There are already a number of collective biographies of LGBTQ people, but this volume takes a solid place among them, with short profiles of LGBTQ heroes from the 19th century to the present.
Familiar names are here, like Harvey Milk, Marsha P. Johnson, Sally Ride, RuPaul, and Billie Eilish, but also people with whom many readers may be less familiar, like housekeeper and workers’ rights activist Kathlyn Oliver, scientists Alan L. Hart and Ben Barres, Hollywood director Dorothy Arzner, singer Chavela Vargas, Disney lyricist Howard Ashman, South African activist Simon Nkoli, WNBA/NBA referee Che Flores, and more. The emphasis is on American figures, with some global diversity. There’s also diversity across LGBTQ and racial/ethnic identities.
Each profile is short but clear, offering highlights about the person’s life and significance in a page and a half. An “Explore More” section at the end of each one offers additional facts or resources related in some way to their life or impact. For example, the profile of trans man and activist Thomas Beatie notes how he was erroneously labeled the “world’s first pregnant man,” and the “Explore More” section offers information about media literacy and telling fact from fiction; the “Explore More” section for singer Sam Smith notes their new podcast; the one for singer Lil Nax X, whose “Old Town Road” has a cowboy theme, talks about the history of Black cowboys and notes that there was a Black cowboy in the very first motion picture ever made. These tidbits are varied and fun.
Back matter includes a glossary and resources. (One small error: Family Equality is referred to as “Family Equality Council,” a name the organization hasn’t used since 2019.)
Overall, this is a recommended volume for any home or library collection, with a wide range of profiles and interesting hooks for further exploration.
