Queerstory: An Infographic History of the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights

by Linda Riley (Foreword), Rebecca Strickson (Illustrations)

Celebrate the remarkable stories, events, and landmarks of the global LGBTQ+ movement with this inspirational and empowering infographic guide to the path toward equality throughout history.

There have been many ups and downs during the long and arduous fight for LGBTQ+ rights all over the world, but it helps to have a visual and joyful timeline of events to see just how far the movement has come. Queerstory is an accessible infographic of the global LGBTQ+ movement over the past 100 years that provides the perfect overview of all the significant people and events that changed the course of history.

Telling a visual story through graphically represented statistics, key dates and events, quotes, and facts about rights, campaigns, and queer pioneers, this easy-to-read and inspiring guide is sure to provide a jolt of empowerment for the next generation of LGBTQ+ activists and allies.

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

128 pages, Hardcover

Published May 12, 2020

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unless you are really deeply involved in LGBTQ+ activism, I am pretty sure you’ll find something in Queerstory you did not know before, and even if you are, you might still find something new and interesting in it.

The whole book is separated into three major parts (1 Before Stonewall, 2 LGBTQ+ Liberation, 3 21st -Century Rights). What appears like a conventional structure is actually packed with a lot of interesting facts concerning queer issues, the evolution of LGBTQ+ rights and more on topics such as literature, music, film, politics, Pride events, queer theory and others. In addition, there is a list of resources at the end of the book, so that you can find more information concerning LGBTQ+ issues.

Queerstory is a little bit like an invitation to browse and discover something new every now and then. I enjoyed this a lot, and it was nice to have bits of information from around the world and also learn a little bit more about several LGBTQ+ identifying people and see all these pieces of information set in context.

And, if you really want to criticise something you could say that this book is too short, and since I loved this one, I would definitely have loved more of it, but apart from wishing for more of the same, I can only recommend Queerstory. 5 out of 5 stars.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and brief, so of course it leaves out a lot. Primarily focuses on gay/lesbian and then trans folks, but that's also where history/current times have focused. But I learned some new facts & names and enjoyed it!

[Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is jam packed with information about the equality fight for the lgbtq community. It’s all
presented in a fun and easily understood fashion. A perfect read for upcoming Pride Month.

This unbiased review is based on a copy won through the Goodreads Giveaway program.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Already I'm let down by the low level and repetitiveness of actual infographics. Plus there are some very dodgy maps (with Minsk situated in Poland and Finland in Sweden), the use of 'transmittable' where 'transmissible' would be better, and a weird sentence that says 'Audre Lorde was born in New York City by Caribbean immigrants'. She was born near them? Wtf.
Having finished the book I can say it lacks purpose. It is divided into three time periods; 40s-60s, 70s-90s and 2000 onwards. It has an introduction but no conclusion. Scattered about are very short sections about queerness in film/literature/art etc. It has some weird maps with dates of when different countries did things (legalized same sex marriage, allowed gays in the military etc) but the maps bring nothing extra. I don't think the creators (a mystery mish mash of various researchers) know what an infographic is, or proofread their work.
So yeah, what a disappointment. Worse is I requested the library buy this book and then due to various incompetencies had to wait 18 months before it actually arrived. Now I feel bad I asked for such a load of crap.

[el · Rating 3 out of 5]

i could cook up a better review later but i found this book a bit basic and it glossed over a lot of things that demand more time and detail,, so i guess that kind of felt irresponsible to me. but i guess that’s natural with such a short, visually focused book. i did however find myself learning a lot and i was really appreciative of the attempts to highlight multiple cultures and countries and their lgbt+ histories rather than a purely global north pov. but idk! this is the kind of book i will give to my children one day when they ask me what homophobia is maybe

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this was brief, it was informative and visually pleasing. Loved learning about the individuals who changed history!

[Kate Parr · Rating 2 out of 5]

My two stars is probably a bit harsh but this was pretty poorly written: grammatical errors, too many superlatives (they can't all be the most high profile trans woman in the world). Also, someone please explain to the author what an actual infographic is. Because there's barely one in there. Otherwise entry-level guide to LGBT history, good starting point for the straights.

[Linnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the format and layout of the book. It highlights some figures from history with quotes and gives good information.

[Jes Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4¹/² stars*

This book was packed with information about LGBTQ rights in all different aspects of life, from literature to legislation, media to the military; however, for the amount of information the book provided, it wasn't overwhelming. The illustrations were breathtaking and the overall color scheme and layout of the book were beautiful. I do wish they would have included stories of the gay community during WW2, and put clear dividers when you're switching categories. Other than that, this book is amazing and should be required reading for every LGBTQ person and ally.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel so torn about this book. Speaking as someone who went to FL public school, I’ve had to actively teach myself LGBTQ+ history. I wish I knew about this book a few years ago, as it offers a helpful starting point of LGBTQ+ history and covers a lot of material that I’ve had to work hard to find. I especially appreciate the global perspective!

That being said, I feel like this books’ portrayal of LGBTQ+ history centers whiteness and fails to recognize the role of race in the movement. I was especially miffed by the lack of diversity and representation in the queer theory section!!!

I’d recommend supplementing this book with This Bridge Called My Back.

As well as readings that center Ace, Pan, and Intersex stories/history because there wasn’t any in this book.

Im also curious if Racism and the Makings of Gay Rights by Laurie Marhoefer could add any context to the profile on Magnus Hirschfeld.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book offers alot on information regarding the history of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in countries around the world. From 1000 BCE onward there has been a recognition that gender roles and sexuality do not strictly define a person's gender.

It is interesting to see the movement for equal rights grow from its early days and to see the different timelines of the various nations. I also appreciated how the authors gave a comparison of the growing call for acknowledgement and rights as it fit into other political and cultural happenings for the same timeframe. Equal rights for all is something that we all should be concerned with. For wherever one of us is unprotected, it becomes easy for others to become unprotected as well. A nation is only as strong as its acknowledgement and legal protection of all of its people.

Well done, and visually appealing, I will be gifting this book to a loved one.

[Angelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queerstory is an incredible crash course in the history of LGBTQ+ rights that takes you from the WWII era to 2020, when the book was published. This book features gorgeous illustrations by Rebecca Strickson and a thoughtful foreword written by Linda Riley. It’s so well-researched and *packed* with stories about revolutionary activists and historical facts about the continuing crusade for LGBTQ+ rights. The timelines showing the evolution of these rights in countries around the world were especially eye-opening, illustrating tremendous strides over the past few decades as well as what is left to be done to push the needle forward. And while there’s a lot of information in this book to digest, it’s totally approachable and has an overall hopeful tone about the direction the world is heading in.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, brief history on of LGBTQ+ activism, rights, and significant figures from the 1940s to 2020. I gave it four stars because there were a number of redundancies throughout the book, which I felt could have been avoided. And while some areas were quite robust (eras in context), I felt that other areas could have been expanded upon (the year-by-year timelines basically mirrored the global timelines). I also would have liked more feature pages of significant figures in LGBTQ+ history.

This was a very fast read; it only took a couple hours. However, because of the format (being all infographics), it's just as easy to picked up and put down for nice, bite-sized chunks of history. Anyone wanting a primer on LGBTQ+ history should read this, as well as those wanting inspiration and hope derived from the progress we've made towards equality.

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age rating: 12+

Queerstory is a basic reference book for queer history, although it really only gets into gay and trans history. The average person could learn a lot from this book and I really liked the profiles of queer activists/historical figures. I was disappointed by what the book left out, such as aromanticism, which is only briefly mentioned in the glossary definition for asexuality (which is, itself, only briefly referenced in the Flags section). This would have been an excellent coffee table book, had it been printed as a larger book, and would benefit from more images.

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful infographic book, I just would’ve liked a little more information about a few topics, like in the ancient era. However, it did its job well in that way since it’s more of introduction or overview of queer history, something to make you more curious. I really liked its timelines putting things in historical context and the quotes from different activists. It’s a nice coffee table book for the queer and the non-queer household.

[Book Buying With Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot of information in this for such a little book! Not exhaustive by any means, but I did learn lots of new things. Loved the inclusion of many non-western LGBTQ+ activists. Very eye-catching illustrations and graphics. This would be a great gift, or a great way to begin an exploration of queer history.

[Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not only amazingly informative, it is also stunningly beautiful! Gorgeously illustrated, it is a brilliant introduction into Queer history. It is great for people who just want to learn a little, or to use as a stepping stone for further education. I think it would be a great addition to school curriculum.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little nonthreatening book which I won from a Goodreads giveaway could help someone write a paper for school, be used in a history class or used as an easy overview of queer history, which is marvelous. Highly Recommended 5/5

[Kerry Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!

A brief, powerful history of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, told with pictures, quotes, timelines, and brief biographies. It distills a lot of information down to a quick, easily digestible and highly visual read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little history of the LGBTQ+ history with awesome info graphics. Easy to read and digest. An overview both globally and in the states. And of course a reminder of how ridiculously long all of this took to get this far. More places to go.

[Amelia Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives insights to those who may not be familiar with how LGBQTIA+ rights were first advocated for, and/or what came from the efforts. A fantastic glimpse into history for all to learn from. Definitely learned things I didn't know.

[Jenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and informative book! Loved all the visuals, graphics, and information, very inspiring.

#goodreadsgiveaways

[Tony Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy to understand, informative guide giving the basic overview of LGBTQ+ people and movements over the years.

[Tam Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written book. Easy to read, the infographs were colorful and made the history easier to follow. I recommend for anyone interested in the history of LGBTQ+ rights.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[DavSchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully done. Looks at Queer History across the world. The Infographic setup made it easy to read.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting chronicle of LGBTQIA+ history!

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick. Informative. Nice book to find LGBTQ+ information to then read more about if one is inclined.