Jeremy Foscardo
The subject of queer history and the LGBTQIA+ community has been a worthy topic of discussion for decades. There are still sectors of public life that don’t understand the struggles and hardships that many queer men and women go through trying to achieve their dreams. Many of my favorite queer figures in history, e.g. Rebecca Sugar, Richard Huntand Freddie Mercury The art they create has impacted or changed the lives of many fans and communities. This has resulted in many other artists creating queer stories or art that has helped them through difficult times, or inspiring non-queer creators who have found solace in the catharsis of their work.
On October 18, 2024, I participated in the Reimagining Queer History through Comics panel at: New York Comic Con. As I listened to the panelists talk about their experiences with queer representation, I discovered there was a part of queer history that I had not known about in the past. Some of these include revolutionary history and the history of queer figures in London.
The panel discussion was held in the Pride Lounge, Room 1C01-02, and featured comic book writers Josh Trujillo, John Harris Dunning and Greg Lockard. Throughout the panel, they discussed how to write stories that feature real-life elements of queer history. They discussed how real-world events are often depicted in comics and how this parallels the challenges they face in depicting LGBTQ+ events in comics.
One of the most common topics of conversation concerns George Washington’s gay general, Baron von Steuben. Steuben is the subject of Josh Trujillo’s graphic novel, Washington’s Gay General: The Legend and Love of Baron von Steuben, Released last year and by Levi Hastings. For Josh, finding queer representation during the Revolutionary War was a challenge, but he was surprised to discover something during his research. He was compelled to write this story because, although Steuben himself was not a great man, the story of his life is worth telling because that part of American history contains elements that are often overlooked.
While writing about the War of Independence, he revealed that he had to do a lot of online research in the first years of the 2020s while the pandemic was still present. During his research, he received comments from historians that brought things more in line with real-world history. Because when it comes to real-world history, that’s tricky. You have to get everything right. He even found the oldest biography about Steuben, which helped support many of the elements in Josh’s graphic novel. Lockard also expressed some of these sentiments when he attempted to accurately depict historical figures in some of his works.
Another highlight of the panel was the insights from Harris Dunning (summer shadow, riot wipers) and how he researched some of the queer stories he wrote. Harris Dunning says London is incredible in terms of historical detail and records because historians take such care when recording history. For example, in the 1920s London influenced the more relaxed gay spaces of the 1920s. However, despite their fame, they encountered strong opposition from conservative families. He also performed in theater and drag parties were considered a haven for queer creatives. At some point, he also shared insights about writing queer stories, to the effect of this: The story you’re writing might speak to you, and it has to be fantasy.
My personal opinion is that when it comes to any historical moment or beloved figure in history, you have to work closely with historians and preserved records in order to present a vision that is consistent with the coverage. Especially at a time when queer literature and history are being challenged, it’s important that stories from these moments are passed down from generation to generation, inspiring the next generation of readers to make a difference and help represent an underrepresented group in America.
Trujillo’s Washington’s Gay General: The Legend of Baron von Steuben Released last year on August 15, 2023, it is now available in stores. Harris Dunning summer shadow #2 Published October 16, 2024, available now. trick pony (Lockard, Anna David and Lucas Gatoni) will be released on June 4, 2024, and will be available in bookstores nationwide.
Author’s note: Due to technical limitations, some details may have been omitted from this group’s report. Any feedback is welcome from The Beat’s panelists or readers.
