We find ourselves in a season of reflection — a time to draw loved ones close, express gratitude, and prepare for the upcoming holidays. Yet this season also brings its share of uncertainty and concern for the LGBTQ+ community, especially in the wake of the 2024 election. For many, there’s a renewed fear about the future, the security of our hard-won rights, and the safety of our spaces.
In these challenging times, turning to literature can be both a comfort and a powerful act of resistance. This month’s book picks amplify voices across our community: voices of trans people, people of color, and others whose stories are too often overlooked. From novels that weave together generational stories to memoirs that speak of courage and transformation, each book offers a chance to connect, understand, and uplift voices that matter deeply, now more than ever.
Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
Leslie Feinberg’s 1993 novel follows Jess Goldberg, a working-class butch lesbian navigating the turbulent social landscape of the 1960s and 70s. From her early struggles with rigid gender expectations to her experiences of police violence and alienation, Jess’s journey is one of survival, resilience, and the complex search for identity. Feinberg’s work weaves together Jess’s journey of self-discovery with the broader struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, showing how individual lives are shaped by and contribute to the fight for social change.
“A gift from one of the most inspiring and revolutionary voices of our time.” ― Emanuel Xavier, author of Americano
Janet Mock’s memoir recounts her experiences as a multiracial transgender woman growing up in the United States. In it, she describes facing poverty, marginalization, and the challenges of understanding her identity. With unflinching honesty, Redefining Realness offers an intimate look at the trans experience, highlighting the resilience, self-acceptance, and authenticity it takes to embrace our true selves.
“An eye-opening and unapologetic story that is much greater than mere disclosure.... An enlightening, much-needed perspective on transgender identity.” ― Kirkus Reviews
3. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
This groundbreaking, Booker Prize-winning novel interweaves the lives of twelve central characters, most of whom are queer women of color. Spanning generations and backgrounds, these characters — ranging from a Black lesbian playwright to a nonbinary social media influencer — navigate themes of family, love, identity, and resilience. It’s a powerful, hopeful novel that celebrates connection and community, reminding us that the ties that bind us are often stronger than the forces that try to pull us apart.
“The novel flows seamlessly, like water, from thought to thought, character to character . . . Eminently readable and emotionally intense.”— New York Journal of Books
5. We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation by Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown
This visually stunning journey through LGBTQ+ activism combines powerful essays with over 300 curated photographs, tracing the history of queer liberation from the late 1800s to today. Through the lenses of protest, power, and pride, We Are Everywhere offers glimpses of activism before and after Stonewall, capturing family life, marches, protests, celebrations, mourning, and Pride. In challenging mainstream assumptions about LGBTQ+ history, it reveals how honoring the past can help shape a more inclusive future.
“A beautiful, crucial, and engaging celebration of the queer community and our history.”— Blair Imani, author of Modern HERstory
Looking to expand your queer bookshelf? 🌈 Check out our Amazon storefront for a curated selection of LGBTQ+ books, from romances to memoirs and beyond. Support queer literature and find your next great read today! 📚✨