How Queer!
Compiled by Faith Beauchemin
Published by On Our Own Authority! Publishing, 2016
130 pages, paperback
How Queer!: Personal narratives from bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, sexually fluid and other non-monosexual perspectives gathers together fourteen autobiographical essays written not by sociologists or professional activists, but by ordinary bisexual, pansexual, and sexually-fluid people. These writers come from diverse backgrounds, but their personal narratives explore overarching themes of non-monosexual visibility, activism, confrontation with homophobia and religious bias, and endlessly double-edged experiences in the LGBTQ community. These stories help bring understanding to anyone who wants to learn more about gender and sexual identity—whether to help define their own journey, to grow their own awareness, or to build solidarity with one another.
As a compliment to these narratives, Faith Beauchemin offers her own personal commentary in a series of reflective essays, which place the writers' experiences in the context of broader movements for social change. Beauchemin argues that a trend towards bisexual erasure in LGBTQ activism is all to prevalent, and functions only to serve the interest of patriarchy, sexism, and homophobia. In contrast with this trend of erasure, the stories collected in How Queer! subvert oppressive hierarchies by highlighting the perspectives and revolutionary potential of people who refuse to fit neatly into the narrow categories of sexual identity that are imposed upon them at every turn.
Praise for How Queer!
"How Queer! is a rightfully unapologetic refusal to assimilate into heterosexist and homophobic societal standards. While the essays are as unique as our identities can be, there is a consistent feeling of hope throughout the stories as each author demonstrates the courage it requires to live and love as our authentic selves. Ultimately, this book is a necessary call to dismantle the systemic forms of oppression, namely capitalism and patriarchy, which are a result of colonization and are responsible for the denial and erasure of gender and sexual fluidity in modern American society. Are you ready to get started?" -Amanda Atwell, Georgia State University
