Gay Agenda: A Modern Queer History & Handbook

An inviting guide to LGBTQ+ history and culture

The Gay Agenda is a joyful celebration of the LGBTQ+ community's development, history, and culture, packed with facts, trivia, timelines, and charts, and featuring 100 full-color illustrations. Compiled and designed by queer power couple and illustrators extraordinaire, Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham, founders of the popular Ash + Chess, this hardcover compendium pays tribute to the community with warmth, wit, and color.

What you’ll find inside

• 176-page hardcover that threads queer history with accessible reference materials.
• 100 full-color illustrations that bring milestones and figures to life.
• Engaging descriptions and helpful features—historical queer icons and events plus LGBTQ+ acronym definitions.
• A broad journey through milestones from Stonewall and the AIDS crisis to Sodomy Laws and Obergefell, with profiles of iconic figures such as James Baldwin, Emma Goldman, Marsha P. Johnson, Jodie Foster, Freddie Mercury, Ellen Degeneres, Laverne Cox, and David Bowie.
• Coverage of topics like the Pink Triangle, the Rainbow Flag, Drag and Transitioning, The L Word, The Kinsey Scale, and more.

Who this is for

From a nostalgic look back for older generations to an archive for younger readers and a helpful introduction for those curious about the community and its contributions, this book is a keepsake that honors LGBTQ+ history while inviting ongoing learning and conversation.

Why it stands out

Placed at the intersection of design and history, The Gay Agenda leverages the creators’ pedigree—Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham of Ash + Chess—to deliver a visually rich, engaging reference. It blends storytelling with factual timelines and charts, making complex history approachable for readers, researchers, and fans alike.

Specs

Format: Hardcover • Pages: 176 • Illustrations: 100 full-color • Authors: Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham