Pride Month Reading Recommendations
Pride Month is an opportunity not only to celebrate LGBTQ+ people and communities, but also to listen, learn, reflect, and grow. At Arapaho UMC, we believe that faith invites us into deeper understanding of one another and of the expansive love of God.
For some, Pride Month is a time of celebration and visibility. For others, it may be a season of learning, healing, or asking new questions. One meaningful way to engage is through reading stories, theology, history, and experiences that help broaden our perspective and deepen our compassion.
Rev. Jenny Bates has helped put together a resource list for anyone interested in exploring LGBTQ+ voices and themes during Pride Month. These books include theology, memoir, history, youth resources, and picture books for families seeking age-appropriate ways to talk about identity, belonging, and faith.
For Adults
Before Lawrence v. Texas: The Making of a Queer Social Movement by Wesley G. Phelps
Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians by Austen Hartke
Queering Wesley, Queering the Church by Keegan Osinski
Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology by Pamela R. Lightsey
Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline
Radical Love: Introduction to Queer Theology by Patrick S. Cheng
For Youth
Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who Inspired Me by Shelby Criswell
Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens by Leigh Finke
God, Gospel, and Gender: A Queer Bible Study for Teens by Margie Baker
Picture Books
Dolls and Trucks Are For Everyone by Robb Pearlman
I Am Everything in Between by Sydney Sunderland
If You're a Kid Like Gavin: The True Story of a Young Trans Activist by Gavin Grimm and Kyle Lukoff
Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Wherever you may find yourself this Pride Month, we hope these resources offer opportunities for reflection, conversation, empathy, and deeper connection. We believe the church is at its best when it continues learning how to love more fully, welcome more deeply, and see the image of God in every person.