Out In History explores the lives of many prominent gay, lesbian and bisexual people in history. The book's vivid language blends brevity with substance. The many personalities profiled include: Michelangelo, Christopher Marlowe, Bessie Smith, James Baldwin, Thomas Eakins, Joe Dellesandro, Marianne Moore, Adrienne Rich, Hart Crane, Cary Grant, Napoleon, James Merrill, Joe Orton, Djuna Barnes, Anna Freud, Lawrence of Arabia, George Sand, Jean Cocteau, Andre Gide, Aleister Crowley, James Dean, Ned Rorem, Gore Vidal, Phillip Johnson and Sal Mineo.