If you have at least one openly queer friend/colleague with whom you rarely discussed gender/sexual issues anymore because you've had this conversation years and years ago, it's often easy to forget that you are living in a bubble. You see queer representations (admittedly skewed towards able-bodied white cis gay men) regularly on the media and do not gag, you read the celebratory #Lovewins hashtags and your heart feels warmed, or you might have enjoyed the parading revelry as cities burst into colors for Pride Month. You are definitely living in a bubble.I would know it, I live in it: Boston is one such bubble. (It's a pleasant bubble, mind you.)
And it was a pretty bubble, too. In June, downtown Boston hoisted rainbow flags on their buildings to celebrate the Pride month. On the 9th, the Boston Pride Parade went through Boston's major streets, and I got an excellent view from the BPL (Boston Public Library). Admittedly I only got to see the tail end of the parade, but as it were, it was really uplifting to see so many people in high spirit.
Inside the library, the BPL observed the Pride Month by showcasing a selection of their LGBTQ+ books on the first floor. They also published a list of their recommendation on their website. These were where I get most of the LGBT themed books that I read in June:
- And It Came to Pass - Laura Stone [LGBT spectrum: Gay]: 4*/5* (goodreads avg: 4.11)
- Taproot - Keezy Young [Graphic Novel/GN; G]: 3*/5* (avg: 4.01)
- Jaya and Rasa - Sonia Patel [T]: 1*/5* (avg: 3.70)
- The Awkward Squad - Sophie Hénaff [G]: 4*/5* (avg: 3.80)
- As the Crow Flies - Melanie Gillman [GN; L, T]: 4*/5* (avg: 3.79)
- My Brother's Husband Volume 1 - Gengoroh Tagame [GN; G]: 3*/5* (avg: 4.44)
- Generations - Biondi Flavia [GN; G]: 4*/5* (avg: 4.02)
