Queer and How We Got Here: A (Personal) History

By Hazel Newlevant "Honest, informative, and stylish, this book made me grateful for the activism of the past and gave me courage for the fights to come!” —Maia Kobabe, author of Gender Queer: A Memoir "This book belongs in every bookstore, library, and educational establishment, and in the hands of every queer kid." —Mo B. Dick, Drag King legend and executive director of Drag King History More than a historical narrative, this story of queer identity interweaves the author's personal history, showing queerness as both a community endeavor and deeply personal journey. When Hazel was twelve years old, they came out as bisexual to their parents. At the time, they couldn't have imagined who they are today: a nonbinary, transmasculine person in a loving queer relationship. In seeking to understand their own history, Hazel takes readers on a parallel journey through queer history—from the origins of Western concepts of sexual orientation, to the synthesis of hormones, to the evolution of trans health care. They unpack the economic underpinnings of gender roles. They dive into the origins behind our concept of “coming out,” the history of "female husbands," neopronouns, and the emergence of drag kings. As Hazel grows and changes, so does their understanding of those who came before them, and the interweaving of both narratives gives the reader a powerful entryway into not just Hazel's journey of self-actualization, but the queer community at large.

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