Dates! An Anthology of Queer Historical Fiction is about positive representations of queer people in history — dating! Miserable Queers of History is a trope that too often dominates queer art and media — especially Miserable Racialized Queers — so it’s nice to see an anthology dedicated to feel-good stories about queer people in love, from all over the world. Here’s how the Kickstarter puts it:
“Dates is a celebration of queer lives and history throughout the world. Although queer identities have existed throughout time, often historical fiction skips over queer people altogether or subjects queer characters to extreme hardship, loneliness, and unhappy endings. Dates is different. In this anthology, you will find a young trans man affirmed by his peers in Joseon Dynasty Korea; two women in loving, happy relationships with both each other and their husbands in 1100s Denmark; a trans woman dressmaker and her lover dancing in Napoleonic France; and more.”
The anthology collects the work of thirty-three queer artists and writers in twenty comics, five illustrations, and two prose stories. A stretch goal adds an additional, Kickstarter-exclusive comic Leigh Luna and Andy Leigh R. The work is aimed at YA and adult readers, which is a nice touch — LGBTQ teens need positive, expansive representation even more than LGBTQ adults do. The pitch goes on to say that “more than anything else, Dates is an anthology of affirmation and acceptance.” Ugh, yes please.
Backer tiers include the usual rewards: PDF or print versions of the comic, prints, the aforementioned bonus comic, and commissions.
The campaign has already reached its base goal of $10,000 and at $13,000, it’s so close to its first stretch goal of $14,000 — which unlocks that bonus comic. Other stretch goals include printed bonus comics, a postcard set, and contributor bonuses. In addition to being fully funded, all the interior and design work has been completed. At this point it’s just a matter of reaching stretch goals and printing. A good bet, if you ask me.
Check out their Kickstarter campaign for more information on the project.
