Queer There and Everywhere: 23 People who Changed the World

If you’re like me right now, you’re struggling. We want to keep fighting. We have to resist. But, wow, some days sustaining that fight is just too exhausting. Some days I don’t have the energy to read a heavy, serious, depressing book about issues, no matter how much those issues matter. Some days I want something that’s an easy read. But why not have an easy read that also addresses the issues I care about?

That is exactly what you will get with reading Queer There and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World, written by Sarah Prager, an author and activist who identifies as queer herself. In short, engaging, and well-researched segments, Prager lays out some basics facts about 23 people throughout history up through the present who fit into the LGBTQ+ category in one way or another. Some of them are household names (Eleanor Roosevelt. Jeanne d’Arc. Abraham Lincoln!). Some are perhaps less famous, but still recognizable names (Alan Turning, Lili Elbe, Frida Kahlo). And others are not household names, but should be (Josef Kohout, Kristina Vasa, Bayard Rustin). Sandwiched among the stories are explanations of related concepts and issues, like pronoun usage and relevant historical and/or cultural perspectives. There’s a thorough introduction, and a glossary of related terms after the stories, as well as a bibliography with further resources for study.

Is this an in-depth look at this important but far too often contentious issue? Not exactly. It’s a short, compulsively readable collection written on a young adult level. But what it is is a primer, an introduction, an easy read that conveys a lot of important stories, including the most important message of all—you are not alone. Regardless of your sexuality you are not alone. You are beautiful and important. Don’t believe the lies. 

So if you don’t think this resistance read sounds heavy-hitting or comprehensive enough for you, pick up a copy to share with someone else in your life instead.  Queer people aren’t a new phenomenon. They deserve as much love and respect as any other human out there, obviously. And it’s good to remind us all of that from time to time. Remind us of why we resist, who we resist for, and how we can keep resisting, like so many of the fierce, beautiful people featured in this book did and continue to do.