“Be Gay Do Crime” Essay Collection: How the Radical Left Thinks

PM Press published an anthology titled Be Gay, Do Crime: Everyday Acts of Queer Resistance and Rebellion, edited by Zane McNeill, Riley Clare Valentine, and Blu Buchanan (PM Press, 304 pages, $24.95). The phrase “Be Gay, Do Crime” is familiar in queer activist circles, seen in graffiti after protests, stickers on radical academics’ laptops, or social media bios of outspoken internet users.

This collection brings the slogan from meme culture to bookshelves, offering a revolutionary perspective. It serves as a resource for those “wanting to learn from the past to gain inspiration and tactics for the struggles going on in the present.” The anthology challenges societal “normativity” and advocates for radical, militant “queer politics.”

The book “pushes against ‘normativity’,” argues for “radical and militant ‘queer politics,’” and features historical revisionism that “would make the most ardent propagandist blush.”

The tone and approach align closely with the publisher’s mission. PM Press was founded by Ramsey Kanaan, a self-described anarchist Communist who also established the radical AK Press.

Key Themes

Queer resistance and rebellion as everyday acts
Learning from history for present-day activism
Rejecting normative social structures
Embracing radical and militant queer political ideology
Historical revisionism to reshape narratives

About PM Press and Its Founder

PM Press is known for publishing radical political works with an anti-establishment viewpoint. Ramsey Kanaan, its founder, identifies as an anarchist Communist and previously created AK Press, another notable radical publisher.

Conclusion

This anthology highlights the radical left’s vision for queer politics, blending past lessons with militant activism to challenge existing societal norms.

Author’s summary: The anthology “Be Gay, Do Crime” encapsulates the radical left’s advocacy for militant queer resistance, historical revisionism, and rejection of societal norms, rooted in anarchist Communist ideals.

City Journal — 2025-11-01