The best books to pick up this Pride Month and celebrate LGBTQ+ voices
Pride month is a necessary time to reflect, educate and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, but it may also be when people of any age feel most comfortable coming out.
So, here is a whole host of reads for people coming out at any age, or just for people who want to celebrate LGBTQ+ voices, and learn about their experiences.
For kids and teens…
Global fairy tales have been joyfully reclaimed in this collection, with stories from across the world featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Representative of so many members of the community and brought to life with vibrant illustrations.
A beautiful exploration of family, self-discovery and adventure for kids, that is underpinned by empathy and emotion. Warm, life-affirming goodness from a celeb journalist turned author.
The author who defined many millennials’ childhoods with countless classic reads also penned this brilliant tale of young LGBTQ+ love and friendship in the face of adversity.
The romantic comedy every LGBTQ+ person needed growing up, this is a great read for teens, with global adventures, musical talent and young love. Heart-warming stuff.
Written by TikTok star couple MacKinnon and Payne, Love is Love is a brand new guide for Gen Z and younger to discuss coming out, essential things to know, as well as offering reassuring advice and an open door to the community.
Adapted into a much-loved Netflix show, Nick and Charlie are THE LGBTQ+ couple of Gen Z – and with welcoming conversations about gender identity, coming out and healthy relationships, the Heartstopper graphic novels series by Alice Oseman is a great pick for teens. The fifth volume is due out later this year.
Written by bestselling trans author Juno Dawson, Her Majesty’s Royal Coven is a tale of magic, mystery, love and identity – and looks set to become a YA classic.
For grown-ups…
If you are looking for a deeper understanding of the need and fight for LGBTQ+ rights around the world, this book is for you. Gevisser explores the activists fighting for change and the socio-political landscape of LGBTQ+ rights across the world.
A gorgeous tale of family, liberation and love, this hugely popular novel explores de-transitioning and its emotional and physical implications, acceptance, and the wild world of New York living.
This incredible murder-mystery novel is a feat of literary genius, engaging with themes of love, family and identity, while also weaving together an incredible narrative of LGBTQ+ struggle.
Released in 2019 for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, The Stonewall Reader is a chronicle of progress and reflection on the people who were both at the forefront and in the background of this vital movement. An excellent snippet of integral LGBTQ+ history.