I've always found my interest in LGBTQIA+ stories to be a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it only seems natural that I'd be drawn to stories that reflect some aspects of my own lived experiences. The validation and comfort of hearing stories that are so familiar that they feel like home--or conversely, so unsettling that they feel like your very own thoughts and experiences--are hallmarks of belonging to any community. But on the other hand, these stories can often feel like they're trapping me in a box because so few explicitly acknowledge the totality of their LGBTQIA+ characters' lives. They are, more often than not, coming out stories, controversial or forbidden romantic trysts (let's face it, those never end well), or about accepting or overcoming the difficulties of a marginalized identity. These are all stories that need to be told. But that doesn't mean they're the only stories that need telling.
At this point, we've all heard tragic coming out stories, as well as some happier ones. We've heard about the AIDS crisis and forbidden relationships that were doomed from the start. But where are the stories about typical, run-of-the-mill LGBTQIA+ characters? As we begin to encounter more queer characters and stories in the media that we all consume, I find myself ravenous for even more. (I am using the word "queer" as an umbrella term for the LGBTQIA+ community because it is a word that I, like many others, choose to reclaim in celebration of the diversity of the community rather than to use it as the pejorative it once was.) I'm eager to move past the usual queer story tropes. Let's hear stories about a gay baker, or a lesbian artist, or a pansexual astronaut. I'm ready to hear stories that explore the lives of normal, everyday people (even if they don't always find themselves in normal, everyday situations) who just so happen to be LGBTQIA+. I want more stories that might sound mundane or boring at the outset, but represent a little bit more of the LGBTQIA+ experience. Of LGBTQIA+ life beyond coming out. Of lives where one's queer identity isn't the only interesting thing going on.
Now, that's not to say that coming out stories shouldn't be told. They're compelling in their own right and serve to validate many on their own journey, inspire those just beginning the process, or allow others to look back on their own experiences. Yes, there are plenty of worthwhile coming out stories still to be told, but queer books can and should include the spectrum of experiences. While it's true that the process of coming out doesn't truly ever stop, books can be queer or contain queer characters, while dealing with different aspects of the LGBTQIA+ existence--because there are many different lives and experiences within a community this large.
I'd like to see more from characters after they've already come out and had a chance to live life out and proud. Or even from those who might not be ready--a story about life in the closet. A coming out tale should never be the end-all or be-all. It's simply one slight aspect of an overall story, in the same way it's just one small sliver of a queer individual's life. To capture a little bit more of the totality of the entire LGBTQIA+ experience, here are some LGBTQIA+ stories that manage to take it that extra step beyond coming out.
This debut from Casey McQuiston is the fairy tale that I've always wanted. There is a dreamy gay prince, some swoony international relations, and a whole lot of love letters. Not only are there references to the letters from some of the biggest queer figures of British and American histories, but also the more modern texts and emails of romance in the digital age. With a cast that spans the Atlantic, narrator Ramon de Ocampo brings each character to life with his voice. The way McQuiston approaches topics like gender, sexual identity, race, and how they all intersect makes this listen both a joyful celebration of people and the progress that this world has already made—as well as a reminder of the work that still needs be done.
In The Dime, Kathleen Kent creates a crime novel that focuses on a badass detective who just happens to be a lesbian. Haunted by her past and frequently relying on her dead uncle's ghost for advice, Betty Rhyzyk relocates from Brooklyn to Dallas when her girlfriend, a doctor, gets a new job. This story follows her first big case as it spirals out of control. Although featuring a queer heroine, the story focuses on Betty's investigation and the dangers that come with her job, making it a fantastic police procedural. Throughout, Betty's relationship acts as the aspect of her life that keeps her grounded and feeling in control, turning all of those classic tropes about the LGBTQIA+ plight and suffering right on their head. So far, this recent series has an equally thrilling sequel: The Burn.
June 26, 2015 will always be cherished and remembered as a landmark moment for the entire LGBTQIA+ community; it was the day a Supreme Court ruling made same sex marriages recognizable in all states, in opposition to the Defense Against Marriage Act (DOMA). But even before this landmark ruling, queer couplings can be found all over history. Even without the legal distinctions awarded to queer unions in 2015, LGBTQIA+ couples loved, supported, and in every other way acted as husbands or wives. Through detailing some of the experiences of 15 high-profile same-sex couples in Outlaw Marriages, Rodger Streitmatter shines a fabulous light on the queer love that flourished ahead of its time.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is a swashbuckling LGBTQIA+ romance with narration that’s to-die for. It’s an 18th-century coming-of-age adventure that swallows you whole. Narrator Christian Coulson becomes Monty in a way that drags you entirely into his and Percy’s story—and that will stick with you long after it’s over. If you have any interest at all in the intersection of piracy, European history, medicine, LGBTQIA+ romance, and fish-out-of-water stories—then I think you’ve just found your next listen.
While not as overt as some of the other stories I’ve listed, this classic from Virginia Woolf is a fantastic take on androgyny and the fluidity of sexuality and gender. Originally written as a tribute to Woolf’s close friend and lover, Orlando’s main character lives for centuries—as both man and woman, tracking the canon of modern British literary history. Beginning in the Elizabethan era, it follows a young nobleman’s coming-of-age, explores life as an ambassador-turned-duke during Charles II’s reign, and even life as a woman throughout the 18th and 19th centuries—all through the eyes of our protagonist, Orlando. Despite these physical and temporal changes, Orlando the person doesn’t actually change at all. In a way, Orlando is one of the best historical takes on androgyny and trans livelihood. Even if it wasn’t originally written as a trans story, the underlying message was truly ahead of its time, and still resonates quite deeply with the entire LGBTQIA+ community today.
I couldn’t hit pause while listening to this gay thriller. White Rabbit is the perfect blend of a nail-biting thriller and a gay teenager’s coming-of-age story. And it all takes place over the course of one night! While the main focus is the murder-mystery, Roehrig still manages to address some more relatable aspects of being a LGBTQIA+ teen—from coming to terms with your sexuality without relying on labels to the real impacts of bullying and feeling like an outsider. All with a little bit of murder involved.
