Happy Pride Month! As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I love reading queer stories. I also love to encourage others to explore them, expand their world, and experience new outlooks on life, especially during Pride Month. Now is the perfect time to find your new favorite queer author and maybe learn a thing or two along the way.
1. “Interesting Facts About Space” by Emily Austin
Austin is one of those writers you have to read to understand. She has a unique style that truly captures the essence of anxious queer women today. This story follows Enid as she begins to suspect someone is watching her while trying to navigate dating, family drama, and her own mental health. That also opens up a truly intriguing conversation about why women seem drawn to true crime and how to respectfully consume content based on terrible things.
2. “Dear Bi Men: A Black Man’s Perspective on Power, Consent, Breaking Down Binaries, and Combating Erasure” by J.R. Yussuf
This non-fiction account of life as a black bisexual man by J.R. Yussuf was impossible to stop reading, and I recommend that everyone get a copy of it now. It highlights the importance of recognizing that intersectional pride is necessary; my experiences as a white queer person are different from a queer person of color. Anyone looking for a sense of catharsis or an understanding of the bisexual experience would love reading this.
3. Experienced by “Kate Young”
This book follows a young, newly-out lesbian who is told by her first girlfriend that she needs to get out there and experience more. It is a tender exploration of self-discovery, with steamy, sweet romance and a lot of fun. It’s also a coming-out and coming-of-age story about a young queer woman finding her place in the world on her own time and learning the many different ways love can manifest. This story was pure queer joy.
4. “A Place of Our Own” by June Thomas
This book is a place for queer women, and I absolutely loved it. Thomas explores queer history through six iconic locations that have been home to queer women, places of gathering, protests, and celebration and coming together in a shared experience. It also brings a blend of well-researched archive documents and interviews that capture history, lore, and culture, along with deeply personable writing and Thomas’ own thoughts and experiences, to make something very easy to read and utterly moreish.
5. “Queer as Folklore” by Sacha Coward
From the ruins of Ancient Greece to the main stage of RuPaul’s Drag Race, “Queer as Folklore” is a magnificent new look at queer history and legend.
Throughout history, queer folk have been forced to live in secrecy. They were telling stories about magic and fantasy to keep their dreams and hopes alive. It gave way to lasting myths and tales of wonder that have prevailed through the years. “Queer as Folklore” journeys into the tales of our history. Additionally, it exposes the beautiful queerness that has always been there and how it has been woven into our stories and myths.
And just remember: Pride Month isn’t only for June but every day!
Featured image via Isi Parente on Unsplash
