Book excerpt: Young people "coming out" as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) in the twenty-first century are being welcomed into a community that is proud, diverse, and vibrant! This book examines the history of the LGBT community in America from its roots in the free-thinking seaport cities of the 1800s, through the social revolution of World War II, the early activists of the 1950s, the "gay pride" movements of the 1970s, the AIDS crisis, and the mainstreaming of LGBT communities of the present day. It is a story of courage in the face of oppression, a demand for civil rights, and people making meaningful and authentic lives for themselves—and having fun, too. LGBT people today are the heirs of the hopes and dreams and hard work of past generations. This is an exciting and inspirational story of an American minority group that is still fighting for full acceptance in contemporary society.