Queer illustrator and curator, Syan Rose, has produced a remarkable collection of interviews and illustrations in Our Work is Everywhere: 500 Years of Queer and Trans Resistance, which revolves around placing what counts as queer work far outside of capitalist production. Rose shows in her interviews with queer and trans folks, that queer work can be the caring of others and caring of self. In so doing, Rose points to a legacy of generations of queer elders that counter the dominant Stonewall-centric histories, which place 'gay liberation' activism and visibility from the 1970s onwards. Part of this restructuring of history comes with naming Black, Indigenous and people of colour as originators of queer cultures, joy, community care, healing, and so much more.

Special chapters include "Queer Muslim Family" with Mirna Haidar, “Everything You Love About New Orleans is Because of Black People” with Phlegm, and “Auriga” with Jaye Sablan. For example, in "Our Brown Divinity '' with Dusty Lamay, Lamay speaks about how, “As queers, we have been socially divorced from God & Holiness. At least in Judeo-Christian American, many of us were raised being taught that who we are is inherently sinful, an abomination, unholy.” Lamay sees astrology as means to access “our own spiritual worth & connect to our own divinity void of the trauma of Christian socialization & judgement.” This is just one of the many beautifully illustrated stories that make up the collection.

To listen to RFF’s podcast interview with Syan Rose click here.

You can buy this great resource from Arsenal Pulp Press. It is also free on Scribd for a free 30 day trial.