This installment of Good Trouble features a few books about the activists and icons of the fight for LGBTQ rights.

The first six titles in this month’s Good Trouble are collections of short biographies of LGBTQ activists and icons.  While there is some overlap, these six books do a wonderful job of introducing a wide variety of more and less well-known, historical and contemporary, individuals – such as Ian McKellan, Krsiten Stewart, Freddy McConnell, Laverne Cox, Bayard Rustin, Jonathan Van Ness, Jazz Jennings, Francisco Manicongo, We’Wha, Alla Nazimova, George Michael, Leonard Bernstein, James Baldwin, Virginia Woolf, Alvin Ailey, Larry Kramer, and so many, many more!

 

Queer and Fearless: Poems Celebrating the Lives of LGBTQ+ Heroes by Rob Sanders, art by Harry Woodgate
Library Catalog

 

Pride in: Change by Emilie Dufresne
Library Catalog

 

Gender Heroes: 25 Amazing Transgender, Non-Binary, and Genderqueer Trailblazers from Past and Present by Filipa Namorado
Library Catalog

 

LGBTQ+ Icons: A Celebration of Historical LGBTQ+ Icons in the Arts by Owen Keehnen, art by David Lee Csicsko
Library Catalog

 

Rainbow Revolutionaries by Sarah Prager, art by Sarah Papworth
Library Catalog

 

Queer Heroes: Meet 53 LGBTQ Heroes From Past & Present by Arabelle Sicardi, art by Sarah Tanat-Jones
Library Catalog

The next four books are picture book biographies of specific activists.

 

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders, art by Steven Salerno
Library Catalog

In 1977 Harvey Milk became one of the first openly gay politicians in the United States.  Looking for a symbol to bring to protests and marches, he thought of the US Flag and its symbolism and power, and decided a new flag was needed.  Working with artist Gilbert Baker, the Rainbow Flag was designed and became a symbol of LGBTQ rights movements and people everywhere.

 

Syliva and Marsha Start a Revolution!: The Story of the Trans Women of Color Who Made LGBTQ+ History by Joy Michael Ellison, art by Teshika Silver
Library Catalog

Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson were transgender women of color whose activism helped spark the Stonewall Rebellion and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

 

The Mother of a Movement: Jeanne Manford – Ally, Activist, and Co-Founder of PFLAG by Rob Sanders, art by Sam Kalda
Library Catalog

Jeanne Manford, mother of Morty Manford, a young LGBTQ+ activist who was present at the Stonewall Inn uprising, marched with her son in 1972 commemorating the anniversary of the Riots.  Supporting her son’s rights, she went on to co-found Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and became an activist in her own right.

Unstoppable: How Bayard Rustin Organized the 1963 March on Washington by Michael G. Long, art by Bea Jackson
Library Catalog

Bayard Rustin was young, black and gay when he helped to organize the March on Washington that culminated in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech.  He let none of the hate struck against him for his sexuality or skin color stand in the way of his activism and non-violent approach to resistance.

Why “Good Trouble”?

Among many important things, civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis was famous for using the term “good trouble” when speaking on fighting against injustice in this country. This blog series will highlight books in our collection that might inspire you towards activism or provide you some ways to cause some “good trouble” fighting against societal injustices.

“Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”

“What can you do to get into good trouble? There is a light inside of you that will turn on when you get into good trouble. You will feel emboldened and freed. You will realize that unjust laws cannot stop you. These laws cannot stop the truth that is in your heart and soul.”

“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

– John Lewis

Note: If you are interested in learning more about the life of  John Lewis, I highly recommend the March trilogy of graphic novels.