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Historic Moments in Pride
Jun 15, 2022 —June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Each year, Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots and celebrates the impact LGBTQ+ people have had on society. The five books listed below highlight some of the struggles and triumphs of LGBTQ+ people in the United States.
The Engagement: America’s Quarter-Century Struggle Over
Same-Sex Marriage by Sasha Issenberg
In The Engagement, Sasha Issenberg chronicles same-sex marriage in the United States between the years 1990 to 2015. Issenberg focuses on how legal strategies, court cases, government legislation, and public opinion influenced the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide. The Engagement is an essential work for readers interested in both civil rights history and American legal studies.
The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle by Lillian Faderman
Often regarded as one of the leading scholars on LGBTQ+ issues, Lillian Faderman writes about the struggle for LGBTQ+ citizenship rights in the United States. Based on more than 150 interviews, The Gay Revolution covers topics from the 1969 Stonewall Riots to Harvey Milk to the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” Thoroughly researched and engagingly written, The Gay Revolution is now considered a classic staple in LGBTQ+ non-fiction literature.
How to Survive a Plague: The Story of How Activists and Scientists Tamed AIDS by David France
Between the years 1981 and 2000, AIDS claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the United States. In How to Survive a Plague, David France applies his firsthand experience as a gay man and reporter in New York City when AIDS first emerged. France covers multiple topics, from the medical efforts attempting to tame the outbreak to the clash of personalities inside activist groups raising awareness of the condition. How to Survive a Plague is an essential read for anyone interested in epidemiology and public health.
A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski
In A Queer History of the United States, Michael Bronski reexamines the last 500 years of United States history through a queer lens. Examining everything from fashion to politics, Bronski weaves an entertaining narrative that shines a light on the contributions of LGBTQ+ people in the United States that have not always been given a spotlight. Written with engaging insight, A Queer History of the United States is for readers who desire a different perspective on United States history.
Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution by Susan Stryker
Susan Stryker, a former professor of Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Arizona, covers the history of transgender people in America from the mid-twentieth century to the present day. In Transgender History, Stryker covers a multitude of topics, from identity politics to the divisions within the gay and transgender communities. Transgender History is not only a great resource for historians, but it also serves as a great introduction for readers interested in learning about the world’s evolving concepts of gender identity.
For more LGBTQ+ history books to read during Pride Month, click here.