The LGBTQ+ Legacy Library: Stories, Struggles, and Strength Across Generations

Beyond Stonewall: 10 Inspiring LGBTQ+ Trailblazers You Should Know is a powerful and heartfelt exploration of queer courage, resilience, and legacy. More than a history lesson, this book is a tribute to the remarkable individuals who shaped a movement—not only through protests and public speeches but through everyday acts of defiance, vision, and pride.

While the 1969 Stonewall Uprising marked a crucial turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, it was neither the beginning nor the end. Behind every flashpoint in the movement lie deeper stories—of pioneers who came before, and changemakers who carried the torch after. Beyond Stonewall reclaims and illuminates ten such lives: heroes, visionaries, and everyday people who refused to conform to a world that told them they didn’t belong.

Through moving biographical portraits, author Avery Marlin introduces listeners to:

• Marsha P. Johnson, the radiant trans activist and “street queen” of Stonewall whose joyful defiance and grassroots organising saved lives.
• Sylvia Rivera, the fiery Latina advocate who demanded space for the most marginalised, fighting for true inclusion within the LGBTQ+ movement.
• Harvey Milk, a charismatic political pioneer who brought LGBTQ+ visibility into the halls of power and inspired millions with a message of hope.
• Barbara Gittings, the quiet but determined librarian who helped dismantle the classification of homosexuality as mental illness and brought queer literature into the light.
• Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, the groundbreaking couple who blended personal love with political change, co-founding one of the earliest lesbian rights organisations.