Sensible Footwear Book Launch

Join us for the launch of acclaimed cartoonist Kate Charlesworth’s Sensible Footwear — a stunning graphic memoir that presents a glorious pageant of LGBT history, featuring personal and political milestones from the 1950s to the present day. Peopled by a cast of gay icons such as Dusty Springfield, Billie Jean King, Dirk Bogarde and Alan Turing, and focusing on key moments such as Stonewall, Gay Pride and Section 28, Sensible Footwear is a milestone itself in LGBT history.

Sensible Footwear Book Launch, Saturday 27th July, 1pm to 3pm

In 1950, when Kate was born, male homosexuality carried a custodial sentence. But female homosexuality had never been an offence in the UK, effectively rendering lesbians even more invisible than they already were – often to themselves. Growing up in Yorkshire, the young Kate had to find role models wherever she could, in real life, books, film and TV.

Sensible Footwear is a fascinating history of how post-war Britain transformed from a country hostile towards ‘queer’ lives to the LGBQTI+ universe of today, against a backdrop of Kate’s personal experience: realising her own sexuality, coming out, embracing lesbian and gay culture, love and loss.

‘The often hidden history of lesbians…comes alive through the vivid re-creations of acclaimed cartoonist Kate Charlesworth. Engagingly documents decades of changes in the LGBTQ+ life.’ Paul Gravett, The Bookseller

‘Newsworthy, covetable and will become a classic.’ Adele Patrick, Glasgow Women’s Library

‘Kate’s insightful work has illuminated and documented LGBTQ life – an important work.’ David Isaac, chair of Equality and Human Rights Commission

Sensible Footwear is published by Myriad on 23 July 2019.

Booking

This workshop is open to all and is free. Please book below (you will be taken through the shopping cart but no charge will be made) or you can call us on 0141 550 2267. If you have booked a place and are no longer able to attend please let us know so that we can make your place available to someone else.

Accessibility

Glasgow Women’s Library is wheelchair accessible, with lifts to the first floor and the Mezzanine Floor. We have accessible toilets and all the bathrooms are individual closed stalls and are gender neutral. Our larger Events Space is fitted with an induction loop. A portable induction loop is also available. For paid events free companion tickets are available.

Find more information on Accessibility at GWL or contact us and we will be very happy to offer assistance.