Kay Tobin Lahusen, Diana Davies

Kay Tobin Lahusen and Diana Davies were pioneering documentarians and activists in the early LGBTQ+ rights movement. Lahusen worked as a photographer and writer, capturing images and stories of gay and lesbian life from the 1960s onward. Davies served as a photographer for civil rights and feminist causes, documenting protests and community gatherings. Both women contributed photographs and oral histories that preserved the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals during a time when such documentation was rare and often dangerous. Their work appeared in early gay publications and later formed the basis for historical archives. Lahusen was among the first openly gay photojournalists, while Davies photographed events for organizations like the National Organization for Women. Their collaboration resulted in documentation that captures the voices and faces of people who lived through the early days of gay liberation. The pair collected interviews, photographs, and personal accounts that might otherwise have been lost. Their joint work represents one of the few comprehensive records of LGBTQ+ life from this period, created by people who were part of the community they documented.

Readers praise "Love and Resistance" for its historical value and authentic perspective on early LGBTQ+ activism. Many reviewers note the book provides firsthand accounts and photographs that document a period often overlooked in mainstream histories. Readers appreciate the personal stories and visual documentation that bring individual experiences to life. The combination of oral history and photography receives positive feedback from readers who find the format engaging and informative. Some readers highlight specific interviews and photographs that resonated with them personally or provided new insights into the movement's development. Criticisms focus on the book's organization and presentation. Some readers find the structure difficult to follow and wish for more context around certain photographs and interviews. A few reviewers mention that the book assumes familiarity with LGBTQ+ history that general readers may lack. Others note that while the content is valuable, the editing and layout could be improved to make the material more accessible.