October marks National LGBTQ+ History Month, and if you’re looking for resources to learn more about queer stories, check out these three Agate picks featuring powerful queer voices.
RuPaul: In His Own Words, edited by Rachel Hinton
This collection of quotes selected carefully from RuPaul’s public statements in social media posts, interviews, television appearances, and his books will give you a glimpse into the mind of one of the most famous supermodels and drag queens in the world. This volume illustrates his incredible journey to fame and his profound perspective on life, identity, and relationships.
Burn the Place: A Memoir by Iliana Regan
This memoir documents a chef’s journey from family farm to Michelin-starred kitchen and her struggle to find a sense of belonging in the world. Grappling with alcoholism, her sexuality, and the hardship of being a woman in the culinary industry (typically a “man’s field”), Regan invites readers to glimpse her incredible journey to hard-earned success in a raw, emotional, and utterly beautiful way.
Out and Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the City’s Gay Community, edited by Tracy Baim
Out and Proud in Chicago encapsulates the vibrant history of the queer community of Chicago from the 1800s to the present. With detailed photographs and scholarly, historical, and journalistic articles, this book paints a comprehensive picture of the long, rich history of queer Chicago.