Author: K. Niine
I grew up a millennial and attended a diverse high school in Toronto – where being white meant you were in the minority – so you might assume being a gay person of colour wasn’t an issue. Yet many of my friends came from immigrant families, as did I, which meant old school conservative values often trickled down to their children. Back in the early 2000s, there wasn’t an open and accepting atmosphere. It made parts of coming out difficult, just as they continue to be today.
Since I was an avid reader, when I was coming to terms with my sexuality it was a natural progression to seek out LGBT literature. I thought it would help me develop an understanding of LGBT culture and history. However, I quickly learned it wasn’t that simple. Instant internet access and iPhones weren’t a thing yet and resources weren’t accessible for someone like me. I didn’t know where I could even go to ask for help. All I wanted were some books to give me hope, representation, guidance and, ultimately, perspective. I wanted that so badly: to find books that would help me develop as a gay person of colour. Unfortunately, it was not until later that the internet became the go-to for everything and I was able to start doing my own research.
With these personal experiences in mind, I decided to compile a list of my favourite books from over the years that I wish someone had given me during this growth process. I’ve tried to bring together a diverse collection of titles and I hope all of these books give you the immeasurable joy they brought to my life.
Trigger warning for explicit content in most of these books. It’s unfortunate, but these moments are the reality for queer people, especially individuals in marginalized groups like black queers, trans queers of colour, disabled queers – the list goes on. Read them with an open mind and an open heart. You only stand to gain!
Almost Like Being In Love by Steve Kluger
Paperback, stand-alone
If there was one book I wish I had back in high school, it would be this one. Not only do I return to it for an annual re-reading, I’ve also corresponded with the author on Goodreads and was able to ask him some burning questions. The book offers the perspectives of two main characters – Travis and Craig – who meet at boarding school in their teens. The story goes back and forth between the two men, and also jumps from past to present. It weaves a unique tale of their young love, their separation and where they end up. Finally, it shows how ‘the one that got away’ may be the ‘one you gotta chase’ because second chances don’t come around too often.
The style of writing is witty, nostalgic and flavoured with a high dose of dry humour. There were plenty of references to musical theatre and baseball that I didn’t understand, but it didn’t matter. It added a layer of depth to the story and made the characters that much more authentic. This novel also holds a special place in my heart because of the similarities between my personal experience falling in love for the first time in high school and Kluger’s telling of Trav and Craig. I suspect many gay millennials in particular will see parallels to their own experiences in this story. All I got to say is, you’re welcome for this hidden gem!
How Long Has This Been Going On? by Ethan Morden
Paperback, stand-alone
If you want an exclusive look into the gay experience, liberation and, ultimately, the devastating AIDS genocide against gay bodies in the 80s, this book is for you. It focuses on the perspectives of and dialogues between different gay individuals from post-World War II up until the AIDS crisis. In particular, the book follows the experience of an ex-cop named Frank who leaves the LAPD while coming to terms with his own sexuality, unable to tolerate any longer the discrimination he has witnessed against LGBT folks by the police. It is a story that resonates with the ongoing fight against systemic discrimination being seen today in the United States, Canada and around the world. We have come a long way, but it is also infuriating to witness how we are still dealing with many of the same struggles described in this book, written in 1995. To answer the author’s titular question: a long time, and we’re fucken sick of it.
The House In The Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Paperback, audiobook, stand-alone
There seems to be an emerging niche within the gay literature world of fantasy novels. In my humble opinion, there is no one who does this better than T.J. Klune. He has written a plethora of novels, both stand-alones and series, within this fantasy genre. They all have a component of fantasy and magic with a big helping of cheekiness. The House In The Cerulean Sea follows the classic fantasy and romance novel equation: boy meets boy, boy discovers boy has magical powers, boy displays his ignorance, boy realizes they are both magical in their own way and, finally, boy accepts this and opens his heart. The central theme in this book reinforces the idea that diversity should always be at the forefront for progress and it feels particularly relevant to the civil rights movements happening around the world today. Although our reality hasn’t quite evolved the way it does in the book, it is a nice reprieve.
Mistakes & Ladders by Pip McCormac
Paperback, stand-alone
This novel offers a hilarious look into what it’s like to play the dating game as a gay man in modern North America. McCormac formerly wrote a column for attitude magazine about his dating experiences and this book compiles all his articles from 2009 to 2011, plus all the extra juicy stuff he couldn’t include in the magazine. If you want to feel vindicated that dating in the gay world really is that awkward, frustrating, confusing, surprising, hilarious and every other adjective under the sun, you’ve come to the right book. You aren’t alone!
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Paperback, audiobook, stand-alone
Generally, young adult coming-of-age books aren’t my thing, but I couldn’t resist adding one. Saenz is a Latin American author who only came out at age 54 – delayed because of repressed sexual trauma from his childhood. He has stated that this trauma held him back from addressing his sexuality for many years, which no doubt affected his writing. This novel has a light-hearted rom-com feel that reads very easily, but the main reason I love this novel is because it features the voices and lives of queer Latinx kids in America.
If you are into this book, I would also recommend: Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: a story about the biracial son of the U.S. president falling in love with a prince of England. Sighhhh.
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Paperback, audiobook, movie, sequel
This book and Call Me By Your Name were the first two novels I read when starting my quest of finding LGBT literature. In many ways, I think I hit the jackpot having these two books be my “firsts”. The book is meant to be a memoir, although there was some controversy post-release that saw parts of the book accused of being fictional or highly exaggerated. I can’t say with certainty that this book is non-fiction, but regardless, I found it to be simultaneously sincere and scandalous. The book picks up when adolescent Augusten is abandoned by his mother, who hands him over to her psychiatrist so she can pursue her own aspirations (spoiler: she had some severe mental health issues). He is adopted into Dr. Finch’s home and integrated into his wacky and colourful family. You can only imagine the string of bizarre and often hilarious events that unfold from his time there. The book dives into some darker subject matter but you never lose that initial vibrant beat of Burroughs’ voice.
His follow up book Dry outlines his time in rehab and his fight with alcoholism. This book was actually written before Running With Scissors but was published after. Although not as good as the first in my opinion, Dry still delivers that unique Burroughs voice that I love.
Honourable Mentions:
How To Be A Normal Person by T.J. Klune
Paperback, audiobook, series
Hilarious and heart-warming, this is another knockout from Klune. An autistic man with a pet ferret falls in love with an asexual guy in a random mid-west town. What can go wrong? The better question is, what can go right? In my opinion, a lot! Read it.
The Last Sun by K.D. Edwards
Paperback, audiobook, series
A high fantasy novel with an intricate tarot card inspired magic system and beautiful world building. Completely original and action packed, I’d describe it as X-Men meets Hunger Games meets Men in Black but with gay main characters. The second instalment released this year, The Hanged Man has been phenomenal so far – I’m still in the middle of reading it.
Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
Paperback, audiobook, movie, sequel
I am proud to say this book is in my top three. I didn’t include it in the main list because of the exposure it already has, but I had to feature it somehow. I stumbled upon this book right before leaving for University in 2007, during the final summer of my teens, which also happens to be the year this masterpiece was published. Star-crossed I tell ya! It will always remind me of that bridge between two important chapters of my life. And it will for you too if you read it without looking into all the Hollywood hype. At its core, it is a beautiful love letter and we are all very lucky that Professor Aciman decided to pen it. Currently reading the sequel Find Me.