Friend, did you know that reading books written by LGBTQ authors can be an act of resistance?

Seeing ourselves in stories can be incredibly powerful. True, authentic, and raw stories help us better understand ourselves and become better allies. We sat down with three LGBTQ authors to discuss the importance of reading women’s and LGBTQ experiences in mainstream books.

Lamya H — a queer Muslim writer and organizer — talks about their memoir, “Hijab Butch Blues”: “I often find myself writing what my younger self wanted to read. I wanted to know it was possible: to be queer, to be Muslim, to find solace in both, to live in ways that felt true to who I was.”

Sarah Cypher discusses her upcoming book, “The Skin and Its Girl”, and being an Arab American, military spouse, and queer woman. Sarah discusses coming out late, in part, because she didn’t feel herself represented in the stories she loved.

Finally, our conversation with Becky Albertalli, the award-winning author of “Simon VS the Homo Sapiens Identity” — now a major motion picture, Love Simon — shares her story about growing up without access to in-person queer communities. Stories like the ones she tells in her books helped her understand her own queerness.

This discussion shares a variety of themes surrounding LGBTQ storytelling, books to read, and how you can support queer authors and storytelling. Read More Now >>

📚 Opening Books for LGBTQ Young People

Book bans in schools across the United States are on the rise, often targeting ones that offer representation to minority groups. Open Books, an organization founded by Morgan Walsh and Keiko Feldman, is working to address the lack of representation in available literature by donating LGBTQ-affirming books to public school libraries.

🔦 How can you be there for LGBTQ Young People with Disabilities?

LGBTQ young people with disabilities face barriers to comfort and care that their non-disabled peers don't have to deal with. Allyship to LGBTQ young people with disabilities can look like: having an authentic conversation and learning about their needs, inviting them to LGBTQ spaces, and ensuring those spaces are accessible.

📊 Learn More: Mental Health of Black Transgender and Nonbinary Young People

In our latest report, the Mental Health of Black Transgender and Nonbinary Young People, we’ve taken a closer look at the mental health crisis impacting Black transgender and nonbinary young people and discuss ways in which we all can take action to support and affirm them.