Boys Run the Riot by Keito Gaku (2020)
Boys Run the Riot is a Japanese manga series following the struggles and aspirations of Ryo Watari, a transgender high school boy in a setting that does not accept his identity. Ryo befriends another outcast student, Jin, through their common love for men’s street fashion. Ryo confides in Jin about his gender dysphoria after his initial doubts, and they decide to launch their own fashion brand, called “Boys Run the Riot”. The series was nominated for a Harvey Award in the Best Manga Category in 2021.
Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood (1939)
I was inspired to read this book after our lgbtq+ society recommended it last year during lgbtq+ history month. Christopher Isherwood was one of the first openly gay authors of the 1930s, and his openness put him at personal risk during the rise of the Nazi regime. This led him to emigrating to the USA in 1939. It is a semi-autobiographical novel that features the couple Peter and Otto, based in 1939 Berlin. This book has been described as a ‘queer classic’
Pleasure Beach (Helen Palmer).
Palmer’s ‘Pleasure Beach’ articulately captivates the raw emotion of adolescent queerness within the working-class northern backdrop of Blackpool. ‘Pleasure Beach’ tells the story of two working class teens finding themselves amongst the highs and lows of teen life. Palmer’s use of authentic imagery and focus on established landmarks of working-class life creates an element of relatability for young-queer people reading this novel, reclaiming a sense of queer existence within the standard norms.
The Emperor of Gladness - Ocean Vuyong
This book feels incredibly raw and honest, and that's why it stays with you. It's an emotional journey, but its powerful and truthful look at life and love is what makes it so impactful.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Bohemian Rhapsody is a biographical film following the story of Freddie Mercury, the queer lead singer of British rock band Queen. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music. Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987. In 1991, he publicly announced his diagnosis and died a day later from complications of the disease at the young age of 45. The film is named after Queen’s song “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which topped the UK singles chart for nine weeks when first released and it won four academy awards at the 91st Academy Awards in 2019.
Everybody’s Talking about Jamie.
The Westend production ‘Everybody’s Talking about Jamie’ was adapted into a film in 2021 telling the story of a Sheffield Schoolboy who inspired to become a drag queen. The film captures the joyful nature of drag, with Jamie embracing his true identity through the art of drag following a journey soul searching taking inspiration from the well-established drag artists of the north. The movie adapts the production well, representing queer joy and expression.
C/o Kancharlapalem (2018)
What I love about this film is how it shows different kinds of love so naturally. It feels so real, warm, and human, which makes it a beautiful and touching story about connection that transcends expectations.
Grace Kelly by MIKA (2007)
MIKA is a gay artist who experienced a lot of homophobia in the industry, even being told that his music was ‘too gay’ and that he needed to change his music sound in his early years. This led to him writing the song Grace Kelly as a response to the music industry, as a way of expressing his individuality. This song showed the record companies that they were wrong by hitting number 1 in both the UK and Ireland. This is a very fun song and I would recommend the listen.
Man of the Year (Lorde)
Lorde’s second single on her fourth album ‘Virgin’ explores the concepts of gender fluidity and the fluctuation of ‘gendered norms’. Lorde uses the track to open up about her individual journey of self-discovery through artistic production and highly charged lyrics. ‘Man of the Year’ is not only an anthem of liberation, but also a reference to regressive gendered constructs which have proven to suffocate individual identity.
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter, best known for her many self-portraits, in which she continuously adopted different personae. She often exaggerated some of her features in portraits to increase her androgyny, an aspect of facial neutrality that invites any viewer to identify with the “every-person” drawn. Kahlo’s bisexuality is recorded both in paintings and her private life. Kahlo was born with Spina Bifida and was disabled by polio as a child. A bus accident at the age of 18 also meant that she lived with chronic pain.
Christine Goodwin (1937–2014)
Christine Goodwin is a transgender woman from the UK who had a significant input into the creation of the Gender Recognition Act of 2004, after experiencing cases of sexual harassment at work after her gender affirming surgery. This was through the European Court of Human Rights of the ‘Christine Goodwin v United Kingdom 2002’ case. It is important to remember the people who made this positive impact to human rights in the UK and to make sure that we are not going backwards. The world already has too much hate.
Barbara Vick & ‘The Blood Sisters’
Barbara Vick co-founded the San Diego ‘Blood Sisters’ in the midst of the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s. The group were a collective of Women who organised mass blood donations across the states to support Gay Men who required blood transfusions due to AIDS-inflicted anaemia. The Women not only managed to secure over 200 additional blood donations but provided emotional and physical support for gay men living with AIDS who had been emotionally isolated and cut off from their family and community. In 1984 the Women were awarded an award for Bravery and compassion from the National Gay Task Force continuing their efforts until the group disbanded in the late 1990s.
Dutee Chand
Her courage to be an openly queer athlete at the top of her sport is deeply inspiring. She shows what it means to stand strong in your identity and proves that being true to yourself is one of the most powerful things you can do.