“The Real Rainbow Row” Explores Charleston’s LGBTQ History

Evening Post Books will soon release the book, The Real Rainbow Row by historian Harlan Greene, who digs deep and uncovers a wealth of knowledge about Charleston’s LGBTQ  past and present. 

The book provides an informative look at the Holy City’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and other sexual minorities community. Though they have been here all along, contributing greatly to the creation of one of America’s most distinctive cities, there are still discrepancies in the recording and acknowledgment of their far-reaching history. There are no statues to LGBTQ people, and very few official mentions. 

The story begins with early observations by the first European settlers critical of the acceptance of hermaphroditic persons by native tribes. It proceeds through the next 350 years, during which it was not just an advantage to blend in, but a necessity; for if discovered, those men and women not fitting the dominant culture’s stereotyped definition of binary correctness often paid dearly for being identified, for being different, for breaking the law. This could lead to the loss of respect, professions, houses, families, position in society, and even life and liberty. All this began to change as the pride movement grew nationally and locally. 

You can pre-order the book here.

A native of Charleston, Harlan Greene is an award-winning novelist, archivist, and historian. He has served as Assistant Director of the South Carolina Historical Society, Director of the North Carolina Preservation Consortium, Archivist of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture at the College of Charleston, and is now Scholar in Residence at the College’s Addlestone Library. His novels include Why We Never Danced the Charleston, the Lambda Literary Award winner What the Dead Remember and the Lambda-nominated The German Officer’s Boy. He lectures frequently and has published books and essays on various aspects of Charleston history. A certified tour guide, he chairs the city’s Historical Commission. He manages the South Carolina LGBTQ Oral History, Archives and Outreach Project at the College of Charleston. He is married to Jonathan Ray.

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