RAINBOW WISDOM

A series of inspirational lessons aimed at helping members of the LGBTQ+ community gain the freedom to be themselves.

Author and educator Oak has learned a lot of lessons over the course of his life. (Fun fact: He was a contestant on the 2005 reality show My Fabulous Gay Wedding.) He’s compiled 18 of them in this book in an effort to help the LGBTQ+ community and their allies “approach the world with more passion, flair, innovation, and liberty to be yourself.” The author shares personal anecdotes, cites statistics, and provides step-by-step guidelines to encourage readers to “celebrate Queerness as a force of positive contribution to the world.” With lessons like “Raise the Bar” (in which Oak details his infiltration of an anti-transgender rally to investigate the misinformation being spread) and “Gender-Free Yourself” (which consist of writing exercises designed to challenge readers’ expectations of gender roles), the book details steps readers can take to feel more confident and dispel widespread “flawgic” (flawed logic). The author also directly addresses those allies who want to support the LGBTQ+ community, reminding them that they hold the power for change, too: “We often admire the first as the one with courage, and that’s fair. But their role is to start the story, to create the possibility. It’s the second person—the ally—who makes that possibility real.” With a compassionate narrative voice, Oak offers an articulate and well-researched look at the LGBTQ+ experience in the current volatile social climate. The sheer comprehensiveness of the book—the author addresses the social, political, and historical aspects of queerness—is truly impressive. Oak eloquently discusses concepts that may be lesser known even in the LGBTQ+ community, such as the history of laughter in queer liberation and the Indigenous idea of Two-Spirit. The author’s emphasis on actionable steps and his unrelenting positivity make for an absorbing read that audiences—regardless of their sexuality—are sure to reference again and again.

A soaring celebration of selfhood and diversity that urges readers to move through the world with joy and positivity.