Queer

by Simon Gage (Editor), Boy George (Foreword), Lisa Richards (Editor)

Gays and lesbians have traveled a long road from persecution to toleration and from fashionable to establishment. Terms of abuse that have long been weapons used to oppress the gay community have now been reclaimed as expressions of liberation and freedom. With wit and panache, Queer explores all avenues of gay life from avant-garde fashion to popular cartoon strips, from radical politics to global persecution. Included is a wide range of topics, magnificent spreads of personalities and icons, entertainment value, and many profoundly touching issues of our time. Queer not only presents the history and contribution of gay men and lesbians, but also takes a look across the spectrum at the advances made by the bisexual, transsexual and transgender communities and all points in between. Contributions from leading writers and commentators and a superb photo archive all add up to as definitive a statement as one can get, and, simultaneously, a great book. Featured revolutionaries include, among others, Derek Jarman, Sappho, Harvey Milk, Pat Califia, Audre Lorde, Oscar Wilde, Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, Edward II, King of England, Marlene Dietrich, James Baldwin, Djuna Barnes and Brandon Teena.

Genres: LGBT, Nonfiction, Queer

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 13, 2002

Reviews

[Sophie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Part of my issue with this book is that it was dated, which is understandable since it’s 17 years old. But much more than that, it was just heinous. As other reviewers have mentioned, it’s very cis white gay boy-focused, but it doesn’t even do a good job with that population, almost always reducing them along with the LBT+ to tired, homophobic stereotypes. It seems like the authors were trying to strike a humorous, irreverent tone but overshot and ended up being bigoted and mean.

Transphobia is also rampant in the book – I was actually shocked to see the word ‘t****ie’ used – as is biphobia. There’s an occasional mention of someone being openly bi, but it’s buried under mountains of assumptions that anyone who isn’t straight is gay, and vice versa.

Despite its visual appeal (and the gorgeous models on the cover, let’s be real), this is a book that never needed to exist. And never should have. I hope everyone involved with it is ashamed of themselves.

[Reeter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found on the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/queer00gage

Definitely outdated, and uh, "problematic" by 2019 standards, but I still found it interesting as it reads like a primer on gay culture (and more specifically, the culture of cis, white gay men). I don't recommend buying it, but I do suggest checking it out on Internet Archive. Especially, if you love the hell out of anything having to do with queer culture.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this book because I am teaching a pop culture sexuality class in the fall. This book is outdated, and yet I still found that there was a lot of useful information. Several of the references made in this book will go over my student’s heads, but I do think there is use for it in my classroom. Good Queer fluff! Sometimes a little pop culture sparkle is all we need.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting lexicon of LGBT/"queer" trivia, and amusing to peruse. I'd have to say the explanation of the hankie code was my favorite part. ;)

[Alvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book celebrates all things homosexual that have contributed to the modern world.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wide-ranging (though admittedly dated) look at the world of gay.

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some of this information is archaic because it was written in 2002. This was an informative read, with humor, sometimes dark humor. It did have some serious moments.