Secret Lives of Famous Figures Revealed in New Book

Keith Stern spent 16 years to document his book, Queers in History

Sir Ian McKellen wrote the foreword to Queers in History.
(Author Keith Stern and Ian McKellen in London, 2008)

Los Angeles, August 25–Did you know that Abraham Lincoln slept with his male bodyguard in the White House when Mrs. Lincoln was away?  Did you know that Joan Crawford and Marilyn Monroe had a one-night stand at Crawford’s home?  Or that Leonardo da Vinci was sent to prison twice for “same-sex” offenses?  Did you know that Angelina Jolie fell in love with one of her female co-stars?

Queers in History, a new book by Keith Stern, documents these facts and thousands of others in the most comprehensive collection of true stories about historical figures who were gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.  The tag line is "Celebrities, Scandals, Secrets, and Sex" so there's something in here for everyone.

“I started working on this in 1993,” Stern says.  “I was curious about which famous people might have been gay, and thought with some research I might find out about 50 or 60.  Now, after years of research, I've written 900 true tales about some of the most interesting people of all time.  I may be the first person in modern times to write an encyclopedia all by himself.” 

As of September 1, Stern’s Queers in History (Benbella Books, Dallas, Texas) is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders and in bookstores across the nation.  The 587-page trade paperback features a foreword by Sir Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings) and a striking cover design by Chip Kidd.

If you follow celebrities on TMZ and in People magazine, you’ll find plenty of scoops in Queers in History.  Lindsay Lohan, Jodie Foster, George Michael, and Perez Hilton are all in the book.

If you’re the kind of history or genealogy buff who loves a good show on A&E, Biography or The History Channel, you’ll be amazed to find out what’s usually left out of the standard biographies.  All the facts are uncensored in Queers in History, which features prominent people from 2450 BC up to today.

“Fearless teachers, and students, will find the facts in Queers in History to form a basis for understanding some of the most widely discussed issues of our time such as gay marriage, gays in the military and gay civil rights,” author Stern says. “The book makes a great gift for your friends whether gay or straight.  Valentine’s Day, birthdays, and anniversaries are great Queers in History occasions.  For young people seeking role models, Queers in History provides an index by profession: actors, writers, musicians, filmmakers, soldiers, athletes, and even religious leaders who were gay or lesbian,” says Stern.  Many of the articles are illustrated with rare photographs and portraits.

Put this book on your coffee table at your next party and in 15 minutes everyone will be talking about it.  It’s a “wow” book that takes only a few seconds to elicit a reaction after someone picks it up.  It’s great for browsing but as one person said after finding it hard to put down, “Reading Queers in History is like eating gay potato chips.  You can’t read just one story.”

Contact Jennifer Canzoneri
+1 214 750 3600
jennifer AT benbellabooks.com

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