Since 2023
R E V I E W S
Midwest Book Review
Run! My Story of LGBTQ+ Political Power, Equality, and Acceptance in Silicon Valley
Ken Yeager, Ph.D
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639889747, $18.99 Paperback/$28.99 Hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/Run-Political-Equality-Acceptance-Silicon/dp/1639889744
Run! My Story of LGBTQ+ Political Power, Equality, and Acceptance in Silicon Valley is a memoir that explains its purpose and the authority of its author from the start (to “record the progression of the LGBTQ+ movement from political outcasts to integral community members in San Jose/Silicon Valley. Having lived and breathed queer activism for almost 40 years, I felt uniquely positioned to tell this story.”).
Ken Yeager is correct: the timing of his experiences, the personal history which dovetails with social and political transformation as anti-gay circles were met with gay resistance and activism, and the nature of his battle in California’s famous Silicon Valley makes his story not just unique, but a sterling lesson in tackling adversity in social, psychological, and political situations.
Were it not for his coverage, future generations might suspect that gay activism did not take place in this region. Nothing could be further from the truth, but it takes one who lived the times and practiced the resistance to reveal the deeply personal and political stories of those who were an intrinsic part of the action of social change.
As a side benefit, the political experiences covered in detail here are perfect for members of the queer community who are thinking of running for public office. They reflect and represent efforts and experiences from almost three decades in office, and thus come from a level of experience and political savvy that might otherwise be missed by readers typically operating outside of these circles.
As for the memoir itself, anticipate a story packed with insights on everything from the rigors of political campaigning to efforts to create and support Yeager’s Queer Silicon Valley documentary project.
From how activism efforts differed and grew over the decades to strategies for personal and political survival and change, Yeager’s experiences move beyond personal and into the arena of better understanding of the obstacles to activist success and how best to address and remove them.
The result is a wide-ranging, compelling account firmly grounded in real-world experiences. Run! My Story of LGBTQ+ Political Power, Equality, and Acceptance in Silicon Valley is highly recommended for activist-minded readers and the queer community, as well as libraries catering to them and book clubs interested in discussions of changing social and political milieus surrounding gay rights in not just California, but across America.
