A memoir mixed with reporting that successfully argues its thesis that queer people exist and make their lives and advocate for change in red states, but that already looks a bit dated from the vantage point of the increasingly radicalized political landscape of post-Trump America. As much as I liked Samantha Allen's writing, I found it difficult to share her confident vision of an America that is marching steadily along a path of progress and increasing queer acceptance. I just kept wondering about how her interview subjects are doing now and feeling sad about how much worse things have gotten since 2019.