Kings and Queens: Queers at the Prom

by David Boyer (Editor)

Like so many closeted gay teenagers who faced this high school rite of passage, David Boyer asked a girl to his senior prom. More than a dozen years later, now openly gay Boyer began collecting stories of this enduring ritual from queers who survived it. These stories form the basis of Kings and Queers at the Dance.
The book is divided into two major Before Stonewall begins around the time of the Depression and ends at the 1969 uprising. These stories suggest what it was like to come of age before the gay rights movement really began, before the word gay assumed its current meaning. After Stonewall charts queers' progression from closet to mainstream. Not intended as a definitive retelling of gay history, Kings and Queens illustrates how growing up gay has — and has not — changed over the years. It is a bumpy but irresistible ride through a history that has been unspoken for too long.

Genres: Queer, Nonfiction

144 pages, Spiral-bound

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Joyce Kramer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Possible first-hand knowledge? Disappointing at best.

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute--definitely a fun thing for queer teens stressing (or getting excited) about the prom, looking for where they fit into this American high school rite of passage. The stories are funny, but also talk about real stuff that all types of LGBTQ teens will relate to

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated, but still a good resource. I wish this were in the Teen section rather than the Adult collection.