YA LGBT Books discussion

Hey everyone, it's June. The month for Pride in many cities around the world.

So let us know, what's happening near you? Do you have plans?

Here in Minneapolis where I live, we'll be marching on June 11th for Equality, with a political focus.

Then on June 23-25 we will have our Twin Cities Pride with parade, festival and all. I'll be at Pride in the Park with an author group from the surrounding area - stop in and say hi if you live nearby.

What about you? Anything happening out your way? I love Pride for the chance it gives people, especially young people, to come together in a celebratory, welcoming crowd (yes, occasionally with controversies, but mostly with joy.) If you want, feel free to post Pride pictures here - just do be aware this is an open thread so don't out yourself or anyone else without permission in those pics. (Avoid identifiable crowd shots - crop them if needed.)

Happy Pride!


Our University Baptist Church for Pride

My city (large town really, by California standards) in rural Kern County is having its first Pride March on the 11th to coincide with the Equality march for Unity and Pride.

I'm stoked. I got a new pride shirt and a tie-dye bucket hat. The shirt is the Pan Pride Dragon by Kaenith, (who has an awesome collection of pride dragon art) printed by Redbubble.

I'm posting up videos all this month on my youtube channel talking about books / movies / tv shows - so I'll post them in here when they go up in case anyone wants some recommendations :) (there are over 50 books / series in the books section so hopefully people will find something they haven't heard of!)

https://youtu.be/5e8ftNlWljg

The link to my first video - gay books with main focus / contemporary

Carrie-Anne wrote: "https://youtu.be/5e8ftNlWljg

The link to my first video - gay books with main focus / contemporary"

Cool project. And what a great selection of YA books - so many favorites (and some of the authors are members here.) <3

Nothing really happening down here in Germany but I have my sorta Pride Challenge for this month, it's not really a challenge more like Pride TBR but I posted my June TBR video earlier before I realized June is Pride month so had to come up with something different :D

HannahCassie (PSIloveThatBook) wrote: "Nothing really happening down here in Germany but I have my sorta Pride Challenge for this month, it's not really a challenge more like Pride TBR but I posted my June TBR video earlier before I rea..."

A reason to read more is always good :)

I'm not sure if my comment posted in the "What's on your Mind" section about this, but I got to be in Washington DC's Capital Pride parade! My company was a sponsor and asked for volunteers so about 30 of us showed up. I saw lots of great signs, shirts, costumes and cute dogs.
Unfortunately, protestors stopped the parade 2 different times. The first time was for an hour and they actually rerouted the parade. My group was near the back so by the time we got to start walking we'd been standing in the sun for 1.5 hours and my sugar crashed so I almost passed out (the joys of hypoglycemia). I got to ride in our big rig truck with our awesome driver and high five people out the window for about half the parade and then got to rejoin my coworkers. I've never seen so many happy, positive people in my life and it was beautiful. Getting to the end with everyone clapping and cheering like we won the world series was pretty cool. I really hope my company participates again next year.

Tanya wrote: "I'm not sure if my comment posted in the "What's on your Mind" section about this, but I got to be in Washington DC's Capital Pride parade! My company was a sponsor and asked for volunteers so abou..."

How great that your company participates. It's frustrating when protests impede other marginalized groups (especially when they haven't really embraced joint action on vital issues) but it sounds like a good celebration all around. I do love that corporations and even athletic groups are getting to the forefront of LGBTQ rights - how ironic when a state legislature is worried that trans rights will have to be allowed, not for the sake of their residents but to pacify Target, the NCAA and NFL... But it's a sign of how far things have come. <3

There is a LGBTQIA readathon happening towards the end of this month if anyone is interested in participating.

It's hosted by George Lester on youtube (his announcement video - https://youtu.be/xJBK3pQmo4A)

And here is my TBR video :) - https://youtu.be/XcMTo6fNB4U

I posted up part two of my gay book collection / recommendations

Part One was contemporary / sexuality main focus
(If you missed that it's here - https://youtu.be/5e8ftNlWljg)

Part Two is sci fi / fantasy / sexuality not main focus
Here is the new video! - https://youtu.be/heMEbcyoB4o

There are over FIFTY books and series on these lists, so hopefully something new for everyone!

Here are all the links to the videos I posted up over pride month :)

Gay books part 1 - https://youtu.be/5e8ftNlWljg

Gay books part 2 - https://youtu.be/heMEbcyoB4o

Gay films - https://youtu.be/-eOvuL3xcio

LGBT+ rep in tv shows - https://youtu.be/sAniq0O5tTM

Gay and trans short films - https://youtu.be/mTGMDxU6gp0

And although this didn't just cover gender and sexuality, I also did the

Diversity Awareness Tag - https://youtu.be/5WT1ugy32VY

Thanks for all of that - a bunch of good info there. And this year, we need it more than ever.

To close out Pride Month, here's a picture of the marching group from my town's very first Pride rally.

Yay!! I love seeing more Pride events all the time. Congrats to your town.