It`s Pride Month! That means it`s time to celebrate and honor LGBTQ authors, photographers, historians, artists, and activists for the whole month of June. Below we have collected some of the best novels, poems and collections from queer authors with queer stories to tell. It is so important to include queer literature in public and personal collections. Creating empathy and instilling respect in the generations to come is more important now than ever. We hope these novels and poems inspire you to celebrate Pride and reflect on LGBTQ experiences. 

1. Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith and Family - Garrard Conley

A popular piece of modern struggle with identity and acceptance, Garrard Conley details overcoming conversion therapy in a small, religious southern town. This memoir inspired a 2018 film version which captured audiences with its harrowing story of survival and transformation that Conley endured in his youth. As Garth Greenwell puts it on the front cover, Boy Erased is "an urgent reminder that America remains a place where queer people have to fight for their lives."

2. Sister Outsider - Audre Lorde

From classic author and poet Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider is a powerful collection of essays and speeches about the oppressions of homophobia, racism, class issues, and more. Written by black, lesbian poet Audre Lorde, this collection urges for social and systematic change in a broken world. Even in today, this book finds itself applicable in our modern climate.

3. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

A classic, modern piece, David Levithan`s 2003 novel Boy Meets Boy takes a twist on high school romance and drama. Levithan redefines and transforms stereotypes of gender and sexuality in the realm of youth. A must read escape for queer youth and straight allies. 

4. Stung With Love by Sappho

An artist of the ancient world, Sappho was considered the "Tenth Muse" of Greece. From the island of Lesbos, Sappho was said to have written over 10,000 poems in lyrical style. Today only 650 exist in this collection. Sappho`s sexuality led her to become a symbol of love between women, and her literature captures that spirit.

5. We Are Everywhere: A Visual Guide to the History of Queer Liberation, So Far - by Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown

A stunning and poignant collection of historical photos, We Are Everywhere paints a clear picture of the brave community over the past one hundred years of queer liberation. Riemer and Brown, co-owners of the @lgbt_history Instagram account, have gathered stories and photographs that capture the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community in order to honor how far they have come.