QUEER POWER!

A who’s who of the queer, iconic, and fabulous.

Readers looking for a casual introduction to a diverse selection of members of the LGBTQ+ community (and their allies) will enjoy this compilation of dozens of individuals, a handful of whom are discussed collectively. The names range from the exceptionally well known—such as singer and actor Lady Gaga, drag superstar Shea Couleé, and activist Sylvia Rivera—to icons who may be new to them, like Black plus-size model Dexter Mayfield, Black British activist Lady Phyll, and Salvadoran American intersex writer/actor/director River Gallo. The book also includes a few sections offering advice, such as “How To Be a Support to a Queer Person” and “Ways To Celebrate Pride Season All Year Round.” The bold graphics and colorful artwork are sure to grab readers’ attention, although the likenesses of the portraits vary in degree of verisimilitude. Readers seeking traditional biographical sketches will definitely need to look elsewhere for solid facts, including birth dates, death dates, and sources of additional information; they may also feel bemused by the prominently featured opinions of the author. As a curated list of one individual’s heroes, the book is good; as anything else, it’s less than iconic.

Beautiful fluff with little substance.