Books about being gay

This is far from a complete list! And to find even more literature from queer voices, check out our curated collection. Despite the history of drag in the U. In this history, Gleeson explains how the movement began in protest against medical abuses. That being said, there is something for everyone on this list, and I tried my best to make it as comprehensive as possible!

Empower yourself by adding these inspiring books to your reading list. She blends personal insight with theory to demonstrate how intersex liberation is tied to liberation from sexed oppression for all. Danika spends most of her time talking about queer women books at the Lesbrary.

If we’re missing your favorite, recommend it in the comments!. This is a story of loss and triumph that looks at the lives lost to HIV and those who are still fighting today. I will continue to update the list each year with all of the new stories I’ve read.

From inspirational memoirs to being romances, these stories honor the journeys of LGBTQ+ individuals and the larger movement for love, acceptance, and equality for all. The Ultimate LGBTQ+ Pride Book List by PRH Editors Celebrate Pride all year long with books by LGBTQ+ authors!

From memoirs and coming-out stories to trope-filled romances and gay books with gay and trans leads, we want it all. That joy is resistance, that joy is protest, that joy is unshakable. The Stone Wall Reader is full of essays, articles, poems, short stories, and first-person accounts.

Black on Both Sides is a wonderful history of Black trans folks in the postwar era and into today. Reading this beautiful collection of oral histories and interviews feels likes sitting down with a bunch of rad queer and trans artists, healers, and activists, and listening to them talk about what inspires them, angers them, fuels them.

For anyone looking for a history-adjacent book, and anyone interested in delving more deeply into the intersections of Blackness, queerness, and feminism, this volume of writing by and about Black lesbians is a must-read. I need everyone to read this book.

Johnson by Tourmaline and illustrated by Charlot Kristensen. 10 Books Every Gay Person Should Read – We live in a world where representation and visibility are crucial for the LGBTQ+ community. Riley Snorton has created a stunning look at an often forgotten part of queer history, pulling from well-known stories, narratives of enslaved peoples, Afro-modernist literature, and so much more.

In this essential oral history, queer elders of color share stories of self-discovery, activism, resistance, and survival. Learning about how the generations before us fought oppression while finding love, joy, and community can help us to build better strategies today.

The fight is far from over. One way to gain insight, knowledge, and validation is through literature. The art is truly unique — each page feels like its own work of art. Trans elder Miss Major has played a major role in Black and queer social justice movements.

Check out our LGBTQ archives for many years of queer book recommendations in every conceivable category. In this illuminating history, Hartman explores the radical lives of young Black women in New York and Philadelphia during the early 20th century. View All posts by Danika Ellis.

It includes the book of some of the most prominent 20th century Black queer and lesbian writers, including Audre Lorde and Alice Dunbar-Nelson, as well as work from some lesser-known but equally important writers. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riot, The New York Public Library collected an anthology reflecting on the momentous occasion.

She shares stories of women who broke away from expected racial and gender norms, creating queer and creative networks of kinship and support. There is so much beautiful humanity in these pages, so much laughter and joy even in periods of profound struggle and loss.

Though the pieces differ in style, each one rings with stories of triumph, loss, dedication, and resilience. Celebrate with the best LGBTQ books and books with gay characters or from LGBTQ authors. Books have the power to educate, inspire, and provide comfort to individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, transgender, or queer.

Below are my 40 favorite queer books, out of the 76 total I’ve read.