No Straight Lines

No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics

“Lesbians and Gay Men Put It On Paper!” read the tagline of Gay Comix, first published in 1980. The story of the queer comic begins in a period of censorship in the USA, and marginalization even among underground cartoonists. From Come Out Comix, which made history as the first lesbian comic in 1973, to Fun Home, via Dykes to Watch Out For and Brown Bomber & The Diva, zines come to life on screen through this celebration of LGBTQI+ cartoons and graphic novels.

No Straight Lines profiles five pioneers of this fascinating art scene – Alison Bechdel, Howard Cruse, Jennifer Camper, Rupert Kinnard, and Mary Wings – producing commentary on everything from the AIDS crisis and workplace discrimination to the search for love and a good haircut. By following the artists’ personal journeys, No Straight Lines shows how they tackled issues of identity with pen and paper, winning worldwide recognition for their work.