Books: Non-Fiction

A Queer History of the United States for Young People

Book — Non-fiction. By Michael Bronski, adapted for by Richie Chevat. 2019. 336 pages.
A young adult readers edition that explores how LGBTQ people have always been a part of our national identity, contributing to the country and culture for over 400 years.

Time Periods: 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century, 21st Century, All US History

Themes: Criminal Justice & Incarceration, Imperialism, LGBTQ, Native American, Women's History

Levels: Grades 6-8, High School

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It is crucial for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth to know their history. But this history is not easy to find since it’s rarely taught in schools or commemorated in other ways. A Queer History of the United States for Young People corrects this and demonstrates that LGBTQ people have long been vital to shaping our understanding of what America is today.

Through engrossing narratives, letters, drawings, poems, and more, the book encourages young readers, of all identities, to feel pride at the accomplishments of the LGBTQ people who came before them and to use history as a guide to the future. The stories he shares include those of

Indigenous tribes who embraced same-sex relationships and a multiplicity of gender identities.
Emily Dickinson, brilliant nineteenth-century poet who wrote about her desire for women.
Gladys Bentley, Harlem blues singer who challenged restrictive cross-dressing laws in the 1920s.
Bayard Rustin, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s close friend, civil rights organizer, and an openly gay man.
Sylvia Rivera, cofounder of STAR, the first transgender activist group in the US in 1970.
Kiyoshi Kuromiya, civil rights and antiwar activist who fought for people living with AIDS.
Jamie Nabozny, activist who took his LGBTQ school bullying case to the Supreme Court.
Aidan DeStefano, teen who brought a federal court case for trans-inclusive bathroom policies.
And many more!

With over 60 illustrations and photos, a glossary, and a corresponding curriculum, A Queer History of the United States for Young People will be vital for teachers who want to introduce a new perspective to America’s story. [Adapted from publisher’s description.]

The book includes accessible descriptions and explanations of the identities included in the text, as well as an introduction to explain the relevance and necessity of LGBTQ history.

Regrettably, the book does not address the racist views of some of the LGBTQ historical figures described in the book, such as Walt Whitman.

IMDB: 9780807056127 | Beacon Press

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