Books for Adults
Whether you’re queer, an ally, or questioning, this collection is for learning a little bit more about LGBTQ+ history. From memoirs to works of fiction, this group of books is meant to explore and educate. This list is just a taste of the wonderful world of queer literature. Use this as a beginning introduction to your queer education, and read the books that represent you, your friends, and your world.
Each link will take you to queer owned bookstore located in the U.S. We encourage you support these business as they are the cruxes of queer revolution and representation.
Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen
Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out by Lani Ka’ahumanu and Loraine Hutchins
Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity C. Riley Snorton
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
Dykes to Watch Out for by Alison Bechdel
Fairest by Meredith Talusan
Gay Bar: Why We Went Out by Jimmy Atherton Lin
The Gay Revolution: the Story of the Struggle by Lillian Faderman
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
How to Survive A Plague: The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS by David France
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History by Blair Imani
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Our Work Is Everywhere by Syan Rose
Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock
Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown
She/He/They/Me: For the Sisters, Misters, and Binary Resisters by Robin Ryle
Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation by Robert W. Fieseler
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Transgender History by Susan Stryker
Books for Kiddos and Teens
Some people are tentative towards LGBTQ+ literature for children, but rest assured this list is meant to be inclusive. Not only do these stories include characters who represent the rainbow spectrum, but also families who showcase a variety of genders, sexualities, and familial structures. It’s time we curate our children’s bookshelves with the representative books we wish we had as kids.
Each link will take you to queer owned bookstore located in the U.S. We encourage you support these business as they are the cruxes of queer revolution and representation.
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Federico and All His Families by Mili Hernández
Ho'onani: hula warrior by Heather Gale
I'm A Wild Seed by Sharon Lee De la Cruz
Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
No Way They Were Gay by Lee Wind
Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart
Rick by Alex Gino
Sewing the Rainbow by Gayle E. Pitman
This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman
Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen
When Aidan Became A Brother by Kyle Lukoff
You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez
TV & Film
Maybe reading is not exactly your favorite pastime, and you’re wanting to share queer stories with your loved ones at a watch party. This list of LGBTQ+ cinema is a great, beginner’s visual history. It includes current and past flicks that are still relevant today. From docuseries to narrative films, this list has something for everyone to enjoy.
Appropriate Behavior (Film)
Before Stonewall (Film)
Boy Erased (Film)
But I’m a Cheerleader (Film)
Carol (Film)
Circus of Books (Film)
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (Film)
Disclosure (Film)
Do I Sound Gay? (Film)
Equal (TV Show)
Gaycation (TV Show)
How to Survive a Plague (Film)
Legendary (TV Show)
Milk (Film)
Moonlight (Film)
Pariah (Film)
Paris is Burning (Film)
Pose (TV Show)
Pride (TV Show)
The Prom (Film)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (TV Show)
Tales of the City (TV Show)
The Watermelon Woman (Film)
Podcasts
Dyking Out
Jemele Hill is Unbothered
LGBTQ&A
Making Gay History
One and a Half Lesbians
One From the Vaults
Queer Sex Ed
Still Processing
Tedtalk Videos
Embrace your raw, strange magic by Casey Gerald
https://www.ted.com/talks/casey_gerald_embrace_your_raw_strange_magic#t-781981
A Short History of Trans People’s Long Fight for Equality
https://www.ted.com/talks/samy_nour_younes_a_short_history_of_trans_people_s_long_fight_for_equality
We’re All Hiding Something. Let’s find the Courage to Open Up by Ash Beckham
https://www.ted.com/talks/ash_beckham_we_re_all_hiding_something_let_s_find_the_courage_to_open_up
What the Gay Rights Movement Learned from the Civil Rights Movement by Yoruba Richen
Why Kids Need to Learn about Gender and Sexuality by Lindsay Amer
https://www.ted.com/talks/lindsay_amer_why_kids_need_to_learn_about_gender_and_sexuality
Why I Must Come Out by Geena Rocero
https://www.ted.com/talks/geena_rocero_why_i_must_come_out
Giving Back to the LGBTQ+ Community
We will be celebrating Pride month by uplifting the story and art of North Carolina based artist, Chelsea Amato. Chelsea designed the kick ass graphic for our collaborative t-shirt with Runologie that will be sold in both stores and online to raise money for the LGBT Center of Raleigh. The design will also be used for this year’s Pride Fun Run! However, we wanted to include a few more donation locations for those who feel inclined to give money and time to the greater LGBTQ+ community. Below is a small list of other organizations who are doing the daily work to protect, support, and advocate for the lives and rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
GLAAD - National organization for LGBTQ representation in media.
GLSEN - Creating better, safer learning environments for LGBTQ students.
National Center for Trangender Equality - National organization lobbying for transgender rights.
Trans Women of Color Collective - Advocating for economic opportunity while creating safe spaces for trans people of color.
The Trevor Project - Supporting LGBTQ youth through mental health advocacy and self harm prevention.
Another big thank you to our friend, Keva Kreeger for putting this resource guide together for us!