There are plenty of things to learn and questions to be answered when talking about LGBQT+ and gender issues, and luckily there are plenty of books out there to help. Here are some adult and young adult titles that you can find at ICPL.
A quick & easy guide to queer & trans identities
Mady (Mady M. Giuliani) G
306.76 /G
LGBTQ+, Nonfiction
"Covering essential topics like sexuality, gender identity, coming out, and navigating relationships, this guide explains the spectrum of human experience through informative comics, interviews, worksheets, and imaginative examples. A great starting point for anyone curious about queer and trans life, and helpful for those already on their own journeys!"--Back cover.
Becoming an ally to the gender-expansive child : a guide for parents and carers
Anna Bianchi
306.768 /Bianchi
Nonfiction, LGBTQ+
When Anna Bianchi's grandchild asked, "Nanny, you do know I'm a girl, don't you?", Anna recognised this as a pivotal, and daunting, moment in their relationship. She knew that to answer her grandchild, who had been assigned male at birth, her own attitudes, assumptions and beliefs about gender would need to be examined. With reassuring honesty and openness, Anna draws deeply on four areas: her own experience, current research, interviews with children and their families, and a discussion of power, both in society and between children and adults. She shows how the inner journey of the adult inevitably impacts on the outer journey of the child and, given the significance of this, offers a step-by-step guide to becoming an ally to the gender-expansive child.
She, he, they, me : for the sisters, misters, and binary resisters
Robyn Ryle
305.3 /Ryle
LGBTQ+, Nonfiction
If you've ever questioned the logic of basing an entire identity around what you have between your legs, it's time to embark on a daring escape outside of the binary box... Open your eyes to what it means to be a boy or a girl -- and above and beyond! Within these pages, you get to choose which path to forge. Explore over one hundred different scenarios that embrace nearly every definition across the world, over history, and in the ever-widening realms of our imagination! What if your journey leads you into a world with several genders, or simply one? Do you live in a matriarchal society, or as a sworn virgin in the Balkans? How does gender (or the lack thereof) change the way we approach sex and love, life or death? Jump headfirst into this refreshingly creative exploration of the ways gender colors every shade and shape of our world. Above all, it's more important than ever for us to celebrate the fact that there are infinite gender paths -- and each of them is beautiful.
Raising LGBTQ: allies A parent's guide to changing the messages from the playground
Chris Tompkins
649.1/Tompkins (NEW SHELF)
LGBTQ+, Nonfiction, Health
Books are like messengers, Tompkins writes, and this volume conveys essential information for all adults with children in their lives about what it means to be LGBTQ, in the context of what he calls MFTP: Messages from the Playground. Playground is meant metaphorically, of course, as are messages. Playground is our mind or, rather, our consciousness, while messages are the dominant societal worldview. Tompkins says that one of the goals of his useful book is to help prevent bullying, heal queerphobia, and create allies on the playground. To this end, he writes extensively of his own experiences as a teacher and counselor with the goal of making the experience of having an LGBTQ child—or knowing one—something to revere. This is a tall order, but Tompkins rises to the occasion, offering thoughtful, informed, affirming, and, yes, inspirational advice on how to change a homophobic and transphobic society. In that context, he invites readers to change their traditional thinking and in so doing to eliminate queerphobia by being open and honest with children. He has succeeded beautifully. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.
A quick & easy guide to they/them pronouns
Archie Bongiovanni
425.55 /Bongiovanni
Nonfiction, LGBTQ+
"Archie, a snarky genderqueer artist, is tired of people not understanding gender-neutral pronouns. Tristan, a cisgender dude, is looking for an easy way to introduce gender-neutral pronouns to his increasingly diverse workplace. The longtime best friends team up in this short and fun comic guide that explains what pronouns are, why they matter, and how to use them. They also include what to do if you make a mistake, and some tips-and-tricks for those who identify outside of the binary to keep themselves safe in this binary-centric world." -- Publisher's description
One thing that has come out of the new gender culture, and that affects many people, is the use of gender-neutral pronouns and gender-specific terms. This illustrated guide is both useful and important in that it helps to clarify the 'what' and the 'why' of the issue.
- Candice
Coping with gender dysphoria
Ellen McGrody
616.8583 /McGrody
Nonfiction, LGBTQ+, Young Adult
For transgender youth, the process of exploring gender can be exciting, but also difficult and painful. This book discusses the challenges of living with gender dysphoria, offering young adult readers resources and strategies for coping in different contexts: at home, at school, out in public, and in seeking medical care. Each chapter defines relevant terms, shares relatable anecdotes, and features easy-to-read informational sidebars, addressing the experiences and needs of youth with a variety of gender identities and social locations. Beyond merely helping them deal with transphobia, this book offers transgender teens support and advice for navigating life and thriving.
Coming of age and dealing with sexuality can be a scary thing for anyone, but for those who are questioning their gender it can be a particularly stressful and frightening. This book aims to answer questions and clarify issues that might come up, as well as provide advice and tools for navigating certain situations.
- Candice
Self-ish: A transgender awakening
Chloe Schwenke
306.768/Schwenke
Nonfiction, LGBTQ+, Memoir, Young Adult
SELF-ish is a narrative drawn from an international life, beginning with some early glimpses out at the world by a girl in a boy's body. Chloe Schwenke was raised as Stephen in a Marine Corps family, and was sent off at age fourteen to "man-up" at a military academy. Later--and still embodied as a man--she ventured abroad to work in some of the roughest regions of Africa, the Gaza Strip, Turkey, and many other locales. Her far-flung global journey was matched in intensity by an inner identity and spiritual struggle and the associated ravages of depression, before she came to the revelation of being a transgender woman. At a time when many Americans are just waking up to the reality of the transgender phenomenon, this portrayal of Chloe's life, her challenging gender transition, and her many accomplishments and adventures along the way (including being among the first three transgender political appointees in U.S. history, under President Obama), creates a poignant story of authenticity, self-discovery, and the meaning of gender set against a fascinating international backdrop
The ex-girlfriend of my ex-girlfriend is my girlfriend: Advice on queer dating, love, and friendship
Maddy Court
306.76/Court (NEW)
Nonfiction, LGBTQ+, Young Adult
Writer Maddy Court answers letters from queer women and people of marginalized genders about dating, friendship, and love.
The queer bible : essays
306.76 /Queer
Nonfiction, LGBTQ+
A wonderful collection of essays written by today's queer heroes, featuring contributions from Elton John, Tan France, Gus Kenworthy, Paris Lees, Russell Tovey, Munroe Bergdorf, and many others. In 2016, model and queer activist Jack Guinness decided that the LGBTQ+ community desperately needed to be reminded of its long and glorious history of stardom, and he was spurred to action. The following year, QueerBible.com was born, an online community devoted to celebrating queer heroes, both past and present.
As a woman : what I learned about power, sex, and the patriarchy after I transitioned
Williams, Paula Stone, author.
306.768 /Williams
LGBTQ+, Nonfiction, Biographies
As a father of three, married, and holding several prominent jobs within the Christian community, Williams made the life-changing decision to physically transition from male to female at the age of sixty. Almost instantly, her power and influence in the evangelical world disappeared and her family had to grapple with intense feelings of loss and confusion. Struggling to create a new safe space for herself where she could reconcile her faith, her identity, and her desire to be a leader, Williams found that the key to her new career as a woman came with a deeper awareness of the inequities she had overlooked before her transition. In pulling back the curtain on her transition journey, Williams sheds light on the gendered landscape that impacts many in the LGBTQ+ community. She urges men to recognize the ways in which the world is tilted in their favor and validates the experiences of women who have been disregarded based solely on their gender. -- adapted from jacket and Amazon info
The queer advantage : conversations with LGBTQ+ leaders on the power of identity
Gelwicks, Andrew, author.
306.76 /Gelwicks
LGBTQ+, Nonfiction, Memoir, Self Help
"Collecting incisive, deeply personal conversations with LGBTQ+ trailblazers about how they leveraged the challenges and insights they had as relative outsiders to succeed in the worlds of business, tech, politics, Hollywood, sports and beyond, The Queer Advantage celebrates the unique, supercharged power of queerness"--
Queer : the ultimate LGBTQ guide for teens
Belge, Kathy, author.
306.766 /Belge
LGBTQ+, Nonfiction, Young Adult, Self Help
Belge and Bieschke give LGBTQ teenagers everything they need to know about dating, coming out, safe sex, dealing with queerphobia, and standing up for their rights. This revised edition is a must-have for all teens who think they might be queer, or know someone who is. -- adapted from back cover.
A sensitive and knowing look at how adults can arm themselves with information and understanding in order to help those they know who are nonconforming and/or questioning.
- Candice