History and Context
Written in 2008, this book illustrates the changing landscape of LGBT awareness in the U.S. Before the turn of the 20th century, sexual identity was not thought of the way it is today, and people were not labeled under different "sexual orientation" categories. When this change occurred, writing about homosexuality was mostly limited to scientific journals and scholarly work. As the 20th century progressed, books and movies portraying homosexuality began to appear, but they often promoted stereotypes and harmfully misrepresented gay and lesbian life. There were no books that described the past struggles and triumphs of LGBT movements, and no books that even described gay and lesbian experiences as varied and important - instead, written stories and articles were often one-dimensional, negative, and marginalized within the public discourse. It has not been until very recent times that people have had access to writing about LGBT life and history that is unbiased and very large in scope. The fact that this non-fiction book is written for any audience - middle school age and up - is important in the development of access to information and inclusivity of education for all.
To read an in depth interview between the author and his motives for writing click here
To read an in depth interview between the author and his motives for writing click here