Why read Secret City?

Book cover of Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington

Book description

For decades, the spectre of homosexuality haunted Washington. The mere suggestion that a person might be gay destroyed reputations, ended careers, and ruined lives. At the height of the Cold War, fear of homosexuality became intertwined with the growing threat of international communism, leading to a purge of gay men…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Secret City as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

David Hanna

Author

What Zinn achieved in highlighting leftist history and labor history, Kirchick achieves in highlighting gay history and its proximity to the corridors of political power in Washington.

The struggles of gay Americans to gain recognition by the U.S. government as equal to their fellow citizens and commensurate with their talents is a fascinating story, and Kirchick more than does it justice.

Like Zinn’s People’s History, this book carefully reexamines the conventional understanding of our nation’s history as a whole. It is both ambitious and particular.

From David's list on read if you love Howard Zinn's A People's History Of the United States.

John Copenhaver

Author

I write historical mysteries about it set in Washington, DC, during the post-WWII period involving gay and lesbian characters, so I initially came to this book as research.

As I read Kirchick's well-researched and gripping writing, I felt moved by the rich interplay between LGBTQ lives and the halls of political power.

Although there are many tragic stories about gays and lesbians during the 20th century, I was surprised by how empowering I found this book as a gay man. We've not only always been here, but we've been here at the side of the most influential leaders of our…

From John's 3 favorite reads in 2023.