Publisher's Synopsis
Gays and lesbians have traveled a long road from persecution to toleration and from fashionable to establishment. Terms of abuse that have long been weapons used to oppress the gay community have now been reclaimed as expressions of liberation and freedom. With wit and panache, Queer explores all avenues of gay life from avant-garde fashion to popular cartoon strips, from radical politics to global persecution. Included is a wide range of topics, magnificent spreads of personalities and icons, entertainment value, and many profoundly touching issues of our time. Queer not only presents the history and contribution of gay men and lesbians, but also takes a look across the spectrum at the advances made by the bisexual, transsexual and transgender communities and all points in between. Contributions from leading writers and commentators and a superb photo archive all add up to as definitive a statement as one can get, and, simultaneously, a great book. Featured revolutionaries include, among others, Derek Jarman, Sappho, Harvey Milk, Pat Califia, Audre Lorde, Oscar Wilde, Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, Edward II, King of England, Marlene Dietrich, James Baldwin, Djuna Barnes and Brandon Teena.
