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vaguelyredhead's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual content and Colonisation
Minor: Genocide
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
The book also tries to look at queers who are evil or bad throughout history, but it doesn't provide enough context on any of them to really substantiate these claims of evilness. For many, the individuals just seem to be participants in a colonial/imperial/racist system rather than people actively enacting harm. For individuals with whom I was familiar (such as J. Edgar Hoover), I felt that the details were far too light on the very real and active harm perpetuated by the individual. If you go into this story without the background knowledge on the people profiled, I don't feel the authors really provide it or justify it enough for you to think "ah yes, this is a person who could be seen as truly evil". They also have a very white and male selection of individuals that they profile, which they don't address at any time.
They might have had better results if they chose fewer individuals and really dived into their respective backgrounds, while making stronger points and analysis related to the thesis they set out to discuss. With the great number of people profiled, the biographies feel very disjointed and not cohesive as a book.
This is still 4-star for me, since I learned a lot of interesting things about homosexuality throughout history and the figures highlighted in the book. If you're really interested in history, I think there are some great historical nuggets buried in here that still make it an interesting read!
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Genocide and Hate crime
katyfayyyx's review against another edition
2.5
However, there was a number of elements of this book that I really did like or even love one of which was how diverse this book was when it come to race, nationality, class however I would say I wish there was more diversity when it came to gender and gender identify. I also loved how this book did not hide away from the harm and the privilege that gay white man has and the harm they have done with that and how this is not just a discussion about sexuality but about race and class and how your experience as a queer people can be different because of this other factors. I also really like the introduction and the way it set out all the idea of this book in an easy but fun and interesting way and it has definitely got my attention. it provides you with a lot of information but it does it in a clear way that keeps you interested. I would say something I thought was a little cringe was the way they would be discussing a really serious topic such as empire but then would try put a joke which 99% of the time wasn't even funny and I just wanted them to stop. I will say I liked how there was a discussion of how homosexuality has been weaponised in a number of ways such as race and antisemitism. I will also say this book was very clearly well researched, referenced with well developed points. Somethings else I really enjoyed about this book was that not of these bad gays are actually bad however does not shy away from their bad and sometimes evil behaviour but also adds a new perspective but not justifying it.
However, they are the only things
Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Genocide, and War
mermaidsherbet's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and War
alexiconic's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Transphobia, Antisemitism, and Colonisation
rchaps's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, and Antisemitism
bi_n_large's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and War
Minor: Infidelity, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia
ishouldreadthat's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Colonisation
proceduralbob's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, and Outing
Moderate: Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, War, and Classism