In the Arms of Mountains – Cole Nicole LeFavour’s Book on Queer Resistance in Rural America
Cole Nicole LeFavour's memoir about political struggle and queer life in conservative Idaho.
In May 2026, Beacon Press published the book “In the Arms of Mountains: A Memoir of Land, Love, and Queer Resistance in Red America”. Its author is Cole Nicole LeFavour, a writer, journalist, and politician who became the first openly LGBT member of the Idaho Legislature, elected four times and serving as a state senator.
The book is an autobiographical account of growing up and engaging in political struggle in one of the most conservative (“red”) states in the US. At the age of eleven, Cole moved with their family to a guest ranch in Idaho. The author’s coming of age takes place against the backdrop of the activities of white separatist ideologue Richard Butler, who attempted to establish a neo-Nazi base in the region. In these challenging conditions, the author learns to live in harmony with the wilderness and gradually embraces political activism, organizing acts of civil disobedience at the State Capitol.
In the memoir, Cole Nicole LeFavour also recounts their participation in anti-apartheid protests while studying at the University of California, Berkeley, their work as a fire lookout, and their personal experiences of unexpected love and profound loss. The book shatters the stereotype of a monolithic, exclusively conservative rural America, demonstrating that LGBT people can not only thrive outside major liberal cities but also wage effective political campaigns at the highest levels.
It is a sincere story of hope and resilience that shows how to find common ground and overcome deep political divides while remaining true to one’s ideals.
