Recommended Media:
​LGBTQ+ Stuff to Watch & Read

Read with Pride. Your local library can help you when you're looking for these books or TV shows and recommend even more great media. The ages listed are recommendations but we encourage you to find what suits you best.  Looking for more something else? Visit Boston Public Library's LGBTQ+ Resources page or reach out to a local librarian!
* = This was recommended by a south shore youth.
** = This is an award winner.
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Reads Rainbow (Books, Movies and TV, & Music!)

One of our favorite blogs for finding new media is Reads Rainbow. Here you can find reviews, recs, and info about upcoming LGBT content, so that you can read/watch/listen till your heart’s full of love!

Teen Fiction (Ages 13+)

All out : The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages by Saundra Mitchell
An anthology of 17 historical and diverse short stories includes contributions by such leading LGBTQ authors as Alex Sanchez, Dahlia Adler and Kody Keplinger and includes such diverse tales as a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood" set in war-torn 1870s Mexico and a story of forbidden love in a 16th-century Spanish convent. 
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Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas*
​When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.
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Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender**
​After a personal attack at his New York City summer arts program, Black, queer, transgender Felix’s attempts to heal lead to revenge and unexpected romance. While navigating gender identity, relationships, and ambitions, Felix recognizes he is a demiboy, and that he is enough.
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Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian**
It's 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing. The acclaimed author of "The Authentics" pens a big-hearted, epic love letter to the LGBTQ community about three friends falling in love and finding their voices as activists during the height of the AIDS crisis.

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore***
To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees, and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up.
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You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson**
High school senior Liz Lighty has always had a plan, and it never included running for Prom Queen or falling for the new girl. This queer, Black prom rom-com is a heartfelt, genuine story with an authentic sense of place and hilarious voice.
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Middle Grade Fiction (Ages 8+)

Ana on the Edge by A.J. Sass
Twelve-year-old Ana-Marie Jin, the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion, is not a frilly dress kind of kid. So, when Ana learns that next season's program will be princess themed, doubt forms fast. Once Ana meets Hayden, a transgender boy new to the rink, thoughts about the princess program and gender identity begin to take center stage. And when Hayden mistakes Ana for a boy, Ana doesn't correct him and finds comfort in this boyish identity when he's around. As their friendship develops, Ana realizes that it's tricky juggling two different identities on one slippery sheet of ice. And with a major competition approaching, Ana must decide whether telling everyone the truth is worth risking years of hard work and sacrifice.
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Beetle & The Hollowbones by Aliza Layne**
​In this vibrant graphic novel, goblin-witch Beetle and fan-fiction-writing Kat work together to free their non-gendered friend Blob Ghost from the mall they haunt before it is demolished. This fun love story between two magical girls explores family, power, and courage.

The Best at It by Maulik Pancholy**
Rahul Kapoor is heading into seventh grade in a small town in Indiana. The start of middle school is making him feel increasingly anxious, so his favorite person in the whole world, his grandfather Bhai, gives him some well-meaning advice: Find one thing you’re really good at. And become the BEST at it. Those four little words sear themselves into Rahul’s brain. While he’s not quite sure what that special thing is, he is convinced that once he finds it, bullies like Brent Mason will stop torturing him at school. And he won’t be worried about staring too long at his classmate Justin Emery. With his best friend, Chelsea, by his side, Rahul is ready to crush this challenge. . . . But what if he discovers he isn’t the best at anything?
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George by Alex Gino***
​When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part ... because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all. (Ages 8+)
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Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake**
When a tornado rips through town, twelve-year-old Ivy Aberdeen's house is destroyed and her family of five is displaced. Ivy feels invisible and ignored in the aftermath of the storm--and what's worse, her notebook filled with secret drawings of girls holding hands has gone missing.
Mysteriously, Ivy's drawings begin to reappear in her locker with notes from someone telling her to open up about her identity. Ivy thinks--and hopes--that this someone might be her classmate, another girl for whom Ivy has begun to develop a crush. Will Ivy find the strength and courage to follow her true feelings?
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Rick by Alex Gino
​Eleven-year-old Rick Ramsey has generally gone along with everybody, just not making waves, even though he is increasingly uncomfortable with his father's jokes about girls, and his best friend's explicit talk about sex; but now in middle school he discovers the Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities can express themselves--and maybe among them he can find new friends and discover his own identity, which may just be to opt out of sex altogether. (Ages 8+)
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Nonfiction

The ABC's of LGBT+ by Ashley Mardell
Hello and welcome to the ABC’s of LGBT.  Along with in-depth written definitions, personal anecdotes, helpful infographics, links to online videos, and more, Mardell aims to provide a friendly voice to a community looking for information. Beyond those searching for a label, this book is also for allies and LGBT+ people simply looking to pack in some extra knowledge! Knowledge is a critical part of acceptance, learning about new identities broadens our understanding of humanity, heightens our empathy, and allows us different, valuable perspectives. 
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Be Gay, Do Comics by Matt Bors
This title is filled with dozens of comics about LGBTQIA experiences, ranging from personal stories to queer history to cutting satire about pronoun panic and brands desperate to co-opt pride. Brimming with resilience, inspiration, and humor, an incredible lineup of top indie cartoonists takes you from the American Revolution through Stonewall to today's fights for equality and representation.

Queer Heroes: Meet 53 LGBTQ Heroes From Past and Present! by Arabelle Sicardi
Discover the inspiring stories of a diverse selection of LGBTQ artists, writers, innovators, athletes and activists who have made great contributions to culture, from ancient times to present day. Full-color portraits accompanied by short biographies.

A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities by Mady G.
​In this quick and easy guide to queer and trans identities, cartoonists Mady G and JR Zuckerberg guide you through the basics of the LGBT+ world! Covering essential topics like sexuality, gender identity, coming out, and navigating relationships, this guide explains the spectrum of human experience through informative comics, interviews, worksheets, and imaginative examples. A great starting point for anyone curious about queer and trans life, and helpful for those already on their own journeys!
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A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns by Archie Bongiovanni
​Archie, a snarky genderqueer artist, is tired of people not understanding gender neutral pronouns. Tristan, a cisgender dude, is looking for an easy way to introduce gender neutral pronouns to his increasingly diverse workplace. The longtime best friends team up in this short and fun comic guide that explains what pronouns are, why they matter, and how to use them. They also include what to do if you make a mistake, and some tips-and-tricks for those who identify outside of the binary to keep themselves safe in this binary-centric world. A quick and easy resource for people who use they/them pronouns, and people who want to learn more!
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Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets by Gayle E. Pitman
In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village sparked a series of spontaneous, often violent demonstrations by members of the gay community.

​Picture Books

IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All by Chelsea Johnson
The brainchild of three women-of-color sociologists, IntersectionAllies is a smooth, gleeful entry into intersectional feminism. The nine interconnected characters proudly describe themselves and their backgrounds, involving topics that range from a physical disability to language brokering, offering an opportunity to take pride in a personal story and connect to collective struggle for justice.
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Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
​Traces the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today's world

Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall*
​Red's factory-applied label clearly says that he is red, but despite the best efforts of his teacher, fellow crayons and art supplies, and family members, he cannot seem to do what's expected of him until a new friend offers a fresh perspective.

When Aidan Became A Brother by Kyle Lukoff**
After Aidan realized he was a trans boy, he and his parents fixed the parts of his life that didn’t fit anymore. When Mom and Dad announce that they’re going to have another baby, Aidan wants to do everything he can to make things right for his new sibling from the very beginning.​
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Podcasts

• Queer as Fact is a podcast run by four Melbourne-based queer people with a background in history and a passion for sharing queer stories. They explore topics and figures from around the world, and examine their place in the wider context of queer history.
• The Magnus Archives* is a weekly horror fiction anthology podcast examining what lurks in the archives of the Magnus Institute, an organization dedicated to researching the esoteric and the weird. This story features several queer characters including and asexual protagonist.
• Two Princes follows Rupert and Amir who come from warring kingdoms and become unwitting allies when they journey into a mysterious forest in order to try and save their realms. Along the way, the two heroes fall in love with each other.

TV Shows

• Anne with an E* (TV series, TV-PG): The adventures of a young orphan girl living in the late 19th century. Follow Anne as she learns to navigate her new life on Prince Edward Island, in this new take on L.M. Montgomery's classic novels.
• Good Omens* (miniseries, TV-MA): A tale of the bungling of Armageddon features an angel, a demon, an eleven-year-old Antichrist, and a doom-saying witch.
• ​Owl House* (animated TV series, TV-Y7): Accidentally sent to the world of the Boiling Isles before a trip to summer camp, a teenage human named Luz longs to become a witch, with the rebellious Eda and pint-sized demon King at her aid.
• Pose* (TV series, TV-MA): In the New York of the late 80s and early 90s, this is a story of ball culture and the gay and trans community, the raging AIDS crisis and capitalism.
• Schitt's Creek* (TV series, TV-14): When rich video-store magnate Johnny Rose and his family suddenly find themselves broke, they are forced to leave their pampered lives to regroup in Schitt's Creek.
• She-Ra and the Princesses of Power* (animated TV series, TV-Y7): She-Ra, Princess of Power, leads a rebellion to free her land of Etheria from the monstrous invaders the Horde.
• Voltron: Legendary Defender* (animated TV series, TV-Y7): Five teenagers become the last line of defense for the galaxy in an intergalactic battle against the evil alien force led by King Zarkon.