"Through engrossing narratives, letters, drawings, poems, and more, the book encourages young readers, of all identities, to feel pride at the accomplishments of the LGBTQ people who came before them and to use history as a guide to the future. The stories he shares include those of: Thomas Morton, who celebrated same-sex love in Boston's Puritan community in the 1620s; Albert D.J. Cashier, an Irish immigrant and Civil War hero, who was born in the body of a woman but lived as a man for over a half century; Gladys Bentley, an African American blues singer who challenged cross-dressing laws in 1920s Harlem; Bayard Rustin, Martin Luther King Jr.'s close friend, civil rights organizer, and an openly gay man; Sylvia Rivera, who along with Marsha P. Johnson, founded the first transgender political group in the United States in 1970; Harvey Milk, a community organizer and the first openly gay politician to win an election in California; Jamie Nabozny, a teen who brought national attention to the issue of LGBTQ bullying by bringing his case to the Supreme Court in the 1990s. With over 60 illustrations and photos, a glossary, and a corresponding curriculum, A Queer History of the United States for Young People will be vital for teachers who want to introduce a new perspective to America's story"--

Bronski and Chevat look at how American culture has shaped the LGBT, or queer, experience, while simultaneously arguing that LGBT people not only shaped but were pivotal in creating our country. This book, adapted for younger readers, is not so much about queer history as it is about all American history-- and why it should matter to both LGBT people and heterosexuals alike. -- adapted from jacket of 2011 printing

Ages: 12+

Grades: 7 to 8

Introduction: Before we start, or, What is normal? --

Section I.

America: new beginnings, new identities: 1500-1860 --

Section II.

American freedom begins to bloom: change and the Civil War, 1860-1875 --

Section III.

New Americans: boldly challenging society: 1875--1900 --

Section IV.

A new century of freedom: radical visions, revolutionary actions: 1900-1960 --

Section V.

Revolutionary changes: the seeds of protest begin to bloom: 1960-1977 --

Section VI.

Backlash: years of struggle and resistance: 1977-1990 --

Section VII.

Moving closer to liberation: the future is in sight: 1900-present

Prologue ;

Introduction: Before we start, or, What is normal? --

Section I.

America : new beginnings, new identities, 1500-1860:

Chapter one.

Native peoples : different genders, different sexualities ;

Chapter two.

Thomas Morton : free love among the Puritans? ;

Chapter three.

Jemima Wilkinson : the surprising life of Publick Universal Friend = [Jemima Wilkinson : the surprising life of Public Universal Friend] ;

Chapter four.

Deborah Sampson : patriot, soldier, gender rebel ;

Chapter five.

Nineteenth-century romantic friendships : BFFs or friends with benefits? ;

Chapter six.

Mystery of Emily Dickinson : passionate attachments and independent women ;

Chapter seven.

Julia Ward Howe, Samuel Gridley Howe, and Charles Sumner : complicated relationships and radical social change in very proper nineteenth-century Boston

Section II.

American freedom begins to bloom : change and the Civil War, 1860-1875:

Chapter eight.

Amazing life of Albert D.J. Cashier : transgender war hero ;

Chapter nine.

Charlotte Cushman : American idol, lover of women ;

Chapter ten.

Walt Whitman : poet of the people

Chapter eleven.

Rebecca Primus and Addie Brown : a nineteenth-century love story

Section III.

New Americans : boldly challenging society, 1875-1900:

Chapter twelve.

Radical Victoria Woodhull : first woman to run for president ;

Chapter thirteen.

Jane Addams : the mother of social work ;

Chapter fourteen.

Julian Eltinge : the most famous cross-dresser in America

Section IV.

A new century of freedom : radical visions, revolutionary actions, 1900-1960:

Chapter fifteen.

Marie Equi : fighting for women, workers, peace, and justice for all ;

Chapter sixteen.

Gladys Bentley : blues-singing bulldagger ;

Chapter seventeen.

World War II : the war that started LGBTQ politics ;

Chapter eighteen.

Harry Hay : how his society of fools started a revolution ;

Chapter nineteen.

Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin : climbing the ladder of freedom and justice

Section V.

Revolutionary changes : the seeds of protest begin to bloom, 1960-1977:

Chapter twenty.

Pauli Murray : "You must remember that truth is our only sword" ;

Chapter twenty-one.

Bayard Rustin : a life of activism ;

Chapter twenty-two.

Carl Wittman : radical movements, political organizing, and country dance ;

Chapter twenty-three.

Rita Mae Brown : the lavender menace writes her way to freedom ;

Chapter twenty-four.

Gloria Anzaldua : a life between borders

Section VI.

Backlash : years of struggle and resistance, 1977-1990:

Chapter twenty-five.

Sylvester and Anita Bryant : marching to two very different drummers ;

Chapter twenty-six.

Robert Hillsborough and Harvey Milk : struggle and violence, grief and rage ;

Chapter twenty-seven.

Essex Hemphill : the power of blackness ;

Chapter twenty-eight.

Kiyoshi Kuromiya : man of many movements ;

Chapter twenty-nine.

Felix Gonzalez-Torres : art in the face of death

Section VII.

Moving closer to liberation : the future is in sight, 1990-present:

Chapter thirty.

Jamie Nabozny : gay teen hero ;

Chapter thirty-one.

Jack Baker and Michael McConnell : it started in a barber shop ;

Chapter thirty-two.

Sylvia Rivera : a life in the streets and a guiding STAR ;

Chapter thirty-three.

Coming out or staying in : new queer ways of living in the world today ;

Chapter thirty-four.

Young people today : the future of queer history. --

Glossary ;

Bibliography (pages 285-294) ;

Photo credits ;

Index