From Christopher Isherwood's enduring 20th-century classic Goodbye to Berlin to contemporary titles like Janet Mock's Redefining Realness, the titles in this study guide collection explore a range of ideas, issues, genres, and forms that speak to the LGBTQ community.
Publication year 1928
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Gender
Tags Gender / Feminism, LGBTQ, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, British Literature, Modernism, History: World, Fantasy
Orlando: A Biography is a novel published in 1928 by the English author Virginia Woolf. It tells the story of Orlando, a member of the English nobility who is born a male in 16th century England. Around the age of 30, Orlando mysteriously changes into a woman and lives for centuries without visibly aging. Author Jeanette Winterson called Orlando “the first trans novel in English.” (Winterson, Jeanette. “’Different sex. Same person’: How Woolf’s Orlando became... Read Orlando Summary
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender
Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Language, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Fate, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ, History: World
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Gothic Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Western, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, American Literature, History: World
Publication year 2023
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ
Publication year 1929
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Psychological Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, LGBTQ, Race / Racism, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction
Passing is a riveting novel by African-American writer Nella Larsen. As a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, Larsen’s work often dealt with what it meant to be black in America. One facet of the so-called “Negro problem,” and one that other writers tackled as well, was the concept of “passing,” which entailed black people pretending to be white, in order to avoid discrimination and gain access to the privilege of whiteness... Read Passing Summary
Publication year 1905
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Class
Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature, Depression / Suicide, Finance / Money / Wealth, Education, Education, LGBTQ
Willa Cather’s short story “Paul’s Case” was published in 1905 in McClure's Magazine. In its original iteration, the story was titled “Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament,” but it was later shortened to the current title. The story became a popular one of Cather’s, in part because it was one of the only few that she allowed to be anthologized, but also for the debates over its interpretation. “Paul’s Case” was turned into a TV... Read Paul's Case Summary
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family
Tags Gender / Feminism, History: World, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ
Publication year 1988
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity
Tags Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, LGBTQ, Philosophy
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, African Literature, Black Lives Matter, Children's Literature, Magical Realism
Akwaeke Emezi’s Pet, published in 2019, is a Speculative Fiction/Fantasy novel intended for Young Adult readers. Named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, Pet was also a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. The novel received the Stonewall Book Award, which recognizes achievement in LGBTQIA+ literature. Emezi, a non-binary Nigerian Igbo and Tamil writer who uses they/them pronouns, is also the author of two novels... Read Pet Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Arts / Culture, Depression / Suicide, Grief / Death, Mental Illness, Modern Classic Fiction
Picture Us in the Light is a young adult novel written by Kelly Loy Gilbert and published in 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Gilbert is the author of three young adult novels, all of which focus on the young Asian American experience. Picture Us in the Light is written in the first-person perspective of protagonist Danny Cheng, but Gilbert includes flashbacks to China to connect Danny to a past his parents have... Read Picture Us in the Light Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Colonialism, Society: Immigration, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, LGBTQ
Publication year 2020
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Gender / Feminism, History: World, LGBTQ
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, LGBTQ, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2004
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, LGBTQ, Education, Education, Philosophy, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Sexuality
Tags Romance, Sports, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery
Tags Romance, Sports, LGBTQ
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ