Format: Hardback
Published: 7th May, 2026
Age: Adult
Genre: Nonfiction – History – Biography
Rating: 5/5 Stars
This is another fantastic book from author Emily Garside, and a wonderful addition to Welsh queer writing. Through Rainbow Wales, Garside spotlights a variety of different Welsh queer icons, ranging from actors to artists to sportspeople to activists, even including allies who have impacted queer history in Wales. It’s a well thought out book, with Garside’s trademark warm tone and conversational writing style that keeps it accessible and enjoyable.
Whether it’s through activism or charity work, or just by being themselves, the icons included here have all had an impact not just on Welsh queer history, but history as a whole, their reaches often impacting beyond Welsh borders, whether they set out to or not. Throughout, there’s an acknowledgement of lost queer voices, from Terrence Higgens, one of the first people in the UK to die of an AIDS-related illness, to those queer people throughout history whose stories remain unrecorded and unknown.
She also acknowledges there will be people missing from the book, but in my personal, humble opinion, I think Garside has managed to strike an excellent balance, and to my recollection there are extremely few names ‘missing’. Even where there is an absence, it feels like the choices are deliberate and well considered.
What also stands out is the shift between different generations, in how open (or not) some were able to be, across different industries. It’s so important to recognise this, to acknowledge that although some industries may seem more progressive, there are queer folks who were/are in reality unable to come out. The chances are there are other queer folks who could have sat alongside these names, who could have become sportspeople or actors or celebrities, but took a different path precisely because they wouldn’t have been able to live their true, authentic lives.
It’s poignant, too. Reading about people we know today to be ‘out and proud’, but who were unable to be so open during the height of their careers. Garside puts every queer icon into context, pulling from interviews and biographies to ensure the actual voices of these queer icons are included within their biographies.
For the most part, the people featured here aren’t famous because they’re queer, and would be – even, often, were, before coming out – notable in their fields, because of their talents, with queerness simply being part of their identity. In some instances (such as Welsh rugby player Gareth ‘Alfie’ Thomas, or singer Ian ‘H’ Watkins), the icons reasonably more publicly came out when their careers were firmly established.
Everyone included here has had an impact on the queer community in Wales, whether that’s through being publicly, visibly themselves, or activism work, or in quieter ways. This is a much needed book, and one which does an excellent job of shining a light on just how queer this small country is.
Reading Challenge
Twenty Genres in 2026
Prompt: New Release – Any book published in 2026
Progress: 16/20
