Jon Paul Higgins, Ed.D, is an educator, cultural critic, social justice leader—and now, an author. If you’ve spent any time on queer social media in the last few years, you’re likely already familiar with Higgins, also known as Doctor Jon Paul. But if not, the release of their debut book, Black. Fat. Femme: Revealing the Power […]
Category: Books
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Queer Lit Matchmaker: What to read after your favorite LGBTQ+ novel
Love a good queer read and want more where that came from? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re still thinking about Evelyn Hugo or rooting for Nick and Charlie, here’s a lineup of books that bring similar feels—with fresh voices, big emotions, and LGBTQ+ stories that stick with you. If you loved “The Seven Husbands […]
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From tuxedos to tattoos, Eleanor Medhurst’s “Unsuitable” traces a hidden history of lesbian fashion
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Blues singer Gladys Bentley was a dazzling star of the Harlem Renaissance, a period in the 1920s and ’30s when African American culture flourished in New York City. Bentley’s risqué performances intrigued audiences. So did the entertainer’s relationships with […]
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Activist Riki Wilchins tackles New York Times’s controversial coverage of trans issues
The New York Times’ trans coverage has been the subject of strong controversy for the last few years, with the newspaper itself making headlines for how its stories platformed anti-trans groups instead of real trans individuals. Author and trans activist Riki Wilchins set out to chronicle that phenomenon. In Wilchins’s new book, Bad Ink: How The […]
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Nico Lang’s book, “American Teenager,” shines a thoughtful spotlight on the everyday lives of trans youth
Early on in Nico Lang’s debut book, “American Teenager,” readers meet Wyatt, a transgender teen living in South Dakota. A sensitive and kind ballet student, Wyatt and his family open their hearts and home to Lang. Wyatt, who was 15 at the time of Lang’s interview, shares that he had to grow up fast as […]
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What’s behind the astonishing rise in LGBTQ+ romance literature?
A major transformation is underway in Romancelandia. Once upon a time, romance novels from major U.S. publishers featured only heterosexual couples. Today, the five biggest publishers regularly release same-sex love stories. From May 2022 to May 2023, sales of LGBTQ+ romance grew by 40%, with the next biggest jump in this period occurring for general […]
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Top 5 banned books in U.S. have LGBTQ+ content, ALA report shows
This week, the American Library Association released its “2024 State of America’s Libraries” report. This year’s report heavily focuses on censorship, book bans and book challenges libraries across the country have been facing. In the report’s introduction, titled “These Are Not Ordinary Times,” ALA president Emily Drabinski shared the challenges facing U.S. libraries. “The unprecedented wave of organized censorship […]
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Queer Liberation Library: A new chapter in literary LGBTQ+ access and representation
For queer literature lovers, there’s good news. The Queer Liberation Library is open and ready to share LGBTQ+-focused content nationwide. Started by librarian Kieran Hickey and a group of like-minded friends, including fellow librarian Amber Dierking, the QLL debuted in the fall of 2023 and has already captured media attention and a long list of […]
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News is Good: Laphonza Butler makes it official, a new YA release by Ryan La Sala and more
Our weekly column, News is Good, features positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Sen. Laphonza Butler sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris. This Tuesday, […]
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Bisexual representation in literature: 20 books that celebrate diverse bi+ experiences
Bisexual Awareness Week is the perfect excuse to dive into these twenty books featuring bi+ characters and stories. However, there’s so much to love in this list that you’ll want to read these books all year long. From rakish bisexual lords to lovelorn accountants to real-life tales of exploration and discovery, there’s something for everyone. […]
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TikTok star B. Dylan Hollis’ recipe for international success
During the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bermudian B. Dylan Hollis was attending university in Wyoming and wondering how to quell the boredom of quarantine. When Hollis picked up an old recipe book and started making funny and relatable videos of his baking adventures (and misadventures), he quickly rose to fame with millions of […]
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Anastasia-Renée’s “Side Notes from the Archivist”
Anastacia-Renée is an award-winning writer, educator, interdisciplinary artist, TEDx speaker, 2020 Arc Fellow (4Culture), Jack Straw Curator, podcaster, and served as Seattle’s Civic Poet. Her fascinating new book of poetry is called “Side Notes from the Archivist.” As the title implies, the book is a historical document that provides insight into five decades of American […]
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Joanna McClintick’s ode to children and queer resistance
Together we are strong, is the unifying message of Joanna McClintick’s debut children’s book “Twas the Night Before Pride,” based on a poem McClintick wrote when they were still hoping to start their own family. As they prepared to become a parent, they found it increasingly problematic that most of the children’s books they encountered, […]
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Journalist Kevin Naff on his book “How We Won the War for LGBTQ Equality” and the battle to come
On the heels of his 20-year anniversary at the Washington Blade, Editor Kevin Naff is looking back on some of the biggest stories that shaped the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. His book, “How We Won the War for LGBTQ Equality — And How Our Enemies Could Take It All Away,” features curated writings from Naff’s two decades at the […]
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News is Good: Grand Haven, MI’s first Pride, a festival hit on VOD and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Grand Haven, Michigan, to celebrate first ever Pride […]
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LGBTQ+ Changemaker: Author Ryan La Sala
The LGBTQ+ Changemakers series features LGBTQ+ people all over the country who are making a difference through visibility and ingenuity. Ryan La Sala’s star isn’t just on the rise–it’s surging into the stratosphere. The fantasy and young adult author, who uses he/they/pronouns, has written three acclaimed queer YA books with another coming out in October. […]
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News is Good: The Lammys announce finalists, celebrating the Queer Prairies and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Theme of the 2023 Capital Pride celebration revealed. […]
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Banned Books Week is a reminder of why we need to fight for LGBTQ+ content
Book burnings evoke thoughts of Europe nearly a century ago, but they’re being suggested here in the U.S. this year under a scary climate that is trying to eliminate all LGBTQ+ books from the shelves of public libraries and schools—and not enough people are talking about it or trying to stop it. Many hope to […]