This June 28th (2024) is the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. In honor of that, here's a re-release of our episode all about queer history, the impact of Stonewall, and queer romance books we love. Featuring friend and fellow librarian, Thomas!

Books we mention:

• Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
• The God Box by Alex Sanchez
• The Rainbow trilogy by Alex Sanchez
• City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
• Harry Potter by She Who Shall Not Be Acknowledged
• The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth
• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
• They Both Die At the End by Adam Silvera
• Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
• David Levithan
• Tessa Dare
• Float Plan by Trish Doller (prosthetic leg on cover!)
• Titan by Jillian Graves
• Sarah J. Maas
• Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne (Google Lens Cover)
• Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly
• Too Hot To Handle by Tessa Bailey
• Virginia Heath (the author Jackie couldn't remember but likes the illustrative style)
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall
• Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier
• Dear Prudence by Daniel Laverly
• Marriage, A history by Stephanie Coontz

Sources:

• "Stonewall Riots" (history.com, 2017)
• “Stonewall then and now” (Walsh, 2019)
• “‘Queer, hilarious and full of joy’: the rise of LGBTQ+ romance fiction” (Braidwood, 2022)
• “‘I Just Want Something That’s Gay and Happy’: L.G.B.T.Q. Romance Is Booming” (Harris, 2022)
• “The Rise of Queer ‘New Adult Romance’ Literature,” (Beggs, 2022)
• “I ONLY READ QUEER ROMANCE AND I FEEL GREAT ABOUT IT” (Sackton, 2017)
• “Love is for everyone. Modern romance writers are breaking barriers to show it” (Asmelash, 2023)
• “A Brief History of the Path to Securing LGBTQ Rights” (Davidson, 2022)
• “Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"” (Human Rights Campaign.org)
• “Stonewall at 40: The Voice Articles That Sparked a Final Night of Rioting” (Village voice, 1969, ed. 2009)

Bookstagram Examples

• @Mariannareads
• @lilys.bookcase