LGBTQ
The Free Library of Philadelphia celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June with book and film recommendations, events for all ages, and resources in Philadelphia. Through this Explore Topic, you can also find lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer resources and support, emphasizing the diversity of sexual and gender identity-based cultures. Other resources include information on bullying, safety, and coming out; books and resources for parents and siblings; biographies of important LGBTQ figures in the community; and award-winning LGBTQ fiction.
Links
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AIDS Education Month
June 2018 is the 24th year that Philadelphia FIGHT hosted AIDS Education Month (AEM), a series of events throughout Philadelphia to increase AIDS awareness and to bring people together to find strategies to combat the virus. Over 10,000 individuals are directly reached by AEM every June. -
BiUnity of Philadelphia
The Philadelphia-area support network for bisexual people, their families, and friends. -
Equality Advocates Pennsylvania
Equality Advocates' mission is to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in Pennsylvania through direct legal services, education, and policy reform. -
Equality Forum
Equality Forum undertakes high-impact initiatives, produces documentary films, highlights LGBT history, and presents the largest annual national and international LGBT civil rights forum. -
Giovanni's Room
Giovanni's Room, one of the oldest and more highly regarded gay and lesbian bookstores in the country, hosts many author events and is a great meeting place. -
LGBTQ Video Game Archive
A curated/researched collection of information of LGBTQ content in digital games from 1980s-present -
LGBTQ+ Representation In Libraries
Panels discusses LGBTQ+ representation In libraries, specifically when it comes to graphic novels and comics. -
Office of LGBT Affairs, City of Philadelphia
The Office of LGBT Affairs works to foster equal working and living conditions for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people and to advocate for LGBTQ issues in all areas of City government. -
PFLAG Philadelphia
An organization for the parents, families, and friends of lesbians and gays. -
Philadelphia AIDS Law Project
The AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit public-interest law firm providing free legal assistance to people living with HIV and AIDS and those affected by the epidemic. -
Philadelphia Family Pride
A nonprofit membership organization for LGBTQ+ led families in the greater Philadelphia region. -
Philadelphia FIGHT
Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers provide culturally competent comprehensive primary care, and state of the art HIV primary care to low income members of the community, along with research, consumer education, advocacy, social services and outreach to people living with HIV and those who are at high risk, including family members, communities with high rates of HIV, formerly incarcerated persons, and young people at risk; and access to the most advanced clinical research in HIV treatment and prevention. -
Philadelphia Gay News
The online version of Philadelphia's only gay newspaper. The print version comes out every Friday and is free of charge. -
Philly Gay Calendar
Find out what's happening in Philadelphia's gay community along with a listing of local venues (bars, businesses, organizations, etc.) -
Philly Pride Presents
This volunteer organization brings us three "must see" events: Pride Day in June, Outfest in October, and Winter Pride in late winter. -
Philly schools pass sweeping policy protecting transgender students
"Without debate or comments from the public, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission adopted a policy on Thursday, June 16 that immediately allows transgender students to, among other things, be referred to by their pronoun of choice; use their bathroom of choice; and go out for the athletic team of their gender choice, either boys' or girls'." -
Serving All Library Families in a Queer and Genderqueer Way
There are excellent resources for librarians who want to improve their services to LGBTQ patrons, and the American Library Association’s (ALA) Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) collects, creates, and promotes professional resources, and, importantly, administers the Stonewall Book Awards and yearly booklists that share the most current materials. -
The Attic Youth Center
The Attic Youth Center creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to develop into healthy, independent, civic-minded adults within a safe and supportive community, and promotes the acceptance of LGBTQ youth in society. -
The Colours Organization, Inc.
The COLOURS Organization offers a safe and comfortable meeting place for sexual minorities of color in the heart of Center City Philadelphia. -
William Way Center
From social groups, networking events, and counseling and support services to art exhibitions and cultural experiences, the Center consistently strives to provide new and innovative programs for the LGBT communities of Philadelphia.
LGBTQ - Romance by explore
Fun and fabulous recent romances that feature LGBTQ+ heroes and heroines! There's everything here to make you smile (and maybe cry) complete with a guaranteed happy ending. Just a note: a significant majority of romances with gay male protagonists are actually written by women for a straight female audience.
LGBTQ - Fiction by explore
A selection of genre fiction featuring LGBTQ+ characters, including fantasy, historical, horror, paranormal, mystery, thrillers, science fiction, and more!
LGBTQ Young Adult Books (156 items)
Books featuring LGBTQ protagonists within YA fiction that is diverse and accessible to all readers, no matter what their sexual orientation or gender identity may be.
LGBTQ Middle Grade Books (31 items)
Books featuring LGBTQ characters and voices within children's fiction.
LGBTQ Picture Books (62 items)
Books for children of LGBTQ parents, or for little brothers and sisters of LGBTQ teens. Revised 4/2019
LGBTQ Teens - Resources for Parents and Families (26 items)
Resources for Parents and Families of LGBTQ Teens.
LGBTQ Teens - Nonfiction (28 items)
Information on bullying, safety, coming out, and other important topics relevant to LGBTQ teens.
LGBTQ - Film and Television (58 items)
LGBTQ Documentaries, Film, and Television
LGBTQ - Stonewall Book Awards (45 items)
The Stonewall Book Awards are given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience and include the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award, the Stonewall Book Awards – Barbara Gittings Literature award and the Stonewall Book Awards – Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award.
LGBTQ - Nonfiction (47 items)
A selection of informational nonfiction titles.
LGBTQ - Biographies and Autobiographies (17 items)
Biographies and Autobiographies of important and influential members of LGBTQ community.
Upcoming Events
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S.A.G.A. CLUB
S.A.G.A, short for Sexuality and Gender Acceptance, is the new Youth G.S.A. (Gay Straight Alliance) located at… more details
Fri, December 13, 2019 3:30 PM
Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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LGBTQ Teen Cafe
LGBTQ Teen Café! Join us on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 1:30-4:00 Air hockey! Crafts! … more details
Sat, December 21, 2019 1:30 PM
Tacony Library
6742 Torresdale Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19135-2416
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Lambda Book Group | Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett
Lambda book group presents an opportunity to discuss a mix of LGBTQ+ gems, classics and new releases. Anyone… more details
Mon, January 6, 2020 6:00 PM
Independence Library
18 S. 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
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Lambda Book Group | Indecent Advances: A Hidden History of True Crime and Prejudice Before Stonewall by James Polchin
Lambda book group presents an opportunity to discuss a mix of LGBTQ+ gems, classics and new releases. Anyone… more details
Mon, February 3, 2020 6:00 PM
Independence Library
18 S. 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
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Blog Posts
Banned Books Week | LGBTQ+ Tween and Children's Edition
Another year, another Banned Books Week ! Each year the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Most Challenged Books in order to "inform the public about censorship in…
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Conversations About Queer and Trans Literature with Author Kacen Callender
In part 2 of interviews conducted around the Trans Writers, Kids, and Books event (you can find our interview with Kyle Lukoff from before the event in an earlier blog post), this time we speak with Lambda and Stonewall Award-winning…
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Conversations About Queer and Trans Literature with Picture Book Author Kyle Lukoff
We’re having a really exciting Author Event on the evening of Thursday, July 25 where the topics of discussion will be Trans Writers, Kids, and Books ! Lambda and Stonewall Award-winning author Kacen Callender ( Hurricane Child ,…
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Happy Birthday, Frida!
Independence Day isn’t the only famous birthday this week: on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacan, which is now part of Mexico City, the revolutionary spirit Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderon was born in a blue house. If you…
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You Can’t Kill a Poet
You Can’t Kill a Poet is a Philadelphia-based reading series for LGBTQ readers which just celebrated its 5th anniversary! The series is held at different locations throughout the city, including Tattooed Mom , South…
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New LGBTQ+ Children's Books for 2019!
2019 has been a great year for children’s books so far. We are seeing so many own-voices books, although there is still a long way to go. Some of my favorites from the first half of the year have a common theme—LGBTQ+. I…
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The Poetry to the People Tour Is Coming to Philadelphia!
At the Free Library of Philadelphia, we know firsthand that access to books and other media can change lives. The Poetry to the People tour is dedicated to increasing such access—so we’re obviously thrilled to be one of the…
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Don’t Be a Drag, Just Be a Queen: Exploring and Celebrating Gender Roleplay in Young Adult Books!
Welcome to another Pride Month, friends! After this season of RuPaul’s Drag Race , I’m sure we're all ready to keep the amazing times rolling with more exploration of performative gender with some rollicking young adult…
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LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2019 Programs and Events
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month , and the Free Library is celebrating with events, speakers, drag queen storytimes, exhibitions, movie screenings, and more, all across Philadelphia! You can find everything with the #FreeLibraryofPride tag on…
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Learning Through Touch: Connecting with Objects in Our Special Collections
In a recent CNN article titled, "Why touching art is so tempting — and exciting," Fiona Candlin, a professor of museology at Birkbeck College in London and author of Art, Museums, and Touch , argues that…
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Happy Birthday, Barbie and G.I. Joe!
The Barbie doll’s official beau has always been Ken, but to many toy collectors (and some cultural critics ) the real natural counterpart to Barbie has always been G.I. Joe . The two playthings, created within five years of each…
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LGBTQIA+ Manga: Read with Pride!
Some of the most fun manga produced and imported in the past few years have featured LGBTQIA+ characters and storylines. Here are some of the most popular (and most checked out) titles available at the Free Library of…
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LGBTQ+ Comics: Read with Pride!
You know how they say that there is no one specific LGBTQ+ story? In the world of comics and graphic novels with LGBTQ+ characters and storylines, are "they" ever right! Its been a banner decade for mainstream comics to…
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Free Library of Pride | Gender Nonconforming Picture Books
Nonconforming picture books challenge stereotypes: in these books, boys and girls act and behave in a way that feels right to them rather than by conforming to expectations or conventional standards. These picture books encourage…
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The History of Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ Advocacy of Barbara Gittings
In 1970, bisexual activist Brenda Howard organized the first Christopher Street Liberation Day March, marking the one-year anniversary of New York City’s Stonewall Uprising . The Uprising referred to a six-day clash between young…
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This Year's GLAAD Media Award Winners Are...
The GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards took place on April 12 in Los Angeles and were broadcast on the LOGOtv network last night. The awards, now in their 29th year, honor the media for their fair,…
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Celebrating History's Unsung Creative Couples
On February 7, we opened a new exhibition celebrating the art and achievements of romantic couples, from the powerful royalty of the 16th century to cinema stars of Old Hollywood to local artists creating together today. Of Two…
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Dena's Favorite Books of 2017
Every year I read a lot of books. Out of the 339 that I read in 2017, I've picked out the 36 that I liked the best . 2017 was a hard year, and I found myself looking for books that were happy and not particularly difficult or…
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#ThrowbackThursday: Re-Reading Annie on My Mind
I don’t remember how I first heard about Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden , but what I do remember is that I immediately set out to get a copy by any means necessary. I was a 16-year-old with a debit card and access to the amazing…
