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2018 is officially the Year of the Queer in Vancouver! Embrace it by expanding your knowledge of queer life with these books on LGBTQ2+ marriage, family and community.
Wedding Planning
2brides 2be: A Same-sex Guide for the Modern Bride by Laura Leigh Abby
Laura Leigh Abby, storms the wedding world with her new book about lesbian weddings. Abby throws out old roles and traditions and shares anecdotal advice, all with a great sense of humour. From wedding invites to who goes down the aisle first, this book is packed with practical advice on how to plan your perfect two-bride wedding.
Equally Wed: The Ultimate Guide to Planning your LGBTQ+ Wedding by Kirsten Ott Palladino
Kirsten Palladino gives expert advice on how to plan your LGBTQ+ nuptials. Drawing on Palladino’s experience as an online wedding planner, this helpful book leads you through the intricate steps of the often expensive wedding process. Covering a range of topics, from what’s in vogue for the LGBTQ+ community to serious issues such as homophobic family members. This book covers everything you need to know to navigate your nuptials.
Marriage Advice
The Gay Man's Guide to Open and Monogamous Marriage by Michael Dale Kimmel
Psychotherapist, Michael Kimmel looks at the conventions around gay marriage and what happens when a couple takes on domesticity. Kimmel offers advice for newlyweds on how to live their life after the big day from his perspective as a gay married man. Giving first-hand experience throughout the book, Kimmel examines life as a couple versus staying single.
Family Life
Confessions of a Fairy's Daughter by Alison Wearing
Alison Wearing writes a memoir about her upbringing that is both moving and funny. In the 80’s when homosexuality was still shunned by society, she learned that her Dad was gay. Shocking as it seemed at the time especially to her mother, Wearing shows a balanced and heartfelt relationship with her father that offers up warmth, entertainment and inspiration.
Spawning Generations: Rants and Reflections on Growing up with LGBTQ+ Parents edited by Makeda Zook & Sadie Epstein-Fine
Queerspawn have all too often felt pressure to conform to what the world expects. These rants and reflections, curated by co-editors with LGBTQ+ parents, discuss what it means to be well adjusted and conclude that no one has the answer. Hopeful, happy, sad and resentful, queerspawn shows us how to be ourselves and love our families in an all too imperfect world.
Community
Basically Queer: An Intergenerational Introduction to LGBTQA2S+ Lives edited by Jen Marchbank, Kelsey Blair & Claire Robson
What is it really like to live your life as ‘Basically Queer?’ This book provides the answers in a frank and candid way. Drawing on personal experiences from the young to the old, the contributors explore gender identity, queer history and legalities. Questions that are difficult to tackle are asked and sound advice is offered for queer living.
Edges of the Rainbow: LGBTQ Japan by Michel Delsol
The Edges of the Rainbow photo book series documents LGBTQ communities around the world. This book has over 150 photos from the Japanese LGBTQ community, one that is still rebuffed by Japan’s society. Michel Delsol’s beautiful images coupled with Haruku Shinozaki’s sensitive writing bring a subtle and caring look at a spirited and irrepressible community.
LGBTQ Stats: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer People by the Numbers by David Deschamps and Bennett Singer
Take a look at the revolution in numbers! Deschamp and Singer share an essential record of newly gathered statistics about the LGBTQ community from around the world. The book covers statistics on family and marriage and the effects of discrimination in countries that still outlaw same sex relationships. Winner of the 2018 American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book Award.
Pop by your local Vancouver library to borrow these books, and check out the Rainbow Collection at the Joe Fortes branch for more great reads for, and about, the LGBTQ2+ community.
