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

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.
Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Welcoming Schools Initiative
HRC Foundation's Welcoming Schools Initiative is the nation's premier professional development program providing training and resources to elementary school educators to embrace all families, create LGBTQ and gender-inclusive schools, prevent bias-based bullying, and support transgender and non-binary students.
LGBTQ Video Game Archive
A curated/researched collection of information of LGBTQ content in digital games from 1980s-present
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.

Alice Dunbar-Nelson by explore

Free Library resources in support of the Rosenbach's Digital Exhibition: "I Am an American!" The Authorship and Activism of Alice Dunbar-Nelson

Lyrics of sunshine and shadow : the tragic courtship and marriage of Paul Laurence Dunbar and Alice Ruth Moore : a history of love and violence among the African American elite cover

Tracing Arachne's web : myth and feminist fiction cover

give us each day :the diary of alice dunbar-nelson cover

War plays by women : an international anthology cover

Black like us : a century of lesbian, gay and bisexual African American fiction cover

View the full list

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.

Almost like being in love : a novel cover

View the full list

LGBTQ - Fiction (74 items)

A selection of genre fiction featuring LGBTQ+ characters, including fantasy, historical, horror, paranormal, mystery, thrillers, science fiction, and more!

LGBTQ Middle Grade Books (34 items)

Books featuring LGBTQ characters and voices within children's fiction.

LGBTQ Picture Books (97 items)

Books for children of LGBTQ parents, or for little brothers and sisters of LGBTQ teens.

Coming out, coming home : helping families adjust to a gay or lesbian child cover

LGBTQ Teens - Resources for Parents and Families (26 items)

Resources for Parents and Families of LGBTQ Teens.

The full spectrum : a new generation of writing about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and other identities cover

LGBTQ Teens - Nonfiction (28 items)

Information on bullying, safety, coming out, and other important topics relevant to LGBTQ teens.

LGBTQ - Film and Television (71 items)

LGBTQ Documentaries, Film, and Television

LGBTQ - Stonewall Book Awards (54 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.

A Legal guide for lesbian and gay couples. cover

LGBTQ - Nonfiction (53 items)

A selection of informational nonfiction titles.

Lincoln and Whitman : parallel lives in Civil War Washington cover

LGBTQ - Biographies and Autobiographies (22 items)

Biographies and Autobiographies of important and influential members of LGBTQ community.

Upcoming Events

SAGA: Sexuality and Gender Acceptance

Young Adult

Join the Field Teen Center's SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Acceptance) Club! SAGA is a space where LGBTQIA+ youth… more details

Thu, April 6, 2023 3:00 PM
Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Related Tags
- LGBTQ
- Teens
Eileen Myles | a “Working Life”

Adult

REGISTER “Unflinching but also irrepressibly humorous” ( The New York Times Book Review ), Eileen Myles… more details

Tue, April 25, 2023 7:30 PM
Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Related Tags
SAGA: Sexuality and Gender Acceptance

Young Adult

Join the Field Teen Center's SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Acceptance) Club! SAGA is a space where LGBTQIA+ youth… more details

Thu, April 27, 2023 3:00 PM
Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Related Tags
- LGBTQ
- Teens
SAGA: Sexuality and Gender Acceptance

Young Adult

Join the Field Teen Center's SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Acceptance) Club! SAGA is a space where LGBTQIA+ youth… more details

Thu, May 4, 2023 3:00 PM
Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Related Tags
- LGBTQ
- Teens