Explore the Rich History of the LGBT Community

The Lavender Scare

315 pages

This book delves into the intersection of criminalizing homosexuality and the Red Scare, revealing how the persecution of the LGBTQ+ community was intertwined with the political climate of the McCarthy era.

Queer: A Graphic History

403 pages

While I found it a bit preachy and self-congratulatory, it's still an easy read that might resonate differently with others.

Fun Home

244 pages

*Fun Home* is a stunning graphic novel that explores complex themes of gender and sexual orientation through the lens of a father-daughter relationship. Bechdel's accessible writing and beautiful art make it a compelling read, especially for those looking to understand diverse experiences in these areas.

Boy Erased

354 pages

"A poignant account by a survivor of a church-supported sexual orientation conversion therapy facility that claimed to "cure" homosexuality describes its intense Bible study program and the daily threats of his abandonment by family, friends and God, an experience that transformed the author's relationships and self-understandings, "--NoveList.

Redefining Realness

288 pages

In 2011, Marie Claire magazine published a profile of Janet Mock in which she publicly stepped forward for the first time as a trans woman. Since then, Mock has gone from covering the red carpet for People.com to advocating for all those who live within the shadows of society. Redefining Realness offers a bold new perspective on being young, multiracial, economically challenged and transgender in America.

Far From the Tree

976 pages

This book offers a profound exploration of queerness, disability, and the complexities of family dynamics, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding what it means to be the 'black sheep' of the family.

Stone Butch Blues

301 pages

Jess, a working-class woman living as a man, survives a period of homelessness, tries to unionize fellow workers, worries about being found out, and searches for community while undergoing a secret transsexual operation

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet

416 pages

This book is a super interesting read for sci-fi fans, exploring LGBT relationships in a fun and engaging way.

Never a Girl, Always a Boy

315 pages

This memoir offers a heartfelt perspective from a mother learning to support her transgender son, making it a valuable read for anyone looking to understand the journey of acceptance and love.

Over the Top

288 pages

A captivating memoir that showcases the author's vibrant personality and experiences, making it a must-read for those who appreciate authenticity and self-discovery.

The Song of Achilles

370 pages

This book beautifully explores LGBT+ relationships in a fictional setting, making it a compelling read for those interested in love and mythology.

Carol

262 pages

Carol offers a poignant look at LGBT+ relationships, capturing the emotional depth and struggles of love in a society that often doesn't accept it.

Homosexual Behaviour in Animals

408 pages

Behavioural observations from both the field and captivity indicate that same-sex sexual interactions are widespread throughout the animal kingdom, and occur quite frequently in certain non-human species. Proximate studies of these phenomena have yielded important insights into genetic, hormonal and neural correlates. In contrast, there has been a relative paucity of research on the evolutionary aspects. Homosexual Behaviour in Animals seeks to readdress this imbalance by exploring animal same-sex sexual behaviour from an evolutionary perspective. Contributions focus on animals that routinely engage in homosexual behaviour and include birds, dolphin, deer, bison and cats, as well as monkey and apes, such as macaques, gorillas and bonobos. A final chapter looks at human primates. This book will appeal to graduate students and researchers in evolutionary biology, biological anthropology, zoology, evolutionary psychology, animal behaviour and anyone interested in the current state of knowledge in this area of behavioural studies.

The Binding

503 pages

The Binding weaves a fascinating tale that intertwines LGBT+ themes with a unique fantasy setting, making it a captivating read.

Conduct Unbecoming

836 pages

This book offers a deep dive into the struggles of the LGBT community in the military, showcasing real stories that highlight the fight for acceptance and rights.

And The Band Played on

666 pages

This powerful narrative explores the AIDS crisis, illustrating how the community united to advocate for better treatment and support during a challenging time.

How We Fight for Our Lives

224 pages

From award-winning poet Saeed Jones, How We Fight for Our Lives—winner of the Kirkus Prize and the Stonewall Book Award—is a “moving, bracingly honest memoir” (The New York Times Book Review) written at the crossroads of sex, race, and power. One of the best books of the year as selected by The New York Times; The Washington Post; NPR; Time; The New Yorker; O, The Oprah Magazine; Harper’s Bazaar; Elle; BuzzFeed; Goodreads; and many more. “People don’t just happen,” writes Saeed Jones. “We sacrifice former versions of ourselves. We sacrifice the people who dared to raise us. The ‘I’ it seems doesn’t exist until we are able to say, ‘I am no longer yours.’” Haunted and haunting, How We Fight for Our Lives is a stunning coming-of-age memoir about a young, black, gay man from the South as he fights to carve out a place for himself, within his family, within his country, within his own hopes, desires, and fears. Through a series of vignettes that chart a course across the American landscape, Jones draws readers into his boyhood and adolescence—into tumultuous relationships with his family, into passing flings with lovers, friends, and strangers. Each piece builds into a larger examination of race and queerness, power and vulnerability, love and grief: a portrait of what we all do for one another—and to one another—as we fight to become ourselves. An award-winning poet, Jones has developed a style that’s as beautiful as it is powerful—a voice that’s by turns a river, a blues, and a nightscape set ablaze. How We Fight for Our Lives is a one-of-a-kind memoir and a book that cements Saeed Jones as an essential writer for our time.

Homosexuality and Civilization

652 pages

This book offers a scholarly perspective on the historical acceptance of homosexuality, particularly in the West, while also touching on China and Japan. It presents a neutral tone and delves into how societal attitudes shifted with the rise of Christianity, making it a thought-provoking read despite its challenging nature.

God and the Gay Christian

226 pages

This book offers a thoughtful perspective on reconciling faith and sexuality, making it a must-read for those navigating these complex issues.

On Privilege, Fraudulence, and Teaching As Learning

243 pages

This paper offers a profound understanding of discrimination in daily life, serving as a crucial eye-opener on societal issues.

The History of Sexuality: 1

155 pages

'A brilliant display of fireworks, attacking the widespread and banal notion that "in the beginning" sexual activity was guilt-free and delicious, being repressed and blighted only by the gloom of Victorianism' Spectator We talk about sex more and more, but are we more liberated? The first part of Michel Foucault's landmark account of our evolving attitudes in the west shows how the nineteenth century, far from suppressing sexuality, led to an explosion of discussion about sex as a separate sphere of life for study and examination. As a result, he argues, we are making a science of sex which is devoted to the analysis of desire rather than the increase of pleasure. 'A wealth of insights, original conceptualizations and provocative ideas' The Times Literary Supplement

The Abyss: A Novel

118 pages

Fernando Vallejo's work offers a unique perspective on the Colombian drug war, blending personal narrative with broader social issues, making it a compelling read for those looking to enhance their understanding and empathy for marginalized communities.

Sister Outsider

193 pages

Presenting the essential writings of black lesbian poet and feminist writer Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider celebrates an influential voice in twentieth-century literature. “[Lorde's] works will be important to those truly interested in growing up sensitive, intelligent, and aware.”—The New York Times In this charged collection of fifteen essays and speeches, Lorde takes on sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and class, and propounds social difference as a vehicle for action and change. Her prose is incisive, unflinching, and lyrical, reflecting struggle but ultimately offering messages of hope. This commemorative edition includes a new foreword by Lorde-scholar and poet Cheryl Clarke, who celebrates the ways in which Lorde's philosophies resonate more than twenty years after they were first published. These landmark writings are, in Lorde's own words, a call to “never close our eyes to the terror, to the chaos which is Black which is creative which is female which is dark which is rejected which is messy which is . . . ”

Giovanni's Room

189 pages

One of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World' Baldwin's ground-breaking second novel, which established him as one of the great American writers of his time David, a young American in 1950s Paris, is waiting for his fiancée to return from vacation in Spain. But when he meets Giovanni, a handsome Italian barman, the two men are drawn into an intense affair. After three months David's fiancée returns and, denying his true nature, he rejects Giovanni for a 'safe' future as a married man. His decision eventually brings tragedy. Filled with passion, regret and longing, this story of a fated love triangle has become a landmark of gay writing. James Baldwin caused outrage as a black author writing about white homosexuals, yet for him the issues of race, sexuality and personal freedom were eternally intertwined. 'Exquisite... a feat of fire-breathing, imaginative daring' Guardian 'Excruciating beauty' San Francisco Chronicle 'Audacious... remarkable... elegant and courageous' Caryl Phillips

The Celluloid Closet

387 pages

Examines the portrayal of homosexual characters in the movies and how it reflects society's beliefs and misconceptions.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

400 pages

It's a captivating story that beautifully explores the complexities of love and identity within the LGBTQ+ community.

When We Rise

291 pages

This book offers a powerful insight into the life of a queer activist during the AIDS epidemic and the early LGBT+ rights movement, making it a must-read for anyone interested in social justice and history.

Cemetery Boys

271 pages

A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas's New York Times-bestselling paranormal YA debut Cemetery Boys, described by Entertainment Weekly as "groundbreaking." Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave. Praise for Cemetery Boys: Longlisted for the National Book Award "The novel perfectly balances the vibrant, energetic Latinx culture while delving into heavy topics like LGBTQ+ acceptance, deportation, colonization, and racism within authoritative establishments." —TeenVogue.com "This stunning debut novel from Thomas is detailed, heart-rending, and immensely romantic. I was bawling by the end of it, but not from sadness: I just felt so incredibly happy that this queer Latinx adventure will get to be read by other kids. Cemetery Boys is necessary: for trans kids, for queer kids, for those in the Latinx community who need to see themselves on the page. Don’t miss this book." —Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift

Ace

226 pages

This book delves into asexuality while also exploring broader themes of sexuality, orientation, love, and romance, making it a fascinating read for anyone interested in understanding human nature.

Felix Ever After

314 pages

Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution, the new heart-melting and joyful novel by Kacen Callender, is now available for pre-order. From award-winning author Kacen Callender comes a revelatory YA novel about a transgender teen grappling with identity and self-discovery while falling in love for the first time. Felix Love has never been in love - and, yes, he's painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it's like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What's worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he's one marginalisation too many - Black, queer and transgender - to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages - after publicly posting Felix's deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned - Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn't count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi-love triangle . . . But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognising the love you deserve. 'Definitely not a book to be missed.' Buzzfeed 'This book is a gift, from start to finish.' Becky Albertalli, bestselling author of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda 'An intricate love story for the ages.' CNN Underscored 'A firecracker of a book . Teens need this one.' Casey McQuiston, bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue 'Bold, empathetic coming-of-age story.' The Bookseller 'Perfectly balances hardship, hope and happiness.' Nic Stone, bestselling author of Dear Martin 'An essential purchase.' SLJ (starred review) 'B oldly empathic, hopeful, and full of love.' Publisher's Weekly 'Beautiful.' justin a. reynolds, author of Opposite of Always 'An unforgettable story.' ALA Booklist (starred review) 'S mart and engaging.' Horn Book Magazine