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The Rainbow Ain't Never Been Enuf: On the Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity
A queer Black feminist debunks the myth of rainbow solidarity, repositioning Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ people at the forefront of queer pasts, presents, and futures
Your favorite Black queer studies professor Kaila Adia Story says the rainbow ain’t never been enough in this introduction to the current state of queer intersectionality, or lack thereof. Story argues that to be queer is to be political, and the carefully glittered façade of solidarity in the pride movement veils dangerous neoliberal ideals of apolitical queer embodiment. The rainbow as a symbol of communal solidarity is a hollow offering when cis white LGBTQ people are allowed to opt out of divesting from white supremacy, misogyny, and transphobia.
The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf fills a necessary gap in our understanding of how racism, transphobia, and antiblackness operate in liberal spaces. Black feminist and queer theorist Kaila Adia Story blends analysis, pop culture, and her lived experiences to explore the silencing practices of mainstream queer culture. She touches on cornerstone issues of the movement like
the whitewashing of queer history and commodification of pride celebrationsthe appropriation of the Black and Latinx ball scene and culturethe racialized and gendered violence inflicted upon Black trans womenthe exclusion of the lives and work of activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, and CeCe McDonald from queer historythe lack of remembrance and respect for the lives of the Black and Lantinx queer and trans people who have always been on the frontlines of queer liberation
Expanding beyond the classroom, Story utilizes her expertise as a scholar of queer theory to offer readers a comprehensive understanding of how racism operates in these spaces and what we can do to create a more equitable future.
Your favorite Black queer studies professor Kaila Adia Story says the rainbow ain’t never been enough in this introduction to the current state of queer intersectionality, or lack thereof. Story argues that to be queer is to be political, and the carefully glittered façade of solidarity in the pride movement veils dangerous neoliberal ideals of apolitical queer embodiment. The rainbow as a symbol of communal solidarity is a hollow offering when cis white LGBTQ people are allowed to opt out of divesting from white supremacy, misogyny, and transphobia.
The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf fills a necessary gap in our understanding of how racism, transphobia, and antiblackness operate in liberal spaces. Black feminist and queer theorist Kaila Adia Story blends analysis, pop culture, and her lived experiences to explore the silencing practices of mainstream queer culture. She touches on cornerstone issues of the movement like
the whitewashing of queer history and commodification of pride celebrationsthe appropriation of the Black and Latinx ball scene and culturethe racialized and gendered violence inflicted upon Black trans womenthe exclusion of the lives and work of activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, and CeCe McDonald from queer historythe lack of remembrance and respect for the lives of the Black and Lantinx queer and trans people who have always been on the frontlines of queer liberation
Expanding beyond the classroom, Story utilizes her expertise as a scholar of queer theory to offer readers a comprehensive understanding of how racism operates in these spaces and what we can do to create a more equitable future.
221 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2025
23 people are currently reading
4024 people want to read
About the author
Kaila Adia Story
4 books20 followersKaila Adia Story, PhD is a Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Pan-African Studies, as well as the Audre Lorde Endowed Chair at the University of Louisville. She is the author of two books, The Rainbow Ain't Never Been Enuf: On the Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity and Patricia Hill Collins: Reconceiving Motherhood. She is also the co-creator, co-producer, and cohost of Louisville Public Media’s Strange Fruit: Musings on Politics, Pop Culture, and Black Gay Life, a popular and an award-winning podcast. Her research examines the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, with special attention to Black feminism, Black embodiment, Black queer theory, and Black queer performance theory.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 5, 2025
I found an accessible digital copy of THE RAINBOW AIN'T NEVER BEEN ENUF by Kaila Adia Story on Libby.
This one is for readers of academic nonfiction and interested in themes like social justice, allyship, and intersectional feminism.
This one is for readers of academic nonfiction and interested in themes like social justice, allyship, and intersectional feminism.
June 4, 2025
I found myself responding out loud to so much of this book! Called in, called out, called to do better is what I hope anyone reading would feel. Seen and heard is how I also felt reading this book.
June 5, 2025
4 ⭐ CW: discussions of racism, homo/bi/transphobia, police violence, domestic violence
The Rainbow Ain't Never Been Enuf: On the Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity by Kaila Adia Story is a "critical analysis of the white supremacist, anti-Black and anti-trans ideologies and praxes that exist within and outside of mainstream queer communities and popular media." I won a copy of this book from the publisher through a giveaway on Goodreads.
Story uses her own experiences as a Black queer woman to assert that to be queer is to be political, and that solidarity in the Pride movement veils dangerous neoliberal ideals of apolitical queer embodiment. Story takes us on a history journey to show how erasure of Black and Latinx LGBTQ bodies have been erased or devalued in the LGBTQ liberation movement, and how that has extended our into the mainstream with the absence of representation in popular mainstream media.
I thought this was a good look at intersectional diversity within the LGBTQ movement, and a good overview of Queer Black and Latinx history within the movement. I was hoping for something a little deeper, as I felt I already knew and understood the concepts laid out, even if some of the details and facts were new to me. Since Story is an academic, that is clear in her writing, using academic and jargon-y language that may prove inaccessible to some of the people probably most need to read this.
I highly encourage anyone who is cisgender, straight, lesbian, gay and/or white to read this book. I'll highlight some quotes from the book below.
"Fifty-three years post-Stonewall, white cis gays and lesbians have used the symbol of the rainbow to project to the outside world that LGBTQ+ communities exist as unified fronts in the face of gender and sexual tyranny. In my life and scholarship, I have seen that such a United front seldom exists, and that using the rainbow in this way only absolves white LGBTQ+ folks of their racist and anti-trans views."
"I needed these young, white cis gays and lesbians to know that all of their new rhetorical phrases and terms that they thought they learned from popular programs such as RuPaul's Drag Race, Married to Medicine, and Real Housewives, terms such as yas, werq, shade, and gag were actually rooted in the Black and Latinx ballroom community, whose members created these resistive linguistic practices in direct response to state violence, sanctioned oppression, and homonormativity."
The Rainbow Ain't Never Been Enuf: On the Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity by Kaila Adia Story is a "critical analysis of the white supremacist, anti-Black and anti-trans ideologies and praxes that exist within and outside of mainstream queer communities and popular media." I won a copy of this book from the publisher through a giveaway on Goodreads.
Story uses her own experiences as a Black queer woman to assert that to be queer is to be political, and that solidarity in the Pride movement veils dangerous neoliberal ideals of apolitical queer embodiment. Story takes us on a history journey to show how erasure of Black and Latinx LGBTQ bodies have been erased or devalued in the LGBTQ liberation movement, and how that has extended our into the mainstream with the absence of representation in popular mainstream media.
I thought this was a good look at intersectional diversity within the LGBTQ movement, and a good overview of Queer Black and Latinx history within the movement. I was hoping for something a little deeper, as I felt I already knew and understood the concepts laid out, even if some of the details and facts were new to me. Since Story is an academic, that is clear in her writing, using academic and jargon-y language that may prove inaccessible to some of the people probably most need to read this.
I highly encourage anyone who is cisgender, straight, lesbian, gay and/or white to read this book. I'll highlight some quotes from the book below.
"Fifty-three years post-Stonewall, white cis gays and lesbians have used the symbol of the rainbow to project to the outside world that LGBTQ+ communities exist as unified fronts in the face of gender and sexual tyranny. In my life and scholarship, I have seen that such a United front seldom exists, and that using the rainbow in this way only absolves white LGBTQ+ folks of their racist and anti-trans views."
"I needed these young, white cis gays and lesbians to know that all of their new rhetorical phrases and terms that they thought they learned from popular programs such as RuPaul's Drag Race, Married to Medicine, and Real Housewives, terms such as yas, werq, shade, and gag were actually rooted in the Black and Latinx ballroom community, whose members created these resistive linguistic practices in direct response to state violence, sanctioned oppression, and homonormativity."
Read
January 12, 2026This was a very brilliant read. I especially loved the section on the politics of the body and racialized ways it comes up in queer spaces especially with white people. This is one of those books where you just nod your head all through as a black queer woman. Beautiful!
August 17, 2025
In The Rainbow Ain't Never Been Enuf: On the Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity, queer Black feminist Dr. Story tackles the myth of rainbow solidarity. The book is an excellent encapsulation of the ways in which queer history has been whitewashed, appropriated, and trans exclusionary. Both the general public and academics alike will find this book useful and intentional in its centering of the Black and Latine and trans individuals that sparked the movement for queer rights. It’s a lesson in intersectionality, with thought-provoking insights on the white supremacy, misogyny, and transphobia that often permeates queer culture. In the audiobook, Crystal Clarke did a great job of presenting the data, anecdotes, and history that the author included in the book. This book will make many uncomfortable, but that’s exactly the eye-opening paradigm shift the queer community needs right now.
This book is an essential read for all queer and feminist theory courses, but also an essential read for anyone who waves the rainbow flag.🏳️🌈
•
Read this book if you:
✨ constantly cite Dr. Kimberle Crenshaw’’s intersectional theory
🌺 loved Janet Mock’s Redefining Realness
🧠 expand-your-mind reads
This book is an essential read for all queer and feminist theory courses, but also an essential read for anyone who waves the rainbow flag.🏳️🌈
•
Read this book if you:
✨ constantly cite Dr. Kimberle Crenshaw’’s intersectional theory
🌺 loved Janet Mock’s Redefining Realness
🧠 expand-your-mind reads
May 21, 2025
I had the privilege of attending Dr. Story's lecture "Black Femme Fugitivity" this March, and pre-ordered the book that day. I devoured it, and would argue that "The Rainbow Ain't Never Been Enuf" is a must-read for anyone who wants to truly understand the contributions of queer culture by the Black, LatinX, and other LQBTQIA+ people of color who paved the way and continue to work tirelessly toward an inclusive future. It would also serve as the perfect gift for that white cis friend who thinks her rainbow Facebook profile pic overlay means her ally-ship is sufficient. One of the most important pieces of information Dr. Story shares is that Black, LatinX, and POC LGBTQIA+ people don't need allies; they need accomplices.
June 14, 2025
Saving all my commentary for my upcoming conversation with the author!
January 30, 2026
3.5/5
The racist and sexist practices propagated by white LGBTQ+ Pride attendees, as well as the huge police presence at today's festivals, are both stark indicators that Pride festivals have lost their way.Once upon a time, there was an event called Stonewall, where bodies on the ground pushed back against the fascist forces of the powers that be. Since then, the ones in the street have talked to the ones in the conference rooms, negotiating the needs for a reduction in queer youth homelessness, promotion of sex worker rights, and the mainstreaming of racial and ethnic inclusion with the need for food on the table, a roof over one's head, and a sanctuary from the government hunting them for sport. Story tells the tale of the inevitable fallout, where persons such as Marsha Johnson did the work but didn't fit the constraints of the op-ed, allowing the slow and sure censoring that, as befits the US as a settler state, fell heaviest on Black trans women and anyone else aligned with their intersecting demographics. For example, in the last few years the premier "LGBT" organizations gave space to both ICE and Israel, which should tell you everything you need to know in 2026. As such, it's not easy reading, but it's especially necessary for a white trans such as myself in a 'check yourself before you wreck yourself' paradigm.
These "allies" consistently make the mistake of thinking that minoritized groups are seeking their individual favor and approval, while they never seem to understand that minoritized communities are actually seeking intentional and informed action in regard to dismantling the systems of white supremacy, misogyny, anti-queerness, and transphobia that force their communities to constantly navigate injustice, suffering, and dehumanization.So, for all that, why the 3.5? Well, right when it seemed Story would go for the final kill, she pivoted into "representation is top/be an accomplice rather than an ally" land, which didn't jive with the rest of her focus on founding the praxis on the grassroots rather than the nonprofit grant writing departments. Still, this is a good starting point, whether you're looking for more respectful media portrayals of Black trans/queer narratives or you're continuing the academic deep dive into what went wrong after Stonewall. I've got at least one book from the bib I'll be tracking down, so I'll put this book back and hope that the folks in charge of circ promote it, cause believe you me, hell hath no fury like a white queer scorned, and a piece like this is destined for nontrending ignominy if the people with power choose not to lift it up, which, all things considered, why would they?
What has been, and still is, needed is for mainstream and privileged communities to go into the communities that raised them and taught them these pejorative views and to teach them differently.
A queer-identified individual who is politically neutered and socially compliant, whose politic does "not contest dominant heteronormative assumptions and institutions, but upholds and sustains them, while promising the possibility of a demobilized gay constituency and a privatized, depoliticized gay culture anchored in domesticity and consumption." (Duggan, 'The Twilight of Equality? Neoliberalism, Cultural Politics, and the Attack on Democracy')P.S. Also wasn't thrilled by the "practical" AI mention. Intersectionality, no?
October 1, 2025
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading
; skaitom nakties rezimu
If you read just one LGBTQ book this year, make it The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf by Kaila Adia Story. A great example of how important it is to see the full picture.
About the Book: Author defines life, growing up and living, as a minority within the minority. Not only being part of LGBTQ community, but also a Black woman, she masterfully builds us a whole picture of what it’s like, and why, as per title of the book, the rainbow flag was never enough. How it needed to become the progress flag, and how even that might need to change and evolve, so we all feel at home. From Black trans woman who took the lead in the fight for all our rights, to today, where representation is still lacking, or is presented through a light, sugary lens, to be easier to digest. To whom, you ask? Well, look around, and tell me yourself. Or, better yet, read this book.
My Opinion: Author’s compassion, her ability to understand and empathize, is almost surreal. Or feels that way in the world that whines and cries how lgbtq became “too much” and needs to be “dialed back” if not fully eradicated (newsflash: world without lgbtq never existed, nor ever will). She describes how she sought representation, and what she found, the scraps of it, diluted to, what? Not offend the sensibilities? Whose? And I can relate from my point too, as my own representation is often met with either disdain, or shown as tragedy. That’s another point author floored me with, the way she absolutely GETS the issues trans people deal with, not just from the outside, but from within the lgbtq, and how through that understanding, she puts everything into perspective, in depth, with kindness and call to action. If not active, then at least moral, for yourself. You need to read this book if you’re an ally: you need to understand if you’re in this because you want to support from the sidelines, or help, be an accomplice. You need to read this if you don’t get what’s up with all the flags, and why can’t we all just keep the six block colors (no one’s taking it away, don’t worry). You need to read it if you’re trans, for a multitude of reasons. I can’t do justice to this book with my lack of words. So, just read it, give it a chance. I promise you, you will see.
A solid 5 out of 5. In a world of hate, don’t just be an ally. Be an accomplice, ready to stand by the side of your friends when their human rights are being threatened, when the bile overspills, and hate seeps out of every corner. Vote with your voice, your ballot, and your wallet.
If you read just one LGBTQ book this year, make it The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf by Kaila Adia Story. A great example of how important it is to see the full picture.
About the Book: Author defines life, growing up and living, as a minority within the minority. Not only being part of LGBTQ community, but also a Black woman, she masterfully builds us a whole picture of what it’s like, and why, as per title of the book, the rainbow flag was never enough. How it needed to become the progress flag, and how even that might need to change and evolve, so we all feel at home. From Black trans woman who took the lead in the fight for all our rights, to today, where representation is still lacking, or is presented through a light, sugary lens, to be easier to digest. To whom, you ask? Well, look around, and tell me yourself. Or, better yet, read this book.
My Opinion: Author’s compassion, her ability to understand and empathize, is almost surreal. Or feels that way in the world that whines and cries how lgbtq became “too much” and needs to be “dialed back” if not fully eradicated (newsflash: world without lgbtq never existed, nor ever will). She describes how she sought representation, and what she found, the scraps of it, diluted to, what? Not offend the sensibilities? Whose? And I can relate from my point too, as my own representation is often met with either disdain, or shown as tragedy. That’s another point author floored me with, the way she absolutely GETS the issues trans people deal with, not just from the outside, but from within the lgbtq, and how through that understanding, she puts everything into perspective, in depth, with kindness and call to action. If not active, then at least moral, for yourself. You need to read this book if you’re an ally: you need to understand if you’re in this because you want to support from the sidelines, or help, be an accomplice. You need to read this if you don’t get what’s up with all the flags, and why can’t we all just keep the six block colors (no one’s taking it away, don’t worry). You need to read it if you’re trans, for a multitude of reasons. I can’t do justice to this book with my lack of words. So, just read it, give it a chance. I promise you, you will see.
A solid 5 out of 5. In a world of hate, don’t just be an ally. Be an accomplice, ready to stand by the side of your friends when their human rights are being threatened, when the bile overspills, and hate seeps out of every corner. Vote with your voice, your ballot, and your wallet.
Read
July 10, 2025Dr. Story writes a deeply academic book in a way that is accessible to any reader. As a graduate student I am weary of people supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ing their way across their writing when their hard-fought research and scholarship could have benefited everyone. This book isn’t hard to read, but the content is. The reader is taken on a journey across the history of being Black, Latinx, and/or Indigenous and Queer and/or gender diverse and some of our contemporary struggles we face as a society. If you have a heart it will break so many times while reading this book – and hopefully some of it is because you see the things you could have done better and did not and could do better in the future.
This book is an important work that should be in many hands.
Dr. Story is someone that I have long admired. As one of her many free-range students in Louisville I am always excited for a chance to attend one of her public lectures, listen to one of her and Jaison Gardener’s podcasts or interviews, and spectate her online engagement. I have learned a great deal from her and am always surprised that she recognizes me offline. I am in graduate school, working towards vocation in the helping professions because Dr. Story and Mr. Gardner’s work relit the fire for justice in my heart. Imagine my surprise that I was mentioned in her book. When she writes about white people coming to her wanting to be comforted instead of learning and facing the work they needed to do I knew she was writing specifically to and about me.
My fear is that this book will be a talisman in the hands of my Black and Brown siblings in the Queer and Gender Diverse community. It is a beautiful history and social commentary that is brilliantly written by someone everyone looks to for wit and wisdom. However, it should be in the hands of white people, of straight people, of people who hurt themselves patting their own backs for their allyship instead of being an accomplice and co-conspirator – which Dr. Story writes about in this book as well. Dr. Story counseled the listeners of her podcast not to tailor themselves to the white gaze, but this book is tailored for the white gaze, and this is where the white gaze should be directed.
This book is part of a canon of literature in my own anti-racist journey – as Dr. Story’s lectures, podcasts, and other forms of public teaching have been. I hope it finds its way into your hands and the hands of everyone who needs to learn to be an accomplice and work for justice.
This book is an important work that should be in many hands.
Dr. Story is someone that I have long admired. As one of her many free-range students in Louisville I am always excited for a chance to attend one of her public lectures, listen to one of her and Jaison Gardener’s podcasts or interviews, and spectate her online engagement. I have learned a great deal from her and am always surprised that she recognizes me offline. I am in graduate school, working towards vocation in the helping professions because Dr. Story and Mr. Gardner’s work relit the fire for justice in my heart. Imagine my surprise that I was mentioned in her book. When she writes about white people coming to her wanting to be comforted instead of learning and facing the work they needed to do I knew she was writing specifically to and about me.
My fear is that this book will be a talisman in the hands of my Black and Brown siblings in the Queer and Gender Diverse community. It is a beautiful history and social commentary that is brilliantly written by someone everyone looks to for wit and wisdom. However, it should be in the hands of white people, of straight people, of people who hurt themselves patting their own backs for their allyship instead of being an accomplice and co-conspirator – which Dr. Story writes about in this book as well. Dr. Story counseled the listeners of her podcast not to tailor themselves to the white gaze, but this book is tailored for the white gaze, and this is where the white gaze should be directed.
This book is part of a canon of literature in my own anti-racist journey – as Dr. Story’s lectures, podcasts, and other forms of public teaching have been. I hope it finds its way into your hands and the hands of everyone who needs to learn to be an accomplice and work for justice.
May 30, 2025
Dr. Kaila Story’s The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf is a fearless, soul-baring collection that pulses with truth, history, and unapologetic Black queer feminist power. From the very first page, Dr. Story invites readers into a space that is both deeply personal and politically urgent, weaving narratives that center the experiences of Black queer women with a rare mix of vulnerability, insight, and razor-sharp critique.
What makes this book so compelling is its refusal to compartmentalize identity. Dr. Story understands that race, gender, sexuality, and class are not separate lanes but deeply entwined realities, and she writes with a clarity and passion that forces readers to confront how those intersections shape lives, bodies, and communities. Whether she’s reflecting on the complexities of femme identity, confronting the violence of heteronormativity, or honoring the legacy of Black feminist thought, her voice is unflinching and necessary.
There’s also a lyrical quality to Dr. Story’s writing. She writes about complexities of identity and politics with the intelligence and precision of a seasoned academic and the wit and deftness of a cultural critic. It is poetic at times and academic at others, but it is always grounded in the lived experiences of those who are too often pushed to the margins. Her work resonates deeply in a world still struggling to recognize and respect the fullness of Black queer life.
The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf is more than a book—it’s a call to action, a love letter, a megaphone, and a map. Dr. Story gives us permission to be complex, to be radical, to be seen. It is a must-read for anyone who values justice, truth, the transformative power of storytelling, and just damn good writing.
What makes this book so compelling is its refusal to compartmentalize identity. Dr. Story understands that race, gender, sexuality, and class are not separate lanes but deeply entwined realities, and she writes with a clarity and passion that forces readers to confront how those intersections shape lives, bodies, and communities. Whether she’s reflecting on the complexities of femme identity, confronting the violence of heteronormativity, or honoring the legacy of Black feminist thought, her voice is unflinching and necessary.
There’s also a lyrical quality to Dr. Story’s writing. She writes about complexities of identity and politics with the intelligence and precision of a seasoned academic and the wit and deftness of a cultural critic. It is poetic at times and academic at others, but it is always grounded in the lived experiences of those who are too often pushed to the margins. Her work resonates deeply in a world still struggling to recognize and respect the fullness of Black queer life.
The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf is more than a book—it’s a call to action, a love letter, a megaphone, and a map. Dr. Story gives us permission to be complex, to be radical, to be seen. It is a must-read for anyone who values justice, truth, the transformative power of storytelling, and just damn good writing.
July 1, 2025
Kaila Adia Story delivers a powerful and necessary critique of the fractures within the LGBTQ+ community in The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf. This book is an unflinching examination of how racism, sexism, and transphobia continue to operate, often unchecked, within queer spaces that claim to be inclusive.
With clarity, scholarly rigor, and deep personal insight, Story dismantles the myth of automatic solidarity among marginalized identities. She highlights how Black queer and trans people, especially women and femmes, are too often erased or tokenized in broader queer discourse. Rather than shying away from hard truths, this book insists we confront them.
What makes Story’s work especially compelling is the intersectional lens she applies throughout. This isn’t just a critique. It’s a call to action for deeper accountability, more nuanced allyship, and a reimagining of what real solidarity could look like.
A must-read for anyone who cares about justice within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community. Challenging, illuminating, and deeply important.
With clarity, scholarly rigor, and deep personal insight, Story dismantles the myth of automatic solidarity among marginalized identities. She highlights how Black queer and trans people, especially women and femmes, are too often erased or tokenized in broader queer discourse. Rather than shying away from hard truths, this book insists we confront them.
What makes Story’s work especially compelling is the intersectional lens she applies throughout. This isn’t just a critique. It’s a call to action for deeper accountability, more nuanced allyship, and a reimagining of what real solidarity could look like.
A must-read for anyone who cares about justice within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community. Challenging, illuminating, and deeply important.
May 25, 2025
Absolutely loved this book. I consider it to be my new handbook for intersectional activism and I look forward to doing the work to move from being an ally to an accomplice, to do the hard work that needs to be done. This book will surprise you, disgust you, motivate you, and inspire you to make change. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done!
June 17, 2025
This book was more scholarly than I expected - I didn’t realize the author was a university professor before I started reading it. I really enjoyed it despite the disappointing nature of the learning - white supremacy exists in queer spaces. Colonialism really did a number on everything.
August 25, 2025
very thoroughly argued and illustrated with numerous relevant examples. fairly short, but quite academic in tone, so took a bit of focus to get through. definitely worth the read!
July 24, 2025
I learned a lot and got a new perspective on social issues. It's very relevant in today's political atmosphere where racism and classism are being validated by a certain someone 🍊
November 5, 2025
A very informative read that reflected my thoughts and beliefs as a Black gay woman.
December 7, 2025
Very well written and highly informative. The author, who is a very knowledgable college professor, also has a podcast that I plan to check out as well.
October 19, 2025
This book is absolutely packed with information that’s valuable to and actionable for white cisgender queer people.
October 17, 2025
This is a book about the LGBTQ+ community and solidarity (or lack there of). That this community consists of a blend of individuals who fall into many different minority categories. It challenges you to take a fresh look at how we see ourselves as well as others.
October 6, 2025
i felt seen, heard, and validated with my own experiences with white queer folks
September 25, 2025
Powerful data that highlights the struggles of black and brown LGBTQ+ individuals and the need for white people to not be an ally, but be an accomplice with helping to disrupt the bigoted and racist hate that is happening in our country right now. It isn’t enough to just be a white person on their side, action needs to be taken towards other bigoted white people. It’s uncomfortable, but it needs to happen because we are in a crisis.
July 17, 2025
This is an important book, and I’m glad this book exists. I’m going to joyfully recommend this book to my circle of queer friends. Is this book the best it could have been? No, and it’s blatantly clear. It’s also a very academically toned text, which is not everyone’s cup of tea.
The main problem with this book, as I’ve pointed out with other nonfiction books, is an issue of scope and scale. This book tackles an issue whose scope is massive, and I think doesn’t do a great job of covering the nuance in a way that isn’t slamming the reader. This book needed to be longer than 145 pages with a scope this big, and frankly, would have been better as a collection of essays, either collaboratively or by a singular author.
“Disability Visibility” does this very well and encapsulates a large scope in a way that feels accessible to the reader.
The main problem with this book, as I’ve pointed out with other nonfiction books, is an issue of scope and scale. This book tackles an issue whose scope is massive, and I think doesn’t do a great job of covering the nuance in a way that isn’t slamming the reader. This book needed to be longer than 145 pages with a scope this big, and frankly, would have been better as a collection of essays, either collaboratively or by a singular author.
“Disability Visibility” does this very well and encapsulates a large scope in a way that feels accessible to the reader.
September 16, 2025
this was a wonderful book to read during pride month, especially after seeing all of the terrible hate spewed online during what is supposed to be a celebration. white queer people are so difficult to parse & refuse to understand so much important queer history. story, as both an educator and a theorist, wonderfully weaved these two aspects of her life and knowledge together into a book that is both enlightening and succinct. this book was definitely a great choice to read to continue engaging the theory i've been learning whilst in undergrad.
September 10, 2025
This was an interesting read. Very thought provoking. Who benefits from division- those in power hanging on to their power by deflection and distraction.
Intersectional thinking is difficult but important. People need to come together, all the minorities make up more than white straight men in power.
Intersectional thinking is difficult but important. People need to come together, all the minorities make up more than white straight men in power.
July 23, 2025
Learned so much from Dr. Story who I have had the privilege of taking a class with. Will begin to examine the language I use and where it comes from and attempt to turn my allyship into accomplice-ness
June 12, 2025
I picked up this book thinking that it might be about an outside perspective on the sexual revolution in that it was never about equality but about dominance and the forced celebration of the ever increasing alphabet soup of identities.
However, I was surprised to find that this is in fact written from within the community and is effectively someone accidentally speaking the quiet part out loud. From the beginning of the book we are met with an onslaught of various terms, groups, and concepts that have only existed in the last few years of world history, and how each one has the innate desire to feel welcomed, supported, celebrated, and represented as a unique identity.
The inherent problem, which I don't think the author realizes she is making is that the initial impetus of the sexual revolution is built upon the tools of its own destruction. The only way a certain sub-set of the revolution can be satisfied is if all the other proponents adhere to their perceived means of what makes them feel valued and appreciated. It is not about unity, it is about segregation. Any interaction with any individual that identifies themselves within the segregated mindset can instantly become a point of contention from a presumption of one's likes or dislikes to their particular knowledge. And each point that is not in perfect alignment to an undisclosed standard of appreciation can be seen as an attack creating an infinite amount of aggressors in a massive mad-dash to be the most under-represented, and downtrodden of the minorities.
If a movie doesn't have a gay or trans character it's because of white supremacy. If the trans character is not black, it's obviously racially motivated. If the character is black, they're represented in a way that reflects poorly on the community, if they do represent the community, the actor wasn't actually trans.... They're is no end and the only solution is that those thinking they should support the community are afraid to because any effort made will never be enough. It's much easier to not feed the monster that will never be satisfied anyway.
The concept is not built on unity of any sort, it is built upon supporting victims, and if a victim cannot be seen, it must be created. The entire book perfectly supports the concept that the whole movement that has brought us the sexual revolution is inherently unsustainable and will devour itself in an attempted race to the bottom as it blames its problems and struggles on someone else.
According to the logic of Story, this book itself looks down on all black trans people as the title is intrinsically linked to the grammar of the antibellum South and presumes this is indicative of the trope that the minority group it represents lacks the education to express thoughts in a grammatically correct manner.
There is no winning with this mindset.
There is no end.
However, I was surprised to find that this is in fact written from within the community and is effectively someone accidentally speaking the quiet part out loud. From the beginning of the book we are met with an onslaught of various terms, groups, and concepts that have only existed in the last few years of world history, and how each one has the innate desire to feel welcomed, supported, celebrated, and represented as a unique identity.
The inherent problem, which I don't think the author realizes she is making is that the initial impetus of the sexual revolution is built upon the tools of its own destruction. The only way a certain sub-set of the revolution can be satisfied is if all the other proponents adhere to their perceived means of what makes them feel valued and appreciated. It is not about unity, it is about segregation. Any interaction with any individual that identifies themselves within the segregated mindset can instantly become a point of contention from a presumption of one's likes or dislikes to their particular knowledge. And each point that is not in perfect alignment to an undisclosed standard of appreciation can be seen as an attack creating an infinite amount of aggressors in a massive mad-dash to be the most under-represented, and downtrodden of the minorities.
If a movie doesn't have a gay or trans character it's because of white supremacy. If the trans character is not black, it's obviously racially motivated. If the character is black, they're represented in a way that reflects poorly on the community, if they do represent the community, the actor wasn't actually trans.... They're is no end and the only solution is that those thinking they should support the community are afraid to because any effort made will never be enough. It's much easier to not feed the monster that will never be satisfied anyway.
The concept is not built on unity of any sort, it is built upon supporting victims, and if a victim cannot be seen, it must be created. The entire book perfectly supports the concept that the whole movement that has brought us the sexual revolution is inherently unsustainable and will devour itself in an attempted race to the bottom as it blames its problems and struggles on someone else.
According to the logic of Story, this book itself looks down on all black trans people as the title is intrinsically linked to the grammar of the antibellum South and presumes this is indicative of the trope that the minority group it represents lacks the education to express thoughts in a grammatically correct manner.
There is no winning with this mindset.
There is no end.
January 26, 2026
I actually had the chance to meet Kaila at the Louisville book festival and prior to attending, I grabbed an audio copy of the book to add to my collection.
From the very start, I really like how she paid homage to Ntozake Shange by using reference to For Colored Girls within the title and shared how she was introduced to the work by seeing a poster depicting the title. I found myself able to relate to how that experience began her own personal journey of deeper self awareness and discovery. I also appreciate the details Kalia chose to share regarding her experience with limited media representation coming of age in the 80s. Although I was born in 2000, I still spent aspects of my childhood indulging in the films of John Hughes and others that were PWI and had a similar expect of needing to “find/see myself” externally.
Overall, I appreciate all the statistics, insight, and reflections the author provided throughout the text. I do think it’s important to consider modern voices of the community & how the use of historic achievements can be studied to further overall understanding of one’s self today.
From the very start, I really like how she paid homage to Ntozake Shange by using reference to For Colored Girls within the title and shared how she was introduced to the work by seeing a poster depicting the title. I found myself able to relate to how that experience began her own personal journey of deeper self awareness and discovery. I also appreciate the details Kalia chose to share regarding her experience with limited media representation coming of age in the 80s. Although I was born in 2000, I still spent aspects of my childhood indulging in the films of John Hughes and others that were PWI and had a similar expect of needing to “find/see myself” externally.
Overall, I appreciate all the statistics, insight, and reflections the author provided throughout the text. I do think it’s important to consider modern voices of the community & how the use of historic achievements can be studied to further overall understanding of one’s self today.
August 6, 2025
Full Disclosure: Goodreads Giveaway Winner
Further Disclosure: I am an older, cishet, melanin challenged woman of pallor. I am also related to, and know many people who do not fit any given combination of those descriptors/identifiers.
So, I'm not even sure I am in a place where I can 'review' this book.
It was well written, well researched, and well documented, while also anchored in the author's and others' lived experiences.
Further Disclosure: I am an older, cishet, melanin challenged woman of pallor. I am also related to, and know many people who do not fit any given combination of those descriptors/identifiers.
So, I'm not even sure I am in a place where I can 'review' this book.
It was well written, well researched, and well documented, while also anchored in the author's and others' lived experiences.
November 16, 2025
Trigger warning: academic discussions of racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc
I kind of know Dr Story (like every queer person in Louisville) and was excited to get to read her book. I really enjoyed having my eyes opened to the ways that Black queer people are still excluded from spaces.
Portions of it were a little too academic for me to understand, but I think that is a personal flaw of mine and not a statement on the quality of the book.
I kind of know Dr Story (like every queer person in Louisville) and was excited to get to read her book. I really enjoyed having my eyes opened to the ways that Black queer people are still excluded from spaces.
Portions of it were a little too academic for me to understand, but I think that is a personal flaw of mine and not a statement on the quality of the book.
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