“In the Life” 30 Years Later: The Legacy of Joe Beam

Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the publication of “In the Life,” the historic, groundbreaking black gay male anthology that Philadelphia author, journalist and activist Joe Beam compiled and edited. The volume contained work that voiced the concerns and aspirations of an often-silent minority and reflected the power of coming together to build a strong black gay community. We widen the lens beyond gay men by looking at the continuing influence of the book, with discussion centering on the ongoing contributions of LGBTQ African Americans to literary, journalistic and social progress; and the successes and failures of LGBTQ communities to include African-American perspectives.