LGBTQ Books + Periodicals
For Your Consideration + Education
The following is a sampling of the vast number of books, magazines, and online publications created by and for LGBTQ folks.
NOTABLE BOOKS
A BOY'S OWN STORY BY EDMUND WHITE (1982) A semi-autobiographical novel depicting a young gay man's coming-of-age and sexual awakening in the 1950s Midwest, written by Edmund White.
BECOMING A MAN: HALF A LIFE STORY BY PAUL MONETTE (1992) A memoir chronicling the author's journey as a gay man, including his experiences with love, loss, and the AIDS epidemic, written by Paul Monette.
CAROL BY PATRICIA HIGHSMITH (1952) A groundbreaking novel exploring a lesbian relationship in 1950s America, written by Patricia Highsmith under the pseudonym Claire Morgan.
FUN HOME BY ALISON BECHDEL (2006) A graphic memoir exploring the author's relationship with her father, her coming out as a lesbian, and her family's secrets, written by Alison Bechdel.
GIOVANNI'S ROOM BY JAMES BALDWIN (1956) A novel exploring themes of love, identity, and masculinity set in Paris in the 1950s, written by the renowned American author James Baldwin.
LESS BY ANDREW SEAN GREER (2017) Pulitzer Prize-winning comedic novel following the misadventures of a failed novelist traveling the world to avoid attending his ex-boyfriend's wedding, written by Andrew Sean Greer.
MAURICE BY E.M. FORSTER (1971) A classic novel about same-sex love and the challenges faced by gay men in Edwardian England, written by E.M. Forster but published posthumously.
MIDDLESEX BY JEFFREY EUGENIDES (2002) A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel spanning generations, exploring themes of identity, gender, and intersexuality, written by Jeffrey Eugenides.
ORLANDO: A BIOGRAPHY BY VIRGINIA WOOLF (1928) A groundbreaking novel spanning centuries, following the adventures of a protagonist who changes gender and lives for centuries, written by Virginia Woolf.
RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE BY RITA MAE BROWN (1973) A coming-of-age novel following the journey of a young lesbian woman as she navigates her identity and relationships, written by Rita Mae Brown.
STONE BUTCH BLUES BY LESLIE FEINBERG (1993) A semi-autobiographical novel depicting the experiences of a butch lesbian in the United States during the mid-20th century, written by Leslie Feinberg.
TALES OF THE CITY SERIES BY ARMISTEAD MAUPIN (1978) A series of novels set in San Francisco, following the lives of a diverse group of characters, including LGBTQ individuals, written by Armistead Maupin.
THE COLOR PURPLE BY ALICE WALKER (1982) Pulitzer Prize-winning novel exploring the lives of African American women in the early 20th century South, including themes of race, gender, and sexuality.
THE HOURS BY MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM (1998) Pulitzer Prize-winning novel intertwining the lives of three women in different time periods, inspired by Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway", written by Michael Cunningham.
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY BY OSCAR WILDE (1890) A Gothic novel exploring vanity, morality, and the pursuit of beauty, with elements of homoeroticism, written by Oscar Wilde.
THE PRICE OF SALT BY PATRICIA HIGHSMITH (1952) A groundbreaking novel depicting a lesbian romance and challenging societal norms, written by Patricia Highsmith under the pseudonym Claire Morgan.
THE WELL OF LONELINESS BY RADCLYFFE HALL (1928) A pioneering novel depicting the struggles of a lesbian protagonist and advocating for understanding and tolerance, written by Radclyffe Hall.
ZAMI: A NEW SPELLING OF MY NAME BY AUDRE LORDE (1982) A biomythography detailing the author's coming-of-age as a black lesbian in 1950s and 1960s Harlem, written by Audre Lorde.
PRINT MAGAZINES
ドニス = ADONIS (1952-1962) A Japanese LGBTQ magazine, providing a platform for gay culture and literature during a time of social and political transition in Japan.
BAY AREA REPORTER () Free weekly newspaper serving the LGBT communities in the San Francisco Bay Area; it is one of the largest circulation LGBT newspapers by circulation in the United States and the country's oldest continuously published newspaper of its kind.
COC PERIODIEK (1960-1964) A Dutch-language periodical associated with the Dutch organization COC Nederland, dedicated to LGBTQ advocacy, community support, and cultural representation.
CURVE (1991-) A leading lesbian magazine covering lifestyle, culture, entertainment, and news, with a focus on promoting visibility and empowerment for lesbian women.
DE KRING (1957-1958) A Dutch-language magazine published in the Netherlands, providing a platform for LGBTQ community building and cultural exchange.
DE SCHAKEL (1950s-?) A Dutch-language magazine published in the Netherlands, focused on social connections and support for LGBTQ individuals in the country.
DER KREIS (1942-1967) A Swiss gay magazine, recognized for its high-quality literature, art, and photography, and considered one of the most significant gay publications of the 20th century.
DIE FREUNDSCHAFT (1919-1933) A German-language LGBTQ magazine published, known for its early advocacy of gay rights and culture during a time of significant social change.
GAY & LESBIAN REVIEW () Bimonthly magazine targeting an educated readership of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) men and women. Under the tagline, “a bimonthly journal of history, culture, and politics,”
GAY COMMUNITY NEWS (1973-1992) A weekly newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts, covering LGBTQ news, culture, and activism, with a focus on community building and political organizing.
GAY TIMES (1974-) The United Kingdom's longest-running LGBTQ magazine, covering news, culture, and entertainment relevant to the LGBTQ community.
Gay men's lifestyle magazine which was published from 1997 to 2015. The magazine was first published in 1997 by Instinct Publishing and was distributed by Curtis Circulation. The final issue was dated June–July 2015
LOS ANGELES BLADE () Los Angeles and California news, politics, opinion, arts and entertainment and features national and international coverage from the Blade’s award-winning reporting team
METRO WEEKLY (1994-) A Washington, D.C.-based LGBTQ magazine covering news, politics, arts, and entertainment, with a focus on local LGBTQ issues and events.
ONE MAGAZINE (1953-1967) The first U.S. pro-gay publication.
OUT (1992-) A popular LGBTQ magazine covering entertainment, fashion, culture, and news, with a focus on LGBTQ visibility and representation.
アドン = THE ADON (1974-1996) An English-language magazine published in Japan, focusing on gay culture, literature, and community in the country.
THE ADVOCATE (1967-) One of the longest-running LGBTQ publications in the United States, covering news, politics, and culture relevant to the LGBTQ community.
THE GAY LIBERATIONIST (1970) A radical gay liberation publication associated with the Gay Liberation Front in New York City, advocating for LGBTQ rights and social change.
THE LADDER (1956-1972) The first nationally distributed lesbian publication in the United States, providing a platform for discussions on lesbian rights and visibility.
THE PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS () LGBTQ newspaper in the Philadelphia area. The publication was founded in 1976 by Mark Segal, who was inspired by activist Frank Kameny when they met in 1970.
THE WASHINGTON BLADE (1956-1972) The first nationally distributed lesbian publication in the United States, providing a platform for discussions on lesbian rights and visibility.
VRIENDSCHAP (1949-1964?) A Dutch-language magazine published in the Netherlands, promoting friendship and solidarity within the LGBTQ community.
ONLINE MAGAZINES
WIKIPEDIA
LIST OF LGBT PERIODICALS (1919-) A list of periodicals (printed magazines, journals and newspapers) aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) demographic by country.