The L Life: Extraordinary Lesbians Making a Difference by Erin McHugh

My first thought when I opened the package was, "What a beautiful book." The L Life: Extraordinary Lesbians Making a Difference is simply stunning. This coffee table book has gorgeous photos by Jennifer May of some of the most well-know lesbians of our time.

Erin McHugh set out to write a book about lesbians who have made a difference. And she found some great women to interview. She sat down with well known lesbians like comedian Kate Clinton, cartoonist Alison Bechdel and activist Phyllis Lyon. And she introduces us to some we might not know, but who we probably should.

She and photographer Jennifer May crisscrossed the country to conduct the interviews and she says, "I fell a little bit in love with every single one of these women." And you will too.

The diverse group of women include actors, a sheriff, filmmakers and pubic servants. They talk about their lives, the LGBT movement, their coming out or what being a lesbian means to them.

The great thing about The L Life is the mix of women you probably already know and those you don't. For example, I learned about Lisa Sherman who is the general manager and executive vice president of Logo. I met Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum from New York City, business woman Sally Susman and Nan Buzzard who runs international response for the Red Cross.

I also found out things about lesbians I already knew. I learned that breast cancer guru Dr. Susan Love used to be a nun and that Michigan Womyn's Music Festival producer Lisa Vogel sold drugs in high school.

Each woman in this book shares a bit of their philosophy. Like Sharon Kleinbaum saying, "Frankly, a problem with the LGBT movement for liberation is that we've so often experienced religion as only a force for evil in the world: We haven't recognized the incredible power it can also be for liberation and change." Actress Jane Lynch shares, "I hope that by the end of our lives being homosexual is about as important as being left-handed."

My biggest issue with this book is that everyone, except for one 25-year-old, is 40 or older. Most of them much older. Certainly there are teens, 20s and 30-year-olds making a difference for lesbians.

Regardless, The L Life is a book that you will be proud to display on your coffee table. Your straight friends might pick it up and be amazed at the diversity of lesbian accomplishment. Hell, your lesbians friends probably will too.