Books like Violence Against Queer People by Doug Meyer

Violence against lesbians and gay men has increasingly attracted media and scholarly attention, yet existing coverage often centers on white, middle‑class men and overlooks the more severe impact on racial minorities, the poor, and women. In this groundbreaking work, sociologist Doug Meyer examines the role of race, class, and gender in anti‑queer violence. Using interviews with forty‑seven victims, he shows that LGBT people encounter distinct forms of violence and interpret these incidents differently depending on their social identities. For example, many lesbian and transgender women report sexual or misogynistic elements, while people of color frequently question whether their abuse is driven purely by sexuality or also by racism or sexism. Meyer argues that ignoring these intersecting forms of discrimination simplifies and distorts the nature of anti‑queer violence and risks protecting only the most privileged gay individuals.

First publish date: 2015