The Line of Dissent: Gay Outsiders and the Shaping of History – Martin Duberman, edited by Richard Schneider Jr. (G&LR Books)

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Since outsiders dwell on the borders of society–either by choice or by nature–who is better situated to shape its history? And LGBTQI+ individuals have been dwelling on those borders for hundreds of years, quietly (and sometimes not so quietly., G&LR editor Richard Schneider Jr. has collected twelve fascinating essays by distinguished gay historian Martin Duberman profiling influential and interesting gay men and women, spanning twenty years from the pages of G&LR in a wide swath of fields and occupations, all with a hand in advancing queer welfare.

Beginning with the oldest essay, appearing in 1997, about Edward Sagarin, founder of the Homophile Movement and author of The Homosexual in America (under the name Donald Webster Cory), and ending with a profile of lesbian champion speedboat racer Joe Carstairs, the depth and breadth of professions explored in this collection is astounding. The obvious touchstones–Sylvia Rivera, Alfred Kinsey, Barbara Deming, and Andrea Dworkin–are all here but Duberman digs a bit deeper into them than other essayists I’ve read, never losing sight of their essential humanity and personal reasons they had for pushing their corners of the envelope.

My favorites here were the three-part series on ballet impresario Lincoln Kirstein, Black activist Essex Hemphill, and a very interesting portrait of the relationship between W.H. Auden and Chester Kallman, which I knew of but not about. I also enjoyed “The Two Eds,” which profiles furniture designer Edward Wormley and his lover Edward Crouse. But I have a special place in my heart for Duberman’s look at Joe Carstairs, including her affairs with Tallulah Bankhead and Marlene Dietrich.

Far from being dry and self-consciously intellectual, Duberman’s work is interesting and accessible, concentrating not only on his subjects but putting them into a larger context as well. This collection is truly a treat and will not disappoint those looking for a lesson from those brave men and women who came before us.

JW

© 2024 Jerry L. Wheeler