Books shape our identities: LGBTQ+ titles we hold close to our hearts

USA Today

9 hours ago

Books shape our identities: LGBTQ+ titles we hold close to our hearts
Books are more than just escapist entertainment – reading has the power to transform your outlook and expand your worldview.
It's especially important, then, to feel represented in the books we read. For some LGBTQ+ readers, seeing ourselves in literature was the first time we felt permission to be ourselves. Hearing stories from queer elders offers a glimpse at the joy to come for youth who may not feel supported in their families and communities.
In celebration of Pride Month, these are the books that raised us as LGBTQ+ journalists.
'Old Enough' by Haley Jakobson
This college campus novel is brimming with queer joy while carefully handling topics like mental health, sexual assault and outgrown friendships. 'Old Enough' closely holds anyone who is a survivor of sexual assault, which bisexual women face at disproportionately higher rates. I found so much comfort in Sav's journey. Jakobson is a witty and lyrical contemporary writer and an Instagram must-follow for anyone identifying as bi+. – Clare Mulroy, Books reporter
'Secret City' by James Kirchick
I'd read plenty of LGBTQ+ fiction but hadn't dipped my (gay) toe into much nonfiction. This book taught me so much about the city I live in – how queer people's presence and lack thereof shaped presidential administrations, employment decisions and everyone's ability to be openly themselves. Today, as LGBTQ+ rights face pushback across the country, my queer predecessors gave me hope that equality will prevail. – David Oliver, Wellness editor
'Me Talk Pretty One Day' by David Sedaris
On one of the final days of 8th grade, my class was given a list of books we could read over the summer. My English teacher recommended "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris. I think it was the first time I'd read anything by a gay author, and one of my first experiences with creative nonfiction as a genre. Aside from humorous essays about his family and his experience living in France with his partner, Sedaris silently confirmed to me that being gay didn't have to mean living a life of shame – a message I certainly wasn't getting otherwise. – Sara Pequeño, Opinion columnist
'Hola Papi' by John Paul Brammer
Few memoirs have captured my attention the way John Paul Brammer's "Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons" did. I had known I was gay probably before I had the language to express it (but, seriously, who plays with Barbies as rabidly as I did? Even at 5, it was obvious) and yet I found myself grappling with the same age-old questions of identity and community. Brammer's brilliant, witty memoir gave me a framework of self-compassion to reflect on all the messy, similar-but-different experiences we had. I closed the book feeling as if he had spoken directly to me. – Drew Atkins, Opinion digital producer
'Gay Bar' by Jeremy Atherton Lin
"Gay Bar: Why We Went Out" is a beautiful blend of memoir and well-researched queer history, looking at how the closure of LGBTQ+ bars has impacted the queer community. I first read this in 2023 and have plans to read it again soon. Throughout the entire book, I felt as if I were there with Jeremy at the fantastic queer spaces he visited, while feeling simultaneously inspired as a writer of the community. There really is nothing like a hole-in-the-wall bar with permanently sticky floors and stained ceiling tiles. – Greta Cross, national trending reporter
'Delilah Green Doesn't Care' by Ashley Herring Blake
I love romance books, and this is one of the first sapphic romance books I read. Just like any of my favorites from the genre, it had me giggling and kicking my feet. It was also so affirming to see a bisexual main character whose community didn't question her sexuality. Plus, I love that the romance trope of opposites attract was alive and well in this book! I recommend the "Bright Falls" series to any romance lover. – Kinsey Crowley, Trump Connect reporter for USA TODAY Network