Looking to add some more books to your TBR?
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES VIA CROSSING PRESS, TOPPLE BOOKS & LITTLE A, CANONGATE BOOKS
Pride Month is in full swing! If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate, why not head to your local bookstore? Here are some essential reads we think should be on everyone’s bookshelves to celebrate the entirety of our beautiful LGBTQIA+ community.
Zami: A New Spelling Of My Name by Audre Lorde
Often regarded as one of the most influential books of all time, Zami is Audre Lorde’s biomythography. Its title, Zami, is a Carriacou name for women who work together as friends and lovers. The book tracks Audre’s life, love and the women who shaped her alongside her own exploration of sexuality and coming out as a lesbian.
How To Survive A Plague by David France
This powerfully moving story focuses on the AIDS epidemic and the grassroots movement of activists who stood up for the LGBTQIA+ community when they needed it most. Telling the story of dozens of individuals, David France’s account offers unique insight into this pivotal moment of our history.
It Ain’t Over Til the Bisexual Speaks
With contributors like Shiri Eisner, Hafsa Qureshi, Zachary Zane and more, this anthology unpacks the bisexual experience with the nuance it deserves. Essays focus on intersectionality, sexual violence, class identity, religion and more. It’s a vital read for anyone who wants to learn more about the rich diversity of the bisexual community.
None Of The Above by Travis Alabanza
In this memoir, Travis Alabanza examines seven phrases people have said to them about their gender identity. Some of these are loaded or offensive, others are celebratory. Regardless, these phrases speak to the broader issues of living in a world that insists gender must be binary. By recounting these phrases, Travis dives into their experiences as a Black, mixed-race non-binary person and asks us to question the way society treats one another.
The Stonewall Riot Reader by Jason Baumann and Edmund White
We might not even have a Pride Month to celebrate without the legendary Stonewall Uprising of 1969. Drawing from the New York Public Library’s archives, this book is a collection of firsthand accounts, diaries and articles from LGBTQIA+ magazines and newspapers that documented the years leading up to the Stonewall Uprising. It also shines a light on some of the forgotten figures who were pivotal in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.
Nobody Needs To Know by Pidgeon Pagonis
This inspiring memoir tells the story of intersex activist Pidgeon Pagonis’ life, identity, family secrets and the healing power of truth. In this book, Pidgeon discusses the painful yet joyous journey of self-love when they found out they had been born intersex. It’s a powerful exploration of a system hell-bent on enforcing binary definitions, and the empowerment that comes from knowing your story fully.
Ace Voices by Eris Young
Drawing on interviews with a wide range of people across the asexual spectrum, this book is the ace community in their own words. With chapters about everything from dating to mental health, this book explores the diverse experiences within the asexual community.
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