If you are looking for history, you want "Hear Us Out!: Lesbian and Gay Stories of Struggle, Progress and Hope, 1950 to the Present" by Nancy Garden, author of "Annie on My Mind"
For culture, you want "The Full Spectrum" edited by David Levithan and Billy Merrell
The first book is a compilation of history and some stories, going through the decades, about life as a gay or lesbian. The second is a compilation of stories and poems written by GLBTQ teens. Both are excellent books.
