LGBTQIA

infographic with statistics on trans issues found at Fenway Health dot com

"November is Transgender Awareness Month, a time to honor, celebrate, and advocate for our transgender and gender diverse community. Transgender Awareness Month culminates with the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). Each year on November 20, LGBTQIA+ people everywhere pause to remember and mourn the lives we’ve lost to transphobic violence. This tradition began here in Boston in 1998 in response to the murder of beloved community member Rita Hester in Allston. Now, 23 years later, the TDOR is observed around the world."

Read more here from Fenway Health

Growing Up Trans : In Our Own Words by Kate (EDT) Lindsay (EDT)/ Fry Herriot

October 11, 2020 is National Coming Out Day. Whether you're already out, considering coming out, or an ally, consider these titles of LGBTQ+ folx.

A collection of graphic novels featuring LGBTQIA+ characters and creators: light, dark, funny, sweet, introspective, nostalgic, triggering, romantic, artsy, revolutionary, representative. 

Generations by artist 1988- Flavia Biondi

Coming out as a young gay man in a provincial country town had led to ugly clashes with his conservative father, and the urban metropolis of Milan had been a welcome change from the stifling small town life of his childhood and the anger and bewilderment of some members of his family. But now, Matteo finds himself with little choice but to return home, with no money, no job, and an uncertain future, like so many other young people of his millennial generation. Afraid of encountering his estranged father, he instead takes refuge with his extended family, at a house shared by his grandmother, three aunts, and his very pregnant cousin. 

Bingo Love by Tee Franklin

When Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray met at church bingo in 1963, it was love at first sight. Forced apart by their families and society, Hazel and Mari both married young men and had families. Decades later, now in their mid-'60s, Hazel and Mari reunite again at a church bingo hall. Realizing their love for each other is still alive, what these grandmothers do next takes absolute strength and courage.

September 23rd is Bisexual Visibility Day. Check out one of these great teen books that feature bi characters.

How to make a wish by Ashley Herring Blake
Adaptation by Malinda Lo

Celebrate Pride Month with a novel that explores the lives of LGBTQ+ teens. 

Let's talk about love by Claire Kann

In this young adult novel, Alice, afraid of explaining her asexuality, has given up on finding love until love finds her.

The five stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson

Convinced he should have died in the accident that killed his parents and sister, sixteen-year-old Drew lives in a hospital, hiding from employees and his past, until Rusty, set on fire for being gay, turns his life around. Includes excerpts from the superhero comic Drew creates.

To celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride in the month of June, we wanted to highlight some graphic novels in our YA and Adult collections. From comic book heroes to real-life heroes, introverts and extroverts, butt-kickers, heart-melters, and heart-breakers. For more titles and information, check out the new Queer Comics Database.

Profiles of inspiring women, some who are world famous and some who are little known in graphic format, including Nellie Bly, Hedy Lamarr, Josephine Baker, Tove Janssen, and Naziq al-Abid.

Blue is having a hard time moving on. He's in love with his best friend. He's also dead. Luckily, Hamal can see ghosts, leaving Blue free to haunt him to his heart's content. But something eerie is happening in town, leaving the local afterlife unsettled, and when Blue realizes Hamal's strange ability may be putting him in danger, Blue has to find a way to protect him, even if it means...leaving him.

Librarians want to help you find the information you need. We don't judge and we keep your requests confidential. But, if you prefer to find information yourself, this guide will help.

Non-Fiction Books

Emotional and Mental Health

Sex & Sexuality

  • 155.3 (sexuality, gender, sexual relationships)
  • 306.76 (orientation, identity, LGBTQIA+)
  • 616.95 (STDs, STIs)

Relationships

  • 158.2 (friends, family, and toxic relationships)
  • 306.73 (dating)

Body and Biology

Online Resources

Lifeline

RAINN

The Trevor Project

Teen Line

Love Is Respect

Anti-Violence Project

Teen Help

  • www.teenhelp.com
  • mental and physical health
  • sex, birth control, drugs, alcohol
  • relationships and social life

Teen Health Freak

Local Resources

Save Our Youth (Livonia)

  • 800-241-4949
  • 24/7, substance abuse, mental health

Youth Shelters

  • Common Ground (R. Oak) 800-231-1127
  • Counterpoint (Inkster) 866-672-4357
  • Ozone House (Ann Arbor) 734-662-2265

Free/Low Cost STD Testing

  • Teen Health Center (Inkster) 734-729-3650
  • Wayne County (Wayne) 734-727-7100
  • Washtenaw County (Ypsi) 734-544-6840
  • Oakland County (Southfield) 248-424-7000

Your Rights  Online

Cyber Civil Rights Helpline

  • 844-878-2274
  • call if someone distributed sexual images of you without your consent

Without My Consent

Heartmob

Phone/Text Resources

Crisis Text Line

  • Text HOME to 741741
  • painful emotions and need support
  • Lifeline

  • 800-273-8255
  • distressed, thoughts of suicide
  • The Trevor Project

  • 866-488-7386
  • LGBTQIA, crisis, thoughts of suicide
  • RAINN

  • 800-656-4673
  • rape, sexual violence, or abuse

Domestic Violence Hotline

  • 800-799-7233
  • if you experience domestic violence

Anti-Violence Project

  • 212-714-1141
  • if you experience anti-LGBTQIA violence

Teen Line

  • 310-855-4673   or   Text TEEN to 839863
  • to talk to another teen

More Resources

"A host of animals portrays all kinds of non-traditional families"--.

A young boy faces adversity from classmates when he wears an orange dress at school.

I am Jazz by Jessica Herthel

Presents the story of a transgender child who traces her early awareness that she is a girl in spite of male anatomy and the acceptance she finds through a wise doctor who explains her natural transgender status.

Beginning in 2015, the American Library Assocation (ALA) has designated the month of June GLBT Book Month, "a nationwide celebration of the authors and writings that reflect the lives and experiences of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community." Check out one of the following novels that explores the issues and experiences of GLBT teens.

Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before.

The art of being normal by Lisa Williamson

David Piper, always an outsider, forms an unlikely friendship with Leo Denton who, from the first day at his new school wants only to be invisible, but when David's deepest secret gets out, that he wants to be a girl, things get very messy for both of them.

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