun for femmes, trauma for butches), having a former nun as your girlfriend, dealing with traumatic parental visits and having a bat attempt to attack you when your butch isn't around. I recommend this book highly for queer and queer friendly people everywhere.

[Caly ☯ Crazy Book Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the few books that is a re-read for me (last read it about 10 years ago) but it is my all time favorite lesbian book and the funniest thing I have ever read maybe because I can relate to it some much. 8-)

[Quinn M. Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect when I first opened this book — I wasn’t familiar with Lesléa Newman’s work. But this high femme queen absolutely did not disappoint.

Out of the Closet with Nothing to Wear is a heartfelt memoir about her life with her beloved butch partner. Lesléa artfully talks about everything — their furry babies, her work as a writer, their daily life as a butch/femme couple in the early ’90s, and all the quirky interactions with neighbors, friends, and family.

And she does it so well. I lost count of how many times I cracked up at the way she chose to tell her stories. Her voice is witty, bold, and unapologetically femme.

This book gives a tender, funny, and insightful peek into what a butch/femme relationship looked like back then — and honestly, it reads like a blueprint of what one could still be. If this dynamic is your cup of tea (and it definitely is mine), I’d highly recommend it. Especially to any young femme out there. Girl sets the bar high for the butches — just as she should.

[anna gram · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so, so refreshing to read this. This book was incredibly engaging and I finished it in one go! Each story had me cracking up or aweing or wiping a tear from my eye. It was perfect reading about the author's day-to-day life with her wife. I loved hearing about her relationship with her family post-coming out as well. I will absolutely be checking out her other works.

[Radclyffe U-Haul · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Lesbian Erma Bombeck" is a pretty dead-on description. It's light and charming!
Also, "Lesbianville" is definitely Northampton, right? "Dyke U" is Smith for sure.
The way butch-ness is presented here doesn't totally resonate with me but oh well.

[Ani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a delightful romp through the 90s with a to die for lesbian couple in such a witty and fun writing style.

Hey we could get technical about a few of the more outdated ideas about lesbianism, but hey it was the 90s and again just so fun to read.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! An exceptional read for femmes searching for their sparkly place in an lgbt world of androgyny.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butchfemme domesticity is a tonic for my soul. When you grow up without seeing representations of your future in the media, it’s hard to imagine one. In this book I see my future and it is bright

[Blooposbim · Rating 5 out of 5]

So silly

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous, short short stories of instances in the life of a butch-femme couple. Light and yes, humorous! If you're looking for an analysis assessing the appropriateness of butch-femme relationships, keep moving.

[Kat Heatherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute, fast, smart & funny, this lightweight little volume is designed to amuse the reader, and succeeds admirably. the back cover compared Leslea Newman to a "lesbian Erma Bombeck" and while i found most of Newman's social commentary a bit sharper (and more aligned with my political leanings, of course) than Bombeck, the overall comparision stands. both are witty, occasionally hilarious, writers who draw out the beauty and the fun of daily life. "Out of the Closet" will probably not teach you anything, but it will make you laugh. which can be worth a lot. reccomended.

[Jessica Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly *the* funniest book I've ever read.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny!!!

[Miramira Endevall · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this would be more interesting, but I have such a disconnect where Brooklyn/Manhattan culture is concerned that I just couldn't get into it.

[Sassafras Patterdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

such an iconic femme book and super funny!

[Roxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite books of all time!!!!

[Dana Neily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for what it is which is a series of cheerful and funny lesbian stories (all too rare in this day and age) but nothing more than that.