Rainbow History Class

Your Guide Through Queer and Trans History

By: Hannah McElhinney

Narrated by: Rudy Jean Rigg

Rainbow History Class is your entry into LGBTQ+ history, sharing queer and trans stories from Ancient civilisations all the way up to the internet.

So much of queer and trans history and culture has been erased, but Hannah McElhinney, writer and creator of Rainbow History Class (as seen on TikTok), is here to help us all with this crash course. This history lesson isn’t dry and academic, nor is it glitter-soaked and reductive. It’s a comprehensive and entertaining romp through queer and trans history, full of secret queer codes, gender-bending icons, pop-culture knowledge and incredible activists.

More than anything, Rainbow History Class will make you feel connected to the stories of our rich and vibrant community. This knowledge will help spark conversations between your friends and family and be a source of comfort as you stand up for yourself and your community. This audiobook is a celebration for all LGBTQ+ people, and an invitation to the newly out that says, 'Welcome to the club, let’s get you caught up!'

With bonus audio content from Hannah and Rudy in conversation on Rainbow History.

Hannah McElhinney (she/her) is the writer and creator of Rainbow History Class, a space for sharing the queer and trans history we so rarely have the opportunity to learn. Their stories aim to inspire, educate, bring gratitude, build bridges, make you laugh, make you mad and maybe even help you win an argument.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Hannah McElhinney (P)2023 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.

so much great information!!! I can't wait to buy the book

I disliked I didn't know about this book sooner, and I could have been buying this as a gift for everyone I know for every occasion.

Very informative and interesting

I was surprised how much of the queer community was involved in many of the historical events in history. This history should 100% be included in education as we grow up in school.

Enjoyed and learned a lot!

I really enjoyed this book. I knew isolated incidents in American queer culture like stonewall, but it was nice to hear how they were weaved in two world history. I really learned a lot and enjoyed it.

Meaningful Work

I hate history.
It bores me…dates are confusing…some how keeping a Mental record of who did what when..is tedious. This book is not that. This book is an important work that highlights not only achievements but also has an honest conversation about people’s experience throughout time. This book connected me to the past in ways I hadn’t personally experienced before. This is truly an important work.

A Real Voice

Any five-hour book on the entirety of queer and trans history will make choices. This and that reader might react to this or that bit of history's inclusion, exclusion, or emphasis. And such makes for interesting book-club conversation. But here's the point: this well-organized, brief book has a voice behind all of its choices. I am not referring to the vocal qualities of the narrator (which are excellent, by the way) but to the distinct, confident , engaging perspective of the author. McElhinney is unmistakably passionate about and fascinated with her subject, and readers/listeners gain an unfiltered experience of her considerable wisdom. Erudite, insightful, candid, warm, encouraging, respectful, grounded, ... -- all of these and more are apt descriptions. Listening to this book was a downright terrific experience.

Know-Your-Icon; The excluded exclude

Great introduction to LGBT+ history. It has a great list of people to deeply delve into. It also points out that not all our history is unblemished or our icons 100% perfect. But it offers a rich LGBT+ history that our youths can relate to and hopefully ease the shame and isolation they feel. It validates them as worthy people with an abundance of icons in history to sustain them. It covers racial exclusion, AIDS, and transphobia. And even in our community instead of including all those marginalized, we become like our oppressors and exclude. I hope our LGBT+ youth will be more evolved than we are. I feel this book will help them surpass us.

An absolute fantastic read!

I truly believe that this is the best comprized book on queer and trans history that I have ever come across, and it doesn't leave anything out. Parts of it were honestly an eye-opener for me, for in Swedish schools we are taught a slightly different version of some of these historic events which leave out crucially information and pivot it to be heterosexual. So I truly had my mind blow in the best way from the beginning!

I could not put it down, and I am definitely ordering the hardcopy for my bookcase and to give as gifts! Tryely a lovely read with so much good and worthwhile and important information.

I recommend that every queer, and in particular allied, people should give this a read!

Good Lesson on Queer History

performed week, very well researched a d threw out a number of facts, in relatively recent history I was not aware of.

Must listen

Absolutely awesome! Well narrated and educational. Everyone should hear this! Queer people have always been here and always will be.

LGBTQ+ Lexicon

Must read for everyone who needs, wants or has to have a better understanding of the history of queer people and how they have been represented, misrepresented, hidden, ignored, tortured, befriended, admired, loved and cared for. We can all do better going forward.