The intersection of so many facets of life have been interpreted so completely differently throughout history and in different places and social contexts. The existence of a queer identity the way we generally think of it now did NOT exist in the same way throughout history. And it really showed in a very concrete and reality based way how every identity exists and is defined through the context of its environment, and that while our experiences are very inherently real, the lines we draw around these experiences to define them are not. What identity is, how much of what we see as static and natural are actually very contextual social constructs. Yet it completely I mean COMPLETELY changed my understanding of not only sex and gender but just like. Like I read it for a class in freshman year of college and trust me I was already EXTREMELY liberal and well versed in queer discourse. So brilliant in how it analyses the construction of and intersection of gender, sexuality, biological sex, class, race, and society. Not only is it the most meticulously well researched book I have EVER read, it is just. Ahh yes!! You mean Gay New York by George Chauncey? That book is THE book on queer history in the US (it's really not just about NYC, but it is focused there).
