Exploring LGBTQ+ Themes in Literature

Sipra Chander

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The Pride Month

As an author I write about worlds that are created by my minds fantasies. We create beings that don't exist and make them surreal, readers fall in love with the character's. Harry Potter is one such fictional character created by J. K. Rowling.
But what about the people created by god? Do we love them all? I have to agree till 2018, even I was not that aware of them, and now do regret not knowing before. Before for me the words gay, and lesbian were only words, and I had no knowledge of the other words. But after I began watching BL series, I began to unerstand them more and now can say everyone deserves to live a normal life because regardless of your gender, everyone is a normal person.

Books To Read

Thouhg you are not allowed to self-promote, but reagarding to the topic of today, as a writer, in my book "The Warlord's Revenge", my protagonist and his fellow angels are all male and have their own partners. One couple in the book is of an angle and a human. The couple experience the difference between angel couples, and human couples, forming their own blissful world.
During the writing of this book, I came to understand them more better and I also have to thank the bl series for opening up my prespective, and giving a better view of their lives. Back to our topic, here are some books that you can read during and after Pride month, and they will be interesting to read.
image by Dua Nasir from Pixabay

The Struggle of LGBTQ Books

According to a survey done by the American Library Association (ALA), in 2023 alone a record-high of 4,240 books were banned, and 65% of them were lgbtq books. This is the dilemma the authors and deprived readers of the community have to face. But what no one understands is unless you don't get to know about them, you don't understand them, how can you be baised and make a decision about someone's life on your own?
No matter what other's say, one should be able to judge the right from wrong. And, these books are a must read. Not only for the lgbtq community, but everyone. These books bring a new presepctive and let you understand about them better. Thouhg it's not easy to find books that truly reflect the real view, so these books are a must read.
During the Pride Month, a lot of people focus on the lgbtq community and try to promote in their own ways. But according to me, their is no better way than books, and media. As they have a language that people can understand, and this helps others to know more about them.
Regardless if you are a normal person (as the straight people are called), you should read them as well so you can understand them and realize they are also normal people with their own preference.

Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen

Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen

Angela Chen has done a great work in giving the readers an engaging exploration into the world of sexual attraction and what asexuality is and what it is not. The book is part memoir and part cultural criticism, but mostly it's about understanding the attraction is the same as the straight experience.
The book questions you about what sexual attraction is and what it means to go through your life not experiencing it. In particular the book Ace brings the main focus on the ‘A’ in LGBTQIA and lets everyone rethink what is the real meaning of pleasure and intimacy. You get to understand the issues an Asexual person faces regarding the confusion around sexual interaction, sexual identity, and navigating the different needs in a relationship.
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In the book author Angela Chen navigates her own path to asexuality as she herself understands the diverse groups perspective. The book tells about a woman who actually had blood tests to check if she had any illness as she “did not want to have sex.” And a man who grew up in a religious household doing everything “right”, only to find out his experience of sexuality is different than what others believe it to be.

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

In one line summary, the book is an unforgettable coming of age novel for fans of 13 Reasons Why, It’s kind of a funny story, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
On a deeper review: The gay dark comedy explores the term "normal." The story revolves around a fifteen-year-old boy who wakes up on New Year's Day in the mental hospital - in particular the psychiatric ward. Though the boy Jeff has bandages on his wrists, he still has a positive mindset, he is here by mistake. He is nothing like the other boys in the ward.
But over the 45-days span that he is in the hospital, he realizes he has more in common with the boys in the ward then he thought.
According to Publishers Weekly, the book got a starred review and the story has a powerful emotional impact.
About the author, Michael Thomas Ford is an award-winning author and lives with his husband and dogs. He has written numerous award-winning books for the young and adult readers alike.

Pageboy: A Memoir by Elliot Page

Pageboy: A Memoir by Elliot Page

Author Elliot Page requires no introduction as he's been nominated for the Golden Globe Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award. Page came out as a Ttrans-man on Decemeber 1, 2020 on social media and specifying pronouns to be used for him are he, and they.
Regarding the memoir, the book is more than just a book. It's a journey of a person's struggles, sufferings, and proving what it means to be a human. Definitely worth a reading as it lets you understand what it means for a person to be able to live with his own true identity.

The Tea Dragon Society (1) by K. O'Neill

The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill

The story follows Greata, a blacksmith apprentice as she entwines into the world of Tea Dragons. She learns the art of tea dragon care-taking is dying and also meets the kind tea-shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik.
According to a review by the School Library Journal, the book is wonderfully inclusive, and depicts a distinct and expressive cast of LGBTQIA characters and people of color.

To Be Contuinued

The books are not only meant for reading, but they give you a clear prespective of what and who they are as humans. The books make you question, why can you not accept them as humans, why can they not make their own choices. Most importat question of all: When can they be also 'normal'?
As there are a lot of amazing books to read, it's not possible to add them all at once, so I will be updating this post regualry. The post will be in parts as there are too many books I want to suggest.
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Posted Apr 15, 2025

Reviews of books exploring LGBTQ+ themes and recommended related literature.

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Jun 10, 2024 - Jun 10, 2024

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