No Way, They Were Gay? Hidden Lives and Secret Loves

Stating in an introduction that “history was crafted by the people who recorded it,” particularly those in power, Wind notes that much remains unknown about the lives of “men who loved men, women who loved women, and people who lived outside gender boundaries”—the topics covered in this book. Using primary sources to frame an alternative historical narrative, and asking readers to form their own conclusions, Wind sets out to fill some of those gaps, focusing primarily on the same-sex relationships or nonbinary identities of 12 well-known public figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, M’e Mpho Nthunya, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bayard Rustin, William Shakespeare, and We’wha. B&w photos and a mix of heavy fonts give the layout a dated look, but speech-bubble annotations easily convey contextual information throughout this accessible introduction to “hidden” queer history. Wind includes a helpful explanation of terms; source notes list primary and secondary sources. Ages 11–up. (Apr.)