BPL Book Review: "Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States"

 

By Jim Baggett |Central Library Archives Department 

 As we celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month in Birmingham and around the world, the Birmingham Public Library has several newer books on the history and experiences of Queer people. 

One of the best of these books is Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States by Daily Beast reporter Samantha Allen. Following in the tradition of classic road trip narratives, the author travels the southern half of the United States, meeting people and collecting their stories. 

From the publisher’s description: “Allen takes us on a cross-country road-trip stretching all the way from Provo, Utah to the Rio Grande Valley to the Bible Belt to the Deep South. 

Her motto for the trip: "Something gay every day." Making pit stops at drag shows, political rallies, and hubs of queer life across the heartland, she introduces us to scores of extraordinary LGBT people working for change, from the first openly transgender mayor in Texas history to the manager of the only queer night club in Bloomington, Indiana, and many more. 

Along the way, Allen weaves in her own moving story of discovering her identity, venturing out of the closet, meeting her wife, and creating a national network of chosen family. In writing this book, she takes her place among them, reclaiming ‘real America’ as beautifully, unequivocally, powerfully queer.”

The Birmingham Public Library is hosting four programs during June to celebrate Pride Month. For details, click here BPL Hosting Four Pride Month Programs During June (bplolinenews.blogspot.com)