Pride Among Booksellers

In many ways, this June has been my first real Pride. Like many newer members of the community, the 2020 quarantine left me with too much time to think and I accidentally bucked compulsory heterosexuality. Since then I’ve stayed COVID-conscious, masking and avoiding large events. Coupled with my small hometown, these past few years have been devoid of Pride events. 

Until Children’s Institute.

It was an honor and a delight to spend my first real Pride surrounded by booksellers, publishers, authors, and coworkers who share my passions and values.

In the wake of all the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, I am constantly reminded that the first Pride was a riot. It has always been an act of resistance, a refusal to live as anything other than ourselves. And to me, the ability to find ourselves represented in books is a vital piece of that. It gives readers a glimpse of all the different ways there are to exist. And maybe they’ll find themselves along the way. 

To celebrate this Pride month, myself and other ABA team members have compiled a list of LGBTQIA2S+ titles that have been meaningful to us, helped us feel seen, or helped us discover ourselves.