Guess what time it is? It’s Summer Book Bingo Time! Well, it’s been that time for a couple of weeks now, but I’m behind on reviews, as always. I spent most of May juggling two and a half jobs at work. I also drove down to Portland for the annual dance festival I attend, and wow, do I not recommend driving to Portland on a holiday weekend. Anyway, I spent so long in traffic that I finished The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf by Kaila Adia Story in one sitting, filling my first Summer square.
The great thing about this book is that it is exactly what it says it’s going to be. It’s concise. It doesn’t wander off. And while it does occasionally get a little academic (have you ever heard the word “praxis” outside of an academic setting or book?) it mostly felt pretty approachable.
Story sets out to make one thing clear: the LGBTQIA+ rights movement has largely prioritized the needs of white cis people, especially white cis gay men, and left out people of color and trans people, especially trans people of color. She writes from the perspective of a Black cis lesbian, but also draws on plenty of resources to share the trans perspective.
I feel like the book makes a pretty good argument. Queer media, queer political movements, and queer non-profits, especially the high-profile examples of all of the above, have really been focused on white, cis, middle-to-upper-class, able-bodied, neurotypical perspectives and concerns. At the same time, gay and straight culture alike are happy to appropriate slang, speech mannerisms, and style from queer BIPOC communities and either directly profit off of them or simply use them for the cool factor.
I will say, while this was just the right length for my road trip, it’s not necessarily the most fun thing to listen to for 3, 4 hours straight. It covers some pretty heavy topics, such as the outsized incidence of intimate partner violence and murder for queer and trans people of color, especially femmes. There are descriptions of specific hate crimes. And, on the other end, it does occasionally get a little dry and academic, which can really drag on when you’re in stand-still traffic at JBLM (my WA peeps know what I’m talking about). You’ll probably absorb it better if you listen to it one or two chapters at a time instead.
There are a lot of people who would benefit from reading The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf. I’m guessing most queer POC don’t need this book, but it may be affirming to have a book to back up your experience, especially to be able to reference specific numbers and other facts. White LGBTQIA+ folks can learn how to be more inclusive and respectful. And cis or straight “allies” can learn how to step it up and become accomplices. I’d especially recommend it for anyone who organizes groups or events and wonders why you’re attracting such a homogeneous audience; it could also be useful for writers or other creators considering how to more accurately portray the diversity of the queer community.
CWs and TWs: Homophobia, transphobia, and racism, including descriptions of violent attacks fueled by these forms of hatred. Mentions of murder and sexual assault. Discussions of domestic violence and intimate partner violence. Discussion of the AIDS epidemic.
Source and Format: I borrowed the audiobook from Sno-Isle Libraries.
Reading Challenge Prompts
Nook & Cranny (Card 2): All Kinds of Allyship. This book wraps up by calling out the sort of empty, performative “allyship” that doesn’t actually do anything to support LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC people, and in fact sometimes just asks for more emotional labor from them, and calls for people to step up and take real, helpful actions.
SAL/SPL/KCLS Adult Summer Reading Book Bingo: Resistance. Story highlights the resistance of the queer BIPOC, especially trans women of color, who have largely been left out of the modern mainstream movement despite their work around the Stonewall riots and the AIDS epidemic.
Reading Challenge Progress
Nook & Cranny (Card 1): 10 of 25, no bingos.
Nook & Cranny (Card 2): 13 of 25, 1 bingo.
Book Riot: 12 of 25.
Physical TBR: 6 of 12.
World of Whimm: 14 of 24, no bingos.
SAL/SPL/KCLS: 1 of 23, no bingos.