A Bookworm Ally Guide to International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia

June should not be the only month that we celebrate and support the queer community. Every day that there is an injustice is a day that humanity is still living in darker times. That being said, May 17th is International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, the perfect day to educate ourselves to better our future.

“The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.”

https://may17.org/about/

This is a worldwide celebration of sexual and gender diversity and the theme this year is “Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights”. In lieu of that theme, here are 3 books that you can read to get more information and history to help you become a better ally for the LGBTQ+ family or friends in your life.

A Queer History of the United States

Michael Bronski

This collection of historical data dates back as early as the 15th century. While many people believe that Stonewall was the stepping stone for Queer history, this book reveals that there were many milestones before, such as the transgender evangelist’s, Jemima Wilkinson, fight for the use of gender-neutral pronouns in the 1800’s. It also includes an in-depth analysis of how rock music and pop culture encouraged backlash against queer rights. A definite stepping stone must-read for any ally.

The Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate

Jeannie Gainsburg

This is a well-organized, light-hearted book for anyone who wants to advocate for queer rights. It not only talks about the current language and identity structures, but also gives insight on frequently asked questions, how to approach possibly awkward situations, and basically keeps you from sounding ignorant when it comes to LGBTQ+ advocacy. Knowledge is power, and this book is great for parents, administrators, upper management, and friends alike.

Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social, and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up Gay in America

Mitchell Gold

While I am definitely one for avoiding trauma books, this one is extremely important. Queer-identifying teens are 190% more likely to commit suicide according to this book, and it goes into detail about the isolation, bullying, shaming, and depression that contribute to that astronomical number. This book reveals 40 stories of real people going through pain which can help you to be more empathetic towards what they are going through in an intimate way.

Reading is understanding, and understanding is the building block of creating a more equal and fair society. If you would like to know more about May 17th or create an event in celebration, you can visit: https://may17.org/

Here are some honorable mentions that are also informative and interesting reads:

'Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive' by Julia Serano

'Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out' by Loraine Hutchins and Lani Kaahumanu

‘Queer Intentions: A (personal) Journey Through LGBQT+ Culture’ by Amelia Abraham

'Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out' by Susan Kuklin

‘Rainbow Family Collections: Selecting and Using Children's Books with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Content’ by Jamie Campbell Naidoo

'Allies At Work: Creating A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Inclusive Work Environment' by David Hall

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

‘Up All Night’ an anthology by Laura Geringer Bass, Peter Abrahams, Libba Bray, David Levithan, Patricia McCormick, Sarah Weeks, Gene Luen Yang, and Ariel Pollak

‘Sister Outsider’ by Audre Lorde

Article edited by Lola Lujan and Akili Lewis.