It's 2024 and comics are gayer than ever before, so we're taking a look at some of the incredible queer graphic novels being released this year. From lesbian sports romances to drag queen assassins and cosy queer fantasy, here are 20 of our most anticipated LGBTQ+ graphic novels coming out in 2024. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back and covers may change. Deadendia: The Divine Order - Hamish Steele Paranormal Adventure 25 July 2024 Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Cast Barney, Norma, and friends team up with unlikely heroes to fight a battle for the fate of the universe, all while dealing with their greatest challenge of all: their love lives. The battle between angels and demons rages on, and Courtney finds themselves restored to former glory in the realm of the angels with a new mission. On the seventh plane, known to us as Earth, Norma Khan and Barney Guttman have allied with the demons in a search for both freedom and peace. There's just one thing standing in their way: the Guttman family reunion. Badyah has joined the resistance as well, honing her martial arts skills and getting ready to protect Norma in battle. But Pael, the Divine's lead angel, has tricks up their sleeve that throw everything into chaos as Norma, Barney, and Badyah learn the truth behind everything. Homebody - Theo Parish Graphic Memoir 25 April 2024 Queer Rep: Trans & Non-Binary 'Hello! I’m Theo. I like cats, Dungeons & Dragons . . . and I’m trans and non-binary.' Theo grew up in a household with a loving family and relaxed gender roles, but the pressures of the outside world to fit into society’s expectations can make life feel, well... confusing! Theo knows that there's no one way to be, but inspired by superheroes, role-playing-games and comic con they find the confidence to rebuild their image in a way that feels truly themselves. In their debut graphic novel Homebody, author-illustrator Theo Parish takes readers through a beautifully heart lifting story of discovering what it means to live life on your own terms and what it means to feel at home in the world. Grand Slam Romance 2: Major League Hotties - Ollie Hicks & Emma Oosterhous Magical Girl Sports Romance 14 May 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Women, Non-Binary The second graphic novel in the Grand Slam Romance series brings Mickey, Astra, and Wolfgang together again, but now they're in a different league - the magical kind! Astra and Mickey are celebrating their epic victory over their archrivals the Gaiety Gals, but the party is cut short when their nemesis Jasmine Von Schitz reveals the shocking truth: now that Mickey's magical girl powers have been revealed, they can't play softball until they obtain a Magical Girl license! Too bad there's only one place to get it: the Magical Girl DMV in Berlin! Mickey and Astra are in for the Euro-trip of their lives, navigating the Magical Girl League, their own steamy situationship, and a prickly reunion with the hottie whose heart they both broke: Wolfgang Konigin. For Mickey to get their license and for Astra to renew hers, they'll have to intern for the Berlin Grinders, and only a successful season and a glowing recommendation from their captain will get them there. Too bad that captain is Wolfgang and not all their new teammates want to see the rookies score. Hex Americana - Bree Wolf Paranormal Fantasy 01 February 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Men A boy-meets-ghoul story at 100 miles-per-hour! Ken Takamoto is a wannabe racer stuck at home for the summer, with only his mother for company. Dante Willow is a ghost stuck in the car he crashed while racing his rival twenty years ago. When they meet by chance, Ken has the answer to both their enter the local racing league Hex Americana and win the annual Grand Prix. If they win, Dante can pass on to the afterlife and Ken can keep Dante's fixed-up car to go anywhere he wants. What starts as a simple plan becomes a wild summer full of witches, gnomes, feelings, magical chickens, and more as they prepare for the big race. Will Ken and Dante finish first? Can they even make it to the finish line? And more importantly, what happens when this racing duo blooms into something more? ABBOTT: 1979 - Saladin Ahmed Supernatural Crime Horror 29 August 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Women The final chapter of the hard-boiled supernatural Hugo Award-nominated series! On the eve of the 1980s and the Reagan Administration, Detroit is burdened with an oppressive darkness–both political and supernatural. Dejected and tough tabloid reporter Elena Abbott, who previously defeated the occult forces responsible for her husband’s death, must dig herself out from rock bottom if she’s going to save Detroit from the Umbra, one last time. Hugo Award-nominated novelist Saladin Ahmed (Miles Spider-Man, Black Bolt) and artist Sami Kivelä (Beautiful Canvas) bring Elena into her final chapter, who will have to contend with the dark cloud hanging over Detroit… and over her personally. Collects Abbott: 1979 #1 -5. Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story - Nicole Maines DC Superheroes 02 April 2024 Queer Rep: Trans Women The never before told origin story of the first trans superhero ever to appear on TV! Nia Nal’s spent her whole life taking a back seat to her older sister, Maeve, who’s expected to inherit their mother’s Naltorian powers––the ability to see the future through dreams. They’ll soon learn the dreaming powers had other plans… When Nia’s hit in the face with a kickball, the powers that weren’t meant for her are suddenly triggered. Saddled with guilt, Nia resolves to suppress her powers in an attempt to protect her relationship with her sister. But Nia can’t keep the dreams out forever… From Nicole Maines, the actress, activist, and writer who originated the role of Dreamer on the groundbreaking Supergirl TV show, comes the origin story of a girl who must accept her own power to fulfill her destiny in a long lineage of female superheroes. Luckily, Nia won’t have to go through it alone. Spirit World - Alyssa Wong DC Superheroes 02 April 2024 Queer Rep: Non-Binary From the pages of Lazarus Dark Fate, a new Chinese hero emerges who’s able to travel to and from the Spirit World, the realm of the dead, and that of the living. Their name is Xanthe, and their superpower is being able to burn items folded from joss paper and immediately turn them into real objects, based on the East Asian practice of burning joss paper at graveyards in order to send resources to ancestors in the Spirit World…except Xanthe can retrieve those items in the world of the living! Their weapon of choice? A large broadsword (because who doesn’t love a big sword when you can choose to use a big sword?!). Xanthe is a master of the dark arts who’s here to give Constantine a run for his money…literally. When Constantine shows up saying Xanthe scammed him into buying something, he finds them and Batgirl Cass Cain fighting an abnormal influx of jiangshi (Chinese hopping vampires) and joins in to help. But when a portal opens up that drags Batgirl into the Spirit World, it’s up to Xanthe and Constantine to travel to the land of the spirits to rescue her! Fence Vol. 6: Redemption - C.S Pacat YA Sports Romance 29 February 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Men THE COMPETITION HAS BEEN RESET... EN GARDE! Return to the thrilling world of high-stakes, competitive fencing, with a brand new story featuring the beloved cast of characters from the original hit series. Are Seiji and Jesse really through? The rumors around Halverton, the prestigious fencing training camp, have spread like wildfire, but it's not long before a mystery fencer arrives-one who may finally pose a threat to the #1 spot. Will Seiji's unquenchable quest for rivalry take Nicholas' place? Where will his loyalty lie? And, when Seiji gets an up close and personal look into Nicholas' past and determination against adversity while preparing for the difficult road ahead and the State Championships, he'll have to confront a tempting thought... are they on... a date? Collects Fence: Redemption issues 1-4. King Cheer - Molly Horton Booth YA Sports Drama 06 February 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Cast Heartstopper meets Bring It On in this contemporary graphic novel that reimagines Shakespeare’s King Lear as a queer dramedy! When cheer captain Leah steps down months before graduation, the team is shocked. Waitlisted by her dream college, questioning her identity, and suffering from senioritis, Leah needs to hand the captain’s poms off and focus on her future. But when the competition for captaincy goes awry, power-hungry twins take command of the squad and immediately pit the cheerleaders against the basketball team in a fight for glory. Balls fly, pom-poms shake, hearts are broken—and only one person can heal the rift between the teams. But first she’ll have to heal herself. Cheryl - Jillian Fleck Contemporary Adult Drama 20 June 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Women A story about a newly realized lesbian woman in her 40s, hellbent on reaching spiritual enlightenment. Even if it kills her. Cheryl just came out and she's been doing just fine, thanks for asking!!!! She just broke up with her dog, quit gluten, cut contact with her father, and is just really trying to focus on getting enough water daily! It's all going great!! Except it isn't and everything is terrible, because no matter what Cheryl does she really can't shake that there's something wrong deep down in the core of her being. What would really fix things would be to address her lingering internalized homophobia and childhood trauma. Or reach total spiritual enlightenment, reaching total enlightenment sounds easier, let's go with that one. As Cheryl falls further down the New Age wellness industrial complex however, the world turns out to be a lot weirder and sicker than she could have ever imagined. Now Cheryl is forced to confront that not only is it not all about her, but that she might have some part to play in making it better. Food School - Jade Armstrong Slice-Of-Life Drama 06 June 2024 Queer Rep: Non-Binary A twenty-something college dropout enrolls in a full-time outpatient program for eating disorder recovery. As they change their relationship with food, their relationships with people change, too. Olive's post-secondary education isn't what they'd planned. Instead of college, they spend five days a week, eight hours a day at what Olive calls "Food School": a full-time outpatient program for eating disorder recovery where they learn, talk, and cry about eating disorders as part of a survivor support group. Intensely committed to recovery, Olive confronts the secretive, self-destructive, and sometimes tragically comedic nature of their illness, while struggling with the complexities of modern mental health care. With support and perspective from their roommate, a fellow patient, and their partner, Olive learns to open up about their abusive relationship with food and exercise—and finds ways to cope with the reality of living in a society that actively encourages disordered eating. The Neighbours - Jude Ellison S. Doyle Contemporary Horror 15 February 2024 Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Parents From the feminist horror author Jude Ellison S. Doyle (Maw), comes a small-town terror where things are not at all what they seem! The neighbors are anything but what they seem… When Janet and Oliver Gowdie move to a quaint mountain town, their teenage daughter Casey and two-year-old Isobel become part of a horrific chain of events that will forever change their family... It’s impossible to know who to trust or who is still human. Casey’s behavior is increasingly unpredictable. Janet is more distant. Isobel is happy-go-lucky and seems to enjoy the attention poured onto her by Agnes. And Oliver? He’s out to uncover whatever malevolent forces seems to have taken root under and inside his home. Steeped in Celtic, Irish and English folklore, Jude Ellison S. Doyle (Maw) joins artist Letizia Cadonici (House of Slaughter), and colorist Alessandro Santoro (Bloom) to tread new ground in changeling horror. A tale perfect for fans of Eat the Rich and The Nice House on the Lake! Collects The Neighbors issues 1-5. Lunar Boy - Jes Wibowo & Cin Wibowo Middlegrade Sci-Fi Fantasy 14 May 2024 Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Cast A heartwarming coming-of-age graphic novel about a young boy from the moon who discovers a home in the most unlikely places, from debut twin creators Jes and Cin Wibowo. Indu, a boy from the moon, feels like he doesn't belong. He hasn't since he and his adoptive mom disembarked from their spaceship to live on Earth with their new blended family. The kids at school think he's weird, he has a crush on his pen pal who might not like him back, and his stepfamily doesn't seem to know what to do with him. Worst of all, Indu can't even talk to his mom about how he's feeling because she's so busy. In a moment of loneliness, Indu calls out to the moon, begging them to take him back. I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 5 - Okura Slice-Of-Life Drama 20 February 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Men Tomoko is no stranger to change. With two boys in high school and a husband who’s away on the job a lot, being able to adapt to new situations comes with the territory. Now, Hiroki is throwing himself into his afterschool activities with bestie Daigo despite nursing a potential broken heart, and he’s even found a new Dancing! Things also come to a head with Asumi, Hiroki’s childhood friend, who’s been crushing on Hiroki since probably forever! And when dad Akiyoshi gets transferred back for work, the temporary family of three returns to being a family of four! How will Tomoko and the boys adjust to Akiyoshi’s presence?! Monster Crush - Erine Ellie Franey Paranormal Fantasy 12 March 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Women, Queer Cast A whirlwind adventure exploring love, gender, and big emotions, Monster Crush is the perfect read for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider. Since her parents split up, Ruby Reid has been having a tough time at Crestwood High. But everything changes the day Ella Mooney moves to town. Ella isn’t like most she’s never been on a Ferris wheel, never had an ice cream cone, and sometimes she grows fangs and a tail! It’s not just Ruby who takes an interest in the new girl, and the pair find themselves on the run from a mysterious group that wants to capture Ella and her whole family! The Baker and The Bard - Fern Haught YA Cosy Fantasy 05 March 2024 Queer Rep: Non-Binary Juniper and Hadley have a good thing going in Larkspur, spending their respective days apprenticing at a little bakery and performing at the local inn. But when a stranger makes an unusual order at the bakery, the two friends (and Hadley's pet snake, Fern) set out on a journey to forage the magical mushrooms needed to make the requested galette pastries. Along the way, Juniper and Hadley stumble across a mystery too compelling to ignore: Something has been coming out of the woods at night and eating the local farmers' crops, leaving only a trail of glowy goo behind. Intent on finally going on an adventure that could fuel their bardic craft, Hadley tows Juniper into the woods to investigate. What started as a simple errand to pick mushrooms soon turns into a thrilling quest to save some furry new friends-and their caretaker, a softspoken little fey named Thistle-who are in danger of losing their home. Bunt! Striking Out On Financial Aid - Ngozi Ukazu Sports Drama 14 February 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Women, Queer Cast Molly Bauer's first year of college is not the picture-perfect piece of art she'd always envisioned. On day one at PICA, Molly discovers that—through some horrible twist of fate—her full-ride scholarship has vanished! But the ancient texts (PICA's dusty financial aid documents) reveal a loophole. If Molly and 9 other art students win a single game of softball, they'll receive a massive athletic scholarship. Can Molly's crew of ragtag artists succeed in softball without dropping the ball? Ngozi Ukazu returns with debut artist Madeline Rupert to bring an energetic young adult story about authenticity, old vs. new, and college failure. It also poses the question: “Is art school worth it?” Science Of Ghosts - Lilah Sturges Paranormal Sci-Fi 07 May 2024 Queer Rep: Trans Women, Queer Women She'll take ghosts over solving her own problems any day. While navigating the mysteries of the afterlife, Joy Ravenna - a transgender parapsychologist, must also deal with the very real challenges of her past and present. Her first post-transition relationship, a hostile ex-wife, and clues to murder long forgotten will test her at every twist and turn. For Joy, working with ghosts is way easier than dealing with the living. Killer Queens 2 - David M. Booher Camp Science Fiction 02 April 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Cast The Galaxy’s sassiest assassins are back in this hilarious and heartfelt sequel about identity, family, and freedom During a day of questionable choices at Space Pride, Max & Alex bump into their old boss, Bieti and his new-and-improved hench bears. The grumpy little simian tries to get them back on his team to chase down a runaway heir to the throne of Sarelia, an alien planet ruled by a brutal patriarchy. Little does he know that the heir in question happens to be Alex’s younger sibling. And they have…wings. Turns out, a genetic quirk gives some of their race wings when they’re born. But on a planet that lives by the motto “Kings, not wings”, those born with wings are required to have them cut off. It’s supposed to make them more “masculine.” The king is doing all he can to get his youngest heir back on the butcher block and restore the line of succession. Collects Killer Queens II issues 1–4. Death Drop Drag Assassin - David Hazan & Alex Moore Crime Noir 28 May 2024 Queer Rep: Queer Men, Drag Queens Death Drop, a hitman turned drag queen, enters a race against time to find her missing drag sister as a mysterious rash of killings and disappearances spreads across the city. Spurred into action by her drag mother, Mother Henny, Death Drop must decide how far she is willing to be pulled back into a life of violence to protect her community in this supernatural queer noir. Death Drop’s investigation will lead her to a trail of supernaturally disfigured corpses, a leather-clad killer hell-bent on revenge, and an enigmatic queen from Mother Henny’s past. To make matters worse, she can’t shake the feeling that the specter of the assassin mentor she exposed and left for dead years ago is now haunting her every step. Collects Death Drop Drag Assassin issues 1-5. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

Are you looking for queer books with disability rep? There are some fantastic books out there, but it's often so hard to find them. We've put together a list of 15 LGBTQ+ books with disability rep for your convenience - all of them with links on where you can find them as well as the specific rep in each book and suggested reading age. The Undetectables Fibromyalgia and Cane Use Paranormal Fantasy/Mystery Queer Rep: Queer Women, Queer Men, LGBTQ+ Cast Reading Age: 15+ Be gay, solve crime, take naps. A magical serial killer is stalking the Occult town of Wrackton. Hypnotic whistling causes victims to chew their own tongues off, leading to the killer being dubbed the Whistler (original, right?). But outside the lack of taste buds and the strange magical carvings on the victims’ torsos, the murderer leaves no evidence. No obvious clues. No reason – or so it seems. Enter the Undetectables, a detective agency run by three witches and a ghost in a cat costume (don’t ask). They are hired to investigate the murders, but with their only case so far left unsolved, will they be up to the task? Mallory, the forensic science expert, is struggling with pain and fatigue from her recently diagnosed fibromyalgia. Cornelia, the team member most likely to go rogue and punch a police officer, is suddenly stirring all sorts of feelings in Mallory. Diana, the social butterfly of the group, is hitting up all of her ex-girlfriends for information. And not forgetting ghostly Theodore – deceased, dramatic, and also the agency’s first dead body and unsolved murder case. Just By Looking At Him Cerebral Palsy Contemporary Erotic Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 18+ A darkly witty and touching novel following a gay TV writer with cerebral palsy as he fights addiction and searches for acceptance in an overwhelmingly ableist world. Elliott appears to be living the dream as a successful TV writer with a doting boyfriend. But behind his Instagram filter of a life, he’s grappling with an intensifying alcohol addiction, he can’t seem to stop cheating on his boyfriend with various sex workers, and his cerebral palsy is making him feel like gay Shrek. After falling down a rabbit hole of sex, drinking, and Hollywood backstabbing, Elliott decides to limp his way towards redemption. But facing your demons is easier said than done. Stars In Their Eyes Amputee With Prosthetic YA Romance - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Women. Non-Binary Reading Age: 12+ In this lighthearted YA romance, Maisie and Ollie discover that nothing beats the feeling of falling in love for the first time. Maisie is on her way to Fancon! She's looking forward to meeting her idol, Kara Bufano, the action hero from her favorite TV show, who has a lower-leg amputation, just like Maisie. But when Maisie and her mom arrive at the convention center, she is stopped in her tracks by Ollie, a cute volunteer working the show. They are kind, charming, and geek out about nerd culture just as much as Maisie does. And as the day wears on, Maisie notices feelings for Ollie that she's never had before. Is this what it feels like to fall in love? Iron Widow Chronic Pain and Cane Use YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy Queer Rep: Bisexual Women & Men, Polyamory Reading Age: 14+ The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​ Nimona Amputee With Prosthetic YA Fantasy - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Genderqueer & Queer Men Reading Age: 12+ Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from ND Stevenson. Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit. The Girls I've Been Endometriosis YA Thriller Queer Rep: Bisexual Women Reading Age: 13+ Nora O’Malley’s been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up as her mother’s protégé. But when mum fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape. For five years Nora’s been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills she ditched because she has three problems: #1: Her ex walked in on her with her girlfriend. Even though they’re all friends, Wes didn’t know about her and Iris. #2: The morning after Wes finds them kissing, they all have to meet to deposit the fundraiser money they raised at the bank. It’s a nightmare that goes from awkward to deadly, because: #3: Right after they enter bank, two guys start robbing it. The Unbroken Chronic Pain and Cane Use Epic Fantasy Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 18+ Touraine is a soldier. Stolen as a child and raised to kill and die for the empire, her only loyalty is to her fellow conscripts. But now, her company has been sent back to her homeland to stop a rebellion, and the ties of blood may be stronger than she thought. Luca needs a turncoat. Someone desperate enough to tiptoe the bayonet's edge between treason and orders. Someone who can sway the rebels toward peace, while Luca focuses on what really matters: getting her uncle off her throne. Through assassinations and massacres, in bedrooms and war rooms, Touraine and Luca will haggle over the price of a nation. But some things aren't for sale. Mooncakes Hard Of Hearing YA Supernatural Fantasy - Graphic Novels Queer Rep: Non-binary, Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers' bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town. One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery. Galaxy The Prettiest Star Amputee With Prosthetic YA Science Fiction - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Trans Women, Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ It takes strength to live as your true self, and one alien princess disguised as a human boy is about to test her power. A vibrant story about gender identity, romance, and shining as bright as the stars. Taylor Barzelay has the perfect life. Good looks, good grades, a starting position on the basketball team, a loving family, even an adorable corgi. Every day in Taylor’s life is perfect. And every day is torture. Taylor is actually the Galaxy Crowned, an alien princess from the planet Cyandii, and one of the few survivors of an intergalactic war. For six long, painful years, Taylor has accepted her duty to remain in hiding as a boy on Earth. That all changes when Taylor meets Metropolis girl Katherine “call me Kat” Silverberg, whose confidence is electrifying. Suddenly, Taylor no longer wants to hide, even if exposing her true identity could attract her greatest enemies. Go The Way Your Blood Beats Cerebral Palsy Adult Memoir - Non-Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 18+ When Emmett de Monterey is eighteen months old, a doctor diagnoses him with cerebral palsy. Words too heavy for his 25-year-old artist parents and their happy, smiling baby. Growing up in South East London in the 1980s, Emmett is spat at on the street and prayed over at church. At his mainstream school, teachers refuse to schedule his classes on the ground floor, and he loses a stone from the effort of getting up the stairs. At his Sixth Form College for disabled students, he's told he will be expelled if the rumours are true, if he's gay. And then Emmett is chosen for a first-of-its-kind surgery in America which he hopes will 'cure' him, enable him to walk unaided. He hopes for a miracle: to walk, to dance, to be able to leave the house when it rains. To have a body that's everyday beautiful, to hold hands in the street. But the 'miracle' doesn't occur, and Emmett must reckon with a world which views disabled people as invisible, unworthy of desire. He must fight to be seen. Blackwater Autoimmune Disorder YA Paranormal Fantasy - Graphic Novels Queer Rep: Queer Men, Trans Men Reading Age: 14+ Riverdale meets Stranger Things in this debut queer YA graphic novel, developed from a hit webcomic. Set in the haunted town of Blackwater, Maine, two boys fall for each other as they dig for clues to a paranormal mystery. Tony Price is a popular high school track star and occasional delinquent aching for his dad’s attention and approval. Eli Hirsch is a quiet boy with a chronic autoimmune disorder that has ravaged his health and social life. What happens when these two become unlikely friends (and a whole lot more . . .) in the spooky town of Blackwater, Maine? Werewolf curses, unsavory interactions with the quarterback of the football team, a ghostly fisherman haunting the harbor, and tons of high school drama. Co-illustrated by Jeannette Arroyo and Ren Graham, who alternate drawing chapters in their own unique and dynamic styles, Blackwater combines the spookiness of Anya's Ghost with the irreverent humor of Nimona. The Sunbearer Trials Deaf with Use of Sign Language YA Fantasy Adventure Queer Rep: Trans Men. LGBTQ+ Cast Reading Age: 14+ Each decade, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the evil Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are selected by Sol himself as the most worthy to compete in The Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all―they will be sacrificed. Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, has never worried about the Trials…or rather, he’s only worried for others. His best friend Niya―daughter of Tierra, the god of earth―is one of the strongest heroes of their generation and is much too likely to be chosen this year. He also can’t help but worry (reluctantly, and under protest) for Aurelio, a powerful Gold semidiós and Teo’s friend-turned-rival who is a shoo-in for the Trials. Teo wouldn’t mind taking Aurelio down a notch or two, but a one-in-ten chance of death is a bit too close for Teo’s taste. But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. The Girls Are Never Gone Type 1 Diabetes YA Contemporary Horror Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ Dare Chase doesn’t believe in ghosts. Privately, she’s a supernatural skeptic. But publicly, she’s keeping her doubts to herself—because she’s the voice of Attachments, her brand-new paranormal investigation podcast, and she needs her ghost-loving listeners to tune in. That’s what brings her to Arrington Estate. Thirty years ago, teenager Atheleen Bell drowned in Arrington’s lake, and legend says her spirit haunts the estate. Dare’s more interested in the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death—circumstances that she believes point to a living culprit, not the supernatural. Still, she’s vowed to keep an open mind as she investigates, even if she’s pretty sure what she’ll find. But Arrington is full of surprises. Sixteen Souls Double Amputee With Prosthetics YA Paranormal Romance Queer Rep: Queer Men, Trans Men. Reading Age: 14+ In haunted York, even the dead have something to fear. Sixteen-year-old Charlie has problems. He’s a seer-of-spirits in York, the most haunted city in Europe, and all his friends are ghosts. His sisters have glittered his prosthesis, again, and his crush is dating someone new. On top of that, famous spirits are mysteriously vanishing from York’s alleys and snickleways. Charlie is determined to stay out of it, but Sam, the irritating new seer in town, expects him to track down who – or what – is responsible and uncover the dark purpose behind the disappearances. The Flying Ship, Vol. 1 Amputee With Prosthetic YA Fantasy - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ Based on slavic folklore, the Flying Ship is a queer fantasy story set in a mythical world called Glas. When the Tzar offers his daughter’s hand to one who can build a ship that sails through the sky, it is grumpy Dobrinia who decides to take up the quest, with a little magical help. Queer adventure, humor, and heartfelt friendships star in this fantastical comics tale that truly feels like it’s for everyone. After being stranded in a forgotten military outpost, grumpy Dobrinia sets out on a quest to marry a princess. But in the vast Tzardom of Glas, where magic has been outlawed, troubled histories can catch up with even a flying ship. BONUS: Interesting Facts About Space (out 2024) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Contemporary Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 18+ Enid is many things: lesbian, serial dater, deaf in one ear, space obsessive, true crime fanatic. When she's not listening to grizzly murder podcasts, she's managing her crippling phobia of bald people and trying hard not to think about her mortifying teenage years - which is hard, when she's lost the password to her old YouTube account and the (many) vlogs that her teen self once uploaded. But as Enid fumbles her way through her first serious relationship and navigates a new family life with her estranged half-sisters, she starts to worry that someone is following her. As her paranoia spirals out of control, Enid must contend with her mounting suspicion that something is seriously wrong with her... Full of charm, humour and heart, Interesting Facts About Space is a pitch-perfect exploration of the strange ways we try to connect with others, and the power of sharing our secret selves with the people we love. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

Stuck inside with nothing to do? Looking for something new to read? Why not spend the afternoon reading some queer webcomics!? From singing crocodiles to hot monster girls, 90s urban fantasy and queer slice-of-life romance - here are 12 more LGBT+ webcomics you can read for free. CROC AND ROLL Read here - LGBTQ+, Fantasy, Comedy, Music - Mayday Mendez has hit rock bottom. But when she discovers a quartet of magical, singing crocodilians, she hopes they can be her ticket to stardom. In truth, they're her first steps toward healing the wounds of her past... Created by Hamish Steele, creator of Dead End: Paranormal Park / DeadEndia, and illustrated by George Williams. RAINBOW! Read here - Queer Women, Slice-Of-Life, Romance - Overly imaginative teenager Boo Meadows has always escaped her daily grind by living with her head in the clouds-- for better or worse. But when she meets the girl of her daydreams, it may finally be time to face reality. LONG EXPOSURE Read here - Queer Men, Superpowers, Drama - Long Exposure is a completed webcomic about a nerd and a bully who are forced to work on a class project together. The story revolves around them developing super powers after an incident at a strange research center, and finding themselves followed by a mysterious car, overcoming personal challenges, and (most importantly) discovering how gay they are for each other. MY DRAGON GIRLFRIEND Read here - Queer Women, Fantasy, Romance - A sapphic fantasy webcomic - when a drunk girl is saved from a bad date by a dragon girl, love blooms quickly between the two. It's a super sweet story of lesbian romance and cute monster girls with some truly adorable artwork. IT'S WARMER OVER HERE Read here - Queer Men, Slice-Of-Life, Romance - When the gay single dad Sebastian gets a job offer in Philadelphia, he decides it's time for a change of scenery and moves cross country with his daughter, leaving Los Angeles behind. It's not an easy transition into their new lives, but with help from a kindhearted part-time librarian, hopefully, everything will turn out alright... IRON NAIL AFTERNOON Read here - LGBTQ+, Supernatural, Fantasy - After losing his job and wife, Big Chuck starts over a fighter on an island of monsters. There he meets an angelic blonde named Skolli. But Skolli has dark secrets of their own and in a world where people can change their shape, nothing is as it seems. If you've ever wanted to read a love triangle featuring a beastman, gender-shifter and gargoyle, then this is the series for you. JACK BELOVED Read here - Trans Men, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance - Sam wants to win glory for the right to marry his beloved. But when he forms a friendship with an enemy monster, he must decide where his true loyalties lie. Queer fantasy adventure / slow-burn BL. Updates Tuesdays. BUUZA!! Read here - LGBTQ+, Urban Fantasy, Slice-Of-Life - A misdialed number leads to an unexpected, long-distance romance. BUUZA!! is a comic about found family, diaspora and religion, set in an urban fantasy 90's Middle East and central Asia. CW: Mentions of sex work, off-screen or mentioned violence, non-visual threat STICK N' POKE Read here - Trans Women, Music, Romance, 18+ - Mal Hassan is just a girl living on her mom's farm, but when she is offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to work with her favorite band, she drops everything to follow them on tour. How could she pass up her one chance to hook up with that hot guitarist? Is this a dream come true or a disaster waiting to happen? Content Warning: sexual content and adult themes. CHARITY CASE Read here - LGBTQ+, Polyamory, Romance, Music - Aspiring musician Julie finds herself relying on the charity of others to get her life back together, but the feelings she’s developing for her new housemates threaten to tear it all apart. Charity Case is a polyamorous romance with a side helping of found families; if you like agonizingly slow relationship development and LGBTQ+ characters, this is the one for you. MAN TIME! Read here - Trans Men, Comedy, Slice-Of-Life - Man Time is a comic about three trans-masculine people going through the ups and downs of life. Being trans is tough. But there’s plenty to laugh about too! Follow the adventures of Omar, Ty and Jack in this slice-of-life trans webcomic. FAIRETOWN Read here - Queer Men, Supernatural, Romance - The small-town hospitality of Fairetown gives Wilco and Blake a safe home, but various creatures, critters, and creepy-crawlies might be more than they bargained for. Follow along with Wilco, Blake, and their neighbors (and cryptids) in Fairetown. Have we missed your favourite webcomic from this list? Send us a message on Twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

This month we're focusing on queer horror written by black authors with black queer protagonists and narratives. From thrilling survival mysteries to seductive queer vampires and terrifying hidden monsters, here are ten queer horror books with black characters at the center: The Forest Demands Its Due YA Fantasy Horror Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 14+ A Lesson in Vengeance meets The Taking of Jake Livingston in this page-turning YA horror/fantasy set in dark academia about a queer Black teen who discovers the sinister history of his boarding school and the corrupt powers behind it all. Regent Academy has a long and storied history in Winslow, Vermont, as does the forest that surrounds it. The school is known for molding teens into leaders, but its history is far more nefarious. Seventeen-year-old Douglas Jones wants nothing to do with Regent's king-making; he’s just trying to survive. But then a student is murdered and, for some reason, by the next day no one remembers him having ever existed, except for Douglas and the groundskeeper's son, Everett Everley. In his determination to uncover the truth, Douglas awakens a horror hidden within the forest, unearthing secrets that have been buried for centuries. A vengeful creature wants blood as payment for a debt more than 300 years in the making—or it will swallow all of Winslow in darkness. You're Not Supposed To Die Tonight YA Horror/Mystery Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ At Camp Mirror Lake, terror is the name of the game . . . but can you survive the night? Charity Curtis has the summer job of her dreams, playing the “final girl” at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business. But the last weekend of the season, Charity's co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity's role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they'll need figure out what this killer is after. Is there is more to the story of Mirror Lake and its dangerous past than Charity ever suspected? Perfect for fans of Fear Street. Sorrowland Fantasy Horror Queer Rep: Queer Women, Intersex, Nonbinary & Gender Reading Age: 18+ Vern - seven months pregnant and desperate to escape the strict religious compound where she was raised - flees for the shelter of the woods. There, she gives birth to twins, and plans to raise them far from the influence of the outside world. But even in the forest, Vern is a hunted woman. Forced to fight back against the community that refuses to let her go, she unleashes incredible brutality far beyond what a person should be capable of, her body wracked by inexplicable and uncanny changes. To understand her metamorphosis and to protect her small family, Vern has to face the past, and more troublingly, the future - outside the woods. Finding the truth will mean uncovering the secrets of the compound she fled but also the violent history in America that produced it. I Feed Her To The Beast And The Beast Is Me YA Slow-Burn Horror Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 18+ Laure Mesny is a perfectionist with an axe to grind. Despite being constantly overlooked in the elite and cutthroat world of the Parisian ballet, she will do anything to prove that a Black girl can take center stage. To level the playing field, Laure ventures deep into the depths of the Catacombs and strikes a deal with a pulsating river of blood. The primordial power Laure gains promises influence and adoration, everything she’s dreamed of and worked toward. With retribution on her mind, she surpasses her bitter and privileged peers, leaving broken bodies behind her on her climb to stardom. But even as undeniable as she is, Laure is not the only monster around. And her vicious desires make her a perfect target for slaughter. As she descends into madness and the mystifying underworld beneath her, she is faced with the ultimate choice: continue to break herself for scraps of validation or succumb to the darkness that wants her exactly as she is—monstrous heart and all. That is, if the god-killer doesn’t catch her first. House Of Hunger Gothic Horror Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 18+ Marion Shaw has been raised in the slums, where want and deprivation is all she knows. Despite longing to leave the city and its miseries, she has no real hope of escape until the day she spots a peculiar listing in the newspaper, seeking a bloodmaid. Though she knows little about the far north--where wealthy nobles live in luxury and drink the blood of those in their service--Marion applies to the position. In a matter of days, she finds herself the newest bloodmaid at the notorious House of Hunger. There, Marion is swept into a world of dark debauchery--and at the center of it all is her. Countess Lisavet, who presides over this hedonistic court, is loved and feared in equal measure. She takes a special interest in Marion. Lisavet is magnetic, and Marion is eager to please her new mistress. But when her fellow bloodmaids begin to go missing in the night, Marion is thrust into a vicious game of cat and mouse. She'll need to learn the rules of her new home--and fast--or its halls will soon become her grave. The Taking Of Jake Livingston YA Horror/Thriller Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 12+ Jake Livingston is one of the only Black kids at St. Clair Prep, one of the others being his infinitely more popular older brother. It’s hard enough fitting in but to make matters worse and definitely more complicated, Jake can see the dead. In fact he sees the dead around him all the time. Most are harmless. Stuck in their death loops as they relive their deaths over and over again, they don’t interact often with people. But then Jake meets Sawyer. A troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school last year before taking his own life. Now a powerful, vengeful ghost, he has plans for his afterlife–plans that include Jake. Suddenly, everything Jake knows about ghosts and the rules to life itself go out the window as Sawyer begins haunting him and bodies turn up in his neighborhood. High school soon becomes a survival game–one Jake is not sure he’s going to win. Perfect for fans of Get Out and Danielle Vega. Burn Down, Rise Up YA Fantasy Horror Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ Stranger Things meets Get Out in this Sapphic Horror debut from nonbinary, Afro-Latine author Vincent Tirado. For over a year, the Bronx has been plagued by sudden disappearances that no one can explain. Sixteen-year-old Raquel does her best to ignore it. After all, the police only look for the white kids. But when her crush Charlize's cousin goes missing, Raquel starts to pay attention—especially when her own mom comes down with a mysterious illness that seems linked to the disappearances. Raquel and Charlize team up to investigate, but they soon discover that everything is tied to a terrifying urban legend called the Echo Game. The game is rumored to trap people in a sinister world underneath the city, and the rules are based on a particularly dark chapter in New York's past. And if the friends want to save their home and everyone they love, they will have to play the game and destroy the evil at its heart—or die trying. Ace Of Spades YA Dark Academia/Thriller Queer Rep: Queer Men, Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ An incendiary and utterly compelling thriller with a shocking twist that delves deep into the heart of institutionalized racism, from an exceptional new YA voice. Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is bringing two students' dark secrets to light. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can't escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn't afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power. Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they're planning much more than a high-school game... The Wilds Horror Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 12+ After a cataclysmic plague sweeps across America, survivors come together to form citystate-like communities for safety. Daisy Walker is a Runner for The Compound, a mix of post-apocalyptic postal service and black market salvaging operation. It is a Runner’s job to ferry items and people between settlements, and on occasion scavenge through the ruins of the old world. Daisy is the best there is at what she does. Out beyond the settlement walls are innumerable dangers: feral animals, crumbling structures, and Abominations — those that were touched by the plague and became something other. After a decade of surviving, Daisy isn’t phased by any of it — until her lover, another Runner named Heather, goes missing on a job. Desperate to find her, Daisy begins to see that there may be little difference between the world inside the walls and the horrors beyond. Dead Girls Walking (April 2024) YA Slasher Horror Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ A shocking, spine-chilling YA horror slasher about a girl searching for her dead mother’s body at the summer camp that was once her serial killer father’s home—perfect for fans of Friday the 13th and White Smoke Temple Baker knows that evil runs in her blood. Her father is the North Point Killer, an infamous serial killer known for how he marked each of his victims with a brand. He was convicted for murdering 20 people and was the talk of countless true crime blogs for years. Some say he was possessed by a demon. Some say that they never found all his victims. Some say that even though he’s now behind bars, people are still dying in the woods. Despite everything though, Temple never believed that her dad killed her mom. But when he confesses to that crime while on death row, she has no choice but to return to his old hunting grounds to try see if she can find a body and prove it. Do you have a queer book recommendation that you think more people should be reading? Why not leave a comment below or send us a message at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

It's spooky season, time to snuggle up on the sofa with a mug of something warm and listen to some queer horror. From bone-chilling fiction to hilarious horror movie reviews, here are 13 queer horror podcasts you should listen to this October (some of them old, some of them new, all of them spooky). JAR OF REBUKE LISTEN HERE Queer Fiction Follow Dr. Jared Hel's journey as he works to re-discover his forgotten past and finds his place within the small Indiana farm town of Wichton and the cryptozoological organization he works for. These audio journals dive deep into Midwestern US cryptids and folklore while also telling a mystery about identity, queerness, neurodivergence, and community. SCREAM QUEENZ LISTEN HERE Queer TV & Film A twice-monthly look at the weird and wonderful world of horror movies as seen through the host's very gay eyes. Killer reviews, off-beat comedy and unforgettable guests. Scream Queenz is one of the Top 9 LGBT Podcasts according to Entertainment Weekly. THEY'RE QUEER! LISTEN HERE Queer Horror & Film They’re Queer is a monthly queer horror podcast where hosts Liam & Liam get into all things horror and gay. Each episode focuses on a specific film, game or series as they discuss the queer themes, perspectives and creatives that helped create it. New episodes are released on the 21st of each month. ALICE ISN'T DEAD LISTEN HERE Queer Fiction Alice Isn't Dead is an oldy but a goody - perfect for fans of Welcome To Nightvale. A truck driver searches across America for the wife she had long assumed was dead, encountering not-quite-human serial murderers, towns literally lost in time, and a conspiracy that goes way beyond one missing woman. HOMOS ON HAUNTED HILL LISTEN HERE Queer TV & Film Join queer hosts Kevin & Chris for casual weekly discussions celebrating the weird, wild world of horror cinema! From cult horror like House on Haunted Hill and Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker to comply classics like Death Becomes Her and Ghost Ship New episodes every Tuesdays. THE PEOPLE UNDER THE SCARES LISTEN HERE Queer TV & Film The People Under The Scares t is for fiends of the dark, eerie and disturbed. These guys are fantastic with a much-needed fresh perspective on the horror genre. Join Mike and Bobby every Monday as they review cult classics and guilty pleasures. FRIGAY THE 13TH HORROR PODCAST LISTEN HERE Queer TV & Film FriGay the 13th Horror Podcast explores horror — in real life AND in the movies — from an LGBT perspective. We believe that horror isn’t just an escape – we believe it’s a mirror to the horrors we face in real life, everyday, and on this show we offer strong opinions for our audience to consider and engage with. SCARED GAY LISTEN HERE Queer TV & Film A Horror Movie podcast...with a Gay Agenda. Join Pablo Escobar and Paul Jordan every other week as they dissect their favorite and least favorite horror movies, explore queer themes, and make each other laugh/cringe along the way. Follow Scared gay on social at @scaredgaypodcast HORROR QUEERS LISTEN HERE Queer TV & Film Each week, hosts Joe Lipsett and Trace Thurman discuss a horror film with LGBTQ+ themes, a high camp quotient or both. This one is super funny and camp as all hell. You can also check out their Patreon for some fantastic bonus content here: www.patreon.com/horrorqueers ATTACK OF THE QUEERWOLF! LISTEN HERE Queer TV & Film Listen as hosts Michael Kennedy, Nay Bever, & Brennan Klein dissect horror faves, from classic to problematic, dish on their favorite weekly offerings, and discuss queer identity. Attack Of The Queerwolf! is no longer releasing new episodes, but check out their excelent back catalogue. DOS: AFTER YOU LISTEN HERE Queer Fiction Things have changed. Deck has fallen in love with someone who isn't human, and leaves a hungry house behind to see him again. Will he be waiting for you? The world has changed... but what about him? Dos: After You is a queer urban fantasy/horror audiodrama available in both English & Spanish DIRTY LITTLE HORROR LISTEN HERE Queer TV & Film Dirty Little Horror is a weekly gay horror podcast where Charles Rockhill & Reed Black dissect a new movie each episode and find all the LGBT subtext they can while making spooky dick jokes. It's camp, it's filthy and it'll make you chuckle more than you expect. Find them on social at @DirtyHorrorPod FOLXLORE LISTEN HERE Queer Fiction Folxlore tells the stories of queer people living literally and figuratively between two worlds. Rooted in everyday Glasgow, where monsters are always on the edge of your periphery, this queer horror series deals with themes of first romance, hate crime related trauma, and queer parenthood all while battling nightmarish horrors. Have we missed your favourite queer horror podcast? Looking for a terrifying book recommendation? Send us a message on Twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

It's been a few years, so it's time we update our list of queer and LGBT+ inclusive TV shows on Netflix right now. From charming British romance to campy queer animation and compelling international dramas, here are 20 of the best queer-focused and LGBT+ inclusive series available on Netflix right now. (All shows available in the UK at time of publishing.) 1. YOUNG ROYALS (2021 - present) YOUNG ROYALS is a Swedish teen drama romance streaming television series on Netflix. Set at the fictional elite boarding school Hillerska, the plot primarily follows the fictional Prince Wilhelm of Sweden (Edvin Ryding), his romance with fellow male student Simon Eriksson (Omar Rudberg), and the drama it results in. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Drama, Romance Starring: Edvin Ryding, Omar Rudberg, Malte Gårdinger Creators: Lisa Ambjörn, Lars Buckung, Camilla Holter Rating: 12A Episode Run Time: 50m 2. DEAD END PARANORMAL PARK (2022) DEAD END: PARANORMAL PARK is an animated fantasy horror comedy series created by Hamish Steele for Netflix, which is based on the graphic novels series DeadEndia. The series follows Barney and Norma, the newest employees at their local theme park, Phoenix Parks. Joined by Pugsley, Barney's childhood dog, and Courtney, a thousand-year-old demon, they discover the world of the Paranormal and learn a few new things about themselves. LGBTQ+ rep: Trans Men, Queer Men Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Adventure Starring: Zach Barack, Kody Kavitha, Emily Osment, Alex Brightman Creators: Hamish Steele Rating: 12A Episode Run Time: 30m 3. HALF BAD: THE BASTARD SON & THE DEVIL HIMSELF (2022) Caught between two warring clans, the son of a notorious witch tries to find his place in the world. After being discovered as an illegitimate son of the "World's Most Dangerous Blood Witch", Nathan Byrne was quietly monitored for the first 16 years of his life out of fear he'd turn out like his father. However, as the conflict between the Blood Witches and the Fairborn Witches escalates, Nathan finds himself the target of a modern-day witch hunt. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Fantasy, Drama Starring: Jay Lycurgo, Nadia Parkes, Paul Ready Creators: Joe Barton Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 60m 4. FIRST KILL (2022) Falling in love is tricky for teens Juliette and Calliope: One's a vampire, the other's a vampire hunter and both are ready to make their first kill. In FIRST KILL, Sixteen-year-old vampire Juliette Fairmont needs to make her first kill in order to enter adulthood and take her place among her powerful family of Legacy vampires. Calliope, who belongs to a monster-hunting family, needs to slay her first monster in order to gain her family's approval. As both families become unavoidably involved, and Juliette and Calliope's relationship develops, the girls realize that killing each other is not so simple. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery Starring: Sarah Catherine Hook, Imani Lewis, Elizabeth Mitchell Creators: V.E. Schwab Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 60m 5. THE BISEXUAL (2018) From the team that brought you APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR and THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST comes THE BISEXUAL - a British comedy-drama series following an Iranian-American woman called Leila after a recent breakup with her long-term girlfriend. Having come to the realisation that she's bisexual, Leila has left her girlfriend/business partner Sadie and moved in with Gabe, a neurotic novelist who is having relationship problems of his own. Gabe doesn't know many lesbians and Leila hasn't got much experience hanging out with heterosexuals. Perfect for people searching for some messy bisexual representation. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women Genre: Comedy, Drama Starring: Desiree Akhavan, Maxine Peake, Brian Gleeson Director: Desiree Akhavan Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 40m 6. UNCOUPLED (2022) In UNCOUPLED, Michael's life seemed to be perfect... that is until his long-term partner blindsides him by leaving after 17 years of being in long time relationship. As he adjusts to being single in his late 40s, he discovers that the gay dating scene has changed while he was in a relationship, and he rapidly realizes that in order to not be single forever, he must take action. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Comedy, Romance Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Tisha Campbell, Brooks Ashmakskas Creators: Jeffrey Richman, Darren Starr Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 30m 7. QUEER AS FOLK (UK) (1999-2000) QUEER AS FOLK is a 1999 British television series that follows the lives of three gay men living in Manchester's gay village around Canal Street. Initially running for eight episodes, a two-part follow-up was shown in 2000. The series later inspired an American adaptation of the show under the same name which ran for five seasons between 2000, to August 7, 2005. A more contemporary American reboot was also released on Peacock in 2022 LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Drama Starring: Aiden Gillen, Charlie Hunnam, Craig Kelly Creators: Russell T. Davies Rating: 18 Episode Run Time: 48m 8. HEARTSTOPPER (2022 - present) Adapted from the webcomic and graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman, HEARTSTOPPER is a British coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama series on Netflix. The series primarily tells the story of Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), a gay schoolboy who falls in love with classmate Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), whom he sits next to in his new form. It also explores the lives of Tao (William Gao), Elle (Yasmin Finney), Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell). Series 2 is set to be released later this year. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men, Queer Women, Trans Women Genre: Drama, Romance Starring: Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Yasmin Finney Creators: Alice Oseman Rating: 12A Episode Run Time: 30m 9. WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS (2018) WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS is an Australian television comedy series that follows the adventures of best friends Penny and Mia and their housemate Austin as they plunder through their early twenties in the hyper-divisive, socio-political hellscape of modern-day, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men, Queer Women Genre: Comedy, Drama Starring: Naomi Higgins, Olivia Junkeer, Wil King Creators: Naomi Higgins, Mark Samual Bonanno Rating: 18 Episode Run Time: 23m 10. THE SANDMAN (2022 - present) THE SANDMAN is an American fantasy drama series based on the comic book of the same name written by Neil Gaiman following the story of Dream/Morpheus. Upon escaping after decades of imprisonment by a mortal wizard, Dream, the personification of dreams, sets about to reclaim his lost equipment. The series stars Tom Sturridge as the title character, with Boyd Holbrook, Vivienne Acheampong and Patton Oswalt in supporting roles. The series sports a diverse queer cast of characters and is set to release it's second season in 2023. LGBTQ+ rep: LGBTQ+ Cast, Non-Binary & Genderfluid, Queer Women, Queer Men Genre: Fantasy, Drama Starring: Tom Sturridge, Boyd Holbrook, Vivienne Acheampong, Patton Oswalt Creators: Neil Gaiman Rating: 18 Episode Run Time: 45m 11. SMILEY (2022) SMILEY is a Spanish rom-com following a slow-burn romance between two men in the city of Barcelona. Barman, Álex, has just been left by the man he's fallen for and sends him an angry voice message... but the voicemail is sent to the wrong number and an architect called Bruno receives it instead. The mistake causes the two to meet and what begins as a date ends up having greater significance. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men, Queer Women Genre: Romance, Comedy Starring: Carlos Cuevas, Miki Esparbé, Meritxell Calvo, Brian McGovern Creators: Guillem Clua Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 36m 12. KIPO AND THE AGE OF THE WONDERBEAST (2020) Probably one of the best cartoons to come out last year, Kipo (Karen Fukuhara) is a burrow girl exploring a post-apocalyptic surface world where animals talk and monsters rule the land. From the vibrant colour to the killer soundtrack, the largely BAME cast to the queer undertones running throughout, KIPO AND THE AGE OF THE WONDERBEASTS is a real treat for all ages. I can not stress this enough THIS SHOW IS SO DAMN GOOD. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure Starring: Karen Fukuhara, Sydney Mikayla, Coy Stewart Creators: Redford Sechrist, Bill Wolkoff Rating: PG Episode Run Time: 24m 13. GINNY & GEORGIA (2021 - present) GINNY & GEORGIA is an American comedy-drama series following Ginny Miller, an angsty fifteen-year-old who often feels more mature than her thirty-year-old mother, Georgia. The series follows their lives as they move to a beautiful New England town in Massachusetts to start afresh after their father's untimely death. The show has several prominent queer characters and treats their storylines incredibly well. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women, Queer Men Genre: Comedy, Drama Starring: Antonia Gentry, Brianne Howey, Sara Waisglass Creator: Sarah Lampert Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 60m 14. MASTER OF NONE: MOMENTS IN LOVE (SEASON 3) (2021) The third season of MASTER OF NONE is a five-episode season, focusing on Lena Waithe's character Denise, and her wife Alicia played by Naomi Ackie. MASTER OF NONE PRESENTS: MOMENTS IN LOVE is a departure from the first two seasons with a much slower pace and a mature, cinematic feel, but avid viewers of the slow-burn series will be rewarded with a payoff that's well worth the wait. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women Genre: Comedy, Drama Starring: Lena Waithe, Naomi Ackie, Aziz Ansari Creator: Aziz Ansari Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 20-60m 15. FEEL GOOD (2020-2021) Written and starring comedian Mae Martin, FEEL GOOD is a romantic comedy-drama following recovering addict and comic Mae and their new girlfriend George. With a truly fantastic script and brilliant acting performances from the entire cast, FEEL GOOD tackles addiction, queer relationships, gender identity and past trauma with heart and humour. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women, Non-Binary Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Starring: Mae Martin, Charlotte Ritchie, Phil Burgers Creators: Mae Martin, Joe Hampson Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 30 minutes 16. AJ AND THE QUEEN (2020) AJ AND THE QUEEN is a ten-episode adventure-comedy following down-on-her-luck drag queen Ruby Red as she who travels across America from club to club in a rundown 1986 RV. Joining Ruby is AJ, a recently orphaned, tough-talking, scrappy ten-year-old stowaway. As the two misfits travel from city to city, Ruby's message of love and acceptance winds up touching people and changing their lives for the better. Perfect for fans of RuPaul's Drag Race LGBTQ+ Rep: Queer Men Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama Starring: RuPaul, Izzy G, Michael-Leon Wooley Creators: Michael Patrick King, RuPaul Rating: 15 Episode Run time: 52 minutes 17. MERLÍ. SAPERE AUDE (2019-2021) MERLÍ. SAPERE AUDE follows Pol Rubio as he starts to study Philosophy at the University of Barcelona while the relationship between Bruno and him begins to strengthen. Pol will meet new friends, new colleagues and new teachers apart from having to face conflicts in his new student stage, his complicated family and his new relationship with Bruno Bergeron in this way until becoming a Philosophy teacher. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Comedy, Drama Starring: Carlos Cuevas, María Pujalte, Pablo Capuz Creator: Héctor Lozano Rating: TV-MA Episode Run Time: 50m 18. Q-FORCE (2021) Q-FORCE is a queer animated comedy satire of the spy genre following former rising star Steve Maryweather and his team of undervalued LGBT super-spies. Along with master-of-disguise Twink, mechanic Deb, hacker Stat and token straight man Buck, the team must try to prove themselves on personal and professional adventures. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men, Queer Women Genre: Animation, Comedy, Adult Starring: Sean Hayes, Matt Rogers, Wanda Sykes, Patti Harrison Creators: Gabe Liedman Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 30m 19. HEARTBREAK HIGH (2022 - present) After a graffiti map detailing the sexual exploits of Hartley High's students is discovered on the wall of the school, all of the students whose names were on it are forced to attend a new sex education class. The map's creator, Amerie, becomes a social outcast after taking the fall for its co-author, Harper, who has stopped talking to her following a tragedy at a music festival they attended. Season two of HEARTBREAK HIGH is set to come out in the near-future. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women, Non-Binary, Queer Men, Asexual Men Genre: Teen Drama, Comedy, Romance Starring: Ayesha Madon, James Majoos, Chloe Hayden, Gemma Chua-Tran, Asher Yasbincek, Will McDonald Creators: Hannah Carroll Chapman Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 50m 20. IT'S A SIN (2011) The critically acclaimed IT'S A SIN is a television drama series from the mind of Russel T. Davies. The show follows a group of gay men who move to London in the 1980s during the fast-developing HIV/AIDS crisis in the United Kingdom. Over five episodes the group are shown living through an entire decade, as they become determined to live fiercely despite the threat HIV poses to them. The Film also includes an incredible 80s soundtrack including The Pet Shop Boys, Kate Bush, Blondie, Erasure and Culture Club. LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Historical, Comedy, Drama Starring: Olly Alexander, Omari Douglas, Lydia West, Callum Scott Howell Creator: Russell T. Davies Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 58m That's it, that's all 20. Have we missed your favourite queer Netflix show? Send us a message on Twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

Looking for free LGBTQ+ audiobooks from Audible? This one's a gem. MORE ME WITH YOU Written by Alex Bertie Narrated by Harrison Knights AUDIBLE ORIGINAL THURSDAY 15th June 2023 SUMMARY FROM AUDIBLE: Will is in Bristol for a brand-new start. He’s got his outrageous flatmate, Emma, his job at the bookshop and he’s totally infatuated with Gus. A French Bulldog. An actual relationship with an actual man seems about as real as the science fiction novels Will stacks on shelves all day long. And then into his life walks Ben. Ben is all the things Will isn’t: confident, charming (bordering on cocky), popular, a Jiu-Jitsu champion, and generally deflecting life’s problems as easily as dodging a clumsy throw on the mat. Whereas Will comes out in a rash at the thought of public speaking, he’s been too way nervous to try dating apps and he’s let his social life go stale since he moved to this big beautiful city. What starts as unfriendly rivalry grows into friendship and then blossoms into something more…and soon Will and Ben are bonding over their shared love of comic books and loaded burritos. Will feels like he can open up to Ben in a way he never has before. Except…there’s one truth Will doesn’t know how to share. How will Ben react if he knows? It’s time for Will to come out with it, even if it changes everything…because the most important person he needs to be true to is himself. REVIEW: MORE ME WITH YOU is Audiable's latest original queer romance. Set in Bristol, it follows Will, a young trans man who recently moved in with his best friend Emma for a fresh start away from his hometown in Kent. But Will's dating life is currently non-existent. With help from Emma, he decides to try his hand at dating apps, being persuaded to visit the local club and actually meet a few possible matches in person... with some less-than-desirable results. That is until Ben, the Ju-Jitsu champ that beat Will in his last competition, turns up at work. The writing is a sharp and funny take on the modern-day queer experience with plenty of insider nods to queer culture. Alex Bertie's choice to focus so heavily on the very real struggles of dating (both in person and online) as a trans gay man is something we don't see enough of in modern queer fiction and a very welcomed addition to the story. The characters in this book are warm and personable. Will is this wonderful combination of constantly anxious, and endearing which slowly builds to a quiet confidence - this man is a goddamn cinnamon roll. Ben is a cocky-turned-charming love interest and someone who grows on you quite quickly - also a goddamn cinnamon roll. Emma is a powerhouse of queer love and the epitome of what chosen family means to so many - the queer bestie that everyone deserves. This story itself covers a hell of a lot for such a short novella - the trials and tribulations of dating as a trans person, the struggles of working in retail, a love of sci-fi books, 90s music, robotics, horror mazes, comics and bookshops (the last few being some of my favourite things). There's also a very unfortunate incident with a packer. Harrison Knight's performance is rich and easy to listen to - a wonderful choice for this cosy contemporary rom-com. More Me With You is a delightfully fresh three-hour listen. It's a wonderful combination of queer slice-of-life romance, a love letter to nerd culture and everyone's favourite romance trope - rivals to lovers (find more queer rivals to lovers recs HERE). Thank you to Henrietta at Midas PR for inviting me to be part of this blog tour. More Me With You is available exclusively from Audible Originals. Rep: trans & gay MC, bisexual LI, sapphic SC Tropes: rivals to lovers, forced proximity, workplace romance ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alex Bertie a YouTuber, author and graphic designer from Dorset. You may know Alex Bertie from his YouTube channel "Alex Bertie" where he spent ten years documenting his life giving us an unfiltered insight into life as a trans man. You can find Alex's Youtube Channel HERE and read more of his work in Trans Mission: My Quest To A Beard as well as his contributions in Proud, edited by Juno Dawson.

This month we're taking a look at everyone's OTHER favourite romance trope: rivals-to-lovers. Think queer longing, ex-lovers, a competitive spirit and a severe lack of communication. Here are 10 LGBTQ+ rivals-to-lovers books that everyone should read: She Drives Me Crazy YA Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 12+ High school nemeses fall in love in this queer YA sports rom-com perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuiston. After losing spectacularly to her ex-girlfriend in their first game since their break up, Scottie Zajac gets into a fender bender with the worst possible person: her nemesis, the incredibly beautiful and incredibly mean Irene Abraham. Things only get worse when their nosey, do-gooder moms get involved and the girls are forced to carpool together until Irene’s car gets out of the shop. Their bumpy start only gets bumpier the more time they spend together. But when an opportunity presents itself for Scottie to get back at her toxic ex (and climb her school’s social ladder at the same time), she bribes Irene into playing along. Hijinks, heartbreak, and gay fake-dating scheme for the ages. Café Con Lycee YA Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 14+ Café Con Lychee is a queer contemporary romance for young adult readers. A heartfelt and engaging read with a diverse cast of characters about two rival cafés, family, friends and finding yourself. Theo Mori wants to escape. Leaving Vermont for college means getting away from working at his parents’ Asian American café and dealing with their archrivals’ hopeless son Gabi who’s lost the soccer team more games than Theo can count. Gabi Moreno is miserably stuck in the closet. Forced to play soccer to hide his love for dance and iced out by Theo, the only openly gay guy at school, Gabi’s only reprieve is his parents’ Puerto Rican bakery and his plans to take over after graduation. But the town’s new fusion café changes everything. My Own Worst Enemy Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 18+ Who said opposites attract? For actor Emmy Clooney, sparks only fly when she meets women who look just like her: butch and athletic, with short messy hair. It shouldn't be a problem. Her friends say it's normal to see yourself in the people you date. But Emmy isn't so sure. Her lookalikes never seem to like her back. Then Emmy meets Mae, a fellow actor who could be her twin, and she senses danger. Despite Emmy's inevitable attraction to Mae, their personalities could not be further apart. They clash on everything. Even worse, they are the same casting type – and Mae keeps swiping all the best parts. The Henna Wars YA Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ Dimple Met Rishi meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this rom-com about two teen girls with rival henna businesses. When Nishat comes out to her parents, they say she can be anyone she wants—as long as she isn’t herself. Because Muslim girls aren’t lesbians. Nishat doesn’t want to hide who she is, but she also doesn’t want to lose her relationship with her family. And her life only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat choose to do henna, even though Flávia is appropriating Nishat’s culture. Amidst sabotage and school stress, their lives get more tangled—but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush on Flávia, and realizes there might be more to her than she realized. Breakup, Makeup YA Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Non-Binary, Queer Men Reading Age: 14+ Glow Up meets Comic Con in this bold, queer second chance romance where a special effects makeup artist must compete against their ex-boyfriend in a unique makeup and cosplay competition to win the scholarship of their dreams... and maybe their ex's heart. Eli Peterson is a self-taught, up-and-coming makeup artist in the cosplay scene who is just barely making ends meet. While they might be slaying it with their breath-taking, innovative looks, they're also trying to save up enough money for top surgery and convince their parents that taking a gap year to focus on their dream of being a makeup artist is worthwhile. During a convention, Eli hears about Makeup Wars, a cosplay makeup competition that could change everything. The problem is that they be going head-to-head with some of the most talented up-and-coming makeup artists - including rival influencer Zachary Miller, who also happens to be their ex-boyfriend. This Is How You Lose The Time War Science fiction Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 18+ This Is How You Lose The Time War is a dystopian WLW time travel romance told through a series of letters between two queer women on different sides of the time war. Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading. Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future. Except the discovery of their bond would mean death for each of them. There's still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war. The Dos and Donuts of Love YA Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ A pun-filled YA contemporary romance, The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar finds a teenage girl competing in a televised baking competition, with contestants including her ex-girlfriend and a potential new crush Shireen Malik is still reeling from the breakup with her ex-girlfriend, Chris, when she receives news that she’s been accepted as a contestant on a new televised baking competition show. This is Shireen’s dream come true! Because winning will not only mean prize money, but it will also bring some much-needed attention to You Drive Me Glazy, her parents’ beloved donut shop. Things get complicated, though, because Chris is also a contestant on the show. Then there’s the very outgoing Niamh, a fellow contestant who is becoming fast friends with Shireen. Things are heating up between them, and not just in the kitchen. Catch These Hands Contemporary Romance - Manga Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ Catch These Hands is a cheeky and funny sapphic rivals to lovers four-part Yuri Manga. One day, Takebe, a former delinquent trying to leave that part of her past behind for good, runs into her high-school rival, Soramori. The two fight for the first time in years, and thanks to being desperately out of practice, Takebe loses-leaving her no choice but to accept Soramori’s request to start dating her…?! You can collect volumes 1-4 right now! Gearbreakers YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ Two girls on opposite sides of a war discover they're fighting for a common purpose--and falling for each other--in Zoe Hana Mikuta's high-octane debut Gearbreakers, perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown's Red Rising Saga, and Marie Lu's Legend series. The shadow of Godolia's tyrannical rule is spreading, aided by their giant mechanized weapons known as Windups. War and oppression are everyday constants for the people of the Badlands, who live under the thumb of their cruel Godolia overlords. Eris Shindanai is a Gearbreaker, a brash young rebel who specializes in taking down Windups from the inside. When one of her missions goes awry and she finds herself in a Godolia prison, Eris meets Sona Steelcrest, a cybernetically enhanced Windup pilot. At first Eris sees Sona as her mortal enemy, but Sona has a secret: She has intentionally infiltrated the Windup program to destroy Godolia from within. Love And Other Natural Disasters YA Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ When Nozomi Nagai pictured the ideal summer romance, a fake one wasn’t what she had in mind. That was before she met the perfect girl. Willow is gorgeous, glamorous, and…heartbroken? And when she enlists Nozomi to pose as her new girlfriend to make her ex jealous, Nozomi is a willing volunteer. Because Nozomi has a master plan of her own: one to show Willow she’s better than a stand-in and turn their fauxmance into something real. But as the lies pile up, it’s not long before Nozomi’s schemes take a turn toward disaster…and maybe a chance at love she didn’t plan for. BONUS: Grand Slam Romance Magical Sports Romance - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Non-Binary, Queer Women Reading age: 18+ Looking for a magical girl/sports romance graphic novel with some spicy sapphic kissing and a friends-to-lovers-to-rivals-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-rivals-but-also-they're-lovers-now trope??? In this queer graphic novel that’s equal parts romance, softball, and magical girl drama, Mickey Monsoon and Astra Maxima are best friends, and maybe more... That is, until Astra dumps Mickey to become a softball wunderkind at a private girl’s school in Switzerland. Years later, Mickey is the hotshot pitcher for the Belle City Broads, and their team is poised to sweep the league this season. But Micky is thrown off their game when Astra shows up to catch for the Gaiety Gals, the Broads’ fiercest rival. Have we missed your favourite queer rivals-to-lovers book? Send us a message on twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

Captivating gay fiction, hilarious queer comedy, insightful conversations or the latest pop culture news - everyone loves a good podcast. So whether you're walking the dog, commuting to the office or just looking for something new to listen to, here are 15 LGBTQ+ podcasts you should be listening to right now. MOONFACE LISTEN HERE Queer Fiction Moonface is a six-part fictional drama following a Korean American son (Joel Kim Booster) who wants to come out to his mom (Esther Moon), but can't because they don't speak the same language. Expect explicit language and an emotional rollercoaster of laughter and tears. LOUD BROWN GAYS LISTEN HERE Queer Experiences & Pop Culture Join the Loud Brown Gays, Dan & Nick, for their weekly podcast giving you your round-up of pop culture and LGBT news every Wednesday. Dan & Nick are impossible to filter so expect relationship talks, deserved draggings and things to get LOUD! Loud Brown Gays are often joined by some amazing black and/or LGBT+ guests, so tune in every single week! PRIDE & PROGRESS LISTEN HERE Queer Education Pride & Progress is a podcast that focuses on amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ educators and allies. In each episode, hosts Adam and Joe are joined by guests to discuss how educational spaces can be more LGBTQ+ inclusive Join them every other Saturday as they learn, unlearn and celebrate the power of diversity. HRTea WITH ALEX & CODY LISTEN HERE Queer Comedy & Culture Through their own experiences, Alex and Cody expose the most out-of-pocket misconceptions about the trans community. They also dive into the dreadful realm of pop culture, providing their own hot takes on gender identity, sexual orientation, and other juicy topics. You can also watch episodes HERE THE GAYMING PODCAST LISTEN HERE Queer Gaming & Media A celebration of LGBTQ+ video gaming around the world! In each episode, Mia is joined live on Twitch by fellow LGBTQ+ gaymers to talk about what’s hot in the gayming world. The Gayming Podcast is a companion to Gayming Magazine, check out GAYMINGMAG.COM to read more LGBTQ+ video game news. OUTCAST UK LISTEN HERE Queer News & Culture Winner of Best New Podcast at the British Podcast Awards 2022, Outcast UK is your regular update of all things LGBTQ+ happening in the world - tackling topics that mainstream media often skips or skims over. Expect explicit language, some tough topics and some wonderful conversations. BLACK AND GAY BACK IN THE DAY LISTEN HERE Queer Culture & Conversations Black and Gay, Back in the Day brings to life a photo archive of Black LGBTQIA+ life in Britain, from the 1970s through to the early 2000s. This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination. GAY AND AFRAID LISTEN HERE Queer Culture & Conversations Join Eric Sedeño and a colorful cast of rotating guests in Gay & Afraid, a new weekly podcast that puts the CAMP back in camp... literally. Each week, Eric welcomes a new guest to sit by his campfire and open up about topics like mental health, coming out stories, dating and relationships, and everything in between. QUEER & THE BEAT LISTEN HERE Queer Music Based in Manchester and hosted by Paris Munro (they/them), Queer & The Beat takes a deep look behind up-and-coming artists and some of the biggest names in music. Join Paris as they peel back the layers to see another side of the artist you've never seen before, with a focus on the intimate connection between music and the artists' life experiences. MEMORIES FROM THE DANCEFLOOR LISTEN HERE Queer History & Culture Memories from the Dance Floor is a docu-series celebrating LGBTQ+ venues and unravels the forgotten history behind queer nightlife across the UK. Join Damian along with founders, artists, promoters and patrons of the LGBTQ+ community as they unpack the expressions of queer identity after dark. QUEER I AM LISTEN HERE Queer Culture & Arts Queer I Am celebrates queer artists, allies and the community. Back by popular demand, season 3 is recorded weekly in front of a live studio audience, and features a range of guests including queer authors, performers, actors and activists and more. Join host Andrew Flewitt for new episodes every Friday. CHOSEN FAMILY LISTEN HERE Queer Comedy & Culture Chosen Family is a weekly podcast hosted by Alayna Joy, Ashley Gavin, and Mak Ingemi as they share their unique and hilarious perspectives on life. Mimicking a typical heteronormative family, each week they bring a topic to the "dinner table", give each other advice and answer listener questions about queer life, dating, sex, etc. QUEER ROOTS AND ROUTES LISTEN HERE Queer Society & Culture "We are queer. We are migrants or descended from migrants. And we want to tell our stories." Queer Roots and Routes is a collection of stories about where we come from and how we move in the world today, with each episode hosted by someone different sharing their story. WE READ MOVIES LISTEN HERE Queer Cinema "There are good gay movies out there, but we won't be talking about them." Join three unqualified nobodies who discuss the very worst that gay cinema has to offer. From Eating Out to Knock At The Cabin and Boy Culture, We Read Movies takes a deep dive into the highs and lows of bad gay cinema from the last 30 years. WATTS YOUR SAFEWORD LISTEN HERE Queer Kink Culture & Comedy Hosted by Amp Somers and Mr Kristofer, Watts Your Safeword is a show about breaking down stigmas, answering questions and sometimes getting very off topic! "We try our best to make sex less scary for the people of the internet!" You can find more from Watts The Safeword Inc on their YouTube channel HERE Have we missed your favourite queer podcasts? Send us a message on twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

It's Pride Month once again, a time to support and celebrate LGBTQ+ creatives, businesses and artists. From queer TTRPGs to gay romance comics and pride pin badges, here are 10 LGBTQ+ Kickstarter campaigns that you can back right now: 1. The Pride Summer Special 2024 The Pride are back! After a lengthy break, The Pride returns to comics with a special one-shot to celebrate all things summer in The Pride Summer Special from the incredible mind of Joe Glass @JosephGlass. You can buy the original Pride Omnibus HERE. Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joeglass/the-pride-summer-special-2024 2. The Hunt: Part Two The Hunt is an 18+ paranormal gay romance webcomic from Lucid @llllucid about ghost hunting and vampires... I mean werewolves. Avery and Rhys got into some spooky trouble in the first book. In the second book, they deal with the aftermath while Avery starts to realize his feelings for Rhys. Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/misslucid/the-hunt-part-two 3. The Night of The Werebear: A Horror-Themed Queer DnD Oneshot The Night of The Werebear is a full-colour 20+ page, pulp-horror-themed adventure for Fifth Edition, written by the multi-award-winning TTRPG author Jack Dixon @Jackaphobia. You can find Jack's previous TTRPGs HERE. Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adventuringwithpride/night-of-the-werebear-queer-horror-themed-oneshot 4. Monster Lover “Summon a Vengeance Demon,” they said. “What could go wrong?” they said. Monster Lover is a gay BL Yaoi dating sim/visual novel from Y Press Games @ypressgames where a desperate man finds love and salvation with a murder genie. Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ypressgames/monster-lover 5. LGBT Beans - A Furry Pride Collection Mumuskii @mumu.skii is a bisexual artist that loves drawing big beans and teeth, wanting to celebrate pride month whilst also celebrating a fandom that is so near and dear to them by creating LGBT Beans patches and pins to celebrate the furry LGBT Community. Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mumuskii/lgbt-beans-a-furry-pride-collection 6. Early Bird, Volume 1 Early Bird is a futuristic graphic novel that's all slow-burn romance and mutual pining with a specific focus on older male characters and MLM queer romance. Experience a mature and heartwarming romantic drama in a desolate far-future setting, by Zach Sharpe @cursedsirkai and Federica Angelini. Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lordranandbeyond1/early-bird-vol-1 7. Pride Playmat Collection The Pride Playmat Collection project is a collection of officially licensed, limited edition Playmats from the Pride Across the Multiverse Secret Lair - including work by Winona Nelson @winonanelson, Ricardo Bessa @rbessaaa. Peo Michie @peomichie, Jabari Weathers @GoblinPrincete, Lauren YS @squid.licker and Merlin G.G @EverydayMerlin. Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/originalmagicart/pride-playmat-collection 8. Rescue Rainbow City Rescue Rainbow City is an LGBT+ TTRPG adventure for Pf2e and 5e from Awfully Queer Heroes @AwfullyQHeroes. The Queer Capital city of all realms has been taken over by an evil entity, it's time to show your pride and adventure to restore the gaynesss. Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/awfullyqueerheroes/rescue-rainbow-city-for-pf2e-and-5e-lgbt-adventure 9. SAINTED LOVE: A gay science-fiction adventure comic From the creative minds of Steve Orlando @thesteveorlando and Giopota @giopota comes Sainted Love - a sexy gay time-travel romance too powerful to be contained to a single era! When Mac's lab is raided by members of a shadowy organization known as The Pilgrims, he and his lover John escape through his latest untested invention - a time machine. But where have they ended up?! Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vault-comics/sainted-love 10. Party Animals Combining spooky fun and queer romance, Party Animals by Lorry Jamison @lorryjamison throws us into a chaotic high school house party with some awkward yet violent teen werewolves! A fun and spooky queer comic, perfect for fans of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Heartstopper. Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kravencomicsclass6/party-animal-0 COMING SOON: Man Time Book 1 Being trans is tough, but there's plenty to laugh about too! This book is a collection of 50 comics from Man Time - a webcomic about 3 trans men and the struggles and laughs they find as they go about life! Follow them at @mantimecomic. Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mantimecomic/man-time-book-1 Got a queer Kickstarter campaign you want us to know about? Send us a message on twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

With Disney's latest animated film STRANGE WORLD set to be released later this month (which features its first openly gay teen romance storyline), we thought we'd take a look at some of the LGBTQ+ films and TV shows available on the Disney+ app. From incredible queer TV shows to emotional LGBT documentaries and hilarious gay comedies, we're sure you'll find something new to watch. All of these films are available in the UK and included in Disney+ subscriptions as of the date of publishing. 1. FLEE (2001) FLEE is an incredibly emotional animated documentary that tells the true story of one man's need to confront his past in order to truly have a future. Amin arrived as an unaccompanied minor in Denmark from Afghanistan. Today, at 36, he is a successful academic and is getting married to his long-time boyfriend. For the first time, he is sharing his story with his close friend. IMDb Rating: 7.9 Genre: Documentary, Animation Starring: Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh, Milad Eskandari Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen Rating: 15 Run Time: 1h 29m 2. THE BISEXUAL (2018) From the team that brought you APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR and THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST comes THE BISEXUAL - a British comedy-drama series following an Iranian-American woman called Leila after a recent breakup with her long-term girlfriend. Having come to the realisation that she's bisexual, Leila has left her girlfriend/business partner Sadie and moved in with Gabe, a neurotic novelist who is having relationship problems of his own. Gabe doesn't know many lesbians and Leila hasn't got much experience hanging out with heterosexuals. Perfect for people searching for some messy bisexual representation. IMDb Rating: 6.4 Genre: Comedy, Drama Starring: Desiree Akhavan, Maxine Peake, Brian Gleeson Director: Desiree Akhavan Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 40m 3. OWL HOUSE (2020) After accidentally going through a door to the world of the Boiling Isles, a teenage human named Luz discovers magic is real and longs to become a witch. With the rebellious witch Eda to guide her and pint-sized demon King at her aid, Luz starts to learn magic, make some friends, and mayybeee gets a girlfriend?!?!? Expect magic, mayhem, and queer characters a-plenty in THE OWL HOUSE - a perfect treat for fans of Gravity Falls, Amphibia and films about magical academies. IMDb Rating: 8.3 Genre: Fantasy Adventure, Animation Starring: Sarah-Nicole Robles, Alex Hirsch, Wendie Malick Director: Dana Terrace Rating: U Episode Run Time: 22m 4. THE NEW MUTANTS (2020) Josh Boone gives the superhero trope an interesting horror twist in THE NEW MUTANTS. The film follows Dani Moonstar after she wakes up in a research facility, having survived a freak accident that destroyed her reservation along with everyone she loved. Along with four other young mutants, she must learn to control her new power is discover what is really happening at the research facility they're being kept in. Keep an eye out for the Buffy references. IMDb Rating: 5.3 Genre: Action, Horror, Mystery Starring: Josh Boone Director: Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton Rating: 15 Run Time: 1h 34m 5. FIRE ISLAND (2022) Brilliant comedy inspired by Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, FIRE ISLAND follows a group of queer best friends as they gather in Fire Island Pines for their annual week of love and laughter. However, a sudden change of events might make this their last summer in gay paradise. This film is the unapologetic gay romantic comedy we've been waiting for, perfect for fans of Joel Kim Booster, brilliantly diverse and queer, and tackles some genuinely important topics. IMDb Rating: 6.7 Genre: Comedy, Drama Starring: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho Director: Andrew Ahn Rating: 18 Run Time: 1h 45m 6. LOVE VICTOR (2020) LOVE, VICTOR is a teen comedy-drama series set in the same world as the 2018 film LOVE, SIMON. The show follows Victor, a new student at Creekwood High School on his own journey of self-discovery, facing challenges at home, adjusting to a new city, and struggling with his sexual orientation. When it all seems too much, he reaches out to Simon to help him navigate the ups and downs of high school. IMDb Rating: 8.0 Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Starring: Michael Cimino, Rachel Hilson, Anthony Turpel Creator: Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger Rating: 12A Episode Run Time: 30m 7. CRUSH (2022) CRUSH is an American coming-of-age rom-com directed by Sammi Cohen and written by Kirsten King and Casey Rackham. The film follows Paige Evans, an aspiring young artist as she joins her high school track team to get closer to her crush, only to find herself falling for another teammate. A charming and sweet sapphic teen romance. IMDb Rating: 6.3 Genre: Comedy, Romance Starring: Rowan Blanchard, Auli'i Cravalho, Isabella Ferreira Director: Sammi Cohen Rating: 15 Run Time: 1h 33m 8. PRIDE (2014) Inspired by an extraordinary true story, PRIDE follows the story of the LGSM in the summer of 1984. Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers is on strike, prompting a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers’ families. Initially rebuffed by the Union, the group identifies a tiny mining village in Wales and sets off to make their donation in person. IMDb Rating: 7.8 Genre: Drama, Romance Starring: Ben Schinetzer, George MacKay, Andrew Scott, Bill Nighy Director: Matthew Warchus Rating: 15 Run Time: 1h 59m 9. KILLING EVE (2018) Eve - an MI5 security officer - is becoming bored with her desk job. That is until she comes head-to-head with Villanelle - a talented, yet fickle assassin who loves her job and the perks that come with it. What follows in KILLING EVE is an all-consuming game of cat and mouse as Eve is tasked with hunting down the psychopathic assassin and the two women slowly start to become obsessed with each other. IMDb Rating: 8.1 Genre: Action, Thriller, Drama Starring: Jodie Comer, Sandra Oh, Fiona Shaw Creator: Phoebe Waller-Bridge Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 42m 10. MACK WRESTLES (2019) MACK WRESTLES tells the story of Mack Beggs, a transgender high school wrestler from Euless, Texas, who must compete under the gender he was assigned at birth rather than how he identifies. His resolute journey is artfully told as we watch him struggle against the outside forces that stigmatize these athletes. The film is a deeply personal look at the debate around sports and who gets to play. IMDb Rating: 4.7 Genre: Documentary, Short Starring: Matt Beggs Directors: Taylor Hess, Erin Sanger Rating: Not Rated Run Time: 25m 11. IT'S A SIN (2021) The critically acclaimed IT'S A SIN is a television drama series from the mind of Russel T. Davies. The show follows a group of gay men who move to London in the 1980s during the fast-developing HIV/AIDS crisis in the United Kingdom. Over five episodes the group are shown living through an entire decade, as they become determined to live fiercely despite the threat HIV poses to them. The Film also includes an incredible 80s soundtrack including The Pet Shop Boys, Kate Bush, Blondie, Erasure and Culture Club. IMDb Rating: 8.7 Genre: Historical, Comedy, Drama Starring: Olly Alexander, Omari Douglas, Lydia West, Callum Scott Howell Creator: Russell T. Davies Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 58m 12. BETTER NATE THAN NEVER (2022) From author and director Tim Federle comes BETTER NATE THAN NEVER - a funny and heartwarming film following 13-year-old Nate Foster. Nate fantasises about becoming a big Broadway star, but can't seem to get a decent role in his middle school's drama production. However, when he and his best friend Libby mastermind a daring trip to New York City to audition for "Lilo and Stitch: The Musical", Nate might be on the verge of fulfilling his lifelong dream. A fun and campy film based on the book of the same name. IMDb Rating: 6.3 Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical Starring: Rueby Wood, Aria Brooks, Lisa KudrowHoult Director: Tim Federle Rating: PG Run Time: 1h 34m BONUS: WILLOW (2022) WILLOW is an American high fantasy adventure series based on the 1988 film of the same name. 20 years after Queen Bavmorda was defeated, an unlikely group of heroes on a dangerous rescue mission into the unknown where they must face their inner demons and come together to rescue Prince Airk and save their world from the Gales. The series features a sweet WLW subplot between a princess and a knight-in-training. IMDb Rating: 5.6 Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama Starring: Ruby Cruz, Ellie Bamber, Tony Revolori, Erin Kellyman, Warwick Davis Creator: Jonathan Kasdan Rating: 15 Episode Run Time: 1h 34m Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

It's 2023, so we're taking a look at some of the excellent trans and nonbinary books and comics being released this year. From spectacular YA fantasy to incredible trans memoirs, and queer graphic novels, here are 20 of our most anticipated trans and non-binary books coming out in 2023. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back and some covers may change. The Wicked Bargain - Gabe Cole Novoa YA Pirate Fantasy 28 February 2023 Queer Rep: Trans-masc, Non-Binary El Diablo is in the details in this Latinx pirate fantasy starring a transmasculine nonbinary teen with a mission of revenge, redemption, and revolution. On Mar León-de la Rosa's 16th birthday, el Diablo comes calling. Mar is a transmasculine nonbinary teen pirate hiding a magical ability to manipulate fire and ice. But their magic isn't enough to reverse a wicked bargain made by their father and now el Diablo has come to collect his payment: the soul of Mar's father and the entire crew of their ship. When Mar is miraculously rescued by the sole remaining pirate crew in the Caribbean, el Diablo returns to give them a choice: give up your soul to save your father by the Harvest Moon or never see him again. Never Was - Honor Gavin Contemporary Fiction 16 March 2023 Queer Rep: Trans-Masc, Queer Part hallucination, part queer bildungsroman, Never Was is a beautifully strange novel about grief, addiction and working-class masculinity, taking us from a limbo of lost dreams to a small salt-mining town and exploring the way identity is both inherited and re-invented. Daniel sits on a clifftop in the aftermath of a party at Fin's mansion, looking out over a junky sea. Daniel's not sure why they're there, or who Fin is, even though Fin seems to be somebody famous. To find out, Daniel must tell Fin the story of their childhood, from bus shelters to playgrounds to McDonalds, from the depth of a salt mine to a nightclub toilet. Transmogrify! 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic - G. Haron Davis YA Fantasy Anthology 16 May 2023 Queer Rep: Trans & Non-Binary Perfect for fans of All Out and Cemetery Boys, this anthology claims a seat at the table of fantasy literature for trans and gender-nonconforming stories. Transness is as varied and colorful as magic can be. In Transmogrify!, you’ll embark on fourteen different adventures alongside unforgettable characters who embody many different genders and expressions and experiences—because magic is for everyone, and that is cause for celebration. Featuring stories from AR Capetta and Cory McCarthy, G. Haron Davis, Mason Deaver, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Emery Lee, Saundra Mitchell, Cam Montgomery, Ash Nouveau, Sonora Reyes, Renee Reynolds, Dove Salvatierra, Ayida Shonibar, Francesca Tacchi and Nik Traxler. Bianca Torre Is Afraid Of Everything - Justine Pucella Winans YA Mystery/Thriller 27 April 2023 Queer Rep: Nonbinary Lesbian Murder most fowl? In this sardonic and campy YA thriller, an anxious, introverted nonbinary teen birder somehow finds themself solving a murder mystery with their neighbor/fellow anime lover, all while falling for a cute girl from their birding group . . . and trying not to get murdered. Sixteen-year-old Bianca Torre is an avid birder undergoing a gender identity crisis and grappling with an ever-growing list of fears. Some, like Fear #6: Initiating Conversation, keep them constrained, forcing them to watch birds from the telescope in their bedroom. And, occasionally, their neighbors. When their gaze wanders from the birds to one particular window across the street, Bianca witnesses a creepy plague-masked murderer take their neighbor’s life. Pageboy: A Memoir - Elliot Page Memoir - Non-Fiction 06 June 2023 Queer Rep: Trans Men It was two months before the world premiere of Juno, and Elliot Page was in his first ever queer bar. The hot summer air hung heavy around him as he looked at her. And then it happened. In front of everyone. A previously unfathomable experience. Here he was on the precipice of discovering himself as a queer person, as a trans person. Getting closer to his desires, his dreams, himself, without the repression he'd carried for so long. But for Elliot, two steps forward had always come with one step back. With Juno's massive success, Elliot became one of the world's most beloved actors. His dreams were coming true, but the pressure to perform suffocated him. He was forced to play the part of the glossy young starlet, a role that made his skin crawl, on and off set. Transitional - Munroe Bergdorf Memoir - Non-fiction 16 February 2023 Queer Rep: Trans Women In this thought-provoking, timely book, model and activist Munroe Bergdorf reflects on individuality, evolution, and the ever-changing nature of identity, revealing how they have shaped her own lived experience and how society shapes - and is shaped by - each. When Munroe Bergdorf began to transition in 2009, her only goal was to blend in. More than a decade later, Bergdorf has reconsidered that thinking. For Bergdorf, transitioning is an ingrained part of the human experience, not just a process that only trans people go through. It’s universal. Everyone changes. Part memoir, part big idea book, Transitional explores the nature of transition, its significance in Bergdorf’s life, how it impacts - and is considered and influenced by - society, and what it means for our own experiences. Jude Saves The World - Ronnie Riley Contemporary Middle Grade 18 April 2023 Queer Rep: Non-Binary Twelve-year-old Jude struggles with some things: focusing at school, feeling like everything rests on their shoulders, not being able to come out as nonbinary to their old-fashioned grandparents. But Jude doesn't struggle with Dallas, their best friend in the whole world. Their person. Jude and Dallas's world changes when they learn Stevie, a girl in their class, has been ousted from the popular clique at school. Worried it had something to do with Stevie's rumored crush on another girl, Jude reaches out to see if Stevie is okay. As their friendship deepens and the three open up to each other, Stevie's unconditional and open acceptance when Jude comes out to her motivates them to create a queer safe space in their community. Jude has the courage and determination it takes to create the first Diversity Club in their community, but will they be able to find the support they need to make it happen? The Borrow A Boyfriend Club - Page Powars YA Contemporary Romance 14 September 2023 Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Men When sixteen-year-old Noah starts fresh at a new school, he has a plan to ensure the students see him as his true gender: to join the school's secretive Borrow a Boyfriend Club, where members rent themselves out to their classmates for dates. But he fails the audition. Desperate, he strikes a deal with the club's prickly president, Asher: he'll help lead the nearly-bankrupt club to victory at the school's fundraising dance competition, and Asher will allow Noah to prove his skills as a boyfriend in a series of tests that include romancing Asher himself. As Noah passes test after test and his fake romance with Asher starts to feel surprisingly real, Noah is faced with a dilemma. If he fails to win the dance fundraiser the club will go bankrupt, and he'll not only lose the new friends he's made - the whole school will know he isn't "boy enough." But if Noah succeeds in securing the club their victory, he has to face the most important, unbreakable rule of the Borrow a Boyfriend Club: no real girlfriends (or boyfriends) allowed. Always the Almost - Edward Underhill YA Romantic Drama 214 February 2023 Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Men A trans pianist makes a New Year's resolution on a frozen Wisconsin night to win regionals and win back his ex, but a new boy complicates things in Edward Underhill's heartfelt debut. Sixteen-year-old trans boy Miles Jacobson has two New Year’s resolutions: 1) win back his ex-boyfriend (and star of the football team) Shane McIntyre, and 2) finally beat his slimy arch-nemesis at the Midwest’s biggest classical piano competition. But that’s not going to be so easy. For one thing, Shane broke up with Miles two weeks after Miles came out as trans, and now Shane’s stubbornly ignoring him, even when they literally bump into each other. Then Miles meets the new boy in town, Eric Mendez, a proudly queer cartoonist from Seattle who asks his pronouns, cares about art as much as he does—and makes his stomach flutter. Not what he needs to be focusing on right now. Mimosa - Archie Bongiovanni Graphic Novel - Adult Contemporary 07 February 2023 Queer Rep: Non-Binary, Trans Women, Trans Men, Queer Cast Archie Bongiovanni, the comics artist behind the hit A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns, explores queerness in this shockingly frank and funny graphic novel. Best friends and chosen family Chris, Elise, Jo, and Alex work hard to keep themselves afloat. Their regular brunches hold them together even as the rest of their lives threaten to fall apart. In an effort to avoid being the oldest gays at the party, the crew decides to put on a new queer event called Grind – specifically for homos in their dirty thirties. While navigating exes at work, physical and mental exhaustion, and drinking way, way too much on weekdays, this chosen family proves that being messy doesn’t always go away with age. Ander & Santi Were Here - Jonny Garza Villa YA Contemporary Romance 06 April 2023 Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Men Finding home. Falling in love. Fighting to belong. Ander & Santi Were Here is a stunning YA contemporary love story about a Mexican-American teen who falls in love with an undocumented Mexican boy. The Santos Vista neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, is all Ander Lopez has ever known. The smell of pan dulce. The mixture of Spanish and English filling the streets. And, especially their job at their family's taquería. It's the place that has inspired Ander as a muralist, and, as they get ready to leave for art school, it's all of these things that give them hesitancy. That give them the thought, are they ready to leave it all behind? US - Sara Soler Graphic Novel - Romance 13 June 2023 Queer Rep: Trans & Queer Women What happens when the life you had assumed takes a 180-degree turn? Nothing... And also everything. Us is a love story between Sara and Diana, and also the story of Diana's transition. After fears that this sudden turn in their relationship could end things, they realize that they still like and love each other and that nothing has changed between them. Now, they'll have to come out of the closet and face the gaze of their family and social environment. Us intends to make the trans reality visible and contribute its vision and grain of sand in the face of the great misinformation that exists about gender dysphoria, with humor and from our own experience. Court Of The Undying Seasons - A.M. Strickland YA Paranormal Fantasy 11 MAy 2023 Queer Rep: LGBTQ+ Cast pansexual demigirl exploring outside of gender norms, bigender, agender, aro/ace. In becoming a vampire, I’m less than a girl. And more. Or maybe I’m becoming what I always have been, deep inside. A blade. When nineteen-year-old Fin volunteers to take her secret love's place in their village's Finding, she is terrified. Those who are chosen at the Finding are whisked away to Castle Courtsheart, a vampire school where human students either succeed and become vampires, fail and spend the rest of their lives as human thralls... or they don't survive long enough to become either. Fin is determined to forge a different path: learn how to kill the undead and get revenge for her mother, who was taken by the vampires years ago. As Fin begins to discover new aspects of her own identity and test her newfound powers, she stumbles across a string of murders that may be connected to a larger ritual - one with potentially lethal consequences for vampires and humans alike. Fin must uncover the truth and find the killer before she loses her life...or betrays her own heart. A Trans Man Walks into a Gay Bar - Harry Nicholas Memoir - Non-Fiction 18 May 2023 Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Men After his relationship with his girlfriend of 5 years ended, Harry realised he was a single adult for the first time – not only that, but a single, transmasculine and newly out gay man. Despite knowing it was the right decision, the reality of his new situation was terrifying. In this raw, intimate and unflinchingly honest book, we follow Harry as he navigates the sometimes fraught and contradictory worlds of contemporary gay culture as a trans gay man, from Grindr, dating and gay bars, to saunas, sex and ultimately, falling in love. Harry’s brave and uplifting journey will show you there is joy in finding who you are. Breakup, Makeup - Stacey Anthony YA Contemporary Romance 25 May 2023 Queer Rep: Non-Binary, Queer Men Glow Up meets Comic Con in this bold, queer second chance romance where a special effects makeup artist must compete against their ex-boyfriend in a unique makeup and cosplay competition to win the scholarship of their dreams... and maybe their ex's heart. Eli Peterson is a self-taught, up-and-coming makeup artist in the cosplay scene who is just barely making ends meet. While they might be slaying it with their breath-taking, innovative looks, they're also trying to save up enough money for top surgery and convince their parents that taking a gap year to focus on their dream of being a makeup artist is worthwhile. During a convention, Eli hears about Makeup Wars, a cosplay makeup competition that could change everything. The problem is that they be going head-to-head with some of the most talented up-and-coming makeup artists - including rival influencer Zachary Miller, who also happens to be their ex-boyfriend. Multiversity: Teen Justice Vol. 1 - Danni Lore & Ivan Cohen 21 March 2023 - DC Comics LGBTQ+ Rep: Non-Binary & Genderfluid, Queer Men LGBTQ+ Cast £14.99 Kid Quick-the Future State Flash-and their fellow heroes Supergirl, Robin, Aquagirl, Klarienne the Witch Girl, and Troy take center stage in this thrilling collection that rocks Earth-11 to its core! The secrets of Earth-11's newest heroes and villains unfold in DC's most exciting new team title! Teen Justice investigates the Church of Blood-is Sister Blood's true mission among the lost souls of New York City and will Teen Justice have what it takes to get past their growing pains and stop it? When their efforts to infiltrate the mysterious church backfire, one hero faces a devastating loss. Meanwhile, Supergirl and Robin attract surprising allies when they discover an unexpected mystery, Aquagirl finds herself out of her element (and then some), and Teen Justice discover the threat they face is even greater than they imagined! Follow along as Teen Justice uncovers the answers to all their questions in Multiversity: Teen Justice! Collecting Multiversity: Teen Justice #1-6; DC Pride 2022 #1. Chef's Choice - T.J. Alexander Contemporary Adult Romance 30 May 2023 Queer Rep: Trans Women, Trans Men, T4T When Luna O'Shea is unceremoniously fired from her frustrating office job, she tries to count her blessings: she's a proud trans woman who has plenty of friends, a wonderful roommate, and a good life in New York City. But blessings don't pay the bills. Enter Jean-Pierre, a laissez-faire trans man and the heir to a huge culinary empire which he'll only inherit if he can jump through all the hoops his celebrity chef grandfather has placed in his path. First hoop: he needs a girlfriend, a role that Luna is happy to play for the right price. She's got rent to pay, after all! Second hoop: they both need to learn how to cook a series of elaborate, world-renowned family recipes to prove that Jean-Pierre is a worthy heir. Admittedly, Luna doesn't even know how to crack an egg, but she's not going to let that any pesky feelings for Jean-Pierrestop her. Endpapers - Jennifer Savran Kelly Contemporary Fiction 28 March 2023 Queer Rep: Genderqueer An accessible, character-driven story set in 2003 New York City about a genderqueer book conservator who feels trapped by her gender presentation, her ill-fitting relationship, and her artistic block, as she discovers a decades-old hidden queer love letter and becomes obsessed with tracking down its author. It’s 2003, and artist Dawn Levit is stuck. A bookbinder who works in conservation at the Met, she spends her free time scouting the city’s street art, hoping something might spark inspiration. Instead, everything looks like a dead end. And art isn’t the only thing that feels wrong: wherever she turns, her gender identity clashes with the rest of her life. Her relationship, once anchored by shared queerness, is falling apart as her boyfriend Lukas increasingly seems to be attracted to Dawn only when she’s at her most masculine. Meanwhile at work, Dawn has to present as female, even on the days when that isn’t true. Either way, her difference feels like a liability. World Running Down - Al Hess Dystopian Science-Fiction 14 February 2023 Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Men Valentine Weis is a salvager in the future wastelands of Utah. Wrestling with body dysphoria, he dreams of earning enough money to afford citizenship in Salt Lake City - a utopia where the testosterone and surgery he needs to transition is free, the food is plentiful, and folk are much less likely to be shot full of arrows by salt pirates. But earning that kind of money is a pipe dream, until he meets the exceptionally handsome Osric. Once a powerful AI in Salt Lake City, Osric has been forced into an android body against his will and sent into the wasteland to offer Valentine a job on behalf of his new employer - an escort service seeking to retrieve their stolen androids. The reward is a visa into the city, and a chance at the life Valentine's always dreamed of. But as they attempt to recover the "merchandise", they encounter a problem: the android ladies are becoming self-aware, and have no interest in returning to their old lives. All About Romance - Daniel Tawse YA Romance 06 July 2023 Queer Rep: Non-Binary Roman Bright has always loved love stories. But being a non-binary teenager in a small northern town means their dating pool is limited and they haven't had their own sweeping romance... yet. When anonymous postcards from 'Big Red' start showing up in Roman's locker and shortly afterwards entire walls of brightly coloured graffiti appear around the school signed by the same person, Roman is intrigued. Do they have a secret admirer? Roman thinks they know who is leaving these messages - their mega-crush and almost-boyfriend from last year, JJ. But when it becomes clear JJ isn't going to reveal themselves, Roman has to decide if they can be brave enough to make the first move. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌