October is quickly approaching, and so we decided to put together a list of books everyone should read for LGBT History month. Do you have these titles on your bookshelf?
How to Survive a Plague: The Story of How Activists and Scientists Tamed AIDS
How to Survive a Plague by David France provides a detailed account of the activists fighting to stop the AIDS epidemic. Thoroughly researched and expansive, France gives insider insight into the harrowing fight for the rights and lives of people with a positive diagnosis.
Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle
Lillian Faderman’s Gay Revolution documents the struggle for LGBTQ rights in the United States. Using interviews from key figures, from politicians to legal activists to members of the community, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the LGBTQ civil rights movement.
Out in the Union by Miriam Frank tells the story of queer Americans in the labor force and their activism for their rights in the workforce. Frank explores the intersections of the labor and LGBTQ movement, including not only coming but also discrimination and harassment in the workplace, and access to healthcare for same-sex couples.
When We Rise: My Life in the Movement
In Cleve Jones’ memoir, When We Rise, he recounts his dive into politics in San Francisco, as well as his first-hand account of the AIDS epidemic and his efforts to raise awareness through The AIDS Memorial Quilt and The AIDS Foundation. This moving book tells the intimate story of a prolific figure in the LGBT movement.
Susan Stryker’s comprehensive Transgender History chronicles the history of transgender folks starting from the 20th century to today. Stryker covers medical, political, as well as cultural struggles and advancements in this informative book.
Homintern by Gregory Woods details how homosexuality in the twentieth-century influenced greater Western culture. Crossing continents, languages, and nearly a century, Woods’ expansive study demonstrates how the visibility of gay people in the arts and creative fields has changed the course of global history.
Bi: Notes for a Bisexual Revolution by Shiri Eisner advocates for bisexual people and against the stigma and prejudice they face from both straight and homosexual communities. Eisner’s approach illuminates the intersections between bisexuality and feminism, transgender, and queer studies to provide a radical manifesto for the bisexual community.
Queer Brown Voices illuminates the intersections of race, ethnicity, nationality, and immigration within queer studies. Focusing on the myriad of voices in the LGBT Latinx community, this book is as accessible as it is interesting.
Queer: A Graphic History
Meg-John Barker and Julia Scheele’s Queer: A Graphic History provides an overview of the LGBTQ movement in graphic novel form. This incredibly accessible book that is both an informative and entertaining way to learn about landmark moments and theories in queer history.
The Disappearing L by Bonnie J. Morris investigates the rise and fall of lesbian and women-only spaces, such as festivals, bookstores, and support spaces created in the 1970’s. Morris interrogates why, when LGBTQ acceptance is on the rise with the passage of marriage equality and the repeal of DADT, lesbian orientated spaces are closing up shop.
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