Pride Month 2026 Reading List

My Government Means to Kill Me by Rasheed Newsom

In a coming-of-age story, author Rasheed Newsom explores sexuality, political awakening, identity and social justice amidst the backdrop of the 1980s AIDS epidemic.

For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Still Not Enough: Coming of Age, Coming Out, and Coming Home edited by Keith Boykin

Author and political commentator Keith Boykin offers a series of essays by queer men of color. Inspired by Ntozake Shange’s choreopoem, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf,” these essays provide a balm to young queer men who are fighting to overcome racialized homophobia.

A Black Queer History of the United States by C. Riley Snorton

The cultural theorist C. Riley Snorton examines racial, sexual and transgender histories in this nonfiction. Snorton notes that trans and nonconforming identities are not modern expressions — their existence is often hidden. The author elevates those who’ve engaged in the struggle for Black lives and digs into the marginalization and criminalization of these identities.

Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin by John D’Emilio

Historian Johne D’Emilio delves into life of the man behind the 1963 March on Washington and who taught Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. about Mahatma Ghandi’s nonviolent principles. Openly gay, Rustin is often left out of narratives about trailblazing civil rights leaders.

Reclaiming Two-Spirits: Sexuality, Spiritual Renewal & Sovereignty in Native America by Gregory Smithers

Before Columbus, many Indigenous communities claimed nonbinary identities. This award-winning book offers a decolonized history of gender and sexuality among Native North American peoples.

We Are Everywhere by Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown

This non-fiction work uses history, psychology and photography to offer a glimpse of the long-spanning roots of queer identities and movements. “We Are Everywhere” encourages readers to think beyond recent history to take in the longer presence of LGBTQ+ activism, and to see the stories we know in a new light. The many pictures depicting influential moments and figures in history help illustrate how the stories of our past can shape movements in our future.

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

Written by the renowned and openly queer writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin, “Giovanni’s Room” is a foundational novel for those looking to delve into LGBTQ+ literature. This classic explores love and self-acceptance amid the conventions of the 1950s. A story of forbidden love and discovering one’s identity, this book is a staple for fiction this Pride Month.

Marsha by Tourmaline

“Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson” gives insight into the life and work of one of the most influential women in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. From her activism to her artistry, Tourmaline chronicles Johnson’s joy, perseverance and commitment to being her whole self in a way that too often is not seen. This biography of a Black transgender woman, as told by a Black transgender woman, is a celebration of Johnson’s life and legacy.

A Renaissance of Our Own by Rachel E. Cargle

This memoir and manifesto, written by an activist and entrepreneur with a focus on intersectionality, encourages readers to fight for the best for themselves. Cargle walks readers through her journey to find acceptance and authenticity. She shares the strategies she used to find her truth and offers advice for readers to pursue the life that they deserve.

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews

Thankam Mathews’ debut novel provides insightful views on belonging, interpersonal relationships, family dynamics and identity. Told through the lens of an immigrant woman forging a life at her first post-graduate job, this book explores what it means to find true love and true friendship as a young adult.

Bonus: Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton

Another book by C. Riley Snorton, the author explores the intersection of Blackness and transgender identities, from 19th century to today. The author challenges narratives about the trans community and celebrates their presence throughout history.