LGBTQ+ Historical Icons Tag (ORIGINAL)

Happy Pride Month, everyone! This year, I found myself struggling to find LGBTQ+-themed book tags that I haven’t done already. So, I decided to have a go at making my own that’s all about prominent people in LGBTQ+ history.

And, oh my goodness, it was so hard to narrow it down to just seven people! A good problem to have but, still, I’m still not sure I picked the best ones. That’s why I added an eighth entry to allow you to add someone you think deserves a mention. If enough people do this tag, I’ll put all the entries together and do a follow-up post.

Rules

• Link back to the original creator (The Corner of Laura) and link back to this page (otherwise, the original creator won’t get a notification).
• Thank whoever tagged you and link back to their post
• (Optional) Use the graphics and don’t forget to credit the original creator (Text prompts are at the end of the tag if you’d prefer to use those)
• (Optional) Tag 5 or more other people.

This is definitely a book I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did. The way the poetry was laid out on the page and the brilliant writing were both a very nice surprise.

NB: I’m sorry to say that Alan Turing wasn’t the only LGBT person mistreated by the British intelligence services. I only recently found out that, right up to the 1990s (long after homosexuality was decriminalised), anyone in the intelligence services confirmed to be gay was sacked on the spot out of the misguided belief that they were a greater blackmail risk. Lives were ruined and some were even driven to suicide. Happily, the intelligence service eventually learned its lesson and, in 2016, MI5 was voted Britain’s most gay-friendly employer in the country by Stonewall.

A lot of the characters in this book deserved better than they got but I think Li Shimin probably got dealt the worst hand. I won’t go into any further details as that would be a spoiler.

Not only is it a very colourful cover but it’s also very colourful on the inside with lovely full-page spreads.

This is an actual diary so that’s even better. Unfortunately, it didn’t grab me as much as I hoped and it’s put me off bookselling for life.

Jane McKeene is definitely someone I’d want to look out for me when shamblers or worse come after us.

Niveus Private Academy is definitely not what it seems and Devon and Chiamaka learn that the hard way!

I’m afraid the only book I can think of is ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’. I guess I don’t really go in for court dramas. Still, if you’ve got any recommendations, I might check them out.

It’s really hard to determine who can really be considered an asexual icon since erasure is sadly too common. However, many biographers think it’s plausible that the composer, Frederic Chopin, was asexual and that’s good enough for me. In terms of books that inspire, I’m going to go with Every Heart A Doorway, which has a great asexual main character (along with lots of other great rep across the series) and an empowering message that no one tells you how your story ends but you.

Text prompts

1. Sappho – Greek poet known for her lyric poetry which is believed to describe homoerotic feelings: A book of poetry (or written in verse)
2. Alan Turing – Mathematician known for cracking the Enigma code but who was persecuted for his homosexuality: A character who deserved better
3. Gilbert Baker – Creator of the rainbow Pride Flag: The most colourful book you own
4. Anne Lister – Landowner, industrialist and considered to be the first modern lesbian: A book written as a diary (or includes diary entries)
5. Marsha P. Johnson – Prominent figure in the Stonewall Uprising and founder of several LGBTQ rights organisations: A character you’d would want fighting at your side
6. Alfred Kinsey – Creator of the Kinsey scale: A book set in academia
7. Lucy Hicks Anderson – First trans woman to defend her identity in court: A book where a major scene takes place in court
8. Open Prompt – Your choice: A book that inspires you

I tag

• Hundreds & Thousands
• madeline @ The Bookish Mutant
• peatlong @ Peat Long’s Blog
• Dianne @ LessThanThreeD
• Isabelle @ Nine Tale Vixen
• Books Less Travelled
• Lucy @ Bookworm Blogger
• Riddhi @ Whispering Stories
• Anoushka @ Dipped In Ink
• Kristin Kraves Books
• Althea @ Althea is Reading
• May @ Forever and Everly
• And you if you want to share your favourite LGBTQ+ icons!

I hope to see you again very soon.