By Ellyn Ruthstrom, Executive Director

Today is the 50th anniversary of the night LGBTQ+ people fought in the streets of New York City against the harassment of police and said enough is enough!

The Stonewall uprising of 1969 was not the first time the queer community stood up against oppression and violence, but it was a pivotal moment that captured the anger and frustration of a marginalized community. The sparks that ignited a movement after Stonewall spread across the nation and inspired many LGBTQ+ organizations to form and build a political movement that would better the lives of our community and encourage millions to live out and proud lives.

Those nascent sparks led to the development of SpeakOUT in 1972, when members of the Homophile Society and the Daughters of Bilitis joined together to form the original Gay Speakers Bureau. The founding SpeakOUT activists believed in the power of “telling the truths of our lives.” It was a deeply personal form of activism to engage in dialogue with strangers in the hope of opening minds and changing attitudes. Our members still live by that mission with the commitment to share our stories to create positive change for the LGBTQ+ community.

Today we have an out legally-married gay man running for the Democratic nomination for president! That idea was not in the minds of those street warriors on June 28, 1969, but it is a direct descendant of those flying bricks and loud chants that filled the air for six days outside the Stonewall Inn. From standing up against police harassment and violence to decriminalizing our identities and sex lives, from HIV/AIDS direct action demanding queer lives be taken seriously to creating legal protections in housing and the workplace, from federal marriage equality to banning conversion therapy. All of these issues and more are part of the legacy of those heroes who stood their ground 50 years ago.

On Sunday, millions of LGBTQ+ people and allies will be marching through and lining the streets of New York City during World Pride to both commemorate what occured at Stonewall in 1969 and to celebrate our queerness as we proudly live it in 2019. We can celebrate how much change our community has fought for and achieved already, and we must also honor those street warriors by continuing to fight for those in our community who are still marginalized and oppressed.

Stonewall was an important instigator for our community’s activism. Let this anniversary celebration be another source of rebellion for us!

By Anna Saldinger

Books imagine new worlds and possibilities, and those that authors place in the fictional record are written into the collective imagination. This range of books encapsulates queer theory, novels, picture books, and young adult fiction. Each offers a place for LGBTQ+ characters in the collective imagination through love, analysis, adventure, heartache, and hope.

Queer: A Graphic History, by Dr. Meg John Barker and cartoonist Julia Schele: This non-fiction graphic novel takes the reader through various facets of queer theory with history, conceptual analysis, and cultural context. Queer: A Graphic History is a beautifully illustrated and digestible opportunity to engage with the political context of queer life.

Mean, by Myriam Gurba: Mean is Gurba’s coming of age memoir about growing up in a small town as a mixed-race queer Chicana. She reveals the comic in the tragic while confronting sexual assault, homophobia, racism, and other forms of oppression.

The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang: This graphic novel centers on a prince (or Lady Crystallia) and Frances, a young seamstress who makes Crystallia’s magnificent gowns.

Little Fish, Casey Plett: Thirty-year-old trans woman Wendy Reimer works to uncover whether her late Mennonite grandfather was also trans and reflects on her own life and experience. The book explores the trans experience in the United States through a story of family, history, and secrets.

Speak No Evil, by Uzodimna Iweala: The teenage protagonist, Niru, hides his gay identity and his relationship from his conservative Nigerian parents, afraid that they won’t accept him. This novel explores the reality of being black and queer in the United States today through a complicated and heart-wrenching coming-of-age story.

Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Speculative Fiction from Transgender Writers, edited by Cat Fitzpatrick and Casey Plett: Need I say more? Queer representation, let alone trans representation, in speculative fiction is sparse, which makes this anthology tremendously refreshing and important.

Kids Books: Books targeted at children and young adults that introduce queer narratives and concepts encourage self-exploration, compassion, and curiosity. Here are a few vibrant stories that celebrate queerness and offer kids a perspective that goes beyond the mainstream.

Julián Is A Mermaid, by Jessica Love: Inspired by women dressed as mermaids that he sees on the subway, Julián wants to look just like them. This wonderful picture book is about expression, inspiration, and acceptance.

Artist, author, educator, and activist Maya Gonzalez: Maya Gonzalez is the author of several radical children’s books, including They, He, She, Me: Free to Be! and The Gender Wheel. She champions creativity as a tool for empowerment and is a notable member of the Chicano Art Movement.

Who Are You: The Kids Guide to Gender Identity, by Brooke Pessin-Whedbee: This book is a great tool for introducing kids to gender divergence. With bright illustrations and simple language, it encourages them to consider who they are, what they like, and the infinite possibilities of gender and expression.

Star Crossed, by Barbara Dee: Star Crossed charts Mattie as she grapples with a crush on Gemma, who is playing the Juliet to her Romeo in a middle school production of Romeo and Juliet. Because she has had crushes on boys, Mattie is confused--can she like both? This is an essential story for readers who are right in the thick of figuring out their identities and what attraction means

Anna Saldinger is a radio journalism student at Bennington College and SpeakOUT winter intern. (She/her pronouns)

Stonewall 50: Honoring the Rebellion

Queer Books Round-Up