El Camino College Welcomes Guest Speaker Dr. Eric Cervini

Guest speaker Dr. Eric Cervini, an award-winning author, producer, and historian of LGBTQ+ politics, will participate in El Camino College’s Pride Week events with a presentation set for 1:15 p.m. May 20 in Marsee Auditorium. Co-sponsored by the college’s LGBTQIA+ Pride Center and the Center for the Arts, the event is free to all El Camino faculty, staff, and students.

Cervini’s first book, “The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America,” was a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. It also won the Publishing Triangle’s Randy Shilts Award for Gay Nonfiction, the New York Times Editors’ Choice, and the “Best Read of 2020” at the Queerties.

Cervini is also the creator and executive producer of “The Book of Queer,” a queer history docuseries boasting six Emmy nominations and the largest all-queer cast in Hollywood history, which premiered on Discovery+ and is now streaming on Max. He launched ShopQueer.co, an independent bookshop that splits its profits with LGBTQ+ authors. In March 2024, ShopQueer was reimagined as Allstora, an independent, 100% author-owned digital bookshop created for ALL, led by Cervini and co-founders Adam Powell and RuPaul.

In this talk, Cervini expertly explains the cultural crossroads that America is currently facing in the timeless battle for gay rights. Based on firsthand accounts, recently declassified FBI records, and roughly 40,000 personal documents, he uncovers the secret history of gay activism that began a generation before Stonewall. From public battles with Congress and FBI informants to murder and betrayal, Cervini chronicles the events that have led us to this exact moment.

The El Camino Community College District encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the Center for the Arts as soon as possible, but no later than seven days prior to the event.

Tickets are free to all El Camino faculty, staff, and students with a valid ID. Admission for the general public is $24/$10 and may be purchased at www.centerforthearts.org using the online ticketing system or by phone at 310-329-5345.

The Ticket Office is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday for walk-up sales, and one hour before all scheduled performances. Campus parking permits are required; a $3 daily parking permit can be purchased on the day of the performance (cash only) or when completing a ticket purchase online, in person, or via telephone. El Camino College is located at 16007 Crenshaw Boulevard, Torrance.