October is LGBTQ+ History Month, an occasion that acknowledges the contributions of the queer community. It’s a celebration of LGBTQ+ rights and a tribute to those who fought to establish and protect them through civil rights movements like the Stonewall Uprising.
While queer history is rich and important, much of it has gone undocumented in mainstream records. Fortunately, the authors of these three illuminating books spent countless hours uncovering the hidden history of the LGBTQ+ community. Their work adds to the growing body of literature about queer culture, helping to write LGBTQ+ people back into the history books. Without further ado, here are this week’s Three to Read selections.
HOT PICK
Glitter and Concrete: A Cultural History of Drag in New York City by Elyssa Maxx Goodman
SYNOPSIS:
In Glitter and Concrete, journalist and drag historian Elyssa Maxx Goodman chronicles the evolution of drag in New York City, bringing the untold stories of its genesis to vibrant life. Many first learned about drag through the reality series RuPaul’s Drag Race, but its roots reach much deeper than this iconic TV show. It played a critical role in the Stonewall Uprising, served as a unifying force during 9/11 and the AIDS crisis, and shaped the direction of punk rock and disco music. Through exclusive interviews and dazzling photos, Goodman delivers an intimate and indispensable introduction to drag and its profound impact on the city of New York.
WHY:
Glitter and Concrete is Elyssa Maxx Goodman’s love letter to drag. More than just a performance, drag is a community, an art form, and a vital means of self-expression — a fact Goodman makes abundantly clear in her depiction of NYC nightlife. Though extensively researched, Glitter and Concrete never fails to entertain. It’s a celebration through and through, honoring drag’s contributions to queer liberation and American culture. In a time when this glamorous tradition finds itself under attack, Goodman’s book has never been needed more.
COFFEE SHOP READ
A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture by June Thomas
SYNOPSIS:
In A Place of Our Own, journalist June Thomas recounts the history of the lesbian community through the lens of six crucial queer spaces. From feminist bookstores to softball fields to lesbian bars, these gathering grounds have been instrumental in developing the identities of queer women over the last 60 years. Synthesizing her personal experiences with meticulous research and groundbreaking interviews, Thomas paints a stunning picture of the struggle for queer liberation, past to present.
WHY:
A Place of Our Own illustrates the necessity of community spaces, documenting how queer women built their own safe havens in a world that refused to make room for them. Through emotional interviews with pioneering figures of the lesbian community, June Thomas highlights the brave women who dared to carve out queer sanctuaries in the face of seemingly insurmountable hurdles. As these spaces begin to dwindle, Thomas’s book becomes an essential record of sapphic history that refuses to be erased.
DARK HORSE
Morally Straight: How the Fight for LGBTQ+ Inclusion Changed the Boy Scouts—And America by Mike De Socio
SYNOPSIS:
In Morally Straight, journalist and former Boy Scout Mike De Socio traces the decades-long fight against discrimination in the Boy Scouts of America. In an age when LGBTQ+ rights were nothing more than a dream, a courageous few parents, teenagers, and activists stepped up to lead the struggle for queer inclusion within one of America’s foundational youth organizations. In this retelling of one of the Boy Scouts’ lesser-known histories, De Socio blends vast research and personal experience to underscore the value of collective action.
WHY:
Mike De Socio’s Morally Straight is an absorbing and inspiring tale of the tumultuous journey toward LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Boy Scouts of America. As this movement unfolded over nearly 40 years, many young queer men were forced to contend with the conflict between their emerging identities and the Scouts’ ban on openly gay members — De Socio included. His story is a poignant and hopeful one that proves institutional change is both possible and worth fighting for.
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to join us next week for more curated recommendations.
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