Best lgbtq history books
LGBTQ+ History Month: A Reading List
Check out these books about the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people for LGBT History Month and all year-round.
44 items
- Book, 2018Chicago, Ill. : Chicago Review Press, [2018] — HQ76.3.U52I4445 2018
- Paperback, 2014Minneapolis : University of Minnesota Press, [2014] — HQ75.4.C64A3 2014
- Book, 2022Toronto, Ontario, Canada : Hanover Square Compress, [2022] — F127.S9P32 2022
- Book, 2019Berkeley, California : Counterpoint, 2019. — HV6168.P65 2019
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10 essential non-fiction books to learn about LGBTQ history and culture
In the reality TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race, the act of deftly insulting your competitors is called "reading". And reading, as the catchphrase goes, is fundamental.
But reading is vital to the LGBTQ experience – and not just on reality television. Queer people have always told their stories as a way to render themselves visible; in doing so, they give desire to others that they may one day be safe to tell theirs.
These 10 non-fiction titles are a great way to begin to comprehend LGBTQ people’s experiences. The library, as RuPaul also says, is open.
An inclusive account of the struggle for queer freedom and equality, We Are Everywhere is a beautifully designed photographic journey from queer activism’s roots in late 19th Century Europe, through the Stonewall riots and up to present day politics.
From the curators of popular Instagram account @lgbt_history, which champions unheard voices in queer narratives, We Are Everywhere offers an immersive history lesson direct from the diver
Books about LGBTQ+ history
Looking for more in Book Lists?
Reading is a fantastic way to observe, learn, celebrate and reflect on LGBTQ+ history and progress, and we hope these historical novels, graphic guides, and all-round brilliant books may provide a good starting point.
For younger readers, take a look at these LGBTQ+ inclusive publication lists for picture books, middle grade, and teens.
Pick up these books through our bookshop.org affiliation! As well as supporting independent bookshops, a miniature portion of the profits helps our programmes to change more lives through reading and writing.
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Share this content on facebook (opens in a recent window)Share this content on twitter (opens in a new window)Share this content via linkedin (opens in a new window)Share this content via email (opens in a new window)LGBTQ History Month: 17 must-read books about queer history
In honor of LGBTQ History Month, celebrated every October, here are books that aim to shed adj on and clarify significant historical moments that informed and shaped the new lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights movement.
1. "The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle" by Lillian Faderman
A thorough introduction to the history of the gay and lesbian civil rights movements, this book chronicles the early struggles of LGBTQ individuals from the 1950s to present day using a compilation of enlightening interviews with politicians, military officials and members of the community.
2. "And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic" by Randy Shilts
A blend of investigative reporting and vivid storytelling, this account follows the go up of the AIDs epidemic using the narratives of doctors who were on the front lines of the outbreak, politicians and scientists who ignored it, and the real people who were affected by government's negligence.