Undeterred, Whitman self-published and self-financed the poetry collection.
These homoerotic relationships were even playfully encouraged before a woman’s marriage, as eighteenth-century literature attests in works like The Diaries of Anne Lister and the poetry of Katherine Philips.
The earliest representations of LGBTQ characters, themes, and same-sex love originated thousands of years ago. Despite these hurdles, LGBTQ themes in literature can be traced back all the way back to ancient times. Writers and readers have navigated changing social tides and faced legal restrictions, book bans, and persecution-all with the goal of sharing their stories. Throughout history, literature with LGBTQ themes have faced challenges and objections. What are the most significant LGBTQ books in history and how has LGBTQ publishing evolved? Overview of LGBTQ Literature Throughout History Not only can these stories educate and inform readers who do not identify as part of the LGBTQ community, they can also portray a path in life that LGBTQ readers may not have thought possible.Īs valuable as these stories are, the history of LGBTQ literature is not widely known or taught. However, books about LGBTQ characters and history can have a profound effect on readers, and LGBTQ visibility in media has a valuable place in the world of representation. LGBTQ characters and themes are often underrepresented in mainstream publishing due to censorship and arguments that LGBTQ content is “niche,” and therefore not commercially viable.