Summer is here and there’s no better way to kick off a season of warm togetherness than by celebrating Pride Month! First recognized during the Clinton administration, June has been designated in America as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in order to celebrate, remember, and honor those who were involved in the Stonewall riots in June of 1969. If you have the celebration part down, we can help you with the recognition and honor aspect! Make the library one of your stops this month in order to browse our excellent displays on the 2nd floor and in the teen area.
So, is this the year that you brush up on your knowledge about historical activism for LGBTQ+ rights? I recommend that you start with “The Stonewall Generation: LGBTQ Elders on Sex, Activism, and Aging” (306.76 Sto) to hear first-hand accounts from activists who lived when the early Pride Marches were truly political actions. Then, pick up the fictional but utterly informative and gut-punching play “Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes” by Tony Kushner to experience the dark of the 1980’s and how the AIDS epidemic affected Americans; or, bring your understanding of the issue right up to moderns times with Samantha Allen’s “Real Queer America: LGBT Stories From Red States” (306.76 All). Other overviews include “The Book of Pride: LGBTQ Heroes Who Changed the World” by Mason Funk (920.00866 Fun) and “Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression” by Iris Gottlieb (305.3 Got)–these fairly slim books pack a lot of information in!
If you’re looking to enrich your understanding of one of the segments of the LGTBQIA+ community, we have lots of options for you. Explore the ‘Q’ by picking up “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe (GN FIC Kob) for an intimate look at one individual’s experience with settling into their own gender identity–or read up on the history of queer Americans in “Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments” by Saidiya V. Hartman (305.48 Har) and “When Brooklyn Was Queer” by Hugh Ryan (306.76 Rya). Investigate ‘T’ stories with “Transgender 101” by Nicholas M. Teich (306.768 Tei) or one of the many fiction options now available, like “Felix Ever After” (YA FIC Cal) and “Cemetery Boys” (YA FIC Tho).
Looking for a pure romance read? All parts of the LGBTQ spectrum are represented in fiction now and the options are bountiful! Casey McQuiston’s bestselling “Red, White, and Royal Blue” (FIC McQ), featuring a love story between a Prince of England and the First Son of the U.S. President, is utterly unmissable and has been featured on ALL the reading lists over the past few years. Readalikes featuring gay couples and the opposites attract trope include “Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall (FIC Hal) and “Conventionally Yours” by Annabeth Albert (FIC Alb). If you’d prefer something similar but featuring an F/F relationship, try “Written in the Stars” by Alexandria Bellefleur (FIC Bel), “Something to Talk About” by Meryl Wilsner (FIC Wil), or “Honey Girl” by Morgan Rogers (FIC Rog).
No matter your preferences, there’s a book and a place for everyone at the public library! We sincerely hope you’ll drop by to take part in our celebration this month, and don’t be afraid to let us know if you’re looking for more reading recommendations along these lines. Cheers!
Shelbi Hoover is the Library/Digital Communications Assistant at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
