The American LGBTQ+ Museum

EVENT DETAILS

Join award-winning journalist and author Robert W. Fieseler as he discusses his new book AMERICAN SCARE: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives. A vital exposé for both our history and our present day, AMERICAN SCARE tells the riveting story of how the Florida government destroyed the lives of Black and queer citizens in the twentieth century—with chilling parallels to today.

Robert Fieseler will be joined in conversation by author and critic Bill Goldstein.

This event is presented in partnership with the American LGBTQ+ Museum’s book club, The Lavender Literary Society

ABOUT THE BOOK

To reserve a copy of AMERICAN SCARE: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives (Dutton, June 17, 2025, hardcover, $34), please write to us at contact@bgsqd.com with “please reserve American Scare for July 16 event” in the subject line.

Thank you for supporting the Bureau by purchasing books from us!

LOCATION

This event will take place in person at the Bureau of General Services—Queer Division, on the second floor (room 210) of The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., NYC, 10011.

Registration is not required. Seating is first come, first served.

Also live-streaming on the Bureau’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/@bgsqd

The Bureau will solicit donations at the beginning of the event—we especially encourage donations from those who do not plan to purchase any books.

All are welcome to attend, with or without a donation.

We will pass a bag for donations at the start of the event, but we can also take credit card donations at the register or on Venmo @BGSQD

AUTHOR

Robert W. Fieseler is a journalist investigating marginalized groups and a scholar excavating forgotten histories. A National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Journalist of the Year and recipient of the Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship, his debut book Tinderbox won seven awards, including the Edgar Award, and his reporting has appeared in Slate, Commonweal, and River Teeth, among others. Fieseler graduated co-valedictorian from the Columbia Journalism School and is pursuing a PhD at Tulane University as a Mellon Fellow. He lives with his husband on the gayest street in New Orleans.

HOSTED BY

Bill Goldstein reviews books and interviews authors for NBC’s Weekend Today in New York, and was the founding editor of The New York Times books website. A graduate of the University of Chicago, Goldstein received a PhD in English from the City University of New York Graduate Center. He is writing a biography of Larry Kramer, to be published by Crown, and was awarded a 2024-25 Public Scholars grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities to support his work on the book. He is the author of The World Broke in Two: Virginia Woolf, T. S. Eliot, D. H. Lawrence, E. M. Forster, and the Year that Changed Literature, published in 2017.

GRAPHIC

Our beautiful graphic is designed by the incredible Loveis Wise (they/he), a multidisciplinary artist, designer, creative director, and Capricorn, drawing reimagined futures and playfulness in Los Angeles.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Bureau is located in room 210 of The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Take the stairs to the second floor and make a right at the corner on your right. Or take the elevator to the second floor and make a left when you exit. The Bureau is the last door on your left.

The Bureau is wheelchair accessible. Take the street entrance ramp (to the right of The Center’s main entrance) and you will find an elevator behind the Information and Referral desk (to the left of the staircase).

All-gender bathrooms are available down the hall from the Bureau.