Films, Television, Books, and Events for LGBTQ+ Pride Month
June brings long summer evenings, barbecues, and of course, Pride! The origins of this month-long celebration of the LGBTQ+ community can be traced back to the Stonewall Riots – a spontaneous series of demonstrations in New York City by members of the LGBTQ+ community in 1969 to protest discriminatory treatment in restaurants and bars.
Today, the Stonewall Riots are widely recognized as the spark that lit the gay rights movement in the United States. The bravery of trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera in the Stonewall Riots has created the modern Pride month, a joyous time for us to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities across the world.
Poudre Libraries welcome everyone into our public spaces. As the Library Bill of Rights states, “Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves.”
Find a few choice books, movies, TV series, and events at the Poudre Libraries to celebrate Pride below.
Books
Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution!
By Joy Micheal Ellison
This illustrated book introduces children to the story of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, the two transgender women of color who helped kickstart the Stonewall Riots and dedicated their lives to fighting for LGBTQ+ equality. It introduces children to issues surrounding gender identity and diversity, accompanied by a reading guide and teaching materials to further the conversation.
Tasty Pride: 75 Recipes and Stories from the Queer Food Community
By Buzzfeed’s Tasty
Tasty has always been a place to turn for good eats. In this creative cookbook, stories of love, pride, and acceptance—and the important role that food can play in that journey—accompany innovative yet totally doable recipes.
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-love
By Jonothan Van Ness
Before he stole our hearts as the grooming and self-care expert on Netflix’s hit show Queer Eye, Jonathan was growing up in a small Midwestern town that didn’t understand why he was so over the top. This award-winning memoir uncovers the pain and passion it took to become the model of self-love and acceptance that Jonathan is today.
Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens
By Leigh Finke
Whether you’re queer, questioning, or straight, understanding sexuality and gender identity can be confusing. If you’re a Christian, questions of identity can be even scarier. Written by a group of queer adults, this book features insight and support for LGBTQ+ Christian teens.
Rainbow Revolutionaries: 50 LGBTQ+ People Who Made History
By Sarah Prager
The biographies of 50 pioneering LGBTQ+ people from around the world spring to life on the pages of this book. Short, engaging bios, and bold, dynamic art offer readers the chance to delve into the lives of Wen of Han, a Chinese emperor who loved his boyfriend as much as his people, Martine Rothblatt, a trans woman who’s helping engineer the robots of tomorrow, and so many more.
Queer Intentions: A (Personal) Journey Through LGBTQ+ Culture
By Amelia Abraham
LGBTQ+ people living in the West have more freedoms than ever before. But is same-sex marriage, and improved media visibility all it’s cracked up to be? With curiosity, good humor, and disarming openness, Amelia takes the reader on a thought-provoking and entertaining journey. This book provides the ultimate exploration of the joys and pains of being LGBTQ+ in the West at a time when queer culture has never been so mainstream.
Movies and Television
Kanopy, an online movie and television platform accessible with your library card, offers dozens of choices to celebrate Pride within their LGBTQ Cinema category.
Explore this genre to find films like Moonlight, The Watermelon Woman, Caravaggio, and more. In the mood to laugh? Explore the subgenre LGBTQ comedy – the same goes for Drama, International Films, Romance, Biopics, and more.
You can also explore TV shows like Bride and Prejudice on Hoopla that are centered around LGBTQ+ themes and concepts.
Pride in Fort Collins
Looking for a way to celebrate Pride in Northern Colorado? Take part in Trek Bike Shop’s “Pride Ride” on Sunday, June 5, join the annual NoCo Pride March on July 15 starting in Old Town Square, or celebrate pride all year with Poudre Library District’s QSA (queer-straight alliance) at Old Town Library designed for teen ages 13-18 (the third Thursday of each month from 5 – 6 PM.)
Looking for more book, film, and event recommendations? Need help downloading digital materials? Visit the Poudre River Public Libraries in person or online at www.PoudreLibraries.org.