genre: history and memoir
Sensible Footwear is a graphic novel personal history of the 'coming out' and life of the author, Kate, while also a vibrant portrait of the political milestones of Britian's LGBTQ movement from the 1950s and on. It is loud and brassy and colorful and poignant. There is a LOT of history - a lot of pain and dismissal and abuse but also it's a celebration of LIFE. It's a celebration of all those individuals who have given their energy to securing a safe and validated space for people of all sexualities. It's a celebration of the art and drama and music that has allowed lesbian and gay artists to express their lived experience.
I learned, that's for sure. Sensible Footwear doesn't gloss over the violence and bigotry of homophobia. Sometimes it felt a bit overwhelming to my brain, there was so much to see and read. The hardest part for me was following the memoir storyline - there were so many different "characters" coming in and out, backwards and forwards in time, I finally just sort of gave up remembering who was who and tried to appreciate the overall flow of the narrative as Kate forges deep friendships and romantic relationships with the people she learns to trust. From the easiest publications for lesbian readers to the Aids epidemic to the legality of gay marriage, Sensible Footwear takes a large and emotional topic and pares it down into a both a personal and historical overview.
content warning: adult situations and illustrations
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