The list was put together by James Mulder, a Ph.D. student in the English Department at Tufts University. Books are listed loosely beginning with the most relevant or useful based on James' asssessment from reviews and personal experience.
The main resource page for Gay Inside Out, Bellingham's lgbt community resource center, has links to other LGBT reading lists.
Major Current LGBT Authors
Kate Bornstein
- Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws, 2006
ISBN 978-1583227206.
- The Slow Fix, 2009
ISBN 978-1551522470
Autobiographical short stories, being a tomboyish lesbian in a small town. Widely reviewed. - Loose End, 2005
ISBN 978-1551521923
Short stories about urban life, connections across cultural differences. - One Man’s Trash: Stories, 2002
ISBN 978-1551521206 - Close To Spider Man, 2000
ISBN 978-1551520865
Tomboys’ and lesbians’ coming-of-age stories. Artful and literary.
- The Drag King Book, 1999
ISBN 978-1852426071
Photography and essays on drag king culture.
- I’m Looking Through You: Growing Up Haunted, 2008
ISBN 978-0767921756
A novelistic memoir about going back to her hometown post-transition. - She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders, 2004
ISBN 978-0767914291
A transgender woman’s memoir. Funny.
- When You are Engulfed in Flames, 2009
ISBN 978-0316154680
Sedaris’s most recent and most poignant collection. Being gay isn’t its focal point, but it is woven into the essays with an everyday-ness that is refreshing and touching. Gets my personal approval. A healthy representation of gayness in the everyday.
- Wide Awake, 2008
ISBN 978-0375834677
Novel set in a future where a gay, Jewish president is elected. About taking political action. Very well-reviewed. - The Realm of Possibility, 2006
ISBN 978-0375836572
Collection of intersecting poems from various points of view. Intersections of identities. Young adult. - Boy Meets Boy, 2005
ISBN 978-0375832994
Young adult novel set in an idealized high school where homo- and hetero- desire are equally accepted. Reviews call it ground-breaking.
- Light Before Day, 2007
ISBN 978-0743470407
Less gothic than his first two novels, a standard Rice-esque mystery that might be notable for its homoeroticism. - The Snow Garden, 2004
ISBN 978-0743470384
Queer college mystery gothic novel. Mixed reviews suggest it’s interesting but histrionic. - A Density of Souls, 2001
ISBN 978-0786886463
Mixed reviews suggest a juvenile tone but a vaguely interesting story.
LGBT Reading On Gender Issues
Books About Trans Masculinity
Morty Diamond (ed)
- From the Inside Out: Radical Gender Transformation, FTM and Beyond, 2004
ISBN 978-0916397968
A collection of essays from female-bodied people who identify with various gender identities.
- Transmen and FTMs: Identities, Bodies, Genders, and Sexualities, 1999
ISBN 978-0252068256
Ethnography of transmen and FTMs, includes personal stories, deals with blurring the line between male and female rather than transitioning from one to the other.
- Just Add Hormones: An Insider’s Guide to the Transsexual Experience, 2006
ISBN 978-0807079591
Autobiographical, cheeky, complex, frank. Deals with surgeries, hormones, and psychological journey of a transman.
- Becoming a Visible Man, 2004
ISBN 978-0826514578
An intelligent, political, and personal story of a transman’s transition. Well-reviewed.
- Becoming Alec, 2007
ISBN 978-0615174686
A novel, not very well-reviewed or widely reviewed, about a lesbian-identified person who realizes ze is a straight man.
- The Testosterone Files: My Hormonal and Social Transformation from Female to Male, 2006
ISBN 978-1580051736
Seems frank and detailed, but reviews suggest its view of gender is unfortunately binarized.
- Both Sides Now: One Man's Journey Through Womanhood, 2006
ISBN 978-1585424726
An FTM memoir. Reviews suggest its notion of gender is binarized and the prose is a little flat.
Books About Trans Femininity
Julia Serano
- Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity, 2007
ISBN 978-1580051545
Feminist account of a transgender lesbian’s experience with femininity.
- Transparent: Love, Family, and Living the T with Transgender Teenagers, 2008
ISBN 978-0156033770
A feminist’s account of volunteering with high-school age transgender women in LA. Well-reviewed.
Books About Gender Issues Generally
Judith “Jack” Halberstam
- In a Queer Time and Place: Transgender Bodies, Subcultural Lives, 2009
ISBN 978-0814735855
A study of representations of trans bodies in various media. Widely reviewed and well-reviewed.
- Transgender Voices: Beyond Women and Men 2009
ISBN 978-1584656838
Well-reviewed study of individual sex- and gender-variant people. Addresses changing sexualities as well as gender identities.
- Intersex (For Lack of a Better Word), 2008
ISBN 978-1933149240
A memoir of fitting and not fitting into the gender binary. Complex and deeply personal.
- Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality, 2000
ISBN 978-0465077144
Academic but humorous, erudite but accessible. Not radical social constructionist—rather, looks at the ways social and political viewpoints color the results we get from science.
- Lynnee Breedlove’s One Freak Show, 2009
ISBN 978-1933149325
Nominee for Lambda Literary Award, comic, and genderqueer.
Books About The LGBT Movement:
Politics and History
Mitchell Gold and Mindy Drucker
- Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social, and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing up Gay in America, 2008
ISBN 978-1929774104
Nonfictional accounts of the many areas in which young gay people meet with trauma today.
- The New Gay Teenager, 2005
ISBN 978-0674016736
Academic and psychological study that reviews suggest is accessible and engaging. Looks at new language emerging to describe sexuality (boidyke, trannyboy, etc), and the fluidity of desire and identity it suggests.
- The Straight State: Sexuality and Citizenship in Twentieth-Century America, 2009 ISBN 978-0691135984
Looks at how politics and the government have shaped the LGBT movement. Well-reviewed, good for a political standpoint.
- The Queer Child or Growing Sideways in the Twentieth Century, 2009
ISBN 978-0822343868
More theoretical than other texts on this list. Looks at coding children as queer and coding queers as childlike in novels and popular movies.
- Ties That Bind: Familial Homophobia and Its Consequences, 2009
ISBN 978-1595584809
Well-reviewed. Situates the homophobia rampant in our culture in the way homosexuals are treated within their own families.
- Transgender History, 2008
ISBN 978-1580052245
A readable history from post-WWII to today.
- Addressing Homophobia and Heterosexism on College Campuses, 2003
ISBN 978-1560233053
Addresses specific techniques for addressing LGBT identities and diversity in the classroom and on campus.
- That’s Revolting: Queer Strategies for Resisting Assimilation, 2008
ISBN 978-1593761950
Essays on “cutting-edge queer activism.” Resists the trend in the queer community to fight for “straight privilege,” which constitutes, for this book, assimilation and becoming a “Stepford homosexual.” Probably a good perspective to represent, even if we don’t all agree. - Nobody Passes: Rejecting the Rules of Gender and Conformity, 2006
ISBN 978-1580051842
Essays on passing and its problematics. A radical, angry, nonconformist perspective.
- Inspiration for LGBT Students and Their Allies, 2002
ISBN 978-0964695740
Personal stories and affirmations for allies and LGBT students. Emphasizes importance of allies.
Gay Literature
Books About Gay Men
Jamie O’Neill
- At Swim, Two Boys, 2003
ISBN 978-0743222952
Beautiful historical novel, likened to James Joyce. Gains my personal recommendation as a scholar of literature and as a reader of novels.
- How Long Has This Been Going On? 1997
ISBN 978-0312168674
A little dated, but engaging and relevant still. Gives a very engrossing, character-focused account of American gay history. Younger gay readers emerge with an understanding of gay history without realizing they were learning about history. Personal recommendation from me.
- Holding the Man, 2007
ISBN 978-0978825959
A novel, highly reviewed by editorial sources.
- Call Me By Your Name, 2008
ISBN 978-0312426781
Very well-reviewed. A young gay man, erotic longing, set in 1970’s in the Mediterranean.
Books About Gay Women
Michelle Tea (ed.)
- Baby, Remember My Name, 2007
ISBN 978-0786717927
A collection of new, young, queer women writers. Reviews call it energetic and muscular.
- Mean Little Deaf Queer, 2009
ISBN 978-0807072905
Memoir of a disabled queer woman. Reviewed widely. Reviews call it hilarious and edgy.
Books About Gay Experiences
David Levithan (ed.)
- The Full Spectrum: A New Generation of Writing About Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities, 2006
ISBN 978-0375832901
A collection of work by young queer people between the ages of 13-23.
- Middlesex, 2007
ISBN 978-0312427733
Very well-known and highly-regarded novel about an intersex individual understanding his family history and his own body and identity.
Graphic LGBT Novels
Ariel Shrag
- Potential: The High School Comic Chronicles of Ariel Schrag, 2008
ISBN 978-1416552352
Written by a queer woman still in high school, this coming-out story addresses being queer as an adolescent. - Likewise: The High School Comic Chronicles of Ariel Schrag, 2009
ISBN 1416552375
Final installment of Ariel Schrag’s high school coming out and growing up story. Very well-reviewed.
- Rent Girl, 2004
ISBN 978-0867196207
Autobiographical account of a lesbian who becomes a sex worker. Reviews suggest it is dark but funny and the artwork is beautiful.
Books About LGBT Coming Out
General LGBTQ Coming Out
Kelly Huegel
- GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens, 2003
ISBN 978-1575421261
Tailored to teens and gets good reviews from educators. Might be geared toward people a little younger than most college students, but it also might be relevant for freshmen. Reviewers think it’s hip and conversational.
- The Gay and Lesbian Guide to College Life, 2007
ISBN 978-0375766237
Advice from administrators for new college students. Finding LGBT-friendly spaces, creating LGBT friendly spaces.
Coming Out For Trans People
Jennifer Seeley
- The Transgender Companion (Male To Female): The Complete Guide To Becoming The Woman You Want To Be, 2007
ISBN 978-1434813220
A guide to transitioning for transwomen. Positive.
- Transitions: A Guide To Transitioning for Transsexuals and Their Families, 2009
ISBN 978-0557052615
Not many reviews to read. I read the Intro, found that it focused a lot on discomfort, which seemed a little negative, but then again perhaps that would speak to people going through it that way.
Coming Out For Gay Men
Ron Jackson Suresha, Pete Chvany (eds.)
- Bi Men: Coming Out Every Which Way, 2006
ISBN: 978-1560236146
Positive editorial reviews. Looks very affirming, positive, celebratory.
- The Way Out: The Gay Man's Guide To Freedom No Matter If You're In Denial, Closeted, Half-In-Half-Out, Just-Out or Been-Around-the-Block, 2006
ISBN 978-0757303920
A blend of philosophy/memoir. Addresses the self-destructive messages portrayed by gay culture and straight culture alike.
Coming Out For Gay Women
Tracey Stevens and Katherine Wunder
- How To Be A Happy Lesbian: A Coming Out Guide, 2003
ISBN 978-0971962804
A lot of positive reviews suggesting the personal tone is accessible and that the book covers a lot of ground on coming out to friends, family, self.
- Figuring It Out, 2007
ISBN 978-0979216305
Individual memoir about the length and phases of the coming out process.
Dated But Relevant “How-To-Come-Out” Manuals
Michelangelo Signorile
- Outing Yourself: How to Come Out as Lesbian or Gay to Your Family, Friends, and Coworkers, 1996
ISBN 978-0684826172
Often referenced by other books and on the web.
- Coming Out Every Day: A Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Man's Guide, 1997
ISBN 978-1572240643
- Free Your Mind: The Book for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth and Their Allies, 1996
ISBN 978-0060951047
Other Important LGBT Books
Alison Bechdel
- Fun Home, 2007
ISBN 978-0618871711
Graphic novel. Lesbian coming-of-age story, artistic and humorous.
- Stone Butch Blues, 2004
ISBN 978-1555838539
A novel. - Trans Liberation, 1999
ISBN 978-0807079515
Gender Variance.
LGBT-related Movies, News, Magazines, Directory
- GENDER-QUEER: Voices From Beyond The Sexual Binary, 2003
ISBN 978-1555837303
Provides personal stories and beyond-the-binary perspectives. Reviewers find it galvanizing and touching, eye-opening to the diversity possible in the gray spaces of the gender binary.
- True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism: For Families, Friends, Coworkers, and Helping Professionals, 2003
ISBN 978-0787967024
Widely recommended for transpeople who are struggling with coming out.
- Out and about Campus: Personal Accounts by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered College Students, 2000
ISBN 9781555834807
Addresses stories of 28 students from different colleges and with different queer identities. Gets good reviews and is specifically about college experiences. Very relevant.
- My Gender Workbook, 1997
ISBN 978-0415916738
Gender variance. Actively challenges reader to think about their gender identity. - Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us, 1995
ISBN 978-0679757016
Genre-blending, gender-bending book on gender identities and acceptance.
- Am I Blue? Coming Out From the Silence, 1995
ISBN 978-0064405874
A collection of short stories about gay and lesbian teens.
- Coming Out In College, 1994
ISBN 978-0897894210
Primarily about gay men and identity formation in the face of prejudice.
- Secret Sisters: Stories about Being Lesbian and Bisexual in a College Sorority, 2001
ISBN 978-1555835880
Personal essays chronicle the experiences of lesbian and bisexual women in sororities from the 50’s to the present.
- Testimonies: Lesbian Coming-Out Stories, re-released 2002
ISBN 978-1555835460
Originally published in the 70s, but updated and revised. Several formative coming out stories.
- How I Learned To Snap: A Small Town Coming-of-Age and Coming-Out Story, 2001
ISBN 978-1588180391
Short, easy to read, funny and engaging. Novelistic memoir that’s clever and sincere and relevant to younger gay men.
- Dude, You're a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School, 2007
ISBN 978-0520252301
Academic, but accessible. Less about coming out, more about culture and identity formation in high school, but it does focus on the uniqueness of today’s queer youth (specifically, gay male youth) and the differences between developing a queer identity today and queer identities in the past.
- Brotherhood: Gay Life in College Fraternities, 2005
ISBN 978-1555838560
Compiles the guidance and experiences of young gay men in fraternities.
- Now That You're Out of the Closet, What About the Rest of the House? 2000
ISBN 978-1570716522
Written by a lesbian who came out in middle-age. Recognizes the fear of joining a community that you’re unfamiliar with. Might not speak to young people, but is relevant to any newly-out person.
- Revolutionary Voices, 2000
ISBN 978-1555835583
A collection of poetry and prose by queer youth. Reviewers praise it for being revolutionary and for speaking directly to the diversity of queer youth experiences today. Reviewers also comment that the work here deals with anger and pain of being queer and feeling invisible.
- Conversaciones: Relatos por padres y madres de hijas lesbianas y hijos gay, 2001
ISBN 978-1573441261
In Spanish. Coming out stories from Latin American households.
- Bad Habits: A Love Story, 2008
ISBN 978-1593762155
Well-reviewed by online feminist sources like Bitch and Curve magazine and others. Characters and artwork are interesting, though some reviewers suggest the plot is lacking. Gender variance and interse - Indestructible, 2006
ISBN 978-0977055777
An autobiographical graphic novel about a young bisexual woman in high school. About defending gender identity and changing sexuality and intersecting identities.cting identities.
- X-Men: Angel Revelations, 2009
ISBN 978-0785132943
Angel of the X-Men discovers his mutant ability, befriends a gay student at their boys’ school because of their shared outsider status.
- The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For, 2008
ISBN 978-0618968800
A compilation and newest installment of the ever-popular DTWOF comics.
- The Book of Boy Trouble: Gay Boy Comics With A New Attitude, 2006
ISBN 978-1931160452
A best-of compilation of comics from the 90’s to now.
- Strugglers, 2006
ISBN 978-0976278634
About accidental roommates coming-of-age and coming out. - Trust/Truth, 2008
ISBN 978-0976278696
Romantic comedic novelette.
- Leaving India: My Family's Journey from Five Villages to Five Continents, 2009
ISBN 978-0618251292
As much about Indian diaspora as it is about the sexuality of the protagonist. Well-reviewed and a winner of a Lambda Literary Award.
- The Creamsickle, 2009
ISBN 978-1935226079
Winner of a Lambda Lit Award, novel about young bois and femme lesbians, about the top/bottom divide.
- The IHOP Papers, 2007
ISBN 978-0786717941
Well-reviewed. Young lesbian coming-of-age story.