Have you been looking for some books to finish off these hot summer days with? Are you tired of only seeing books representing straight, cisgender, white people? Fear not! For I have a recommendation of five books you NEED to add to your reading list right now!
1. Sovereign Erotics: A Collection of Two-Spirit Literature -- Qwo-Li Driskill
Driskill makes history by bring into creation the first book on Native Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Two-Spirit (GLBTQ2) communities in over twenty years. Grab a copy of this book to read a collection of accounts by GLBTQ2 authors spanning multiple genres. With poem and prose that will draw chills down your back, you won't be able to put this book down!
My rating: 5 stars
2. Dirty River: A Queer Femme of Color Dreaming Her Way Home -- Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha tells her story of leaving home, traveling across borders, confronting sexual abuse, discovering revolutionary qtpoc thought while finding herself along the way. Like no other, Piepzna-Samarasinha provides a memorable account of coming of age in a place that isn't quite ready for you. This book will be a constant reminder of the constant beauty queer and/or trans people of color bring into the world.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
3. Disidentifications: Queers of Color and the Performance of Politics -- José Esteban Muñoz
I am probably providing a biased account, considering that Muñoz who is from my hometown in Miami (Hialeah), but this book completely changed my way of thinking in terms of resistance, counterculture, and media representation. If you want to learn about popular queer/trans figures and educate yourself on the struggles queer and/or trans individuals have faced in multiple communities, check this book out!
My rating: 4 stars
4. Americano -- Emanuel Xavier
In "Americano", Emanuel Xavier sets forth an unapologetic account of Latino queerness, with all its strives and celebrations. By the end of this book, you'll be question what the heck "American" even is and whether our current mainstream definition strips the best from our people.
My rating: 4 stars
5. Juliet Takes a Breath -- Gabby Rivera
"Juliet Takes a Breath" is a book I wish would have been in my library when I was growing up queer. So often, books with QTPOC ignore representation of younger ages, as if being queer or trans is a "big kid thing." Rivera's wonderful story not only provides us with Young Adult represenation but also assures us that it will all work out in the end, even if in an unexpected manner.
My rating: 4 stars
