The first of its kind, Troubling the Line: Trans and Genderqueer Poetry and Poetics, gathers together a diverse range of 55 poets with varying aesthetics and backgrounds. In addition to generous samples of poetry by each trans writer, the book also includes "poetics statements"--reflections by each poet that provide context for their work covering a range of issues from identification and embodiment to language and activism. Poets include Samuel Ace, Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Micha Cardenas, kari edwards, Duriel Harris, Joy Ladin, Dawn Lundy Martin, Eileen Myles, Trish Salah, Max Wolf Valerio, John Wieners, Kit Yan, and more.
This groundbreaking and empowering book examines the impact of growing up and surviving as a gay man in a society still learning to accept all identities. In The Velvet Rage, psychologist Alan Downs draws on his own struggle with shame and anger, contemporary research, and stories from his patients to passionately describe the stages of a gay man's journey out of shame and offers practical and inspired strategies to stop the cycle of avoidance and self-defeating behavior. The Velvet Rage is an empowering book that has already changed the public discourse on gay culture and helped shape the identity of an entire generation of gay men.
Supreme Court lawyer and political pundit Linda Hirshman details the stunning story of how a resourceful and dedicated minority transformed the notion of American marriage equality and forged a campaign for cultural change that will serve as a model for all future political movements. In the vein of Taylor Branch's classic Parting of the Waters, Hirshman's groundbreaking Victory: The Triumphant Gay Revolution is the powerful story of a massive shift in American culture. Hirshman offers an insider's view of the crucial struggle that is leading to change, incorporating her unique experiences and insights and drawing upon new interviews--with movement titans such as Frank Kameny and Phyllis Lyon, with next-generation activists such as Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry, and with allies including the likes of New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand--to create a comprehensive, inspiring history of change in our time.
Novelist and critic Dale Peck's latest work--part memoir, part extended essay--is a foray into what the author calls "the second half of the first half of the AIDS epidemic," i.e., the period between 1987, when the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) was founded, and 1996, when the advent of combination therapy transformed AIDS from a virtual death sentence into a chronic manageable illness. Reminiscent of Joan Didion's The White Album and Kurt Vonnegut's Palm Sunday, Visions and Revisions is a sweeping, collage-style portrait of a tumultuous era. Moving seamlessly from the lyrical to the analytical to the reportorial, Peck's story takes readers from the serial killings of gay men in New York, London, and Milwaukee, through Peck's first loves upon coming out of the closet, to the transformation of LGBT people from marginal, idealistic fighters to their present place in a world of widespread, if fraught, mainstream acceptance. The narrative pays particular attention the words and deeds of AIDS activists, offering a streetlevel portrait of ACT UP with considerations of AIDS-centered fiction and criticism of the era, as well as intimate, sometimes elegiac portraits of artists, activists, and HIV-positive people Peck knew. Peck's fiery rhetoric against a government that sat on its hands for the first several years of the epidemic is tinged with the idealism of a young gay man discovering his political, artistic, and sexual identity. The result is a visionary and indispensable work from one of America's most brilliant and controversial authors.
Have pride in history. A rich and sweeping photographic history of the Queer Liberation Movement, from the creators and curators of the massively popular Instagram account LGBT History. "If you think the fight for justice and equality only began in the streets outside Stonewall, with brave patrons of a bar fighting back, you need to read We Are Everywhere right now."--Anderson Cooper Through the lenses of protest, power, and pride, We Are Everywhere is an essential and empowering introduction to the history of the fight for queer liberation. Combining exhaustively researched narrative with meticulously curated photographs, the book traces queer activism from its roots in late-nineteenth-century Europe--long before the pivotal Stonewall Riots of 1969--to the gender warriors leading the charge today. Featuring more than 300 images from more than seventy photographers and twenty archives, this inclusive and intersectional book enables us to truly see queer history unlike anything before, with glimpses of activism in the decades preceding and following Stonewall, family life, marches, protests, celebrations, mourning, and Pride. By challenging many of the assumptions that dominate mainstream LGBTQ+ history, We Are Everywhere shows readers how they can--and must--honor the queer past in order to shape our liberated future.
Included in the 2014 Over the Rainbow list Baumgardner and Kunin have compiled the writings and public pronouncements of public officials and other figures on the issue of marriage equality...This book will serve as a resource for what was said about the struggle for marriage equality.
--New York Journal of Books We Do...triumphantly chronicles this recent chapter of this country's history. This volume demonstrates, through speeches, interviews, and commentary, the encouraging story of American acceptance of gay marriage and the roles that politicians--gay and straight--have played in that history.
--Philadelphia Tribune A remarkably upbeat little slab of work detailing the politicians out there who are good-hearted, decent and basically worth knowing about.
--Metro Times Blog (Detroit) We Do!...compiles speeches, interviews and commentary from 1977 through 2013, in which an array of political leaders...voice their unconditional support for the queer citizens of the US in their quest for same-sex marriage rights.
--The Bay Area Reporter Online With the announcement late last week by Attorney General Holder, gay marriage equality took another major step forward in the U.S. A recent book on the subject highlights to path politicians have taken from Harvey Milk of San Francisco in 1977 until now, to advance the cause of marriage equality. In the words of co-author Jennifer Baumgardner, 'this is a deeply radical book.'
--Sun News Miami We Do! is a powerful look at the long battle for marriage equality in America. As Vermont's governor, Madeleine Kunin was a leader on gay rights years before it was fashionable and years before our state became the first in the country to allow civil unions and, later, gay marriage without a court order. The struggle for gay rights in Vermont was very difficult, divisive, and acrimonious. If you talk to young people today about gay rights or gay marriage, they ask, What was the big deal? Madeleine and Jennifer Baumgardner remind us what a big deal it was and how important it is.
--United States Senator Bernie Sanders Madeleine Kunin argues that empowering women to succeed at home and at work is both good economics and good social policy. She presents a convincing road map for how we achieve that vision, and calls on all of us to be part of a brighter future.
--President Bill Clinton In her role as author and activist, Jennifer Baumgardner has permanently changed the way people think about feminism...and will shape the next hundred years of politics and culture.
--The Commonwealth Club of California, hailing Baumgardner as one of Six Visionaries for the Twenty-First Century The gay marriage movement, like all civil rights movements, began with individuals telling the truth about who they are to a world that doesn't accept them. It ends with an entire generation of young people who reject blatant civil rights discrimination...We Do! triumphantly chronicles this recent chapter.
--New Pages Remember when gay marriage was the easiest way to inflame an otherwise mild electorate? This volume demonstrates, through speeches, interviews, and commentary, the encouraging story of American acceptance of gay marriage and the roles that politicians--gay and straight--have played in that history. This movement began with individuals telling the truth about who they are to a world that doesn't accept them. From Supervisor Harvey Milk articulating in 1978 why gay people in all fields must be out and visible; to Governor Andrew Cuomo blinking back tears as he discussed his pride in making gay marriage a reality in New York in 2011; to President Obama's unprecedented support and the courage of many other American politicians--We Do! triumphantly chronicles this recent chapter of our history.
--New York Journal of Books We Do...triumphantly chronicles this recent chapter of this country's history. This volume demonstrates, through speeches, interviews, and commentary, the encouraging story of American acceptance of gay marriage and the roles that politicians--gay and straight--have played in that history.
--Philadelphia Tribune A remarkably upbeat little slab of work detailing the politicians out there who are good-hearted, decent and basically worth knowing about.
--Metro Times Blog (Detroit) We Do!...compiles speeches, interviews and commentary from 1977 through 2013, in which an array of political leaders...voice their unconditional support for the queer citizens of the US in their quest for same-sex marriage rights.
--The Bay Area Reporter Online With the announcement late last week by Attorney General Holder, gay marriage equality took another major step forward in the U.S. A recent book on the subject highlights to path politicians have taken from Harvey Milk of San Francisco in 1977 until now, to advance the cause of marriage equality. In the words of co-author Jennifer Baumgardner, 'this is a deeply radical book.'
--Sun News Miami We Do! is a powerful look at the long battle for marriage equality in America. As Vermont's governor, Madeleine Kunin was a leader on gay rights years before it was fashionable and years before our state became the first in the country to allow civil unions and, later, gay marriage without a court order. The struggle for gay rights in Vermont was very difficult, divisive, and acrimonious. If you talk to young people today about gay rights or gay marriage, they ask, What was the big deal? Madeleine and Jennifer Baumgardner remind us what a big deal it was and how important it is.
--United States Senator Bernie Sanders Madeleine Kunin argues that empowering women to succeed at home and at work is both good economics and good social policy. She presents a convincing road map for how we achieve that vision, and calls on all of us to be part of a brighter future.
--President Bill Clinton In her role as author and activist, Jennifer Baumgardner has permanently changed the way people think about feminism...and will shape the next hundred years of politics and culture.
--The Commonwealth Club of California, hailing Baumgardner as one of Six Visionaries for the Twenty-First Century The gay marriage movement, like all civil rights movements, began with individuals telling the truth about who they are to a world that doesn't accept them. It ends with an entire generation of young people who reject blatant civil rights discrimination...We Do! triumphantly chronicles this recent chapter.
--New Pages Remember when gay marriage was the easiest way to inflame an otherwise mild electorate? This volume demonstrates, through speeches, interviews, and commentary, the encouraging story of American acceptance of gay marriage and the roles that politicians--gay and straight--have played in that history. This movement began with individuals telling the truth about who they are to a world that doesn't accept them. From Supervisor Harvey Milk articulating in 1978 why gay people in all fields must be out and visible; to Governor Andrew Cuomo blinking back tears as he discussed his pride in making gay marriage a reality in New York in 2011; to President Obama's unprecedented support and the courage of many other American politicians--We Do! triumphantly chronicles this recent chapter of our history.
Celebrate the LGBT Community
Discover important LGBT people who have changed the world Be moved by the accomplishments of the LGBT community Be inspired by a mix of biographies, history, and quotes
"For all LGBTQ teens and young adults, this book will help inspire and empower you to become your best selves."―Dustin Lance Black, Academy Award-winning Screenwriter, "Milk
#1 Bestseller in LGBT Studies, Lesbian Studies
LGBT history is as old as history itself. In that time, LGBT people have positively impacted their communities, made advancements for society, and changed the world! We Make It Better profiles all the people, places, and events that show just how awesome and inspiring the LGBT community is.
A stirring look at LGBT history. LGBT people have always played important roles in society. They have served their country, served in office, pushed for the protection of human rights, and have impacted all fields of study, sport, art, and industry. Meet some of the most famous thinkers and changers in history from Bayard Rustin, Alan Turing, Dr. Sally Ride, and Oscar Wilde to present day innovators and world changers such as Billie Jean King, Jason Collins, Ellen DeGeneres, Tim Cook, the Wachowski sisters, Sir Ian McKellen and more.
Positivity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and adults. More than a "who's who" of LGBT history, We Make It Better is a vibrant chronicle of the events in history where the LGBT community came together to fight for equality and save lives. Learn how the community came together during the HIV/AIDs crisis, fought for marriage equality, protested discrimination, and pushed for progressive change throughout the years. Learn about the events, places, people, and beliefs that are all causes for pride and celebration.
Read this book and:
Readers of The ABCs of LGBT by Ashley Mardell or Queer: A Graphic History by Dr. Meg-John Barker will love We Make It Better, a quintessential LGBT book.
In thirteen candid and provocative essays, author Jarrett Neal reports on the status of black gay men in the new millennium, examining classism among black gay men, racism within the gay community, representations of the black male body within gay pornography, and patriarchal threats to the survival of both black men and gay men. What Color Is Your Hoodie? employs the author's own quest for visibility-through bodybuilding, creative writing, and teaching, among other pursuits-as the genesis for an insightful and critical dialogue that ultimately symbolizes the entire black gay community's struggle for recognition and survival.
In the wake of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's historic Goodridge decision, a reissue of the bible of the same-sex marriage movement Will same-sex couples destroy traditional marriage, soon to be followed by the collapse of all civilization? That charge has been leveled throughout history whenever the marriage rules change. But marriage, as E. J. Graff shows in this lively, fascinating tour through the history of marriage in the West, has always been a social battleground, its rules constantly shifting to fit each era and economy. The marriage debates have been especially tumultuous for the past hundred and fifty years-in ways that lead directly to today's debate over whether marriage could mean not just Boy + Girl = Babies, but also Girl + Girl = Love.
Heralded as "required reading" (Geoff Nunberg) and "the book" (Anne Fadiman) for anyone interested in the conversation swirling around gender-neutral and nonbinary pronouns, What's Your Pronoun? is a classic in the making. Providing much-needed historical context and analysis to the debate around what we call ourselves, Dennis Baron brings new insight to a centuries-old topic and illuminates how--and why--these pronouns are sparking confusion and prompting new policies in schools, workplaces, and even statehouses. Enlightening and affirming, What's Your Pronoun? introduces a new way of thinking about language, gender, and how they intersect.
2017 LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD WINNER The partial inspiration for the ABC television mini-series! You could read Cleve Jones's book because you should know about the struggle for gay, lesbian, and transgender rights from one of its key participants--maybe heroes--but really, you should read it for pleasure and joy.--Rebecca Solnit, author of Men Explain Things to Me Born in 1954, Cleve Jones was among the last generation of gay Americans who grew up wondering if there were others out there like himself. There were. Like thousands of other young people, Jones, nearly penniless, was drawn in the early 1970s to San Francisco, a city electrified by progressive politics and sexual freedom. Jones found community--in the hotel rooms and ramshackle apartments shared by other young adventurers, in the city's bathhouses and gay bars like The Stud, and in the burgeoning gay district, the Castro, where a New York transplant named Harvey Milk set up a camera shop, began shouting through his bullhorn, and soon became the nation's most outspoken gay elected official. With Milk's encouragement, Jones dove into politics and found his calling in the movement. When Milk was killed by an assassin's bullet in 1978, Jones took up his mentor's progressive mantle--only to see the arrival of AIDS transform his life once again. By turns tender and uproarious, When We Rise is Jones' account of his remarkable life. He chronicles the heartbreak of losing countless friends to AIDS, which very nearly killed him, too; his co-founding of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation during the terrifying early years of the epidemic; his conception of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the largest community art project in history; the bewitching story of 1970s San Francisco and the magnetic spell it cast for thousands of young gay people and other misfits; and the harrowing, sexy, and sometimes hilarious stories of Cleve's passionate relationships with friends and lovers during an era defined by both unprecedented freedom and and violence alike. When We Rise is not only the story of a hero to the LQBTQ community, but the vibrantly voice memoir of a full and transformative American life.
Magnificent . . . A tour de force of literature and love.--Vogue Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is raucous. It hums with a dark refulgence from its first pages. . . . Singular and electric . . . [Winterson's] life with her adoptive parents was often appalling, but it made her the writer she is.--The New York Times [Winterson is] one of the most daring and inventive writers of our time--searingly honest yet effortlessly lithe as she slides between forms, exuberant and unerring, demanding emotional and intellectual expansion of herself and of us. . . . In Why Be Happy, , [Winterson's] emotional life is laid bare . . . [in] a bravely frank narrative of truly coming undone. For someone in love with disguises, Winterson's openness is all the more moving; there's nothing left to hide, and nothing left to hide behind.--Elle Jeanette Winterson's bold and revelatory novels have earned her widespread acclaim, establishing her as a major figure in world literature. She has written some of the most admired books of the past few decades, including her internationally best-selling first novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, the story of a young girl adopted by Pentecostal parents, that is now often required reading in contemporary fiction classes. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is a memoir about a life's work to find happiness. It is a book full of stories: about a girl locked out of her home, sitting on the doorstep all night; about a religious zealot disguised as a mother who has two sets of false teeth and a revolver in the dresser, waiting for Armageddon; about growing up in a north England industrial town now changed beyond recognition; about the universe as a cosmic dustbin. It is the story of how a painful past, which Winterson thought she had written over and repainted, rose to haunt her later in life, sending her on a journey into madness and out again, in search of her biological mother. It is also a book about other people's literature, one that shows how fiction and poetry can form a string of guiding lights, a life raft that supports us when we are sinking. Witty, acute, fierce, and celebratory, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is a tough-minded search for belonging--for love, identity, home, and a mother.
"At the edge of a field a thought waits," writes Cassie Donish, in her collection that explores the conflicting diplomacies of body and thought while stranding us in a field, in a hospital, on a shoreline. These are poems that assess and dwell in a sensual, fantastically queer mode. Here is a voice slowed by an erotics suffused with pain, quickened by discovery. In masterful long poems and refracted lyrics, Donish flips the coin of subjectivity; different and potentially dangerous faces are revealed in turn. With lyricism as generous as it is exact, Donish tunes her writing as much to the colors, textures, and rhythms of daily life as to what violates daily life--what changes it from within and without.
Are you wrestling with questions surrounding your gender that just don't seem to go away? Do you want answers to questions about your gender identity, but aren't sure how to get started? In this groundbreaking guide, Dara Hoffman-Fox, LPC--accomplished gender therapist and thought leader whose articles, blogs, and videos have empowered thousands worldwide--helps you navigate your journey of self-discovery in three approachable stages: preparation, reflection, and exploration. In You and Your Gender Identity, you will learn:
Why understanding your gender identity is core to embracing your full being How to sustain the highs and lows of your journey with resources, connection, and self-care How to uncover and move through your feelings of fear, loneliness, and doubt Why it's important to examine your past through the lens of gender exploration How to discover and begin living as your authentic self What options you have after making your discoveries about your gender identity
This unique, interactive guide can help you answer the questions you've been asking yourself
This unique, interactive guide can help you answer the questions you've been asking yourself