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Queer and How We Got Here
A (Personal) History
Description
When Hazel was twelve years old, they came out as bisexual to their parents. At the time, they couldn’t have imagined who they are today: a nonbinary, transmasculine person in a loving queer relationship.
In seeking to understand their own history, Hazel takes readers on a parallel journey through queer history—from the origins of Western concepts of sexual orientation, to the synthesis of hormones, to the evolution of trans health care. They unpack the economic underpinnings of gender roles. They dive into the origins behind our concept of “coming out,” the history of “female husbands,” neopronouns, and the emergence of drag kings.
As Hazel grows and changes, so does their understanding of those who came before them, and the interweaving of both narratives gives the reader a powerful entryway into not just Hazel’s journey of self-actualization, but the queer community at large.
In seeking to understand their own history, Hazel takes readers on a parallel journey through queer history—from the origins of Western concepts of sexual orientation, to the synthesis of hormones, to the evolution of trans health care. They unpack the economic underpinnings of gender roles. They dive into the origins behind our concept of “coming out,” the history of “female husbands,” neopronouns, and the emergence of drag kings.
As Hazel grows and changes, so does their understanding of those who came before them, and the interweaving of both narratives gives the reader a powerful entryway into not just Hazel’s journey of self-actualization, but the queer community at large.
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Praise
“Newlevant weaves together memoir and history in this timely reminder that all of us are the beneficiaries of generations that have fought for our human rights for centuries. Honest, informative, and stylish, this book made me grateful for the activism of the past and gave me courage for the fights to come!”
—Maia Kobabe, author of Gender Queer: A Memoir
—Maia Kobabe, author of Gender Queer: A Memoir
"Hazel brings us a refreshing coming-out story wonderfully written and expressed as comic illustrations. They use well-researched historical references to coincide with their biographical narrative to create an engaging and educational story. This book belongs in every bookstore, library, and educational establishment, and in the hands of every queer kid."
—Mo B. Dick, Drag King legend and executive director of Drag King History
"Newlevant’s insightful and heartfelt exploration of evolving queer identities reminds us of our debt to courageous queers of the past, demonstrates the necessity of documenting our experiences, and warns that the battle for justice is never over."
—Jennifer Camper, cartoonist and Queers & Comics Conference director
“I was really drawn in by this book—it’s fascinating, heartfelt, beautifully illustrated, and a powerful reminder of the queer history that brought us here.”
—Lewis Hancox, author of Welcome to St. Hell and Escape from St. Hell
"Hazel Newlevant’s Queer and How We Got Here is a tremendous graphic novel that combines queer history with Newlevant’s personal journey as a queer person to create a fun and accessible—yet still serious and rigorous—look at how history creates the possibilities and limitations we live in, with, and around. The result is a delightful introduction to many important moments in our history that’s never dry or pedantic."
—Hugh Ryan, author of The Women's House of Detention