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Queer History Project
No Way, They Were Gay?: Hidden Lives and Secret Loves
"History" sounds really official. Like it's all fact. Like it's definitely what happened.But that's not necessarily true. History was crafted by the people who recorded it. And sometimes, those historians were biased against, didn't see, or couldn't even imagine anyone different from themselves.That means that history has often left out the stories of LGBTQIA+ men who loved men, women who loved women, people who loved without regard to gender, and people who lived outside gender boundaries. Historians have even censored the lives and loves of some of the world's most famous people, from William Shakespeare and Pharaoh Hatshepsut to Cary Grant and Eleanor Roosevelt.Join author Lee Wind for this fascinating journey through primary sources—poetry, memoir, news clippings, and images of ancient artwork—to explore the hidden (and often surprising) Queer lives and loves of two dozen historical figures.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
86 people are currently reading
727 people want to read
About the author
Lee Wind
10 books67 followersLee Wind is the founding blogger and publisher of I’m Here. I’m Queer. What The Hell Do I Read?, an award-winning website about books, culture, and empowerment for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Questioning, and Queer youth, and their Allies. For over 10 years, readers from 100-plus countries have racked up 2.5 million page views—and counting!
In his “Clark Kent” jobs, Lee is the director of marketing and programming at the Independent Book Publishers Association and the official blogger for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. His Superhero job is writing, inspired by our world’s amazing—and untold—LGBTQ history.
Lee lives in Los Angeles with his husband and their teenage daughter. Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill is his debut novel. Visit him online at www.leewind.org
In his “Clark Kent” jobs, Lee is the director of marketing and programming at the Independent Book Publishers Association and the official blogger for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. His Superhero job is writing, inspired by our world’s amazing—and untold—LGBTQ history.
Lee lives in Los Angeles with his husband and their teenage daughter. Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill is his debut novel. Visit him online at www.leewind.org
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
October 24, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this, even if it was only a chapter!
The writing was interesting and simple, almost to the point where it felt like the narrator was giving you an incredibly interesting and detailed history lesson. I loved that there were graphics included, and that the writing didn't feel like a textbook.
There was a bit of an emphasis put on the fact that queer people have always existed, and I really liked that, as well. It is up to those who write the history books to include such important details about these famous people, but even if they aren't, it doesn't change the fact and what was true. (I had never known that about Gandhi before reading this, and it made me sad.)
Overall, I really like what this book is trying to accomplish, and would definitely love to read more than a single chapter!
The writing was interesting and simple, almost to the point where it felt like the narrator was giving you an incredibly interesting and detailed history lesson. I loved that there were graphics included, and that the writing didn't feel like a textbook.
There was a bit of an emphasis put on the fact that queer people have always existed, and I really liked that, as well. It is up to those who write the history books to include such important details about these famous people, but even if they aren't, it doesn't change the fact and what was true. (I had never known that about Gandhi before reading this, and it made me sad.)
Overall, I really like what this book is trying to accomplish, and would definitely love to read more than a single chapter!
March 25, 2022
A friendly introduction reminds the reader why history required most of these relationships to be very closeted. But letters and other first-hand accounts remain to this diverse lgbt group. There are 3 sections: m/m; f/f; no boundary. The text leans toward a YA reader, but the book can appeal to anyone.
There is a nice mix of past and present, very famous and not quite so famous, and from all around the globe and from a variety of ethnic heritage.
I believe this book is stronger than 4*, but I can't quite round it all the way up to 5. I'm not really enamored with nonfiction books with lots of arrowed-facts and inserted blocks of information. It breaks up my reading. But this book is marketed to the younger crowd. So, teens may rate this book higher.
The Abe Lincoln section was definitely my favorite. I had NEVER heard this, but there is lots of evidence presented here. My respect for Abe just increased!!
Second favorite was Eleanor Roosevelt. No secret here.
One day, these facts will be in the history books and the book won't get banned due to politics (we can only hope).
Here are the three major sections of the book, and the detailed-people:
m/m
- Tchaikovsky (undisputed)
- Shakespeare (the sonnets)
- Abe Lincoln (4 years sharing same bed; letters)
- Gandhi (letters)
- Bayard Rustin (undisputed - as Obama announced as he gave Rustin's partner Presidental Medal of Freedom posthumously)
f/f
- Freda du Faur (undisputed)
- Sappho (poem-songs on the island of Lesbos)
- Queen Anne (letters)(and a queer court)
- Eleanor Roosevelt (3500 letters over 30 years)
- M'e Mpho Nthunya (autobiography)
no boundary
- Pharoah Hatshepsut (woman, who later presented more masculine)
- Catalina De Erauso (undisputed)
- We'Wha (3rd gender Indigenous - 2 Spirit - the 2 in LGBTQIA2+)
- Christine Jorgensen (undisputed trans)
Appendix:
Lots of source notes
Recommended resources for more reading.
Other famous names are mentioned in this book too. This diverse collection is a great start to show the reader the variety and levels of hiding exhibited in the lgbtqia community.
There is a nice mix of past and present, very famous and not quite so famous, and from all around the globe and from a variety of ethnic heritage.
I believe this book is stronger than 4*, but I can't quite round it all the way up to 5. I'm not really enamored with nonfiction books with lots of arrowed-facts and inserted blocks of information. It breaks up my reading. But this book is marketed to the younger crowd. So, teens may rate this book higher.
The Abe Lincoln section was definitely my favorite. I had NEVER heard this, but there is lots of evidence presented here. My respect for Abe just increased!!
Second favorite was Eleanor Roosevelt. No secret here.
One day, these facts will be in the history books and the book won't get banned due to politics (we can only hope).
Here are the three major sections of the book, and the detailed-people:
m/m
- Tchaikovsky (undisputed)
- Shakespeare (the sonnets)
- Abe Lincoln (4 years sharing same bed; letters)
- Gandhi (letters)
- Bayard Rustin (undisputed - as Obama announced as he gave Rustin's partner Presidental Medal of Freedom posthumously)
f/f
- Freda du Faur (undisputed)
- Sappho (poem-songs on the island of Lesbos)
- Queen Anne (letters)(and a queer court)
- Eleanor Roosevelt (3500 letters over 30 years)
- M'e Mpho Nthunya (autobiography)
no boundary
- Pharoah Hatshepsut (woman, who later presented more masculine)
- Catalina De Erauso (undisputed)
- We'Wha (3rd gender Indigenous - 2 Spirit - the 2 in LGBTQIA2+)
- Christine Jorgensen (undisputed trans)
Appendix:
Lots of source notes
Recommended resources for more reading.
Other famous names are mentioned in this book too. This diverse collection is a great start to show the reader the variety and levels of hiding exhibited in the lgbtqia community.
December 2, 2020
eARC provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own
if you're queer ( or even if you aren't, really ), you'll know about one of the running jokes in the lgbtqiap+ community : when historians see two same-sex people, who are extraordinarily close to each other in a way that is clearly not platonic, they believe what they want to and slap the label of friendship on these relationships. and god knows how many non-cis people in history had their identities wiped out because of casual queerphobia.
so you can imagine my surprise when i saw this very colourful cover featuring so many famous people in history — people we would never have thought were anything but straight !
i received only a chapter as a digital review copy, and it was based on mahatma gandhi. the writing was simple and to the point, with helpful little pieces of information on the sides providing explanations for certain instances mentioned in the main text. there were pictures and graphics included, which makes this book seem like a really, really fun textbook ( this is probably the first time i'm using the words 'fun' and 'textbook' next to each other without being sarcastic ).
of course, the intention behind writing this book must be appreciated as well : to shine light on the real lives led by famous individuals of the past, to show that the lgbtqiap+ community are not a 'result of the internet' ( as some queerphobic comments go ) and that queer people not just existed, but thrived in the past.
since only a single chapter was accessible for ARC requests, i am keeping my rating neutral for now until i can buy the book in its entirety and read it.
however, i would definitely recommend this book for readers looking for an informative read on queer history through the eyes of a queer person, complete with pretty graphics, letters written betweenlovfriends, and photographs !
if you're queer ( or even if you aren't, really ), you'll know about one of the running jokes in the lgbtqiap+ community : when historians see two same-sex people, who are extraordinarily close to each other in a way that is clearly not platonic, they believe what they want to and slap the label of friendship on these relationships. and god knows how many non-cis people in history had their identities wiped out because of casual queerphobia.
so you can imagine my surprise when i saw this very colourful cover featuring so many famous people in history — people we would never have thought were anything but straight !
i received only a chapter as a digital review copy, and it was based on mahatma gandhi. the writing was simple and to the point, with helpful little pieces of information on the sides providing explanations for certain instances mentioned in the main text. there were pictures and graphics included, which makes this book seem like a really, really fun textbook ( this is probably the first time i'm using the words 'fun' and 'textbook' next to each other without being sarcastic ).
of course, the intention behind writing this book must be appreciated as well : to shine light on the real lives led by famous individuals of the past, to show that the lgbtqiap+ community are not a 'result of the internet' ( as some queerphobic comments go ) and that queer people not just existed, but thrived in the past.
since only a single chapter was accessible for ARC requests, i am keeping my rating neutral for now until i can buy the book in its entirety and read it.
however, i would definitely recommend this book for readers looking for an informative read on queer history through the eyes of a queer person, complete with pretty graphics, letters written between
January 27, 2021
The book starts off with an introduction part about queer history, why it matters to tell those hidden queer life stories and an explanation of LGBT+ terms.
While all that was not new to me, I think it was a very well done summary for everyone starting the book who doesn't have the background knowledge. Those passages are short, easy to understand, and still hold all the key details. In addition, it is done with different colors, boldness, and font sizes to make important points stand out.
The same kind of breaking up the text in smaller parts with clear headlines, little side notes and in different formatting is done to construct the main chapters about hidden queer historical figures.
The chapters give a general overview to the historical situation the person in question lived in, some information on the person, what is known about their queer love life or gender identity, often with examples of their correspondence or quotes, and sometimes other perspectives on the story.
The information is summarized in short, but I figure that if you want to learn about a specific person's life and queerness, you'd choose a book sorely about that person.
I would like it more if it had even more historical figures in it to really be a cool reference book. It includes 5 men who loved men, 5 women who loved women and 5 People who lived outside gender boundaries.
But this book does what it promises, and I feel it does that very well.
(Shout out to the overview on Anne Lister's secret code, that was a special jam for me.)
While all that was not new to me, I think it was a very well done summary for everyone starting the book who doesn't have the background knowledge. Those passages are short, easy to understand, and still hold all the key details. In addition, it is done with different colors, boldness, and font sizes to make important points stand out.
The same kind of breaking up the text in smaller parts with clear headlines, little side notes and in different formatting is done to construct the main chapters about hidden queer historical figures.
The chapters give a general overview to the historical situation the person in question lived in, some information on the person, what is known about their queer love life or gender identity, often with examples of their correspondence or quotes, and sometimes other perspectives on the story.
The information is summarized in short, but I figure that if you want to learn about a specific person's life and queerness, you'd choose a book sorely about that person.
I would like it more if it had even more historical figures in it to really be a cool reference book. It includes 5 men who loved men, 5 women who loved women and 5 People who lived outside gender boundaries.
But this book does what it promises, and I feel it does that very well.
(Shout out to the overview on Anne Lister's secret code, that was a special jam for me.)
June 18, 2022
Great insights into lesser known histories of famous historical people.
April 6, 2021
"and sometimes, our stories were honored and our history did get told. - This book is one of those times"
simply put / TL;DR: READ THIS BOOK! (available now!)
This is a really informative, clear and factually correct book, as far as I'm aware, in regards to definitions and describing parts and moments of queer culture. "Well, it's about LGBTQ+ history written by a LGBTQ+ author, shouldn't that be a given?" - you'd be surprised (/appalled) by some (recent) books i read!
The book starts by framing necessary vocabulary and historic/social/cultural context to fully understand the rest of the book, which is one of the reasons i find this book a great resource for any beginners into the subject (LGBTQ+ or allies)!
The rest of the book then is centered in tales of people who were part of the LGBTQ+ community (some more, other less, well-defined historically, but that's half the fun!). It's filled with such great nuggets of knowledge, that I'm sure to bring to the next party! Did you know that Michaelangelo's David has heart eyes? Doesn't the concept of the "power of love" kiss sound so right for a gay love story, actually? Isn't "bittersweet" exactly the kind of word that'd be created by a wlw?
Disseminating queer history in such an accessible, engaging way is so incredibly important for so many aspects of our community! From forwarding civil rights, to educating both LGBTQ+ youth/people and non-LGBTQ+ people, to preserving our history! From showing "it's not a lifestyle - it's a life", to honoring our ancestors, and showing youth (and older people too) that we're not alone in the world, not now and not ever, Lee Wind's Queer History Project is such a necessity. This extraordinary work is held up by amazing referencing, and I know I'll be following up on quite a few of those!
The writing is beautiful and is full of great quotes both from the author and from sources, on being a queer person.
This book will give you Queer History the best way you could receive it; for LGBTQ+ people it'll also tell you "We are not alone"!
"The light in me recognizes and acknowledges the light in you" - Lee Wind
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an eARC for review
simply put / TL;DR: READ THIS BOOK! (available now!)
This is a really informative, clear and factually correct book, as far as I'm aware, in regards to definitions and describing parts and moments of queer culture. "Well, it's about LGBTQ+ history written by a LGBTQ+ author, shouldn't that be a given?" - you'd be surprised (/appalled) by some (recent) books i read!
The book starts by framing necessary vocabulary and historic/social/cultural context to fully understand the rest of the book, which is one of the reasons i find this book a great resource for any beginners into the subject (LGBTQ+ or allies)!
The rest of the book then is centered in tales of people who were part of the LGBTQ+ community (some more, other less, well-defined historically, but that's half the fun!). It's filled with such great nuggets of knowledge, that I'm sure to bring to the next party! Did you know that Michaelangelo's David has heart eyes? Doesn't the concept of the "power of love" kiss sound so right for a gay love story, actually? Isn't "bittersweet" exactly the kind of word that'd be created by a wlw?
Disseminating queer history in such an accessible, engaging way is so incredibly important for so many aspects of our community! From forwarding civil rights, to educating both LGBTQ+ youth/people and non-LGBTQ+ people, to preserving our history! From showing "it's not a lifestyle - it's a life", to honoring our ancestors, and showing youth (and older people too) that we're not alone in the world, not now and not ever, Lee Wind's Queer History Project is such a necessity. This extraordinary work is held up by amazing referencing, and I know I'll be following up on quite a few of those!
The writing is beautiful and is full of great quotes both from the author and from sources, on being a queer person.
This book will give you Queer History the best way you could receive it; for LGBTQ+ people it'll also tell you "We are not alone"!
"The light in me recognizes and acknowledges the light in you" - Lee Wind
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an eARC for review
March 2, 2021
I am a huge queer history nerd and thought I would know everything in this book as its aimed for a younger audience, but I was pleasantly surprised at all the new things I learned! How did I never know Ghandi was LGBT+??????? I love how this book was written, even as a history nerd most history texts are text heavy and hard to read, but this one is very accessible with easy to read text and photos and info graphics provided. I also love how the author was honest about how history is biased and how western society negatively affects other cultures, which both leads to the erasure of queer history. This is one I definitely want to buy a physical copy of to add to my library
January 20, 2021
Rating: 5/5 stars.
“No Way, They Were Gay?” is a quintessential addition to the catalog of LGBTQIA+ resources for teens and young adults. The introductory chapters are well presented and provide very useful information pertaining to the rest of the book. I liked how the author explained the meanings of some general history-related terms, such as hidden history. The author also provided a stellar explanation of the differences between gender, gender expression, and sexual identity. This makes the book a great introduction to LGBTQIA history and social studies, as no prior knowledge of the discussed subject matter is required to understand the book. I also love how the author explained how and why they chose which famous LGBTQIA figures to include, and who to dedicate whole chapters to. It adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness and personal touch not often present in nonfiction books.
A major theme of the book is that just because we were taught something in school or by others as being historically correct, does not mean it is necessarily fully correct or, in some cases, true at all. Every chapter focuses on the hidden history of one public figure. The author focuses on primary sources, providing the original transcripts, and adding translations where needed. The annotations are very useful in highlighting key parts to be analyzed. While the author provides their own analysis and conclusions, that in many cases might be controversial, they allow and in fact encourage the reader to draw their own conclusions.
The author also does not sugarcoat history, even present history, in terms of treatment of the LGBTQIA population. They also make a point to include the “bad” side of some of the individuals they focus on, instead of trying to put each person on a pedestal.
I highly recommend this book to any youth who are questioning their sexual or gender identity, or their friends and family. It is also suitable for those who are looking for diverse role models and relatable public figures and are interested in hidden history.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley and have provided an honest review.*
“No Way, They Were Gay?” is a quintessential addition to the catalog of LGBTQIA+ resources for teens and young adults. The introductory chapters are well presented and provide very useful information pertaining to the rest of the book. I liked how the author explained the meanings of some general history-related terms, such as hidden history. The author also provided a stellar explanation of the differences between gender, gender expression, and sexual identity. This makes the book a great introduction to LGBTQIA history and social studies, as no prior knowledge of the discussed subject matter is required to understand the book. I also love how the author explained how and why they chose which famous LGBTQIA figures to include, and who to dedicate whole chapters to. It adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness and personal touch not often present in nonfiction books.
A major theme of the book is that just because we were taught something in school or by others as being historically correct, does not mean it is necessarily fully correct or, in some cases, true at all. Every chapter focuses on the hidden history of one public figure. The author focuses on primary sources, providing the original transcripts, and adding translations where needed. The annotations are very useful in highlighting key parts to be analyzed. While the author provides their own analysis and conclusions, that in many cases might be controversial, they allow and in fact encourage the reader to draw their own conclusions.
The author also does not sugarcoat history, even present history, in terms of treatment of the LGBTQIA population. They also make a point to include the “bad” side of some of the individuals they focus on, instead of trying to put each person on a pedestal.
I highly recommend this book to any youth who are questioning their sexual or gender identity, or their friends and family. It is also suitable for those who are looking for diverse role models and relatable public figures and are interested in hidden history.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley and have provided an honest review.*
April 6, 2021
No Way They Were Gay? By Lee Wind
Are they, or aren’t they? This book suggests possibilities regarding the historical figures collected in this book but it leaves the final decision to the reader. There are historical anecdotes, letters, and other information that has been collected and carefully presented so that the reader can make an informed decision while also learning information that may not have been considered before.
What I liked:
* Learning something new to me – I had NO idea that Michelangelo’s David has heart shaped pupils. I learned more about the statue and Michelangelo, too.
* Learning new information about famous historical persons and also learning about people in history that I had not heard of before.
* Reading the first person and second person historical documents chosen about each individual.
* Being reminded that history is a record and only reflects what the author of that record has chosen to share. My truth is MINE but it might not be YOURS…same of history.
* The way the book presented information on the way to reference people who are not cis
* The tidbits of information that I had not heard before: the colors on the rainbow flag, LGBTQIA2+ and QUILTBAG, the idea that it is important to refer to people using their preferred pronoun.
* The way the book was divided into: men who loved men, women who loved women, and people who loved outside gender boundaries
* The illustrations and photographs
* That the reader was given information and then asked to decide for themselves what they would believe
* The sources credited
* Photo acknowledgements
* Believing that this book would be good to add to school libraries and that it would be of interest to many
What I didn’t like:
* Being reminded of the historical intolerance and cruel laws related to people who identified as and lived outside the binary.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I recommend it to others? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group – Zest Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Are they, or aren’t they? This book suggests possibilities regarding the historical figures collected in this book but it leaves the final decision to the reader. There are historical anecdotes, letters, and other information that has been collected and carefully presented so that the reader can make an informed decision while also learning information that may not have been considered before.
What I liked:
* Learning something new to me – I had NO idea that Michelangelo’s David has heart shaped pupils. I learned more about the statue and Michelangelo, too.
* Learning new information about famous historical persons and also learning about people in history that I had not heard of before.
* Reading the first person and second person historical documents chosen about each individual.
* Being reminded that history is a record and only reflects what the author of that record has chosen to share. My truth is MINE but it might not be YOURS…same of history.
* The way the book presented information on the way to reference people who are not cis
* The tidbits of information that I had not heard before: the colors on the rainbow flag, LGBTQIA2+ and QUILTBAG, the idea that it is important to refer to people using their preferred pronoun.
* The way the book was divided into: men who loved men, women who loved women, and people who loved outside gender boundaries
* The illustrations and photographs
* That the reader was given information and then asked to decide for themselves what they would believe
* The sources credited
* Photo acknowledgements
* Believing that this book would be good to add to school libraries and that it would be of interest to many
What I didn’t like:
* Being reminded of the historical intolerance and cruel laws related to people who identified as and lived outside the binary.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I recommend it to others? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group – Zest Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
October 24, 2020
Chapter recieved from NetGalley for Review.
The chapter released is really interesting and informative.
We are taught in schools of so many historical figures, but very rarely is theie home life mentioned. and when it is, it's redacted or edited to fit the narrative.
It's fascinating to see how much History books leave out or untold, in order to keep there 'normal' narrative.
If the book continues anything like this chapter, it will be a instant addition to my education and book shelf. I look forward to reading more and being enlightened.
The chapter released is really interesting and informative.
We are taught in schools of so many historical figures, but very rarely is theie home life mentioned. and when it is, it's redacted or edited to fit the narrative.
It's fascinating to see how much History books leave out or untold, in order to keep there 'normal' narrative.
If the book continues anything like this chapter, it will be a instant addition to my education and book shelf. I look forward to reading more and being enlightened.
Want to read
March 23, 2021“No way, they were gay?”
My classmates in ten years at my high school reunion when I show up with a wifey and Very Cottagecore Gay attire because obviously we live in a cottage in the forest by the sea 🙄
My classmates in ten years at my high school reunion when I show up with a wifey and Very Cottagecore Gay attire because obviously we live in a cottage in the forest by the sea 🙄
October 3, 2021
English review below
4 estrellas.
Muchas veces cuando hablamos de historia nos olvidamos de considerar un factor importante: ¿quién la escribe?
Los libros de historia, generalmente, los escriben personas de la clase dominante, que tienden a omitir la información que no encaja con los objetivos políticos que persiguen. Así, si bien las personas queer hemos existido siempre, nuestras historias no han sido contadas, nuestras identidades han sido borradas.
Lo que Lee Wind se propone en este libro es recuperar, a través de fuentes de primera mano, las historias de personas de la comunidad LGBTQ+ a quienes probablemente no conozcas, o que conozcas sin saber el lado queer.
Está dividido en tres secciones: hombres que amaban a otros hombres, mujeres que amaban a otras mujeres y personas que vivieron fuera de los límites binarios del género. Wind nos habla, entre otres, de Shakespeare, Ghandi, Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, la Reina Ana, Catalina de Erauso y Christine Jorgensen.
Lee Wind nos pone en contexto sobre la época en que vivían estas distintas figuras históricas y nos presenta muchas cartas y documentos escritos por elles mismes, de modo que podemos interpretar nosotres qué hay detrás de la supuesta "historia oficial". Amé leer sobre el romance que desprenden las cartas de Lincoln, la fascinante vida de Catalina de Erauso/Francisco de Loyola, la intensidad de la Reina Ana...
El único punto a tener en cuenta es que este libro apunta a un público juvenil que desconoce sobre el tema, y por lo tanto el lenguaje usado es muy sencillo y ciertas explicaciones se vuelven redundantes si ya estás más informade. De todos modos, esto no afectó demasiado mi experiencia de lectura y siento que voy a recomendar muchísimo el libro. No solo a les jóvenes, sino también a adultes que quieran saber más sobre la comunidad y no sepan por dónde empezar. Nuestra historia es un buen punto de partida.
4 stars
When we talk about history, we often fail to consider an important argument: who writes history?
History books are generally written by people belonging to the upper class, who manipulate or omit information that does not coincide with their political views and motivations. Thus, even though queer people have always been present, our stories haven’t been told, our identities have been erased.
In this book, Lee Wind explores through primary sources (poetry, memoirs, news clippings) the hidden stories of LGBTQ+ people. It is divided into three sections: men who loved men, women who loved women, and people who lived outside gender boundaries. Wind talks about historic figures like Shakespeare, Ghandi, Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Queen Anne, Catalina de Erauso and Christine Jorgensen.
The author takes us through different points in time, he contextualizes the stories of each person he talks about and presents letters and documents written by them. Then, the reader can infer what hides behind the “official” story of their lives. I loved reading the romantic letters that Lincoln wrote, the fascinating life of Catalina de Erauso/Francisco de Loyola, the intensity and passion of Queen Anne…
"I had rather live in a cottage with you then reign empress of the world without you", said Queen Anne to her lover, who was also a powerful woman.
The only thing to bear in mind is that this book is aimed at a young audience who knows little to nothing about the queer community, so the language used is very simple and the explanations can result redundant if you are more informed about the topic. Anyway, this didn’t have a negative impact on my reading experience. I’m going to be recommending this book a lot, not only to YA readers but also to adults who want to learn more about the queer community and don’t know where to start. Our history is a good starting point.
4 estrellas.
Muchas veces cuando hablamos de historia nos olvidamos de considerar un factor importante: ¿quién la escribe?
Los libros de historia, generalmente, los escriben personas de la clase dominante, que tienden a omitir la información que no encaja con los objetivos políticos que persiguen. Así, si bien las personas queer hemos existido siempre, nuestras historias no han sido contadas, nuestras identidades han sido borradas.
Lo que Lee Wind se propone en este libro es recuperar, a través de fuentes de primera mano, las historias de personas de la comunidad LGBTQ+ a quienes probablemente no conozcas, o que conozcas sin saber el lado queer.
Está dividido en tres secciones: hombres que amaban a otros hombres, mujeres que amaban a otras mujeres y personas que vivieron fuera de los límites binarios del género. Wind nos habla, entre otres, de Shakespeare, Ghandi, Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, la Reina Ana, Catalina de Erauso y Christine Jorgensen.
Lee Wind nos pone en contexto sobre la época en que vivían estas distintas figuras históricas y nos presenta muchas cartas y documentos escritos por elles mismes, de modo que podemos interpretar nosotres qué hay detrás de la supuesta "historia oficial". Amé leer sobre el romance que desprenden las cartas de Lincoln, la fascinante vida de Catalina de Erauso/Francisco de Loyola, la intensidad de la Reina Ana...
El único punto a tener en cuenta es que este libro apunta a un público juvenil que desconoce sobre el tema, y por lo tanto el lenguaje usado es muy sencillo y ciertas explicaciones se vuelven redundantes si ya estás más informade. De todos modos, esto no afectó demasiado mi experiencia de lectura y siento que voy a recomendar muchísimo el libro. No solo a les jóvenes, sino también a adultes que quieran saber más sobre la comunidad y no sepan por dónde empezar. Nuestra historia es un buen punto de partida.
4 stars
When we talk about history, we often fail to consider an important argument: who writes history?
History books are generally written by people belonging to the upper class, who manipulate or omit information that does not coincide with their political views and motivations. Thus, even though queer people have always been present, our stories haven’t been told, our identities have been erased.
In this book, Lee Wind explores through primary sources (poetry, memoirs, news clippings) the hidden stories of LGBTQ+ people. It is divided into three sections: men who loved men, women who loved women, and people who lived outside gender boundaries. Wind talks about historic figures like Shakespeare, Ghandi, Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Queen Anne, Catalina de Erauso and Christine Jorgensen.
The author takes us through different points in time, he contextualizes the stories of each person he talks about and presents letters and documents written by them. Then, the reader can infer what hides behind the “official” story of their lives. I loved reading the romantic letters that Lincoln wrote, the fascinating life of Catalina de Erauso/Francisco de Loyola, the intensity and passion of Queen Anne…
"I had rather live in a cottage with you then reign empress of the world without you", said Queen Anne to her lover, who was also a powerful woman.
The only thing to bear in mind is that this book is aimed at a young audience who knows little to nothing about the queer community, so the language used is very simple and the explanations can result redundant if you are more informed about the topic. Anyway, this didn’t have a negative impact on my reading experience. I’m going to be recommending this book a lot, not only to YA readers but also to adults who want to learn more about the queer community and don’t know where to start. Our history is a good starting point.
May 6, 2021
This revisionist history is so deliciously gossipy and intriguing! I liked how the book was organized so that it prompted quite a lot of reflection--Men Who Loved Men, Women Who Loved Women, and People Who Lived Outside Gender Boundaries. While some of this information was stuff I already knew, other chapters in the various sections provided me with new stories and plenty to consider. The entire book is positive and accepting, possibly inspiring others, particularly youngsters today, to embrace their own identity and explore various gender roles. Although the author could have simply included all the positives of these individuals and their relationships, he is careful to describe some of their flaws and some of the (necessary) secrecy surrounding their lives, loves, and their places in history. It is sad to think that such an important part of these individuals had to be carefully hidden in order to avoid judgment or scandal. The author is fully aware that history is "crafted by the people who recorded it. And sometimes, those historians were biased against, didn't see, or couldn't even imagine anyone different from themselves" (back jacket), and seems determined to show that there's more to the story or the lives of these individuals than what is already known or published. I'm torn between seeing the necessity of unearthing these stories and taking them out of the closets or storage chests in which they were hidden, feeling filled with admiration at the work Lee Wind did in finding and perusing these primary sources, and feeling somewhat guilty at this glimpse into the very private lives of public individuals. Once again, though, I can't answer definitively how private anyone who is famous or in the public eye can or should keep his/her/their private lives. Or is that even possible? For me, the book celebrates parts of individuals that were unacknowledged or hidden for various reasons. So much of history or how history is told is determined by those in power or those who tell those stories, making these representations particularly important. Finally, every time I read about civil rights leader Bayard Rustin and how he was relegated to a back seat in the civil rights movement, I want to cry at the perceived necessity of his having to hide part of himself so that one element of civil rights could march forward. I'm glad to have read the book and to acknowledge the progress (slow though it might be) that we have made. When I read books such as this one or read about controversies associated with various authors, I always find myself asking if it's possible to separate the person and his/her/their ethics or morality from his/her/their creative efforts a la the #MeToo movement. This book raises many questions for me, and I'm sure it would elicit plenty of discussion among readers, whether they are middle graders or adults. The book's subtitle "Hidden Lives and Secret Loves" perfectly distills its content as Wind speculates on the loves of President Abraham Lincoln, William Shakespeare, Eleanor Roosevelt as well as those who refused to be limited by the gender norms of their times, including Pharaoh Hatshepsut, Christine Jorgensen, and Catalina de Erauso, known as the lieutenant nun. If you're looking for a book that will blow your mind and expand your own thoughts about gender and love, you will want to check out this one and then check the author's research by reading those references or trying to find even more. Ultimately, Lee Wind's work goes a long way toward painting history a shade of lavender or magenta and opening readers' eyes to historical biases and omissions.
June 13, 2021
✍️ One Sentence Synopsis: A queer history project with stories of historical figures who were men who loved men, women who loved women, or people who lived outside gender boundaries.
💭 Overall Thoughts:
What I loved about this book the most is that it encouraged the start conversations — either internal thought dialogue or with others about history. We were taught history in school through a lens— well, whose lens?
I think we all can reflect back and recognize that our history lessons were taught with a lens of white privilege, but it is important to reflect that they were also taught from a heteronormative lens as well. We need to learn, listen, reflect, discuss, and advocate to grow beyond that lens.
This book was written for a young adult or even a teen audience in mind. It presents history in a way that is digestible and accessible. It uses primary source materials to illustrate the lens of history that has been hidden away from most history books. It also ends each story with questions to guide thinking and reflection.
I appreciated as well that the author pointed out that even figures who were progressive in their perspective of LGBTQ culture were also flawed at times in other ways. We have to acknowledge all of history in order to learn from it and progress from it.
This book would make an excellent book club read, I also think it would be an excellent read for high schoolers in group settings to promote reflection and questioning of history.
What I Liked:
👍 The knowledge presented was interesting and digestible. I definitely learned a lot from this book.
👍 The reflection aspect of this book I think is crucial. This is how we grow.
What I Didn’t Like:
👎 The format of this book was hard for me. The author uses almost post it note style notes in the margin to explain concepts and for me it was hard to focus. There are also small articles placed in the larger story which was distracting for me as someone who typically reads fiction.
⚠️ Content Warnings: homophobia, racism
March 12, 2022
Conversational, opinionated and fact-filled, this exploration of a handful of historic figures who either hid their sexuality or crafted a life outside of the gender binary, is full of eye-opening stories.
To his great credit Lee Wind explains his criteria for choosing the subjects he focused on and he relies heavily on primary sources - autobiographies and letters. He regularly comments or opines but always emphasizes at the end of the chapters that it is up to the reader to make up their own mind.
This strikes me as an essential text for a high school or college library. My hesitation for middle school comes from the fact that most students may have heard of a handful of the more widely known historic individuals but will likely know little about them, and while their sexuality should not be hidden, to have the first introduction to Ghandi be his creepily, controlling love letters seems a disservice to his historic impact. I also found the author’s reductive analysis of some of Shakespeare’s sonnets to be killing. I have no problem with them being written to a man! To reduce “ Two loves I have of comfort and despair…” to ‘ I have two loves, one is a man and one is a woman.’ seems to me to be a travesty. I may be wrong but it seems clear Shakespeare is speaking of an internal division, not two physical lovers (one of them a heinous bitch) involved in some unfortunate triangle. Again I have no problem with students making up their own mind, but to have this be their first introduction to Shakespeare’s poetry would be deeply unfortunate.
To his great credit Lee Wind explains his criteria for choosing the subjects he focused on and he relies heavily on primary sources - autobiographies and letters. He regularly comments or opines but always emphasizes at the end of the chapters that it is up to the reader to make up their own mind.
This strikes me as an essential text for a high school or college library. My hesitation for middle school comes from the fact that most students may have heard of a handful of the more widely known historic individuals but will likely know little about them, and while their sexuality should not be hidden, to have the first introduction to Ghandi be his creepily, controlling love letters seems a disservice to his historic impact. I also found the author’s reductive analysis of some of Shakespeare’s sonnets to be killing. I have no problem with them being written to a man! To reduce “ Two loves I have of comfort and despair…” to ‘ I have two loves, one is a man and one is a woman.’ seems to me to be a travesty. I may be wrong but it seems clear Shakespeare is speaking of an internal division, not two physical lovers (one of them a heinous bitch) involved in some unfortunate triangle. Again I have no problem with students making up their own mind, but to have this be their first introduction to Shakespeare’s poetry would be deeply unfortunate.
December 4, 2024
This is a great, simple read for anyone (young or old) who is unaware of or has been kept sheltered from queer history. Also a good recommendation for anyone who says there didn’t used to be so many gay people or whatever dumb stuff homophobes say. Everything is explained very clearly so they should have no problem learning something unless they truly don’t want to.
My favorite chapter was the one about M’E Mpho Nthuyna. I loved learning about her culture and thinking about how absolutely normal it was for people to be queer in so many parts of the world until western culture spread homophobia and made countless people feel ashamed of who they are. Loved this quote from Nthuyna, after western BS ruined everything: “People now don’t love like they did long ago.”
I know the book is all about queer history, but it’s also about revised history, and I was a little put off by an anecdote about Rosa Parks that didn’t mention Claudette Colvin. It’s a personal thing that I probably shouldn’t let bother me here, but she gets left out all the time and it felt weird in a book about people who are left out of history/have changed histories.
I listened to the recently released audiobook. The narrator was okay, but I didn’t really like the voices he put on for the different people. I like when narrators put voices on for characters in fiction, but something about putting on voices and accents for real people rubs me the wrong way, so I’d say the audiobook wasn’t really for me.
My favorite chapter was the one about M’E Mpho Nthuyna. I loved learning about her culture and thinking about how absolutely normal it was for people to be queer in so many parts of the world until western culture spread homophobia and made countless people feel ashamed of who they are. Loved this quote from Nthuyna, after western BS ruined everything: “People now don’t love like they did long ago.”
I know the book is all about queer history, but it’s also about revised history, and I was a little put off by an anecdote about Rosa Parks that didn’t mention Claudette Colvin. It’s a personal thing that I probably shouldn’t let bother me here, but she gets left out all the time and it felt weird in a book about people who are left out of history/have changed histories.
I listened to the recently released audiobook. The narrator was okay, but I didn’t really like the voices he put on for the different people. I like when narrators put voices on for characters in fiction, but something about putting on voices and accents for real people rubs me the wrong way, so I’d say the audiobook wasn’t really for me.
August 6, 2022
This was so educational! I love how it has an unapologetically queer perspective and it really opened my eyes. I really really appreciate how the author used so many primary sources and the research is so commendable. I also appreciate how it debunks the notion that the Western world is more progressive in that aspect necessarily, and showcases how queer people have existed and been accepted outside of Europe and the US for the longest time (and in it too)
April 14, 2024
Eh it was okay. Obvious names in LGBTQ history that aren't a surprise or a big revelation, but in fairness, this is meant for middle school readers. The author flip-flopped between stating evidence as a fact or presenting the information as if he was encouraging the reader to decide for themselves. Asking "what do you think?" intermittently while you constantly present the information from your contextualized point of view does not actually encourage the reader to answer that question on their own. Worth reading, maybe, it's a short read.
November 28, 2021
4.5 stars
July 9, 2024
Fun and quick read. Very interesting historical pieces.
December 27, 2024
crazyyyyyy
June 30, 2021
Loved this book! Loved that it used primary resources for all of the research. Love how each person was described. Great book!
August 29, 2021
Why did I have to wait till I was 30 to learn that Tchaikovsky was gay? That’s just one example of the important stuff that’s in this book. I liked the inclusion of non-white people, and the exploration of sexuality and gender identity in a historical context. The author presents factual info, but leaves the question of labels open to discussion. An incredibly important book that I want to donate to every school library in the country!!
November 4, 2020
Current Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis: History sounds really official. Like it's all fact. Like it's definitely what happened. But that's not necessarily true. History was crafted by the people who recorded it. And sometimes, those historians were biased against, didn't see, or couldn't even imagine anyone different from themselves. That means that history has often left out stories of LGBTQIA+ people.
I'd like to start off by saying that the ARC I received is only a sample chapter, and not the entire book so my review is only based on what I read in the Mahatma Gandhi chapter. My review could become higher if I read the whole book, because the chapter I read seemed well researched with all sources attached at the end of the chapter.
That being said, (this chapter at least) felt like an episode of a paranormal history channel show, where they present information on what may or may not be haunted hotels and at the end of the segment say "So what do you think? Do you think the ghost haunts this room?" This chapter felt like they plucked circumstantial evidence and after reading all of the information presented, you may or may not think that Gandhi was homosexual/bisexual by the end of it.
Overall, it's hard to give a review on just one chapter. I don't know every historical figure that will feature in this book, so I don't entirely know what to expect from the book as a whole. I think the concept is promising and it is a book I'd be interested in looking into further.
(For Goodreads: This chapter was sent to me as a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Synopsis: History sounds really official. Like it's all fact. Like it's definitely what happened. But that's not necessarily true. History was crafted by the people who recorded it. And sometimes, those historians were biased against, didn't see, or couldn't even imagine anyone different from themselves. That means that history has often left out stories of LGBTQIA+ people.
I'd like to start off by saying that the ARC I received is only a sample chapter, and not the entire book so my review is only based on what I read in the Mahatma Gandhi chapter. My review could become higher if I read the whole book, because the chapter I read seemed well researched with all sources attached at the end of the chapter.
That being said, (this chapter at least) felt like an episode of a paranormal history channel show, where they present information on what may or may not be haunted hotels and at the end of the segment say "So what do you think? Do you think the ghost haunts this room?" This chapter felt like they plucked circumstantial evidence and after reading all of the information presented, you may or may not think that Gandhi was homosexual/bisexual by the end of it.
Overall, it's hard to give a review on just one chapter. I don't know every historical figure that will feature in this book, so I don't entirely know what to expect from the book as a whole. I think the concept is promising and it is a book I'd be interested in looking into further.
(For Goodreads: This chapter was sent to me as a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
October 23, 2021
I really didn't like this book, honestly. I just stuck with it, because it was a quick read, but I really debated giving up. The author started off with a section called "Good Stuff to Know Before You Dive In" which defined some things, but I really just wasn't a fan of some of the definitions that he used. He said that pan and bi are the same thing, which for some people may be the case, but for a lot of people, these terms mean pretty different things. I also just hated how he spoke about trans people throughout the book. The sections are broken up into "Men who loved men," "Women who loved women," and "people who lived outside the gender boundaries." As a trans person, I do not enjoy being referred to as someone living outside the gender boundaries. He consistently talked about trans women as having "male bodies" and trans men as having "female bodies." I absolutely hate when folks do this. My body is mine, and I am a man, so therefore my body is a man's body. I just really feel like there should have been more trans people involved in the creation of this book because these issues could have potentially been resolved. I actually enjoyed a lot of the stories in the other sections of this book, but he really dropped the ball on the section about trans people, when the section could have easily just been left out if it wasn't going to be done well.
November 13, 2022
4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)
I did really enjoy this book and would totally recommend it. The writing is slightly plain, leaving something to be desired, but is very readable, clear, concise and informative. I would say it’s written to a more YA audience but anyone could read it, from children to the elderly.
It starts with an introduction into and with an aim to ‘reclaim the queer history’ of our ancestors. Wind sets out how and why LGBTQIA2+ people and their stories were hidden from view of the general public out of a fear of ‘otherness’ from the ‘norm’ by historians and why teaching queer history is vital to showing the youth of today (well practically everyone) that we have always been here and here to stay. A book like this would never have been published not that many years ago and I so hope these and all the stories of other queer people will be in our history books for many years to come. Wind also provides information about the community, who and what type of people is contained within and the different acronyms - nothing was new to me personally but appreciative nonetheless.
After the introduction, the book is split into three parts detailing four main people from history and one snippet (fifteen + all together). These are men who love men, women who love women, and people who lived outside gender boundaries. All the sections were interesting, written well, contained nuanced ways of looking at the evidence that we are encouraged to make our own meanings from but generally ‘prove’ these people were queer. This was very intriguing and well put together (albeit slightly plainly, a little bit repetitive in the evidence used that in some parts broke up the reading of this book but nothing major) and make you think a lot. These span many years, continents, cultures, religions, languages, sexualities and gender identities. Not comprehensive but a great overlook of different points, places and types of queer history.
I won’t go into detail about each of the people mentioned but my favourite chapter was on Bayard Rustin I would say, he was such an amazing incredible human being. Doing so much for the civil rights movement in the USA but was denied notoriety (until rather recently) because of his gayness, threatened with being outed and internal homophobia from his equally important Black community. In the 1980s Rustin said this in an interview: ‘When one is attacked for being gay, it sensitizes you to a greater understanding and sympathy for others who face bigotry, and one realizes the damage that being misunderstood can do to people… to attack anyone because he's Jewish, black, a homosexual, a woman, or any other reason over which that person has no control is quite terrible.’ - this is a great introspection and an integral way of looking at injustices, not to see otherness in people but the fact that so many things make us other is what makes us alike (did I just come up with that? Wow I’m impressed but back to the review) and this is something we shouldn’t take for granted. Just before he died, he added ‘… if we want to do away with the injustice to gays it will not be done because we get rid of the injustice to gays. It will be done because we are forwarding the effort for the elimination of injustice to all.’
Other points that spoke out to me were:
The impact of Sappho’s poems on todays society and how we view the power of love. The certain poem follows:
"There are those who say
an array of horsemen,
and others of marching men,
and others of ships, is
the most beautiful thing on the dark earth.
But I say it is whatever one loves.
[…]
Now, far away, Anactoria
comes to my mind.
For I would rather watch her
moving in her lovely way,
and see her face, Nashing radiant,
than all the force of Lydian chariots
and their infantry in full display of arms." - usually military power was seen as upmost but Sappho is clearing stating that it is love and she would rather see her love Anactoria then a display of arms.
Eleanor and Lorena’s love letters to each other which were just so sweet
The impact of colonialism and spreading ‘western’ ideas damaged the traditions of both African cultures and Native American - including public women-loving-women relationships which were hidden away in ‘the closet’, Kendall (who wrote M’e Mpho’s autobiography) ‘concluded that love between women is as native to Southern Africa as the soil itself, but that homophobia, like Mugabe’s Christianity, is a Western import.’ Similar destruction of cultural ideals were present in how third gender (or Two Spirits) people were seen by white Americans and later ‘neutralised Indians’
Christine Jorgensen’s letter and cablegram from her parents sent shivers down my spine - I had goosebumps to the gods from this but wow the response from her partners was just so amazing and for 1952! Nearing her death, Jorgensen wrote ‘I found the oldest gift of heaven - to be myself.’
Finally, Rumi (a 13th C Sufi (mystical form of Islam) poet) wrote of his love for another man. His poem could easily be written today as these words are still true:
“I saw you last night in the gathering,
but could not take you openly in my arms,
so I put my lips next to your cheek,
pretending to talk privately”
The book finishes with a detailed and comprehensive list of sources and additional reading to explore more of our world’s queer historical figures, something I am likely to do.
Overall, I would totally recommend this book, it’s super informative and substantive, diverse, varied and in parts entertaining too. I am so happy this is available to teach the queer history which has for so long been hidden. Every school and library should have a copy.
I did really enjoy this book and would totally recommend it. The writing is slightly plain, leaving something to be desired, but is very readable, clear, concise and informative. I would say it’s written to a more YA audience but anyone could read it, from children to the elderly.
It starts with an introduction into and with an aim to ‘reclaim the queer history’ of our ancestors. Wind sets out how and why LGBTQIA2+ people and their stories were hidden from view of the general public out of a fear of ‘otherness’ from the ‘norm’ by historians and why teaching queer history is vital to showing the youth of today (well practically everyone) that we have always been here and here to stay. A book like this would never have been published not that many years ago and I so hope these and all the stories of other queer people will be in our history books for many years to come. Wind also provides information about the community, who and what type of people is contained within and the different acronyms - nothing was new to me personally but appreciative nonetheless.
After the introduction, the book is split into three parts detailing four main people from history and one snippet (fifteen + all together). These are men who love men, women who love women, and people who lived outside gender boundaries. All the sections were interesting, written well, contained nuanced ways of looking at the evidence that we are encouraged to make our own meanings from but generally ‘prove’ these people were queer. This was very intriguing and well put together (albeit slightly plainly, a little bit repetitive in the evidence used that in some parts broke up the reading of this book but nothing major) and make you think a lot. These span many years, continents, cultures, religions, languages, sexualities and gender identities. Not comprehensive but a great overlook of different points, places and types of queer history.
I won’t go into detail about each of the people mentioned but my favourite chapter was on Bayard Rustin I would say, he was such an amazing incredible human being. Doing so much for the civil rights movement in the USA but was denied notoriety (until rather recently) because of his gayness, threatened with being outed and internal homophobia from his equally important Black community. In the 1980s Rustin said this in an interview: ‘When one is attacked for being gay, it sensitizes you to a greater understanding and sympathy for others who face bigotry, and one realizes the damage that being misunderstood can do to people… to attack anyone because he's Jewish, black, a homosexual, a woman, or any other reason over which that person has no control is quite terrible.’ - this is a great introspection and an integral way of looking at injustices, not to see otherness in people but the fact that so many things make us other is what makes us alike (did I just come up with that? Wow I’m impressed but back to the review) and this is something we shouldn’t take for granted. Just before he died, he added ‘… if we want to do away with the injustice to gays it will not be done because we get rid of the injustice to gays. It will be done because we are forwarding the effort for the elimination of injustice to all.’
Other points that spoke out to me were:
The impact of Sappho’s poems on todays society and how we view the power of love. The certain poem follows:
"There are those who say
an array of horsemen,
and others of marching men,
and others of ships, is
the most beautiful thing on the dark earth.
But I say it is whatever one loves.
[…]
Now, far away, Anactoria
comes to my mind.
For I would rather watch her
moving in her lovely way,
and see her face, Nashing radiant,
than all the force of Lydian chariots
and their infantry in full display of arms." - usually military power was seen as upmost but Sappho is clearing stating that it is love and she would rather see her love Anactoria then a display of arms.
Eleanor and Lorena’s love letters to each other which were just so sweet
The impact of colonialism and spreading ‘western’ ideas damaged the traditions of both African cultures and Native American - including public women-loving-women relationships which were hidden away in ‘the closet’, Kendall (who wrote M’e Mpho’s autobiography) ‘concluded that love between women is as native to Southern Africa as the soil itself, but that homophobia, like Mugabe’s Christianity, is a Western import.’ Similar destruction of cultural ideals were present in how third gender (or Two Spirits) people were seen by white Americans and later ‘neutralised Indians’
Christine Jorgensen’s letter and cablegram from her parents sent shivers down my spine - I had goosebumps to the gods from this but wow the response from her partners was just so amazing and for 1952! Nearing her death, Jorgensen wrote ‘I found the oldest gift of heaven - to be myself.’
Finally, Rumi (a 13th C Sufi (mystical form of Islam) poet) wrote of his love for another man. His poem could easily be written today as these words are still true:
“I saw you last night in the gathering,
but could not take you openly in my arms,
so I put my lips next to your cheek,
pretending to talk privately”
The book finishes with a detailed and comprehensive list of sources and additional reading to explore more of our world’s queer historical figures, something I am likely to do.
Overall, I would totally recommend this book, it’s super informative and substantive, diverse, varied and in parts entertaining too. I am so happy this is available to teach the queer history which has for so long been hidden. Every school and library should have a copy.
December 31, 2021
review to follow
January 7, 2024
I found this book in the YA section of the library while browsing with my daughter. I think it was very well researched and written. And so interesting! I learned so much from this book.
August 24, 2023
I appreciated this book and the way it explored historical figures and their sexual attraction and gender identity. Some of it overlapped with the book Let Me Be Frank (which I also read recently), but most of it was different between the two books. I appreciated that, where facts weren't completely clear and modern historians haven't accepted/acquiesced/agreed that the people were gay, Wind doesn't force the issue. So, the book is somewhat biased towards an LGBTQ+ interpretation, but it kind of feels like it's just a counterbalance to the generations that erased or denied people's clear preferences due to homophobia. Wind asks questions and leaves the interpretation open. Wind's writing helped broaden my thinking and allowed me think more openly of people's life experiences. I also appreciate that accepting these LGBTQ+ stories really brings to light the influential people in history.
Some examples of important things for me:
1. Of course, I'm familiar with the term "sapphic," but I didn't know that Sapho was literally a poet. (I may have learned it at one time, but I suspect I'll retain it more after reading about her here.)
"Most ancient poets composed tales of war, stories where power was the most important, the most beautiful thing on Earth. What's beautiful, they said, was an army. A fleet of warships. A mass of cavalry. But in this poem, Sappho said they were wrong. Because she knew she would rather see the face of the woman she loved, flashing radiant, than all the supposed splendor of an army." (p. 113)
2. Quoting Historian Rodger Streitmatter in Empty Without You: The Intimate Letters of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, "It was Lorena who persuaded Eleanor to become the only first lady in history to conduct weekly press conferences. . . . It was Lorena who helped Eleanor grow into one of history's most powerful humanitarians by giving this woman born to wealth and privilege a close-up view of the plight of the poor and the powerless. . . . It was Lorena who suggested that Eleanor publish a syndicated newspaper column to communicate her vision for humanity to the entire country on a daily basis." As streitmatter summed up, "Lorena was, in short, the woman behind the woman." (p. 140)
3. "The marriage0like ceremonies M'e Mpho and her motsoalle M'e M'alineo had in the 1950s were among the last cultural expressions of the ritualized and honored love between women in Lesotho. Those women-loving-women relationships didn't stop happening. They just went inside another Western import--the closet." (p. 161)
4. "Slowly, one thought separated itself from the others in my mind, at first ephemeral and then a consciously formed idea. 'I am looking at the work of God,' I thought, 'but am I not a work of God, too?" - Christine Jorgensen (p. 231)
Some examples of important things for me:
1. Of course, I'm familiar with the term "sapphic," but I didn't know that Sapho was literally a poet. (I may have learned it at one time, but I suspect I'll retain it more after reading about her here.)
"Most ancient poets composed tales of war, stories where power was the most important, the most beautiful thing on Earth. What's beautiful, they said, was an army. A fleet of warships. A mass of cavalry. But in this poem, Sappho said they were wrong. Because she knew she would rather see the face of the woman she loved, flashing radiant, than all the supposed splendor of an army." (p. 113)
2. Quoting Historian Rodger Streitmatter in Empty Without You: The Intimate Letters of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, "It was Lorena who persuaded Eleanor to become the only first lady in history to conduct weekly press conferences. . . . It was Lorena who helped Eleanor grow into one of history's most powerful humanitarians by giving this woman born to wealth and privilege a close-up view of the plight of the poor and the powerless. . . . It was Lorena who suggested that Eleanor publish a syndicated newspaper column to communicate her vision for humanity to the entire country on a daily basis." As streitmatter summed up, "Lorena was, in short, the woman behind the woman." (p. 140)
3. "The marriage0like ceremonies M'e Mpho and her motsoalle M'e M'alineo had in the 1950s were among the last cultural expressions of the ritualized and honored love between women in Lesotho. Those women-loving-women relationships didn't stop happening. They just went inside another Western import--the closet." (p. 161)
4. "Slowly, one thought separated itself from the others in my mind, at first ephemeral and then a consciously formed idea. 'I am looking at the work of God,' I thought, 'but am I not a work of God, too?" - Christine Jorgensen (p. 231)
September 13, 2023
This is a great primer for young people beginning to look into queer history. The author does a great job with formatting, including clearly marking primary sources used in bold and explaining editorial choices he made (e.g. why he may decide to use one set of pronouns for someone who "lived outside the gender binary"). This book is very accessible, and I would say this is age-appropriate for as young as middle school (it is not explicit in any way and may be appropriate for some elementary school kids in conversation with an adult to help provide context). My library has it shelved as YA non-fiction.
I like that the figures are listed as "men who loved men," "women who loved women," and "people who lived outside the gender binary." The author notes many times that it can be problematic to ascribe labels like "gay" or "bisexual" or "transgender" when we look at historical figures who may not have defined themselves those ways, and that that may further exclude identities like "bi" or "pan" or "nonbinary" that may already face marginalization or disbelief in the queer community.
When I read kids' books that give a brief overview of several historical figures, I like to assess the backgrounds to see what picture is given of history. I have included these breakdowns as information for potential readers and also to add a data point for tracking inclusivity in children's nonfiction. I have only included only the 15 people with bios, not every queer person mentioned.
Seven of the 15 were AFAB (assigned female at birth).
No individuals were either intersex or people with disabilities mentioned in the bios.
40% were from Europe, 33% from North America, 13% from Africa, one was from (south) Asia, and one was from Oceania. No subjects were from South or Central America or East Asia.
Categorizing the subjects racially, 67% were of white/ European descent, and 13% were of black/ sub-Saharan African descent. One was Native American, one was ancient Egyptian, and one was South Asian. There were no Latin@, East Asian, or Pacific Islander subjects.
The earliest subject was from 1495 BC and the last living subject died in 2013. 60% of subjects were born in 1800 or later.
I like that the figures are listed as "men who loved men," "women who loved women," and "people who lived outside the gender binary." The author notes many times that it can be problematic to ascribe labels like "gay" or "bisexual" or "transgender" when we look at historical figures who may not have defined themselves those ways, and that that may further exclude identities like "bi" or "pan" or "nonbinary" that may already face marginalization or disbelief in the queer community.
When I read kids' books that give a brief overview of several historical figures, I like to assess the backgrounds to see what picture is given of history. I have included these breakdowns as information for potential readers and also to add a data point for tracking inclusivity in children's nonfiction. I have only included only the 15 people with bios, not every queer person mentioned.
Seven of the 15 were AFAB (assigned female at birth).
No individuals were either intersex or people with disabilities mentioned in the bios.
40% were from Europe, 33% from North America, 13% from Africa, one was from (south) Asia, and one was from Oceania. No subjects were from South or Central America or East Asia.
Categorizing the subjects racially, 67% were of white/ European descent, and 13% were of black/ sub-Saharan African descent. One was Native American, one was ancient Egyptian, and one was South Asian. There were no Latin@, East Asian, or Pacific Islander subjects.
The earliest subject was from 1495 BC and the last living subject died in 2013. 60% of subjects were born in 1800 or later.
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