Generation Queer: Stories of Youth Organizers, Artists, and Educators by Kimm Topping with Illustrations by Anshinka Khullar
Publisher summary: Civil Rights activist Marian Wright Edelman once said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
In this collection of short biographies, readers will see the example of thirty young trailblazers representative of a generation that values intersectional, collaborative social justice and who are working to build a world that values everyone.
Meet leaders who founded organizations for their liberation as teenagers, leaders who brought Black transgender representation to people’s television screens, and leaders who successfully advocated for access to restrooms for transgender students. Meet the first transgender athlete to compete in Division I sports, and artists advocating for inclusiveness through poetry, film, fashion, and other mediums.
Whether their work involves protesting, working with policymakers for change, or just existing in the world as their creative selves, each of these young leaders shares what brings them joy and keeps them motivated to do the work they do– even when it’s hard–and their hope for better things to come.
My Thoughts: This seems to be an incredible resource and I’m glad it is out in the world now. In the ARC the introduction said this is a “love letter to the many generations of queer and trans youth who have committed their time and energy to demanding a better future for themselves and for humanity.” It’s a collection of stories about people who are or have been young leaders involved in social change. Kimm Topping describes the book as a curiosity guide and encourages readers to follow their curiosity as they read, which I certainly did. I found myself looking up organizations, people, events, and more. Going off on tangents and research jaunts is made easier because before even getting to the individuals, the author also provides resources such as a United States map of queer archives and oral history projects.
There are book and media lists and all kinds of links to other resources throughout the text that provide no end of ways to satisfy ones curiosity. There are also questions here and there that encourage wonderings.
The book really emphasizes community. The community from the past into the present and future. LGBTQIA+ people have always existed and this book celebrates and brings to light many people that young people today may not have know about. It looks back to how colonization and white supremacy have led to anti-LGBTQIA+ bias and what people have done over the years in seeking liberation. In the midst of looking through past events there is also a repetition of expressions of joy for some balance.
The text is in three main parts focusing on youth organizers, artists, and educators. In each section there is an overview and besides the brief biographies, there are also quotes, definitions, illustrations, and the text is broken up a lot so it isn’t dry like a textbook. It’s very accessible with many sidebars sharing all kinds of tidbits.
The highlight for me are the many varied individuals who are highlighted. There are so many interesting people here and readers of all backgrounds and identities are sure to find points of connection with someone or multiple someones along the way.
In the section about artists, Topping mentions Laverne Cox’s concept of a possibility model. This is the idea that rather than a role model, a possibility model shows that people that “share similar identities and experiences can thrive and live full lives.” In this collection, there are so many possibility models and Topping definitely means for readers to know that we should “listen to LGBTQ youth and trust in their passionate, effective leadership.” This book provides a way for readers to hear from these young people and provides an incredible amount of resources to dig into and act on as well.
Recommendation: Get it now. This is an powerful resource for young people, educators, and anyone who wants to help create a more inclusive future for us all.
Extras:
Teacher’s Guide
Introduction by Author
Publisher: Tu Books
Pages: 240
Availability: On shelves now
Review copy: ARC via publisher