Whether you’re looking to learn about the transgender warriors who paved the way for civil rights or hit play on a non-fiction title that amplifies LGBTQIA voices, there’s an audiobook to tell the story. It doesn’t have to be LGBT History Month to brush up on your knowledge of gay history, lesbian history, and more. Discover our list of the best LGBT+ history books from bestsellers to hidden gems that will make you learn, laugh, and cry.
The Book of Pride is a comprehensive and fascinating history of the gay rights movement, told through interviews of the people who were at the very centre of it. Providing a personal and human perspective on this historical movement, author Mason Funk gives voice to those who paved the way for LGBT+ rights as we know them today.
This audio is an inspiring example to the UK youth of today, teaching an important lesson about the importance of standing up for what is right and finding the courage to fight adversity. The Book of Pride is an integral part of gay history, showing how important it is, and always has been, to fight oppression.
With its publishing coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Gay Britannia is an insightful anthology of fascinating interviews, documentaries, and comedy that celebrate LGBTQ+ in Britain. Featuring numerous LGBTQ+ household names such as Paul O’Grady, Stephen K Amos, and Alan Carr, this celebration of British LGBTQIA culture is a historical look at the groundbreaking events at Stonewall Inn that is not to be missed.
Exploring LGBTQ+ through a wide array of topics, from philosophy and poetry to music and art, Gay Britannia is a true homage to the rich history of LGBTQ+ in Britain, and how it still inspires countless Britons today.
With the British trans community constantly at the centre of debates which threaten their rights and freedom, The Transgender Issue reclaims the narrative of what it really means to be transgender in Britain.
Written and narrated by writer and journalist Shon Faye, The Transgender Issue provides an insightful view on living as a trans person in a still largely-transphobic Britain. From everyday issues of work and healthcare to the prison system and participation of trans people in LGBTQ+ and feminist communities, Faye exposes the day-to-day struggles faced by the trans community, creating a healthier dialogue surrounding trans issues as a whole.
Living in a progressive modern Britain, it can sometimes be easy to forget that LGBTQ+ people around the world sadly do not experience the same freedoms as we have here. In Queer Intentions, narrator Amelia Abraham takes the listener on a journey exploring what it means to be queer in the 21st century. Abraham looks at a variety of places, stories and cultures to paint a picture of LGBTQIA culture around the world in all its beautiful diversity, while highlighting the difficulties and discriminations in various cultures.
From drag conventions in sunny Los Angeles, underground LGBTQ+ clubs in Turkey, to genderless families in progressive Sweden, Abraham leaves no stone unturned in her mission to understand the many diverse corners of the LGBTQ+ community.
With HIV and AIDS no longer being the death sentences they once were, How to Survive a Plague is the emotional and powerful story of how activists, many of whom were battling the illness themselves, fought to help develop the life-saving drugs that are still saving countless lives in modern-day Britain today.
An inspiring intertwining story of dozens of different people, How to Survive a Plague is an insider look at this historic breakthrough in both the scientific and LGBTQ+ communities. These inspiring stories paved the way for better care for all of those affected by HIV and AIDS worldwide.
An anthology of compelling pieces from the New York Public Library archives, The Stonewall Reader is a comprehensive record of the events leading up to and after the historical Stonewall riots. This is arguably the most significant event in the gay liberation movement.
The Stonewall Reader not only shines a light on the LGBTQ+ magazines and newspapers of the time, but also gives centre stage to the activists who were pivotal to the movement, such as Sylvia Rivera, co-founder of the Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries (STAR), and Ernestine Eckstein, the once-forgotten one of very few African American lesbian activists in the 1960s.
The heart-wrenching story of how the AIDS epidemic was not taken seriously until it had already stolen the lives of thousands of people, And The Band Played On examines how political, medical, and media corruption resulted in the most serious health crisis of the 20th century.
Referencing a time when governments were more concerned about international prestige and wealth instead of the health and lives of their citizens, modern listeners may unfortunately still resonate with these attitudes, in the midst of a struggling NHS. Author Randy Shilts, who was the first-ever openly gay reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle and later died from an AIDS-related illness, tells the stories of the heroes of science, politics, and the gay community, who worked so tirelessly to fight the AIDS epidemic.
In contrast to this audiobook’s somewhat absurd title, David Bowie Made Me Gay is a groundbreaking audio performance that explores the rich history of music created by and for the LGBTQ+ community. Despite LGBTQ+ musicians not being unusual at all today, in this fascinating audio, author Darryl Bullock tells the stories of the LGBTQ+ musicians before them, who often faced endless political and social persecution.
From the birth of jazz to the discos of the ‘70s and ‘80s, right up until modern pop, David Bowie Made Me Gay is a thrilling listen about how the LGBTQ+ community has shaped the music we love today.
Roderic Fenwick Owen was a seasoned travel writer who experienced no shortage of chaotic life events, from marrying a princess in Tahiti, to experiencing Nazi Germany first-hand. However, his greatest danger came in being a gay man during a time when being gay was an imprisonable crime.
With Owen pursuing his soulmate at the most dangerous time possible, despite being aware of the possible consequences, Oh, What a Lovely Century tells just one true story of an LGBTQ+ person who was forced to risk everything to be with the one they love. A fascinating and eye-opening listen that reminds us of the struggles LGBTQ+ people faced throughout history in the name of love.
Transgender History covers the history of transgenedr people and the trans community in America from the mid-twentieth century to the present. It details the significant events, movements, and writings of this often-still marginalised community. With the events in US transgender history paving the way for trans activism in Britain, this listen is an important example of the vital historical social changes achieved by transgender activists.
Including biographies of key players in transgender history, excerpts from transgender memoirs, and commentary on the treatment of transgenderism in modern culture, Transgender History is a must-listen for anyone interested in trans rights and history.
First published in 1999 and now given a new lease of life in Audible form, Eli Clare’s masterpiece about his experiences as a disabled, genderqueer activist saw him as a pioneer in writing about the intersection of queerness and disability.
With both queer and disabled individuals still facing oppression and struggles in today’s society, Exile and Pride calls for change that will see social justice accessible to everyone. By examining how we live with oppression, institutional violence, capitalism, and many many more, Clare’s valuable and insightful work opens the listener’s eyes to the issues faced by queer disabled people.
The Queer Bible deserves a place in every audio library. This collection of essays written by celebrated queer icons is an enthralling collection of perspectives about how queer people have continued to inspire new generations.
Born from the website QueerBible, this stunning collection of essays is compiled by the British activist and model Jack Guinness. It contains musings from stars such as the musical legend Elton John, TV personality Graham Norton, actor Russell Tovey, comedian Mae Martin, and many more. The Queer Bible is a love letter to the queer community and LGBTQ+ history and the allies that support them.
Queer as Fact is the much-needed podcast about queer history, telling us all of the things we definitely did not learn in history class. Run by a group of queer people from Melbourne, Queer as Fact explores queer history from all over the globe, offering different perspectives on gay history and so much more.
Ever wanted to hear a mediaeval description of the female orgasm from a nun? Or perhaps the concept of the Manic Pixie Dream Gay is a refreshing new take on the heteronormative girl version? From Freddie Mercury to Moomin-creator Tove Jansson, Queer as Fact will have an episode to please everyone.
Fashion designer Tan France takes a break from giving fabulous makeovers on the hit American series Queer Eye to enter the podcast world with Tan France’s Queer Icons. Taking a step back from heteronormative history, France tells the stories of historical queer icons, from cross-dressing 18th-century icons, psychologist queer allies in 1950s LA, to queer punk rockers in Malaysia.
In each episode, the British-American fashion designer and TV personality sheds light on a queer icon and the mark they made on LGBTQ+ history. With France’s passion and personality shining through in every episode, Tan France’s Queer Icons is just as entertaining as it is educational.
All Out is the result of a collaboration between 17 different young adult authors all across the queer spectrum. Taking the genre of historical fiction, these talented authors have rewritten history from a queer perspective; a part of history that is all too often ignored or forgotten.
This engaging audio tells the listener stories about transgender soldiers in the 1870s, queer love in 16th-century convents, asexuality in the midst of the 70s disco scene, and many many more. All Out is a refreshing take on historical fiction, giving a voice to the previously-silenced queer characters, who are an important part of literary history.
Sister Outsider is a collection of essays written by the revolutionary Audre Lorde; a Black, lesbian, and feminist writer who paved the way for all women who do not fall within what is considered ‘acceptable’ in our patriarchal society. Resonating with anyone who may have faced persecution, the American writer’s essays explore refreshing and eye-opening perspectives on race, sexuality, poetry, friendships, eroticism, and female solidarity.
Narrated by the esteemed British actress Pippa Bennett-Warner, this Audible version of Lorde’s work brings her wisdom to a brand new platform, continuing her legacy of wisdom and activism. Sister Outsider is an essential listen for anyone wanting to dive deep into lesbian history.
The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts tells the story of Harvey Milk, an outspoken leader of the gay community and political activist. Whether you are familiar with his life and story or not, this is a powerful story of an enigmatic man, and the rise of the gay community as a political force. This audiobook covers both his personal life, bringing to life the man himself, and the influence he had within the tumultuous San Francisco scene. From fear and anger, to hope, to sorrow, this story has it all and is a pivotal moment within gay history. The Mayor of Castro Street is a moving and stirring must-listen.
A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski is an extensive look at the LQBTQIA community throughout history from the 1490s through the centuries up until 2011. From homophobia to gay rights movement, this audiobook is the story of the struggle and triumph of the LGBTQ+ community within the ever changing climate of the United States. From a transgender evangelical in the 1800s, to the marriage of Charlotte Cushman in the 19th century to social purity movements, every aspect of how this community has been suppressed by but also shaped the history of the nation is addressed. He looks at both vital movements in time, as well as overarching themes and movements that have brought us to the present day, addressing both how much things have changed and how far there is still to go. Informative, educational, and inspiring, it is a wonderfully full history.
