At a time when our community is fighting back against a myriad of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks, it’s more important than ever to know our history.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of 21 books that offer essential historical knowledge. From gripping stories of activism during the height of the HIV epidemic to accounts of pivotal LGBTQ+ litigation, these nonfiction books honor where we’ve been and offer insights into how we can continue fighting for a more liberated future.
Read on for the full list.
Transgender History by Susan Stryker
“The modern classic on transgender life in America since the nineteenth century, encompassing the major movements, writings, and events that shape today’s gender revolution.”
The Stonewall Reader edited by the New York Public Library and Jason Baumann
“For the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, an anthology chronicling the tumultuous fight for LGBTQ rights in the 1960s and the activists who spearheaded it, with a foreword by Edmund White.”
Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993 by Sarah Schulman
“Twenty years in the making, Sarah Schulman’s Let the Record Show is the most comprehensive political history ever assembled of ACT UP and American AIDS activism.”
Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers: A History of Lesbian Life in the Twentieth-Century America by Lillian Faderman
“In this groundbreaking book, she [Faderman] reclaims the history of lesbian life in twentieth-century America, tracing the evolution of lesbian identity and subcultures from early networks to more recent diverse lifestyles.”
How to Survive a Plague by David France
This book is “a social and scientific history of AIDS, and the grass-roots movement of activists, many of them facing their own life-or-death struggles, who grabbed the reins of scientific research to help develop the drugs that turned HIV from a mostly fatal infection to a manageable disease.”
Legendary Children: The First Decade of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the Last Century of Queer Life by Tom Fitzgerald and Lorenzo Marquez
“A definitive deep-dive into queer history and culture with hit reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race as a touchstone, by the creators of the pop culture blog Tom and Lorenzo.”
One Day in June by Tourmaline
“This vibrant and joyful picture book celebrates the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman and activist who played an instrumental role during the Stonewall Riots that led to PRIDE month, written by award-winning filmmaker and artist Tourmaline.”
A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski
“Michael Bronski draws from literature, cultural histories, and primary sources to show how the LGBTQ+ experience has impacted US culture and history. He distills this complex and large body of historical material into an insightful, accessible history.”
We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation by Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown
“Have pride in history. A rich and sweeping photographic history of the Queer Liberation Movement, from the creators and curators of the massively popular Instagram account LGBT History.”
A Black Queer History of the United States by C. Riley Snorton and Darius Bost
“The first-ever Black history to center queer voices, this landmark study traces the lives of LGBTQ+ Black Americans from slavery to the present day.”
Making the Case for Equality: 50 Years of Legal Milestones in LGBTQ History by Jennifer C. Pizer and Ellen Ann Andersen
“Dozens of landmark legal cases, from 1973 to 2023, that drove transformative change from courtrooms to living rooms nationwide.”
Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender by Dr. Kit Heyam, Ph.D
“The book illuminates the stories of people across the globe, from antiquity to the present, whose experiences of gender have defied binary categories.”
Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton
“Uncovering the overlapping histories of blackness and trans identity from the nineteenth century to the present day”
From the Closet to the Courtroom: Five LGBT Rights Lawsuits That Have Changed Our Nation by Carlos A. Ball
“Engaging and largely untold, From the Closet to the Courtroom explores how five pivotal lawsuits have altered LGBT history. Beginning each case narrative at the center—with the litigants and their lawyers—law professor Carlos Ball follows the stories behind each crucial lawsuit.”
Queer Ancient Ways: A Decolonial Exploration by Zairong Xiang
“Queer Ancient Ways advocates a profound unlearning of colonial/modern categories as a pathway to the discovery of new forms and theories of queerness in the most ancient of sources (thereby also unlearning queer theory as it has been understood in contemporary, primarily Anglo-American and western European contexts).”
Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett
“An essential introduction to trans history, from ancient times to the present day, in full-color graphic nonfiction format. Deeply researched, highly readable, and featuring a broad range of voices.”
Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to Marsha P. Johnson and Beyond
“This groundbreaking book — far ahead of its time when first published in 1996 and still galvanizing today — interweaves history, memoir, and gender studies to show that transgender people, far from being a modern phenomenon, have always existed and have exerted their influence throughout history. “
Bi: Notes for a Bisexual Revolution by Shiri Eisner
“This examination of bisexual politics covers issues of biphobia/monosexism, feminism, and transgenderism including the problems of labeling this sexual orientation/gender identity.”
Sewing the Rainbow: The Story of Gilbert Baker and the Rainbow Flag by Gayle E. Pitman
“Follow the journey of a boy from a small Kansas town who made his gray life sparkle, unfurling a rainbow of color to galvanize the gay rights movement.”
A Child’s Introduction to Pride by Sarah Prager
“The perfect primer for kids ages 8-12, this book celebrates love, hope, equality, and progress by taking an inspirational and essential look at the rich history and culture of the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States and around the world.”
The LGBTQ+ History Book by DK
“Discover the rich and complex history of LGBTQ+ people around the world – their struggles, triumphs, and cultural contributions.”
Looking for more books to add to your shelf? Check out our list of Must-Read Books written by Transgender Women.