We Are Everywhere by Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown. 

A rich and sweeping photographic history of the Queer Liberation Movement, from the creators and curators of the massively popular Instagram account @lgbt_history, released in time for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin.

James Baldwin’s groundbreaking novel about love and the fear of love, set among the bohemian bars and nightclubs of 1950s Paris. With sharp probing insight, Giovanni’s Room tells an impassioned, deeply moving story that lays bare the unspoken complexities of the human heart.

Fairest by Meredith Talusan.

Fairest is a memoir about a precocious boy with albinism, a “sun child” from a rural Philippine village, who would grow up to become a woman in America. Throughout her journey, Talusan shares poignant and powerful episodes of desirability and love that will remind readers of works such as Call Me By Your Name and Giovanni’s Room. Her evocative reflections will shift our own perceptions of love, identity, gender, and the fairness of life.

Countries of Orgin by Javier Fuentes.

This stunning debut chronicles a tumultuous, passionate love affair between two young men from vastly different worlds during one, extraordinary summer in Spain, in what is ultimately a meditation on identity, class, belonging, and desire.

The Crane Wife by CJ Hauser.

Ten days after calling off her wedding, CJ Hauser went on an expedition to Texas to study the whooping crane. After a week wading through the gulf, she realized she’d almost signed up to live someone else’s life. Told with the late-night barstool directness of your wisest, most bighearted friend, The Crane Wife is a book for everyone whose life doesn’t look the way they thought it would; for everyone learning to find joy in the not-knowing; for everyone trying, if sometimes failing, to build a new sort of life story, a new sort of family, a new sort of home, to live in.

Leaving Isn’t The Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough.

At once razor-sharp, profoundly brave, and often very, very funny, the essays in Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing interrogate our notions of ecstasy, queerness, and what it means to live freely. Each piece is a reckoning: of survival, identity, and how to reclaim one’s past when carving out a future.

All My Mothers Lovers by Ilana Masad.

Unfolding over the course of nine days, and written with enormous heart, All My Mother’s Lovers is a meditation on the universality and particularity of family ties, grief, and generational divides, as well as a tender and biting portrait of sex, gender, and identity.

Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns.

In this electrifyingly fierce and funny social satire — inspired by the iconic 1970s film Taxi Driver — a ride share driver is barely holding it together on the hunt for love, dignity, and financial security … until she decides she’s done waiting.

Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride.

Informative, heartbreaking, and profoundly empowering, Tomorrow Will Be Different is Sarah McBride’s story of love and loss and a powerful entry point into the LGBTQ community’s battle for equal rights and what it means to be openly transgender. McBride weaves the important political and cultural milestones into a personal journey that will open hearts and change minds.

Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby.

Multi-award-winning Hannah Gadsby broke comedy with her show Nanette when she declared that she was quitting stand-up. Now she takes us through the defining moments in her life that led to the creation of Nanette and her powerful decision to tell the truth — no matter the cost.

The Stonewall Reader by New York Public Library and Jason Baumann.

June 28, 2019 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, which is considered the most significant event in the gay liberation movement, and the catalyst for the modern fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States. Drawing from the New York Public Library’s archives, The Stonewall Reader is a collection of first accounts, diaries, periodic literature, and articles from LGBTQ magazines and newspapers that documented both the years leading up to and the years following the riots.

Stonewall by Martin Duberman.

In Stonewall, renowned historian and activist Martin Duberman tells the full story of this pivotal moment in history. With riveting narrative skill, he re-creates those revolutionary, sweltering nights in vivid detail through the lives of six people who were drawn into the struggle for LGBTQ rights. Their stories combine to form an unforgettable portrait of the repression that led up to the riots, which culminates when they triumphantly participate in the first gay rights march of 1970, the roots of today’s pride marches.

With Teeth by Kristen Arnett.

A surprising and moving story of two mothers, one difficult son, and the limitations of marriage, parenthood, and love. Blending warmth and wit with a candid take on queer family dynamics, With Teeth is a thought-provoking portrait of the delicate fabric of family — and the many ways it can be torn apart.

First Time for Everything by Henry Fry.

A “hilarious, tender, raw, and heart-stoppingly moving” (Amanda Eyre Ward) debut about a down-on-his-luck gay man working out how he fits into the world, making up for lost time, and opening himself up to life’s possibilities.

Dyscalculia by Camonghne Felix.

When Camonghne Felix goes through a monumental breakup, culminating in a hospital stay, everything — from her early childhood trauma and mental health to her relationship with mathematics — shows up in the tapestry of her healing. Dyscalculia negotiates the misalignments of perception and reality, love and harm, and the politics of heartbreak, both romantic and familial.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle.

In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet, activist, speaker, and bestselling author, Glennon Doyle explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet others’ expectations and start trusting the voice deep within us.

Sissy by Jacob Tobia.

A heart-wrenching, eye-opening, and giggle-inducing memoir about what it’s like to grow up not sure if you’re (a) a boy, (b) a girl, (c) something in between, or (d) all of the above.

Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez.

An essential and revelatory coming-of-age narrative from a thrilling new voice, Rainbow Milk follows nineteen-year-old Jesse McCarthy as he grapples with his racial and sexual identities against the backdrop of his Jehovah’s Witness upbringing.

Small Joys by Elvin James Mensah.

“This funny and bighearted debut is an ode to queer friendship and chosen family … A tender and generous novel about finding your people, getting vulnerable, and celebrating every joy — big or small.” —BuzzFeed.

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez.

Two warriors shepherd an ancient god across a broken land to end the tyrannical reign of a royal family in this new epic fantasy from the author of The Vanished Birds. Both a sweeping adventure story and an intimate exploration of identity, legacy, and belonging, The Spear Cuts Through Water is an ambitious and profound saga that will transport and transform you — and is like nothing you’ve ever read before.

Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men to do Shit they Weren’t Supposed to Do by Tracy Dawon

In this entertaining and eye-opening collection, writer, actor, and feminist Tracy Dawson showcases trailblazers throughout history who disguised themselves as men and continuously broke the rules to gain access and opportunities denied them because they were women.

Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon

In Beyond the Gender Binary, poet, artist, and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate Alok Vaid-Menon deconstructs, demystifies, and reimagines the gender binary. Vaid-Menon challenges the world to see gender not in black and white, but in full color. Taking from their own experiences as a gender-nonconforming artist, they show us that gender is a malleable and creative form of expression. The only limit is your imagination.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuistion

When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse. Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue proves: true love isn’t always diplomatic.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuistion

For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures. But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train. Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile, showing up in a leather jacket to save August’s day when she needed it most. Casey McQuiston’s One Last Stop is a magical, sexy, big-hearted romance where the impossible becomes possible as August does everything in her power to save the girl lost in time.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuistion

Chloe Green is so close to winning. After her moms moved her from SoCal to Alabama for high school, she’s spent the past four years dodging gossipy classmates and the puritanical administration of Willowgrove Christian Academy. The thing that’s kept her going: winning valedictorian. Her only rival: prom queen Shara Wheeler, the principal’s perfect progeny. But a month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes. On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she’s not the only one Shara kissed. Thrown into an unlikely alliance, chasing a ghost through parties, break-ins, puzzles, and secrets revealed on monogrammed stationery, Chloe starts to suspect there might be more to this small town than she thought. And maybe—probably not, but maybe—more to Shara, too. Fierce, funny, and frank, Casey McQuiston’s I Kissed Shara Wheeler is about breaking the rules, getting messy, and finding love in unexpected places.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, Will Grayson crosses paths with . . . Will Grayson. Two teens with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, and culminating in epic turns-of-heart and the most fabulous musical ever to grace the high school stage. Told in alternating voices from two YA superstars, this collaborative novel features a double helping of the heart and humor that have won them both legions of fans.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits, or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays. So when tragedy strikes and Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian, he is, honestly, overwhelmed.
Patrick has no idea what to expect, having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled acting career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. But when his waggish set of “Guncle Rules” no longer appease Maisie and Grant’s parental void, Patrick’s eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means you’re unfailingly human.

I wish you all the best by Mason Deaver.

It’s just three words: I am nonbinary. But that’s all it takes to change everything. When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they’re thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents’ rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school. But Ben’s attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan’s friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan, sort of, one that’s going to help her figure out this whole “Puerto Rican lesbian” thing. She’s interning with the author of her favorite book: Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff. Will Juliet be able to figure out her life over the course of one magical summer? Is that even possible? Or is she running away from all the problems that seem too big to handle? With more questions than answers, Juliet takes on Portland, Harlowe, and most importantly, herself.

Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings

At the age of five, Jazz Jennings’s transition to life as a girl put her in the public spotlight after she shared her story on national television. She’s since become one of the most recognizable and prominent advocates for transgender teens, through her TV show, interviews, and social media. Jazz’s openness has led to bullying and mistreatment from those who don’t understand her choices. She’s fought for the right to use the girls’ bathroom and to play on a girls’ soccer team, paving the way for others. And in this book, Jazz faces an even greater struggle—dealing with the physical and social stresses of being a teen. But being on the front lines of trans activism doesn’t stop Jazz from experiencing the joys of growing up, from day camp to first dates. Jazz Jennings is one of the youngest and most prominent voices in the national discussion about gender identity. This remarkable memoir is a testament to the power of accepting yourself, learning to live an authentic life, and helping everyone to embrace their own truths.

Moonlight (2016)

A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.

All of Us Strangers (2023)

A screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship with his downstairs neighbor while discovering a mysterious new way to heal from losing his parents 30 years ago.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Ennis and Jack are two shepherds who develop a sexual and emotional relationship. Their relationship becomes complicated when both of them get married to their respective girlfriends.

The Handmaiden (2016)

A woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, but secretly she is involved in a plot to defraud her.

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is diagnosed with the disease.

Flee (2021)

Flee tells the extraordinary true story of a man, Amin, on the verge of marriage which compels him to reveal his hidden past for the first time.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Charlie, a 15-year-old introvert, enters high school and is nervous about his new life. When he befriends his seniors, he learns to cope with his friend’s suicide and his tumultuous past.

Pride (2014)

U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.

Capote (2005)

In 1959, Truman Capote learns of the murder of a Kansas family and decides to write a book about the case. While researching for his novel In Cold Blood, Capote forms a relationship with one of the killers, Perry Smith, who is on death row.

Love is Strange (2014)

After Ben and George get married, George is fired from his teaching post, forcing them to stay with friends separately while they sell their place and look for cheaper housing — a situation that weighs heavily on all involved.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

In 1980s Italy, romance blossoms between a seventeen-year-old student and the older man hired as his father’s research assistant.

Happy Together (1997)

A couple take a trip to Argentina but both men find their lives drifting apart in opposite directions.

Philadelphia (1993)

When a man with HIV is fired by his law firm because of his condition, he hires a homophobic small time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit.

Milk (2008)

The story of American gay activist Harvey Milk, who fought for gay rights and was elected as California’s first openly gay official.

Blue Jean (2022)

In 1988, a closeted teacher is pushed to the brink when a new student threatens to expose her sexuality.

Swan Song (2021)

A formerly flamboyant hairdresser takes a long walk across a small town to style a dead woman’s hair.

Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

A young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska.

A Fantastic Woman (2017)

Marina, a transgender woman who works as a waitress and moonlights as a nightclub singer, is bowled over by the death of her older boyfriend.

Carol (2015)

An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York.

The Danish Girl (2015)

A fictitious love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda’s marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili’s groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.

Sort Of (2021–present)

A twentysomething Pakistani nonbinary person abandons a trip to Germany to keep nannying for children whose mother has slipped into a coma. Sort Of shows Sabi (creator and writer Bilal Baig) taking ownership of their identity and their relationships with wit and growing confidence.

Available on: HBO Max

Heartstopper (2021–present)

One of Netflix’s biggest queer TV shows of the year, Heartstopper follows the unlikely friendship and eventual romance between gay and out nerd Charlie and rugby star Nick. Based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels of the same name, the show has already been renewed for two more seasons. Look out for all the rainbows in the lighting and Oseman’s animations flitting across the screen.

Available on: Netflix

Pose (2018–2021)

One of the most groundbreaking LGBTQ shows, Pose takes place in the emerging ballroom scene in ’80s and ’90s New York City as well as the evolving houses of chosen families and the growing community of activists. It’s the first major television show starring a predominantly Black trans woman cast, including recent Golden Globe winner Michaela Jaé Rodriguez.

Available on: Vudu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime and Hulu

Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019)

One of streaming television’s earliest investments in LGBTQ shows, Orange Is the New Black is also one of the best shows on Netflix—and one of the most popular. Set in a federal women’s prison in upstate New York, the ensemble cast, including transgender actor Laverne Cox in a star turn, addresses race, sexuality, and incarceration with depth and humor.

Available on: Netflix

Love, Victor (2020–2022)

A spin-off of the 2018 film Love, Simon, this gay TV show follows a family uprooted from Texas to attend high school in Atlanta. The second season in particular addresses with nuance the ramifications of Victor’s coming out and how he, a masculine-of-center cis gay man, fits within broader queer spaces as well as what it means to be an LGBTQ ally.

Available on: Hulu

Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020)

This Canadian sitcom follows the demise of a once-wealthy family relocating to the titular small town. Starring father-son creators Eugene and Dan Levy, Schitt’s Creek achieved particular notoriety when it entered the Netflix streaming catalog and is also on our list of the best sitcoms of all time.

Available on: Hulu, Philo, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu and Netflix

Conversations with Friends (2022)

This adaptation of the famed Sally Rooney novel follows Frances and Bobbi’s sudden friendship and eventual affair with a straight married couple. The translation from book to silver screen gives the show space to delve into the queer dimensions of the complicated relationships.

Available on: Hulu

Grace and Frankie (2015–2022)

This comedy centers the titular women and their late-in-life gay husbands, who have come out and announced their relationship with each other. The ensuing upending of lives results in an exploration of queer family structures in one of the funniest LGBTQ shows on Netflix.

Available on: Netflix

Reservation Dogs (2021–present)

This show follows a group of Indigenous teens willing to do whatever it takes to leave a reservation in Oklahoma for the allure of California. Featuring an Indigenous production team and cast members, including queer Indigenous breakout actor Devery Jacobs, the dramedy demonstrates both Indigenous and Gen Z renditions of what it means to be queer and is set to delve even deeper into these themes in its second season.

Available on: Hulu

Please Like Me (2013–2016)

This dramedy series follows a group of Australian twentysomethings as they navigate bad jobs, difficult parents, and messy relationships. The pilot episode features creator, writer, and star Josh Thomas as Josh, who’s dumped by his girlfriend and then must tend to his mother after she attempts suicide. Please Like Me consistently offers a powerful blend of humor and depth.

Available on: Apple TV and Amazon Prime

Killing Eve (2018–2022)

Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer’s tour de force performances as Eve and Villanelle came to a close after four seasons this spring. This cat-and-mouse spy thriller follows Eve and the British intelligence agency MI6 as they attempt to dissolve the Twelve, an underground crime ring that employs Villanelle as an assassin. One of the most bingeable lesbian TV shows, Killing Eve garnered a slew of Emmy nominations in its four seasons, and Comer took home the trophy for Best Lead Actress in a Drama in 2019.

Available on: Hulu, Sling TV, Apple TV, Vudu and Amazon Prime

Euphoria (2019–present)

Adapted from an Israeli miniseries, the American version of Euphoria stars Zendaya as Rue, a recovering drug addict, and Hunter Shafer in a breakout role as Jules, a new-to-school trans girl. Beyond the development of Rue and Jules’s romance, the show is worth watching for its attention to lighting and all the incredible looks sported by the cast.

Available on: HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Vudu

Black Lightning (2018–2021)

This sci-fi drama follows a high school principal called back into superhero action when a criminal gang takes over his town. Over the course of the series, his daughters—including Anissa (Nafessa Williams), the first Black lesbian superhero on television—develop their own powers too.

Available on: Apple TV, Netflix, Vudu and Amazon Prime

One Day at a Time (2017–2020)

Following a Cuban American family living in Los Angeles, this half-hour sitcom addresses the single mom’s PTSD and the eldest daughter’s sexuality. Her first love interest is nonbinary, and while the show does make nonbinary people the butt of some jokes, the relationship is still rendered with care. 

Available on: Netflix and Amazon Prime

Special (2019–2021)

Featuring a gay man with cerebral palsy living in Los Angeles, it’s one of the few gay shows to address queerness and disability with the lightness of the sitcom format. 

Available on: Netflix

Queer Eye (2018–present)

This Netflix reboot of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (2003–2007) launched the careers of a new Fab Five—the Pride-flag-waving hosts who make over ordinary Americans—and sought to bring a wider representation to the subjects of its glow-ups, including a few transitioning heroes. This LGBTQ show has filmed most of its seasons in middle America but did a mini season in Japan in 2019.

Available on: Netflix and Amazon Prime

Tampa Baes (2021–present)

It’s the reality lesbian TV show we’ve all been waiting for! Tampa Baes follows a group of friends navigating the close-knit lesbian scene in Florida. This Amazon Prime TV show has it all, from aspirational beach backdrops to a queer take on the reality format.

Available on: Amazon Prime

Betty (2020–2021)

This short-lived series centers on an all-girl group of skateboarders in New York City. While some of the leads are queer, Betty focuses first and foremost on the complexities and joys of the friendships among them.

Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu and HBO Max

Modern Family (2009–2020)

One of the most enduring sitcoms of the 21st century and certainly one of the most-watched LGBTQ shows on TV, Modern Family follows three families in suburban Los Angeles, including a gay married couple.

Available on: Peacock, fuboTV, Vudu, Hulu, Apple TV and Amazon Prime

Master of None (2015–2021)

Helmed by Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, Master of None stalled after its second season, during Ansari’s #MeToo incident in 2018. But the show returned in 2021 for a third and final season, becoming a full-on lesbian dramedy with its lens focused on Lena Waithe’s character, Denise. A critically lauded Thanksgiving episode in season two explored her background, and season three follows the early years of her marriage. 

Available on: Netflix