📖 Overview
We Are Everywhere presents a photographic history of LGBTQ+ activism and queer liberation movements from the 19th century through modern times. The book combines archival images with historical context and commentary to document key moments, figures, and protests.
Authors Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown curated photographs from protests, marches, celebrations, and everyday queer life spanning multiple decades and continents. The visual narrative includes both well-known historical events and lesser-known moments of resistance and community building.
Through extensive research and detailed captions, the book traces the evolution of LGBTQ+ movements across different eras and locations. The authors highlight connections between past and present activism while documenting the diversity of queer experiences and organizing tactics.
The work stands as both a historical record and a meditation on the power of collective memory and visual documentation in social movements. Through its presentation of marginalized histories, the book examines themes of visibility, representation, and the ongoing struggle for liberation.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate the extensive collection of historical LGBTQ+ photographs and documentation, with many noting the book uncovers lesser-known stories and moments from queer history. The visual narrative resonates with readers who hadn't seen these perspectives represented before.
Readers highlighted:
- Depth of research and archival work
- Photo quality and curation
- Diverse representation across decades
- Detailed captions providing context
Common criticisms:
- Text can be dense and academic
- Some readers wanted more international coverage
- Price point ($40+) mentioned as barrier
- A few noted layout could be clearer
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 4.5/5 (500+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.8/5 (200+ ratings)
One reader noted: "Finally seeing our complete history, not just the sanitized version." Another mentioned: "The photo restoration work alone makes this worth owning."
Some bookstores report using it as a reference text for LGBTQ+ history displays and education.
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The Deviant's War by Eric Cervini This history documents Frank Kameny's fight against government persecution of LGBTQ+ federal workers in the 1950s and the birth of the gay rights movement.
The Gay Revolution by Lillian Faderman This comprehensive history traces LGBTQ+ civil rights from the 1950s through marriage equality, incorporating interviews with activists and movement leaders.
Out of the Past by Neil Miller This examination of LGBTQ+ history spans from ancient civilizations through modern times, connecting historical figures and events to present-day movements.
When We Rise by Cleve Jones This account follows the San Francisco gay rights movement through the AIDS crisis, incorporating first-hand experiences from a longtime activist.
The Deviant's War by Eric Cervini This history documents Frank Kameny's fight against government persecution of LGBTQ+ federal workers in the 1950s and the birth of the gay rights movement.
The Gay Revolution by Lillian Faderman This comprehensive history traces LGBTQ+ civil rights from the 1950s through marriage equality, incorporating interviews with activists and movement leaders.
Out of the Past by Neil Miller This examination of LGBTQ+ history spans from ancient civilizations through modern times, connecting historical figures and events to present-day movements.
When We Rise by Cleve Jones This account follows the San Francisco gay rights movement through the AIDS crisis, incorporating first-hand experiences from a longtime activist.
🤔 Interesting facts
📚 The book features over 300 rare archival photographs documenting LGBTQ+ history, many of which had never been published before
🏳️🌈 Authors Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown are partners who started their work by creating the popular Instagram account @lgbt_history
📆 The historical timeline covered in the book spans from the 19th century through the present day, including pre-Stonewall activism that is often overlooked
📸 The project began when the authors discovered there was no comprehensive visual archive of queer protest history available to the public
🗣️ The book's title "We Are Everywhere" comes from a protest chant used by LGBTQ+ activists in the 1970s during demonstrations across the United States