8 queer books to read this Pride Month

Amelia Abraham, Queer Intentions: A (personal) journey through LGBTQ+ culture

Hot off the press, Amelia Abraham’s Queer Intentions offers an honest and thought-provoking look at contemporary queer culture. Mixing reportage with personal experiences, the young British journalist and Dazed editor travels the world in search of what makes up the queer experience today: from the first same-sex marriage in Britain to RuPaul’s drag convention in L.A. via the underground clubs of Istanbul. “A brilliant book,” said political commentator Owen Jones, “Eloquent, empathetic and passionate, this book will not just resonate with a new generation of queer people, but with all those who seek to be their allies.”

Queer Intentions: A (personal) journey through LGBTQ+ culture is published by Picador and available to buy now

Jacob Tobia, Sissy

Gender non-conforming writer, producer and performer Jacob Tobia graces us with their debut memoir, Sissy. Through childhood anecdotes and vivid meditations, the young self-proclaimed ‘gender-chill’ writer takes us on a poignant-yet-humorous journey that questions everything we thought we knew about gender. At only 27, Jacob Tobia — listed both in the Forbes ‘30 under 30’ and ‘OUT 100’ lists — is set to become one of the leading voices in contemporary queer culture, and we’re here for it.

Sissy is published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and available to buy now

Tommy Pico, Feed

If you don’t yet know Tommy Pico, you’re in for a treat. The Indigenous American poet, writer and Food4Thot podcast host has published four poetry books in less than three years, won a 2018 Whiting Award and isn’t showing signs of slowing down. Having said that, this new opus is actually, supposedly, the final in the Teebs Cycle. Fueled with Pico’s signature offbeat poetry and lyrical crassness, Feed asks serious questions: what’s the difference between being alone and being lonely? But, most importantly, how do you make a perfect mac & cheese?

Feed is published by Tin House and is available to buy from November following Pico’s works IRL, Nature Poem, and Junk which are available now

Ocean Vuong, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

The debut novel of multi-award winning poet and author Ocean Vuong, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, tells the story of a family conflict that plays out against a backdrop of wider issues concerning race, class and gender. The novel takes the form of a letter from a son to a mother, as he unearths revelations about his family’s past and captures a particular immigrant experience that is at times devastating, yet tender. A tale of origins, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous poses critical questions about contemporary American society and asks how we can move forward as a community without erasing individual identities.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is published by Jonathan Cape, an imprint of Penguin Books, and is available from June 20

Art After Stonewall, 1969-1989

Art was always central to the development, representation and celebration of LGBTQ+ rights. In this new volume, published by Rizzoli, over 200 works illustrate twenty years of struggles and success in American queer life. A number of queer artists are featured, from Nan Goldin, Lyle Ashton Harris, Robert Mapplethorpe and Andy Warhol. Departing from the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 — a key milestones in the LGBTQ+ rights movement — the book documents the lives and works of artists whose cultural and political engagement have formed integral part of the movement. The perfect coffee table book to reflect on queer art, half a century after Stonewall.

Art After Stonewall, 1969-1989 is published by Rizzoli and available to buy now

Dustin Lance Black, Mama’s Boy

While filmmaker and social activist Dustin Lance Black is best known for his Oscar-winning screenplay Milk, a biographical tale about gay rights activist Harvey Milk, and role in overturning an anti-gay marriage proposal in California in 2008, it is his upbringing in a conservative Mormon household in Texas that acts as a foundation for an exploration of family and personal turmoil in his deeply emotional memoir, Mama’s Boy. When Lance came out at the age of twenty-one, the conflict between faith and his sexuality was one that marked a deep division for his family. However, as complicated as familial ties may be, so too can they act as a source of courage and purpose. The autobiography provides a shining beacon of hope as a tribute to building bridges across social divides at a time when people need some reassurance that love very much still has the power of conquering hate.

Mama’s Boy is published by Knopf and is available to buy now

Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown, We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation

At a time when queer and trans people still face oppressive laws and everyday violence, remembering the legacy of resistance is more important than ever. A rich and engaging photographic document of the Queer Liberation Movement, We Are Everywhere features a narrative curation of images tracing queer activism since its beginnings in the late nineteenth century. Written by the creators of popular Instagram account @lgbt_history, the book provides an essential introduction to the fight for gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights that had formed a strong foundation long before the Stonewall Riots. With images preceding and following the marches of ‘69, the compendium seeks to honour the memory of intersectional activism in all its moments of celebration, suffering and Pride.

We Are Everywhere is published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and is available to buy now

Hugh Ryan, When Brooklyn Was Queer

When Brooklyn Was Queer captures a unifying and poignant queer experience through the lens of the intoxicating allure of one of New York’s most diverse and iconic quartiers. The book offers an intimate and vivid portrait of a community of queer figures including artists, drag kings, activists and brothel owners and acts as a platform for stories that have been lost through systematic social erasure and gentrification. An evocative and nostalgic tribute to forgotten histories, the book comprises a series of compelling narratives that span over a century, from the nineteenth century literary scene to the post-war artists and activists who lived in the suburb. Ryan not only tells the tales of the remarkable individuals, but also shines a light on the impact that various historical events, such as the demise of Coney Island and the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, have also had on marginalised communities.

When Brooklyn was Queer is published by Macmillan and is available to buy now