Pride: The Story of the LGBTQ Equality Movement

by Matthew Todd

For 50 years, people have flocked to San Francisco for the annual Pride Parade, a beloved event that serves as a celebration and demonstration for legal rights such as same-sex marriage. Pride explores the history of the LGBTQ movement including events such as Stonewall and the global explosion in Pride Parades, and is a comprehensive account of the ongoing challenges facing the LGBTQ community.

Pride documents the milestones in the fight for equality, from the victories of early activists, to the gradual acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in politics, sports, and the media and the landmark court cases that helped to ban discrimination, permit marriage, and help in the fight for equality.

Includes personal testimonies from: Travis Alabanza, Bisi Alimi, Georgina Beyer, Jonathan Blake, Deborah Brin, Maureen Duffy, David Furnish, Nan Goldin, Asifa Lahore, Paris Lees, Lewis Oakley, Reverend Troy Perry, Darryl Pinckney, Jake Shears, Judy Shepard, and Will Young.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, Queer, History, Biography, Politics, Gay

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 13, 2021

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 10 x 11.5 inch book initially seemed like a coffee-table picture book as I flipped through it at my local library. But upon reading, I found well written text rich with modern topics. There is a very objective tone to the book, yielding a net-positive feeling. By mentioning so many names of LGBTQ people in so many walks of life, the sense of hope and progress dominates this colorful book.

Recommend: to anyone feeling 'alone' (great for youth). The incredible number of famous people mentioned in this text is extremely uplifting for all LGBTQ.

Impressive:
- Great set of pictures
- Hundreds of name-drops
- Informative, fast pace reading
- Factual, objective tone
- Global inclusion of topics
- Index

Wish it had:
- Appendix (websites, bibliography)
- Better font and color of text (add another point size, and a shade darker)

Topics included:
- A Time of Revolution - focus starts early in the 20th century. Readable, fast moving history.
- Culture: Literature
- Stonewall (w/ addition focus on Judy Garland)
- Christopher Street Liberation Day
- Culture: Music (70's, 80's, 90's)
- First London Pride
- You gotta give 'em hope: Harvey Milk
- Early 70's
- Culture: Nightlife
- Culture: Theater
- Disaster (AIDS)
- Culture: Art
- Outrage (over discriminatory rules)
- Culture: Movies (70's, 80's, 90's, 00's, 10's)
- Lesbian Avengers
- Allies
- Culture: Television
- Proud to Serve (military
- Marriage
- Culture: Sports
- Hate (sad incidents)
- No One Left Behind

Lists
- Early Gay Bars
- Five Captivating Gay Love Stories
- Five Must-Read Lesbian Books
- Five Great Books with Trans Themes
- Key progress in the 1970's (timeline)
- Historic LGBTQ Nights Around the World
- Out in Office (key names in politics since 1974 who are out)
- Ten Great Trans Films
- Ten Movies with LBGTQ Characters of Color
- Ten Feelgood Films for Gay Guys
- Ten Feelgood Films for Lesbians
- Arthouse LGBTQ Films Worldwide (19 movies)
- Ten Films for Bisexuals
- Other supportive celebrities with LGBTQ siblings
- Celebrities with LGBTQ children
- Countries that allow lesbian, gay, and bisexual people to serve in their military as of 2019
- Countries that allow same-sex marriage (as of Dec 2019)
- Timeline of Transgender Rights

[Johanna Lehto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was great! It's good book if you really want to learn an educate yourself on LGBTQ+ history.

I learned a lot!

In my opinion, this could also be a perfect base for a school project/presentation. Like getting a lot of informatiom from the book itself and it gives good book recommemdations to go from here.

Matthew Todd's book has some interesting and historical pictures in it as well. It makes it more interesting and dare I say, fun to learn about more about this important part of history.

All in all, this is a great book with a lot to give! This is a must read!

[Josh Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fascinatingly interesting book summing up quite succinctly how LGBTQ+ rights, culture, and society have changed and evolved in the 50 years since the Stonewall riots in 1969. Having started with barely any knowledge about the LGBTQ+ equality movement, I have learnt a LOT and have many themes and topics that I would love to explore further through reading much more about this fascinatingly short history.

With many short pieces written by key figures in the community, so much was covered and is a great starting point to learning about such an important movement. Would highly recommend

[James Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have seen a few books similar in concept but not any so well put together.

The testimonials, history and photography are amazing.

[David Avina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An influential and colorful evolution of Queer people in many different aspects. The book is like a fun synopsis on a variety of subjects of queer history, such as in theatre, literature, sports, art and dozens more. They provide fulfilling information on queer culture and how they have been influenced by the broader world. It also tackles more serious and ongoing issues for queer people, with it being an insightful reflection on how the struggles are still occurring. This included analyzing some homophobic regulations, mental health data, and demonstrated hate, with the Pulse nightclub shooting being a tearful reflection. It’s important though to provide this information to see what further steps are needed to achieve Queer equality.

The book makes me hopeful and happy on the culture of Queer identity. An identity that has dramatically changed in many different aspects of culture and consciousness. It is a celebration that seeks to highlight the strives and struggles of the community and of our identities. To conclude I wanted to include a piece of a testimony by Britains first out Drag Queen Asifa Lahore; “The more I accept myself, the happier I am”. A book that makes you proud.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a number of books were released that not only looked back at that seminal event but documented how the LGBTQ+ movement progressed from there as well as where it currently resides. This book is no exception. However, because it was written by an editor of "Attitude," a British magazine, the reader is presented with more of a worldview of LGBTQ+ culture, community, and so much more. The reader is also presented with interviews with prominent figures from around the world. This focus on the effects of Stonewall internationally made this book highly enjoyable.

No one book can cover all topics within LGBTQ+ history. This book doesn't try, but it does touch upon many topics and provides enough information that a person who is interested could go and do further reading and research. Everything from the riots, outrage, hate, religion, film, theater, music, sports, the AIDS epidemic, transgender issues, inter-sectionality, and more is discussed. It's a lot of information, but it's never dull. This book also includes a lot of great photographs and interviews.

I think it's a great addition to anyone's LGBTQ+ personal library.

[Charly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and digestible for a non-fiction/history book. A cohesive collection of LGBTQ+ history and a great way to learn about our community and those that stood before, the battles they fought and the progress that's been made. Borrowed as a library book but will be purchasing a copy to give it a permanent spot on my bookshelf ✨

[Adam Guyett · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟 - “to those who fought and bled for us - thank you …. The fight goes on. Over to you.” Extremely informational and a great read over pride month.

[haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

good overview of the history of the lgbtq+ movement. learned some stuff about stonewall and a lot about famous gay people. 3.5/5

[Jack Burrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has pride of place (pun intended) on our Pride shelf in our living room. It's one of the first things you see when you enter our home. Having now read it, I feel even more proud to have this on display, and of myself and my history.

A comprehensive chronology and history of the LGBTQ+ Community from the Stonewall uprising in 1969 to present. At times it was slightly fleeting, but ultimately it does what it sets out to do. Pride offers samples and flavours of different periods, from the few years pre-Stonewall to the advancements of the 1970s, the double-tragedy of the 1980s - AIDs and Section 28, to the re-advancement of equality from 1997.

The shadow of AIDs falls across it all. In the way this book is compiled, interspersed with history lessons and personal testimonies from community members, you get to see the scale and impact that AIDs has had on the queer community.

Our history is vital and this book gives a sense of just how important it is. It's essential reading for all, but especially queer people: we must know where we've come from to help us to go forward.

[Phylicia]

I didn't know a lot about the LGBTQ + community. Especially the +. I am glad I checked this out. I am doing research for a story regarding this particular subject, so it gives me good insight about it, plus I am interviewing real people who have been involved with the stuff the people in the book have been through.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful and eye-opening book I picked up from Gays-The-Word during a day trip to London. It details the timeline of the struggles the LGBTQ+ community has faced in the past and continue to face even today. It tells the real life experiences of various people, including those who suffered through homophobia, people who made great change and big steps forward with activism and political work and even tells the stories of those who lived and suffered through the AIDS crisis. It doesn't shy away from anything, even the troubles faced within the community itself and how certain members of LGBTQ+ have advantages over others, even when they are also targeted for their sexuality and gender identities.

The way it is written is very well done, it keeps the readers attention with ease as it lists dates, groups and people while explaining all the events that played out over the years. This kind of writing style might normally lose my attention but what this book has to say made it hard for me to put it down for long.

It has a main "narrator" (Matthew Todd) sort of speak, while also including personal view chapters of various LGBTQ+ people who share views and experiences from different points in their life. There is an occasional break, usually no more than a single page or two, which details related facts to the current topic or time, and I will say, this could have been laid out a bit better. For the most part it is fine, but towards the end I did get confused when a main page was literally cut off mid naming someone, followed by a double page picture, another picture and two factual pages of information before the sixth page picked back up where the previous text left off with the last part of the celebrities name and continued on. It actually took me a moment of flicking back and forth to understand what had happened. Thankfully this is only really a problem once.

All in all, I would highly reccommend this book to anyone interested in LGBTQ+ history. And for anyone who needs a little inspiration to keep fighting for the rights of themselves and their friends and families. It truly is hard not to feel great admiration for the many people in this book, some of whom are sadly no longer with us and some who are still fighting even now.

[Amanda Asiedu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved finding out the history behind Pride celebrations and the riot that started it all. Not only was it extremely informative, engaging and full of wonderful quotes and pictures, but it was also like talking to a friend - the author's own personality really shone through for me. It was definitely deserving of 5 stars and it was such an enjoyable read. It's okay to be part of a community and not know about its origins, celebrations or even history as much as you believe you should.

However, knowledge is free and very accessible. It takes a lot of effort to remain ignorant, I think, because as soon as I realised there was LGBTQ+ history that I wasn't aware of, I knew I had to do something about it, and I did. Now, can I regurgitate all the information I read? Absolutely not! But do I understand and admire who I am and where others like me have been? 100%.

When I march this August for Pride, I'll remember the names and lives of those who have suffered but also remember that the road for global equality is far from over, and it is other countries that need our support and unapologetic gayness (I guess) the most. How will you know how to start change without a role model? How can anyone call themselves against social injustice without understanding where the fight started?

'We must stand up, for all of us - regardless of income, gender identity, skin colour or nationality - to safeguard the future for the generations that follow us.'

[Katie Cat Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nonfiction. GLBT+. History and culture.

A historical and cultural coffee table book about the GLBT+ community.

Broken down into chapters focused on a different topic with timelines and personal stories interspersed. Full page photographs throughout.

Features politicians, authors, musicians, actors, athletes and more.

This is a great book to educate or update your knowledge of the GLBT+ world. I definitely learned new things. That's a big plus that would ordinarily earn a book five stars from me.

HOWEVER. There are ZERO citations or references in this book. Throughout the book the author talks about newspaper articles, podcasts, speeches and more and never provides any information to back them up or provide further reading. Very unprofessional and untrustworthy. In addition, after stating facts he often follows up with statements such as "undoubtedly,... because of this,... most likely" opinion statements. Without any citations or references these opinion statements lack any support. Unprofessional and untrustworthy. To top it off, there is ZERO about the author page. Sometimes the book uses I statements, referencing his own writing or work. I have no idea who this guy is. Unprofessional and untrustworthy.

Read the book for good information but also read with a critical eye and be prepared to do your own research.

[Yana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really wonderful summary of the LGBTQ+ movement, from the Stonewall riots to modern day issues and successes. Pride also speaks in a balanced manner about both celebratory and saddening subjects related to the LQBTQ+ community. It covers areas such culture, art and film and is diverse in its content. My only critique would be that at some points there’s quite a lot of listing (of names, places, films, songs etc) which can get a bit boring. Apart from that, I highly recommend this book. It’s also very useful to read as an ally to educate yourself on LGBTQ+ matters. (the book also has very vibrant visuals to accompany the text - historic photos which really add a lot to the narrative).

[Clairo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book taught me everything I wanted to know about the lgbtqia+ movement and reinforced some of my knowledge. I particularly liked the testimonies which were heart-warming, touching and very inspiring. This book is full of resources and representations that you can relate to, for example you can find a list of lesbian films and that's what I needed. I loved reading this book because it makes me feel proud and want to affirm who you really are.

( I didn't give it 5 stars because sometimes some pictures and other points appeared in the middle of a sentence and I had to start reading again from the beginning or juggle between the pages)

[Ola LL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth every pound, especially the extended edition (mine was published in 2021 and has 384 pages). In this case - the longer, the better! The book is so full of information, numbers, photos and memoires, that you simply can't stop yourself from adding more and more bookmarks. I put almost 30 XD
I bought "Pride" after reading Todd's essay in "Queer Bible". If you enjoyed that book and feel hungry for additional data (also more structured content), I'm pretty sure you've just found what you're looking for.

[Dee Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to keep on your coffee table and read from for a few minutes each day. You’ll learn much about LGBT history. I will say most of the history is America centric, but there are pieces about the community in other parts of the world. The essays written by various individuals spread throughout the book are especially good. Also the book is beautiful to look at too; the layout is wonderfully well done.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the accompanying photos were great too. Todd could have benefited from an editor looking more specifically around his language around trans identities and trans history. For example, he refers to Marsha P Johnson as a drag queen rather than a trans women. But overall I enjoyed it.

[EmilyP · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and informative history of the LGBTQ+ movement over the years. Although there were some stories I wished were delved into a bit further, I cannot fault the author for not doing so. It's already a hefty book and the history is so rich and diverse, it would be impossible. Definitely a worthy read.

[Sapphire Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

comprehensive, informative, enlightening, i loved every second of this book. it is an absolute must read about queer history with beautiful photos and is broken down to be so easily accessible, great job to the author 🌈

[Lauren Putt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and interesting read! Would recommend!

[Clare Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful coffee table style book telling the story of LGBT struggles for equality, combining history, culture, stories and images

[Emmaby Barton Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this - recommend to anyone wanting an accessible and enjoyable intro to queer history

[Aj · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive overview of the history of queer rights (mostly in the west). I learnt so much!

[Nial Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book! Very informative , lots of pictures of real events and movements, a joy to read and a reminder that our fight isent over! 🌈 🏳️‍🌈

[Preyrana Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so well written. It literally felt like I was present through everything that happened. I am definitely going tk watch as many movies as I can that are mentioned in the book.

[Roy Cid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una maravillosa recopilación de la historia del colectivo LGTBIQ+. la lucha continúa, pero es necesario conocer nuestro pasado para ser y seguir avanzando. Muy recomendable

[I Read, Therefore I Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Todd is a journalist and Editor-at-Large of the UK gay magazine Attitude. This coffee table book charts the milestones reached in LGBTQ+ equality since the Stonewall riots of 1969 and while the layout is confusing at times, there are some odd takes in the text and unfortunate lesbian erasure soon after a section on lesbian erasure, the contributing writers make up for it with moving and fascinating observations and memories.

[Victoria-Melita Zammit · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most enlightening and easily digestible reads about LGBTQ history I've ever encountered. Heart warming and informative, it made me feel not only proud to be queer but also inspired to do more and do it vocally in my own way - my community, online, what have you. The queer community has always fought for our rights and the fight isn't ever over. What a powerful book.