Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969–2000

Longtime music critic Walters brings his considerable knowledge of LGBTQIA+ music history to bear on the period from the 1969 Stonewall Riots to the dawn of the 21st century. Walters sets the book’s tone in his first chapter, on the Velvet Underground and Lou Reed, by quoting the lyrics from the group’s song “Some Kinda Love”: “No kinds of love are better than others.” What follows is a kaleidoscopic journey through the myriad intersections of music, pop culture, and LGBTQIA+ life, showing how queer creativity has shaped the soundtracks of many lives. Walters shows how coded messages in songs, underground club scenes, and subversive style choices became both tools of resistance and a way for queer people to see themselves reflected in the dominant culture. The book is organized thematically and chronologically into 60 bite-sized chapters, functioning like a playlist. It’s a clever structure that invites readers to build on their own favorites while engaging with history in the making. Chapters on David Bowie, Olivia Records, Sylvester, and the origins of disco, punk, and post-punk are standouts.