PRIDE

There's pride everywhere!

This stirring work affirms that LGBTQ+ people have existed for centuries. Caldwell notes that ancient cultures—Greece, Rome, Egypt, India, and China—all reflect stories of queer love and offers profiles of queer people throughout history—Oscar Wilde, Lili Elbe, and Audre Lorde, for example—who have embraced their authentic selves. “Have You Heard Of” boxes scattered throughout shed light on lesser-known people who advanced LGBTQ+ rights, such as AIDS activist Cecilia Chung (b. 1935), former drag performer and political hopeful José Sarria (1922-2013), and openly lesbian suffragette Lettice Floyd (1865-1934). Each of the seven chapters includes essays from young people articulating why they're proud members of the LGBTQ+ community. Moments of history are explored in brief vignettes that range in length from a paragraph to approximately two pages. Bright digital illustrations, color and black-and-white photographs, and bold background colors that mirror various pride flags decorate the pages. As a whole, the information provided is far from exhaustive, but it serves to inspire, educate, and bolster—and it does these things exceedingly well. Curious readers will find a springboard for further research—and more potential role models.

The pride of any bookshelf, this is a delightful introduction to LGBTQ+ history.