Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who've Inspired Me

by Shelby Criswell

This graphic novel paints a picture of the lives of 10 specific LGBTQIA people from history, framed by the personal struggles of the author to find acceptance and to carve out a meaningful life as a genderqueer person. Each chapter focuses on a different relatively little-known historical character, presented within the context of the author’s own life. Shelby Criswell’s art is fun and engaging and brings a comic book feel to this enlightening and important subject matter.

*Note from the Author:
In the first version of the book, there is an Israeli pride flag. I wrote the book before the most recent genocide being committed by Israel against Palestine, which I do not condone or support. When writing this book, I was also not aware of any past atrocities Israel had committed. The Israeli flag was thrown in out of pure ignorance of thinking that it was a flag for all Jewish people. Now that I am aware of the history and the implications a flag like that holds, I have updated the book to no longer have it. 

Genres: Graphic Novels, LGBT, Nonfiction, Queer, History, Biography, Comics

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2021

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: This US Thanksgiving, or "Happy Holocaust of the Native Americans" Holiday as I am prone to call it, I wanted to offer something I am truly thankful for: Young Queer creators telling their authentic stories from the places they live. It's not a luxury I had; it's not a luxury to be taken for granted anywhere, if you listen to Scholastique Mukasonga; and so it should be celebrated as much as we're able to do so.

This is a strong open, the simple act of getting one's order in a coffee shop made without awkwardness or fuss or hostility. The kindness of simply not assuming anything and still making the effort to be polite is, sad to say, still revolutionary and worthy of comment and praise. But it's a fruitful moment: It gives birth to the concept, "who came before me? who else struggled with the world's pig-headedness and intolerance?" As the marketing material offers this list of people profiled in the book, I can do no better than to offer it to you in my turn:
Mary Jones (mid 1800’s);
We’wha (1849-1896);
Magnus Hirschfeld (1868-1935);
Dr. Pauli Murray (1910-1985);
Wilmer “Little Axe” M. Broadnax (1916-1994);
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973);
Carlett Brown (1927-?);
Nancy Cárdenas (1934-1994);
Ifti Nasim (1946-2011);
and Simon Nkoli (1957-1998)
Comprehensive! Impressive! I loved the profiles, as brief as they were by necessity, because they were handsomely illustrated and clearly selected for Author & Artist Creswell's personal connection to their message(s). First up is late-life out lesbian Nancy Cárdenas:

I found the story of Cárdenas's coming out so touching, that she was inspired to do it by the horrors of the AIDS plague (Beauty Salon came out the same year she died of breast cancer). It is an ongoing tragedy that breast cancer's ravages deprive so many of us of people we love, and the world of so many bright and shining stars. Cárdenas led an exemplary life and I'm delighted to meet her here.

The other nine protagonists are equally well-chosen, equally share their space with the everyday bravery of a trans person living in Texas well. The idea of being openly anything in Texas is something that slightly stuns me. Yes, I grew up in Austin; I wasn't ever really *in* so coming *out* wasn't very necessary; but it was always, always clear to me in 1970s Texas that I was suffered to exist and that sufferance was revocable at any time.

That young Shelby Criswell isn't as threatened in their environment thrills and delights me. This lovely book exists because they made it; they made it because it spoke to a need in them; and that need, as is so often the case, is the normal human need to see yourself in the world, past and present.

Anyone out there who needs to hear this, here's the message in lovely images and direct words without fear or judgment. If you know someone who's got a tablet who needs to hear this message of being seen, being valued and valuable, being the heir to a lineage of ancestors, here's a #Booksgiving treat to gift to them.

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched and thoughtful exploration of the lives of queer heroes who are often overlooked. These people fought for the freedoms we have today, and lived unapologetic lives against the odds. Criswell weaves together personal thoughts and observations from the modern day with these ten illustrated biographies.

[Althea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting and diverse nonfiction read about some less well known but highly influential queer people throughout history. I loved how the author mixed it in with their own personal story and the illustrations were gorgeous! I'll definitely be reading more by this author in the future!

Thanks to Edelweiss and Street Noise Books for an eARC in return for an honest review!

Want more queer books? You can find me here: Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shelby Criswell walks around San Antonio, Texas, and reflects on LGBTQ+ issues and historical figures whose stories have provided inspiration to them. The people are diverse in gender and sexuality as well as ethnicity, race, and religion with an emphasis on transgender and nonbinary individuals. They include doctors, sex workers, ministers, musicians, poets and activists. Many were unfamiliar to me, so I am appreciative of the introduction.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an interesting narrative, framed by the author wandering around San Antonio, talking about the 10 queer people in history that they feel should be known about.

Some, I have heard of such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld. Others, I hadn’t a blue about, such as Wilmer “Little Ax” Broadnax.

Each of these icons had to strive to be the best they could be with the society that was before them. W’Wha was of the Zuni tribe, and they recognized the child as being Two-Spirit, so raised them that way.

Fascinating book, and well researched, with an extensive bibliography at the back. The author is famous for drawing comic strip stories on The Nib.

Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overview:
This book goes through the day of the author, Shelby. As they go through this day they come across events happening around them well also sketching in their artbook about amazing queer people that have inspired them and helped shape history.

Thoughts:
This book was fabulous. It was so respectful of the people in this book and their pronouns. And I connected with it so much.
I love the message it was sending off and how after each person there would be a lesson that the author would talk about and what they learned.
I loved how the author put resources in the back and the help line and through the book mentioned that if your feeling depressed and need help, that they put a help line number in the back. This book was also lovely to read because it included people of many races and cultures. Such as, Black people, the Zuni Tribe and more.
And I will be looking more into the amazing people in this book. Because I learned a lot.
My finally words, I loved this book and queer people are fabulous ♡♡♡

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who've Inspired Me is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Shelby Criswell. It is a graphic novel that effortlessly blends memoir with mini-biographies of global LGBTQ+ change-makers.

Shelby Criswell is a queer comic creator living in San Antonio, Texas. They studied studio arts at the Santa Fe Institute of Art and Design as well as illustration at Academy of Arts University.

This graphic novel is a collection of ten mini-biographies of queer people that Criswell found especially meaningful – particularly to them. Rather than attempting a comprehensive history, the illustrated biographical sketches provide a well-researched, if slightly disjointed, catalog of them. This broad selection offers a starting place for readers seeking meaningful connections with the past.

As White, non-binary college student Criswell wanders around San Antonio, Texas, they unpack the complexities of Southern identity and begin to research, draw, and discuss significant icons with friends. Accompanying them on this journey, readers meet history-makers who are often overlooked by the mainstream – people who broaden Criswell's understanding of the difficulties facing those who have fought for LGBTQ+ justice around the world.

Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who've Inspired Me is written and constructed rather well. Criswell’s approach effectively anchors contemporary life to these influencers. At times the transitions and interjections are a bit stiff, but what is lacking in flow is countered by Criswell's crisp drawings and eye for details. The choice of subjects reflects diverse perspectives – the ten mentioned are: Mary Jones, We'wha, Magnus Hirschfeld, Dr. Pauli Murray, Wilmer "Little Axe" M. Broadnax, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Carlett Brown, Nancy Cárdenas, Ifti Nasim, and Simon Nkoli.

All in all, Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who've Inspired Me is a wonderful and positive collection of mini-biographies of LGBTQ+ heroes that are not as well known.

[Rebecca Wilden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and thoughtful graphic novel about 10 lesser known queer historical figures that made me curious to know more. A great read!

[Ian! · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who lives in San Antonio, this graphic novel was a beautiful love letter to the downtown area and I felt such warm fuzzies seeing familiar locations. The final drawing is stunning. Locational bias aside, I very much enjoyed this book and how the author highlighted historic trailblazers in Queer history and gave them all their flowers. I sadly was not aware of any of these folks but I am so happy that I read their stories understood the many obstacles with which they lived. Kudos to Shelby for doing such dutiful diligence in researching and documenting these Queer pioneers!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. It was fun to learn about a lot of historical figures I didn't know. There were a few spacing errors in the print version, as well as one error where Magnus Hirschfeld both dies in 1935 but is performing surgeries until the 1950s.

[Karen Bergthold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring and kind. Quick read.

[Kaylee Gwyn (literarypengwyns) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

I absolutely loved this graphic novel featuring 10 queer historical figures that inspired and empowered the author. These 10 people were new to me and I enjoyed reading a small portion of their lives and how their pride and struggles around their queerness changed the world around them and paved the way for other LGBTQIA+ people. I cannot wait to continue to learn more about these individuals and seek out others to learn from and be inspired by. The art panels are so full of joy and care, and truly enhance each story. I especially loved how Shelby (the author) tied their own life and journey through their non-binary identity into each section. It was a pleasure to read this and I will be adding a permanent copy to my home library!

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really smart and well researched! I now want to read 10 biographies: one for each of these fascinating queer individuals! Books like this make it clear how whitewashed our histories are. Especially in the US. Most of what I’ve learned about queer people of color has been on my own through reading outside of educational parameters.

I also really enjoyed Shelby’s art style. It was soft and friendly if that makes sense? It made all the historical figures look even more endearing.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief collection of LGBTQ+ pocket biographies in a graphic novel format. I think the natural audience for this is younger people who are thinking through their sexualities and gender identities (there's a helpful glossary in the back of the book). But I got a lot out of it, as a middle-aged cishet guy who is an ally/aspiring ally. I think the author's POV as a red state American with an evangelical background will resonate with a lot of people. I appreciate the international nature of the biographies and the realistic but non-dismissive attitude towards religion. There are lots of useful resources included in the book and the life stories were pretty amazing.

[kaitlphere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading about these historical figures who prove that that non-straight and non-cisgender identities are in no way new in the world. I really enjoyed following Shelby on a walk through their city as they reflected on these people. I also liked how Shelby, as a narrator, would pop into a story about a person to explain something or recommend a resource.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to some lesser-known figures in LGBT+ history. It is so important to share the stories of those who came before us and to keep their memories alive, especially when people try to claim that queer identities are just a passing trend. As this book demonstrates, we have always been here! The book doesn't go into a whole lot of depth about each person, but it is a great jumping-off point and there is a whole section in the back with resources to learn more. This is a quick read that is entertaining while being informative, rendered in an appealing art style. I would recommend this for teenagers or adults, especially those with an interest in LGBT+ history.

[Reese Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible! This should be required reading for any LGBTQ studies course. It's expertly drawn and brilliantly written.

[Kevin Warman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic novels? I love them. Queen history? I cherish. Criswell did a great job of honoring queer history in this graphic novel.

Perfect for those who are just starting out to learn about queer legacies and for those who want to learn about some lesser known members of the community.

Well done!

[Akiva ꙮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: Covers actually new and less-known figures from queer history, instead of the same 5 people in every queer history/bio project. Nice art.

Cons: Kinda dry, tbh. Skims awkwardly over Little Ax Broadnax's domestic violence; Bad Gays should cover the guy, since he's fascinating and definitely more complicated than Criswell is willing to get into.

[Eva B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone disappointed by how a lot of queer history books center on cisgender white people. The entries were a bit shorter than I would’ve liked but in a lot of them it’s because there wasn’t much known about the people being discussed. Also the author-slash-narrator has the same name as my cat hehe

[S☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and very inspiring book. I think there should be more books like these as well as more books like these in schools and heard about often. Not one of these people had I heard about prior but each one of them had an inspiring, interesting story.
Normally queer and trans historical figures don't get talked about. I don't think I will once learn about even one in school but they should be talked about way more often.
The way this book flowed and the author shared all information they could find on each person made every person in this book feel so special. Made me feel like I understood each person. This is a book I feel as though more people should pick up and read regardless of their identity.
Whether lgbtq+ or not this is a book that will definitely inspire you and teach about people you may have never heard of otherwise.

[madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

so i picked this book up at the library this afternoon and i didn’t expect to learn so much!

this is a well researched graphic novel that breaks down ten lgbtq+ historical figures. i loved the wide variety that criswell chose to use. i also really liked how they chose to weave their own story into the novel. such as talking about seeing a statue of christopher columbus getting knocked down then talking about an indigenous person’s struggle with their identity and sexuality.

this was a quick read, i read it in about an hour and i thought the graphics were well done.

this was a great exploration of the lives of lgbtq+ historical figures who are often overlooked or under appreciated. those people fought for freedoms that many people needed, without them the lgbtq+ community would not be the same.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential resource so that we may know and honor our elders. I especially appreciated the way Shelby describes the conflict of "Southern pride." So many queers/POC/progressives in red states are held hostage by their governments and neighbors. The ballot box can't liberate with gerrymandering and voter suppression.

But we can look to the bravery & sheer gall of those who paved the way. I learned a lot & many a hetero will, too.

The artwork is so clean and accessible - no flourishes needed when you've got such powerful stories.

[Alex (*☻-☻*) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow just wow …. I found this book at my local library and all the art style drew me in! I recognized two of the authors who acknowledged the book where none other than Maia Kobabe and Hazel Newlevant , my intuition told me this was going to be a great read for me ! Shelby Criswell’s book has blessed and inspired my silly queer self to do more research on more important queer people in history that aren’t as known! I’m going to recommend this book to all my fellow queer readers as a must read !!

[Marvelous · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very healing. I learned a lot about queer history and I loved how the author talked about their own personal experience with religion and queerness too since its something I am exploring right now myself. The 10 historical narratives are woven in super nicely with the authors own narrations in their own life. Also, I LOVE the way the bibliography is presented at the end of the novel. The way its presented in illustrated books and notebooks is so cute. This book was well researched and balanced that with speaking from the heart. 10/10 comfort read.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUPER accessible book that highlights the lives of ten individuals with varying sexualities and gender identities. I had never heard of a single person in this book, and they all inspired me deeply.

Highly recommend reading while listening to the Spotify playlist that Shelby curated for this book: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Cd...

[Andrew Eder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a second read for me and I’m so glad I did! Each story was so well told that I loved reliving these experiences. They’re written in an incredibly positive light which is very refreshing and the entire premise of the author learning about these people was really engaging. I’m not a short story kind of reader, but LOVED these! Highly recommend!

[Devin Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book while I was in the closet in high school. Representation matters, and this book absolutely opened my eyes to the amazing history of queer people from around the world and from differing time periods. The artwork is crisp and easy to look at and there was a plethora of queer resources in the back as well. (Which was the nicest surprise)

[Marisa Gettas · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/5 stars
The biographies of 10 Queer icons, as told in graphic novel form. I love this media for distilling large amounts of information in only a picture. So much more consumable than just blocks of text on a white page. At least it is for my brain. It was a great read for Pride Weekend here in Toronto.