Where is all the queer historical fiction? A plea by Mackenzi Lee.

I remember the first time I read somewhere that Abraham Lincoln was probably gay, my reaction was “Well that can’t be true because gay people didn’t exist back then.”

*Travels back in time, slaps past Mackenzi across the face*

Thankfully, past Mackenzi, we’ve come a long way since then.

But also, it's hard to blame past Mackenzi for this gap in her education. She grew up in a hyper religious, conservative community where being anything other than aggressively heterosexual wasn't an option. And she wasn’t reading contemporary YA romance books, which is where all the queer characters seem to be congregating these days. She was reading a lot of historical fiction. Preferably with a fantasy element. And none of those characters were anything other than cisgender and straight.

Young me could have really used some QILTBAG spectrum repped in the books she was reading. Might have made some formative questions during my formative years a little easier to understand.  And might have opened my eyes to the fact that as long as we’ve had people, we’ve had queer people.

So in an attempt to educate past me, satisfy current me (who recently went through a phase where she was only interested in books with not straight or not cis characters), and inspire my current WIP (LGBTQ historical fiction--holla!), I recently decided to read as much YA historical fiction with a main character that falls on the QILTBAG spectrum as I could find.

I exhausted them in about four days.

Kids, there aren’t too many.

"SOMETHING MUST BE DONE," shouted current Mackenzi.

"YES!" echoed past Mackenzi, in hopes of not getting slapped again.

So if you, like me, are to read some books set in the past with QILTBAG characters, let me provide for you a master list.

Okay, this is far from a master, but it is a list, and it is the start of a master list. If you have any recs of books I am missing from this list, please let me know! I will keep updating! Because this can’t be all there is!

(Also, I have not read all of these, so I cannot vouch for all--I am taking the word of the good people on the internet!)  

But first, some qualifiers. Here’s what I am NOT looking for for this list:

• Historical fiction with LGBTQIA secondary characters
• Adult historical fiction with LGBTQIA characters (though also go read these books because there are some great ones)
• Fiction that was contemporary when it was written but is now considered historical because time passes (think Annie On My Mind)
• Queer MCs in genres other than historical fiction or historical fantasy (but please go read these books too)
• Self published historical fiction books with LGBTQIA main characters (sorry self pub authors, you are awesome and I am glad you are writing great things (including queer YA historical fiction!) but I’m limiting my search to traditionally published books. MOSTLY TO PROVE MY POINT.)

And so, here you are. A timeline of YA historical fiction with QILTBAG main characters.

1990s

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

1980s

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Moon at Nine by Deborah Ellis

1970s

Honey Girl by Lisa Freeman

Leap by Z. Egloff

Radiant Days by Elizabeth Hand

1950s

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

1940s

Secret City by Julia Watts

1920s

Silhouette of a Sparrow by Molly Beth Griffin

1910s

The Elementals by Saundra Mitchell

Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

1870s

Liberty’s Fire by Lydia Syson

1890s

Wildthorn by Jane England

1700s

Hidden Voices by Pat Lowery Collins

Your turn to help--what did I miss? I'd like to keep this list ever expanding and ever growing, so please help me make that happen!

Mackenzi Lee is reader, writer, bookseller, unapologetic fangirl, and fast talker. She holds an MFA from Simmons College in writing for children and young adults. Her young adult historical fantasy novel, THIS MONSTROUS THING will be published on September 22 by Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins. She loves Diet Coke, sweater weather, and Star Wars. On a perfect day, she can be found enjoying all three. She currently calls Boston home. Visit her online at her website, blog, or Twitter.