HistoriesofgayandlesbianurbanlifetypicallyfocusonmajormetropolitanareaslikeSanFranciscoandNewYork,opportunity-filleddestinationsforLGBTQmigrantsfromacrossthecountry.YettherearemanyotherqueercommunitiesineconomicallydepressedcitieswithmajorityBlackandHispanicpopulationsthatreceivefarlessattention.ThoughjustafewmilesfromNewYork,Newarkisoneofthesecities,anditsqueerhistorieshavebeenneglected--untilnow.QueerNewarkchartsahistoryinwhichworking-classpeopleofcolorarethecentralactorsandinwhichviolence,poverty,andhomophobiacouldneversuppressjoy,resistance,love,anddesire.Drawingfromrarearchivesthatrangefromoralhistoriestovicesquadreports,thiscollection’sauthorsuncoverthesitesandpeopleofNewark’squeerpastinbars,discos,ballrooms,andchurches.Exploringtheintersectionsofclass,race,gender,andsexuality,theyofferfreshperspectivesontheHIV/AIDSepidemic,communityrelationswithpolice,Latinximmigration,andgentrification,whileconsideringhowtobesttelltherichandcomplexstoriesofqueerurbanlife.QueerNewarkrevealsanewsideofNewJersey’slargestcitywhilerewritingthehistoryofLGBTQlifeinAmerica.
