Pride and Prejudices

‘There’s a lot of talk recently about LGBT rights coming under attack. Pride and Prejudices shows that LGBT rights have always been under attack: around the world, queer and gender-nonconforming people have always been subject to prejudice, censorship, and criminalisation, abuse, and injustice. But what this book also shows is that there have always been courageous, clever, relentless activists like Keio Yoshida who work for a better, brighter, more inclusive future for everyone. Read this book, see how much has been achieved and how much there is to be done. Read — and resist!’

-- Diarmuid Hester, author of Nothing Ever Just Disappears

‘An inspiring account of the global struggle for LGBT+ human rights.’

-- Peter Tatchell, LGBT+ and human rights campaigner

‘Keio Yoshida weaves insightful threads of personal narrative into the stories of LGBTQ+ rights around the world. This is an important book, reflecting changing times, which reveals how far we have come and how far we have yet to go.’

-- Paul Baker, author of Fabulosa!: The Story of Polari, Britain's Secret Gay Language

‘This is a lovely book, in which the author accurately describes the legal battles against cruel and stupid judges and laws oppressing sexual minorities, intertwined with a moving account of their personal — and ultimately joyful — trans journey. It is a novel and powerful way of presenting the case for law reform, and can be recommended for reading by J.K. Rowling.’

-- Geoffrey Robertson KC

‘Taking us on a journey from criminalisation and shame towards freedom and pride, Keio Yoshida shares their own lesbian-gender/queer story with law. While historically, our queer lives have been thoroughly endangered by law, Keio maps how this has begun to slowly change due to the courage of queer human rights activists and advocates around the world. The message is one of hope, despite the enormity of the legal prejudices that remain.’

-- Dianne Otto, author of Queering International Law

‘Yoshida quotes Sedgwick in their opening note on language, “I refuse to signify monolithically”, before taking us through the history of queer and LGBTQIA+ rights as they have been denied and affirmed. Framed by Yoshida’s personal experiences as a yearning adolescent, to loving women and discovering themselves, we meet both Keio and the people who continue to fight for freedom of love, expression, family, and existence.

From a mind who inhales Whitman and breathes life into constitutional litigation on decriminalising homosexuality, Pride and Prejudices is ultimately about a belief in the law to evolve and expand to serve the breadth of humanity Keio loves, humanity that is anything but a monolith. This is an important book for an important time.’

-- Kaya Wilson, author of Beautiful As Any Other

‘This outstanding book describes injustice to LGBTQI citizens in one corner of the Commonwealth, Sri Lanka. It should galvanise us all to address this issue worldwide.’

-- The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG

Praise for How Many More Women?:

‘A stunning book; as vital as it is compelling. A powerful warning about how the justice system can be used to silence women, and why urgent change is needed: a must-read for women and allies alike.’

-- Harriet Johnson, author of Enough: the violence against women and how to end it

Praise for How Many More Women?:

‘Witty, gritty, insightful, and true, this book is essential reading for all women. Robinson and Yoshida lay down the law, on law, in an accessible way, giving us the ammunition we need, not just to protect ourselves, but to go out there and win.’

-- Kathy Lette, bestselling author

Praise for How Many More Women?:

‘In forensic detail with real cases, Robinson and Yoshida show how far the law is trailing behind the zeitgeist of MeToo. The sheer scale of the problem is shocking — if you are a woman who likes to express your views, you need to read this book. If anyone can change things, in court or through the pages of this powerful book, it is these two fearless feminist lawyers.’

-- Dr Susie Alegre, author of Freedom to Think

Praise for How Many More Women?:

‘This important book demonstrates how man-made laws and legal procedures bear down harshly and unfairly on women who try to exercise their free speech rights to complain about domestic violence and abuse. At a time when reform of defective laws of defamation and confidentiality is being considered in many English-speaking countries, the injustices eloquently described by these authors deserve special attention. Theirs is a book that should be read — with shame — by judges and politicians and with appreciation by news editors, journalists, and all concerned to enhance freedom of speech.’

-- Geoffrey Robertson KC, barrister, former UN judge, and author

Praise for How Many More Women?:

‘The authors show how a siloed approach to law, together with long outdated but persistent myths about women (particularly in relation to sexual violence and gender-based violence) perpetuates injustice in practice. Using case studies from across the globe, many involving their clients, the authors seek to break this silence, give women back their voice, and show how change can and is happening. A fine example of feminist legal scholarship. It should be made essential reading for law students, trainee advocates, and judges.’

-- Dr Susan Atkins CB, author of Woman and the Law

Praise for How Many More Women?:

‘The oppression of women is a many-headed beast — commonly, as we defeat some, others emerge. How Many More Women? lifts the lid on the way the law is weaponised to silence women from speaking out about the violence and abuse they suffer. It is crucial reading for any person wanting to fight against all forms of gendered abuse.’

-- Jess Phillip