Baby, You Are My Religion

Marie Cartier is a scholar, writer and artist whose work explores the intersections of religion, gender, and queer culture and history. She lectures in Gender and Women’s Studies and also Queer Studies at California State University, Northridge. She is the co-producer of a documentary by the same name and of the podcast #DykeDive.

My first edition copy of 'Baby, You Are My Religion' is streaked and starred with all of the historical insight and connections Marie Cartier makes between lesbian bars and religious spaces. Culled from first-hand oral histories of those who came up in the early dyke bars -- the 'only place we had' -- 'Baby' is a tangible testament to the rituals, practices and beliefs of butches, femmes and their friends. Consider it biblical.-Trish Bendix, New York Times, regular contributor"When Marie wrote me about her project that was to become this book, -- I did not get the connection. But she convinced me. Her enthusiasm, her delight, her insights gave me a new perspective on the loves of my life."-Joan Nestle, author Restricted Country and Persistent Desire: A Butch Femme ReaderThe many stories that Marie Cartier captures in Baby You Are My Religion were an important part of the fight to save Hershee Bar, Virginia’s oldest lesbian bar when it was forced to close. Though we ultimately were unsuccessful in saving it, the heartfelt testimony delivered to city leadership about Hershee’s importance echoed Cartier’s findings about the myriad functions that lesbian bars serve. Baby You Are My Religion is a powerful record of so many of those bars and the women who gathered in them. -Cathleen Rhodes, Tidewater Queer History Project founder

• Acknowledgements Preface: Myrna’s Story Preface 2nd ed.: #OrlandoStrong: Yes, Baby, the Gay Bar is Still Our Church 1. It was the only place Part I: The Stories 2. The 1940s “Thank God the Japanese Surrendered” 3. The 1950s “I should have made a list of my girlfriends.” 4. The 1960s “It Was … Hollywood! We did a Girlfriend … Daisy Chain!” 5. The 1970s “We were …Women in Overalls Dancing with Women in Overalls. They Kicked us Out.” 6. The 1980s “I Really did Think i was Jess from Stone Butch Blues Reincarnated.” Part II: Sacred Space Context 7. What Came Before 8. Braiding Theology Part III: Thee-logy: The Lesbian Bar as Sacred 9. Experience is Primary 10. What is Theelogy? 11. Four Tenets of Theelogy 12. Conclusion…Last Call! Afterword 2nd ed: Saving the Hershee Bar and Why Lesbian Bars Matter Appendix A: Demographics Breakout Data Appendix B: Sources Appendix C: Timeline: Significant LGBTQ+ events with Lesbian Bar History Bibliography. Index