Happy Pride Month!

Pride began as a riot. We would not be here today, as young, loud, proud, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) individuals without the brave Black and Latina Trans women who *literally* fought for our right to exist. 

We honor those that are out today, those brave enough to be themselves while there was so much outright homophobia, those that must hide their full selves because of their situation, and a time to honor and remember those who were killed for being themselves.  Despite the obstacles the community faces, we are resilient, strong, and full of love and Pride – the best tools used to continue paving the way for future generations.

As we celebrate Pride & the first anniversary of Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday, URGE has been exploring the intersectionality of being both Black and LGBTQIA+.

This video and the following short profiles highlight and appreciate individuals who have lived at this intersection.

Fiction

  • The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
  • You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
  • Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
  • Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi 
  • Every Body Looking and Break Fast from Her Skin by Candice Iloh 
  • Less by Andrew Sean Greer
  • Fiebre Tropical by Julián Delgado Lopera
  • The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar
  • Memorial by Bryan Washington
  • The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann 
  • The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe
  • On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
  • Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn
  • Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Memoirs

  • Rubyfruit Jungle: A Novel by Rita Mae Brown
  • All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson  
  • In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
  • Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden
  • Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir by Awaeke Emezi
  • How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir by Saeed Jones
  • We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib

Anthology/Poetry

  • Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde 
  • Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
  • Stung with Love: Poems and Fragments of Sappho by Sappho, Carol Ann Duffy, and Aaron Poochigian

Educational

  • Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen
  • A Queer History of the United States for Young People by Michael Bronski
  • Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker and Julia Scheele
  • Rethinking Sexism, Gender, and Sexuality by Kim Cosier (Editor), Rachel Harper (Editor), Jeff Sapp (Editor)
  • Learn more about the history of gay activism in the US in this 5-minute video.
  • Need playlist inspiration? some of these are by gay girls, some are just songs this gay girl loves.
  • Trans children are being targeted by transphobic legislators across the country. This map is a visual representation of anti-trans legislation in the US this year.