Queer Public History: Essays on Scholarly Activism

Queer history has developed as a collaborative project involving academic researchers, community scholars, and the public, and has been sustained by community-based contributors and audiences. Academic activism has helped queer historians become more influential in politics, law, and society. Queer Public History is an anthology that reconsiders and reimagines the past, present, and future of queer public history, advocating for renewed partnerships between academic and community-based historians, strengthened linkages between queer public history and LGBT scholarly activism, and increased public support for historical research on gender and sexuality.

Format: Hardback
Length: 354 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Over the past fifty years, queer history has emerged as a collaborative endeavor involving academic scholars, community researchers, and the general public. Initially disregarded by most colleges and universities, queer history was sustained for many years by community-based contributors and audiences. However, academic activism eventually paved the way for queer history to gain recognition within higher education, which in turn bolstered the influence of queer historians in politics, law, and society.

Queer Public History, a compilation of essays written by award-winning historian Marc Stein over three decades, offers a comprehensive exploration of the evolution of queer historical interventions within the academic sphere. The book delves into the development of publicly oriented queer historical scholarship, tracing the trajectory of queer historical interventions from the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and the emergence of queer activism in the 1990s to contemporary debates surrounding queer immigration, same-sex marriage, and the politics of gay pride in the early twenty-first century.

Through his engaging and insightful essays, Stein introduces readers to key themes in queer public history, challenging traditional narratives and providing fresh perspectives on the past, present, and future of this field. This anthology serves as a manifesto for renewed partnerships between academic and community-based historians, fostering stronger connections between queer public history and LGBT scholarly activism. It also aims to increase public support for historical research on gender and sexuality, promoting a more inclusive and understanding society.

In conclusion, queer history has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past fifty years, driven by the collaborative efforts of academic scholars, community researchers, and the public. Queer Public History provides a valuable contribution to this field, offering a comprehensive exploration of the past, present, and future of queer historical interventions. By reconsidering and reimagining the past, this anthology contributes to the ongoing dialogue about gender and sexuality, fostering greater understanding and acceptance in society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520304307