San Antonio Public Library discussion

Happy Pride! Despite everything else going on, it is still Pride month, and as such I'd love to talk about LGBTQ+ creators and characters.

Today there are so many more options for LGBTQ+ youth to choose from between books and graphic novels, but I know when I was young the first time I remember reading a book with LGBTQ+ characters was in middle school, with the Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce. It's one of her less popular series, but will always hold a special place for me. Rosethorn and Lark are so confident in their identities, and then later having Daja realize her own was so empowering for me to read. I haven't re-read the books in many years so I have no idea if the representation holds up today, but that's okay-it was a starting point, and that's important.

It probably wasn't the first book I read with a LGBTQ+ character, but the first I remember is Vanyel from Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey. I freely acknowledge it's melodramatic at times--which suited me perfectly as I was a teen myself the first time I read it.

Cris wrote: "It probably wasn't the first book I read with a LGBTQ+ character, but the first I remember is Vanyel from Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey."

I refer to the Valdemar books as "Pony Fiction", referring to an old Onion article, because a summary of the first book (Arrows of the Queen) sounds so much like 6th grade wish fulfillment... and then you get into the second and third books (Arrow's Flight and Arrows Fall) where there's psychic-induced psychosis, sex, torture, and all sorts of things. Almost the epitome of "Well, that escalated quickly."

Needless to say, I read them religiously, and have tracked down most of the ones not set in the ancient Mage Wars. I kind of want to see if I can get in on one of the Valdemar anthologies of short stories Misty and Larry put out every year or so.

To my own? Fight Club was an interesting book that has been overshadowed by the movie that everyone misses the point of. One of the highlights of my library career was being asked to review "Openly Straight" by Bill Konigsberg for suitability for my teen collection in Houston.

I like Mercedes Lackey's books. Seldom notice the gender factors though. Guess that's just me. I've had LGBTQ+ friends all my life and somehow unless the author makes a big deal about it I don't much notice. To me that is part of the writer's skill, immersing one into the characters immediately and naturally.

Mercedes Lackey is considered one of the great early writers to do this--have LGBTQ+ characters without making the plot revolve around their gender or sexuality. For the questioning teens of a certain generation, they were incredibly influential. I (as usual-most people read Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness series, not Circle of Magic) ended up reading some of her less-popular works, but still loved the worlds and stories she builds.

Oh wow, Mark! That had to have been quite the conversation! I admit I haven't read Fight Club because of the movie. I should give it a try at some point.

With the Vanyel books, there was an element of found family after rejection; his own family rejected him because of it sexuality, but he developed a family among the Heralds who did not. While his own family accepted him after he became, essentially, as famous and powerful as the king, the emphasis was on the accepting family he made for himself.

My first introduction to LGBTQ was with Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block. I really loved Block's writing. It was so poetic and refreshing for me. I loved how her characters were so real and yet magical at the same time.. not sure how to describe it.

In college I got introduced to reading books by POC and was introduced to Gloria Anzaldua. I was taken with her books on being a Chicana. Although I did not identify as being queer, I did relate to the otherness because of my Mexican culture and growing up in a border city.

I have introduced my children to books about LGBTQ and taught them that love is love. However I do feel my reading needs to broaden more because I can't think of any recent readings with LGBTQ characters or authors.

According to Goodreads, my first LGBTQ-oriented book was Hero by the late Perry Moore. A lot of reviewers of the book criticize the novel's poor prose, which it undoubtedly has, but it's also just a fun, breezy YA novel about an emerging gay superhero coming to terms with both his newfound superpowers and his sexuality, which traditionally means finding his first love. It's not my favorite LGBTQ novel, but it has been documented as my first here haha.

Cindy wrote: "My first introduction to LGBTQ was with Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block. I really loved Block's writing. It was so poetic and refreshing for me. I loved how her characters were so real and yet m..."

Oh man, I was introduced to Anzaldua in college too and loved her! Such sharp writing.

If it helps, I'd point out that it's still incredibly easy to read a whole lot and still not manage to read books by/about LGBTQ people. The industry has diversified some, but it's definitely a work in progress. If you'd like a recommendation, Pet by Akwaeke Emezi is incredible, though not lighthearted.

Andrew wrote: "According to Goodreads, my first LGBTQ-oriented book was Hero by the late Perry Moore. A lot of reviewers of the book criticize the novel's poor prose, which it undoubtedly has, but it's also just ..."

I keep hearing that Hero is an important one to read! I haven't picked it up yet, but I definitely plan to.

Shannan wrote: If you'd like a recommendation, Pet by Akwaeke Emezi is incredible, though not lighthearted. ..."

I'll add it to my list Shannan! I don't mind books that are heavy, actually i tend to go for the heavier topics.. though sometimes my emotions need a rest..

I think that my first book with a LGBTQ+ character was Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk. I read this in high school. There may have been some before that but I don't remember any more.

My most recent favorite is Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki.

Mari wrote: "I think that my first book with a LGBTQ+ character was Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk. I read this in high school. There may have been some before that but I don't remember any more.

My mos..."

I adored Laura Dean! The art was phenomenal, and it was a story that I haven't seen told very often (especially in graphic format).