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A review by idesofjaim
When Brooklyn Was Queer: A History by Hugh Ryan
informative
medium-paced
4.0
“I look forward to having a future where we also have a past, and I look forward to creating it with you.”
Hugh Ryan, curator and LGBTQIA+ historian, has put together a really great history of queer Brooklyn. Looking at how it stretches back further than even the use word “homosexual,” it’s a good reminder of the legacy of queer culture and queer existence. It was fascinating to learn about how industrialization, building of the Brooklyn Bridge, etc., shaped the life of queer people and the city/borough itself.
This is definitely one of those books that I appreciated listening to on audiobook (especially as it was read by the author) but will need to revisit in written format due to the depth of information. There were also some parts where I admittedly zoned out because of how extensive the history was.
Hugh Ryan, curator and LGBTQIA+ historian, has put together a really great history of queer Brooklyn. Looking at how it stretches back further than even the use word “homosexual,” it’s a good reminder of the legacy of queer culture and queer existence. It was fascinating to learn about how industrialization, building of the Brooklyn Bridge, etc., shaped the life of queer people and the city/borough itself.
This is definitely one of those books that I appreciated listening to on audiobook (especially as it was read by the author) but will need to revisit in written format due to the depth of information. There were also some parts where I admittedly zoned out because of how extensive the history was.