155:, or the first African-American gay anthologies- In the Life and Brother to Brother- or the S/M classics Coming to Power and Leatherfolk, I see a publisher with a wide vision of who we are as LGBT people. Taken together, this sampling of books recognizes that some of us are parents, some of us are people of color, and some of us enjoy sex involving BDSM. Some of us might even be all of the above. To my thinking this inclusive view is an extraordinary achievement unto itself. While I could name any number of books that I'm proud to say Alyson has published, I think the barrier-breaking nature of our past is what excites me most.
131:, about a high school gay support group, was rejected seventeen times before it was published. Author Brent Hartinger said, "Editors told my agent again and again that there was no market for a book like this, and all my agent's agent-friends told her she was wasting her time on a gay teen book." Publishers often seem motivated by the desire to maximize their profits, and librarians are often restricted by limited acquisitions budgets. Neither of these factors work to support, much less create, an environment in which much literature will be produced that explores homosexuality for adolescents in any meaningful way.
90:, and other pivotal titles were published. These young adult novels were characterized by candor, unidealized characters and settings, colloquial and realistic language, and plots that portrayed realistic problems faced by contemporary young adults that did not necessarily find resolution in a happy ending. Because gay young adult novels often center on problems that gay teen characters encounter because of their sexuality, these books are often classified as examples of the "problem novel" genre.
291:
176:
ideas of self-identity, and all young adults should have access to literature that reflects the reality of their lives, their emotions, their fears and their joys, including gay and lesbian teenagers. Furthermore, as homosexuality becomes more and more acceptable to society at large, or at least more visible, all teenagers are going to know others who are lesbian or gay, whether it is family members, teachers, friends or neighbors.
1556:
1545:
277:
184:
understanding of society and his/her emerging, if continuing sexuality. Still, the decade beginning with the mid-1970s and running to the mid-1980s saw the publication of a second category of novels, ones in which the representation of adolescent homosexuality became increasingly complex and decreasingly moralistic."
134:
Although larger publishing houses may reject homosexual fiction because of the smaller market, there are publishing houses available that focus on this specific genre. For almost thirty years, Alyson Books has been publishing LGBT authors, often when no other publisher would dare sign them on. Alyson
175:
Gay young adult fiction serves more than just gay teenagers, it offers gay literature to straight adolescents as well. All young adults, defined here as people who are 12 to 18 years old in transition from childhood to adulthood, are struggling with issues of responsible sexual behavior and emergent
171:
The audience for such books includes both teens and adults, according to Sharyn
November, a senior editor at Viking Children's Books/Puffin, who observes that "young adult used to mean books aimed at readers between the ages 16 and 21," but some of these books are now "reaching the 14 plus crowd and
187:
Despite the controversy over gay fiction for young adults there is still a need for books dealing with homosexuality for adolescents. Nancy St. Clair argues, "If we as teachers truly believe that literature helps students understand themselves and the issues they face, then we have an obligation to
179:
Nancy St. Clair describes the benefits of including homosexual fiction in adolescent classrooms for both the homosexual and straight students: "For the straight students, the course offers the opportunity to study a culture they are curious about, but which the homophobia, so prevalent in student
112:
In the years from 1969 through 1992, approximately sixty young adult novels with gay/lesbian characters or themes appeared in the United States. The rate of production of this body of literature has roughly doubled over the years, with approximately half (thirty-one) of the books published in the
183:
Yet, given the status of young adults as minors, many topics of interest to them, such as homosexuality, are controversial. As Nancy St. Clair describes in her article: "Adults have been eager to have the genre moralize, to perform a social service, while the adolescent has been eager for an
108:
announced the arrival of gay and lesbian literature as a new genre within young adult fiction. To date there are still relatively few titles that fit within this genre, but nonetheless, the books that have been written and published constitute a necessary and unique collection of ideas.
188:
provide our gay students with the same resources as we do other minority students." Public libraries, committed to providing materials to young adults to meet their educational, recreational and social information needs, should collect materials that address these needs.
222:
Another indication, some say, that gay young adult novels have gained wider acceptance in recent years is the fact that, since 1999, four gay-themed books, or books with gay secondary characters, have won the Young Adult
Library Services Association's
180:
life, prevents them from freely exploring. My course, then, becomes a mandate to explore that which is taboo for many of them. For lesbian students the unit offers both a validation of their experience and an arena where their voices can be heard."
1288:
1298:
1293:
202:
Contemporary gay young adult novels typically involve a teenage protagonist, teen issues, and the first-person point of view. These novels have come to deal with a variety of gay-related issues and themes.
1121:
1303:
1111:
1106:
1096:
1091:
1083:
70:
because it was one of the first adolescent problem novels. Critics trace the origin of the "new realism" or "problem novel" in teen fiction to the period from 1967 through 1969, during which
113:
sixteen years from 1969 through 1984, and the rest (twenty-nine) published in the following eight years, from 1985 through 1992. From 1998 to 2003, 42 more novels were published with
1328:
1268:
1310:
1263:
1525:
135:
Books, recently purchased by Regent Media, is the oldest LGBT book-publisher and the first to readily publish gay fiction against the marketing odds. In an interview with
1351:
1323:
1063:
1460:
1273:
1155:
1150:
824:
368:
Jenkins, Christine A. (1993). "Young Adult Novels with Gay/Lesbian
Characters and Themes 1969-92: A Historical Reading of Content, Gender, and Narrative Distance".
1475:
1470:
1465:
1130:
612:
Lee Wind's blogsite, "I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell do I Read?," lists, summarizes, and offers reader reviews of 89 books with Gay Teen
Characters and Themes
100:
1585:
1388:
1278:
737:
1414:
1383:
1078:
1073:
1068:
405:
Rothbauer, Paulette M.; McKechnie, Lynne E. F. (2000). "The treatment of gay and lesbian fiction for young adults in selected prominent reviewing media".
1431:
296:
1484:
1346:
572:
Rothbauer, Paulette M.; McKechnie, Lynne E. F. (1999). "Gay and lesbian fiction for young adults: a survey of holdings in
Canadian public libraries".
466:
1336:
1188:
1145:
436:
1455:
1419:
1378:
1224:
1217:
1023:
643:
1559:
1229:
1178:
1140:
1135:
946:
1207:
1183:
1341:
1212:
1173:
1393:
1200:
199:
reported that, "No longer do gay young adult novels simply ask, 'Am I gay?' Now they explore how to navigate in the journey for love."
1424:
1234:
1018:
242:, which is awarded in recognition of works that celebrate or explore LGBT themes, also recognizes children's/young adult literature.
172:
ideally crossing over to the adult market," although gay young adult novels are also aimed at children as young as twelve years old.
1510:
1195:
941:
341:
1505:
1356:
1035:
982:
235:, a publication of the ALA, is given in recognition of a work that demonstrates literary excellence in young adult literature.
1590:
1515:
868:
773:
1500:
1008:
922:
1595:
758:
696:
542:
498:
Clair, Nancy St. (1995). "Outside
Looking In: Representations of Gay and Lesbian Experiences in the Young Adult Novel".
309:
216:
1580:
1409:
1030:
763:
727:
636:
778:
768:
1520:
972:
783:
706:
245:
Other examples of recognition include the ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" award, whose winners have included
621:
1013:
788:
601:
252:
951:
902:
224:
145:
932:
629:
470:
377:
67:
49:
38:
444:
1003:
681:
662:
257:
239:
105:
76:
1436:
977:
907:
691:
686:
335:
382:
1040:
967:
701:
212:
151:
42:
878:
387:
304:
58:
602:
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and
Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) of the American Library Association
1283:
819:
732:
139:
Don Weise talks about the important impact Alyson Books has had in gay and lesbian publishing:
829:
581:
507:
414:
912:
892:
887:
863:
742:
676:
34:
219:(ALA). This best-of-the-year list is selected by librarians who are members for the RRT.
125:
Despite the apparent wider acceptance of these novels, publishing them can be difficult.
805:
314:
262:
228:
127:
1574:
998:
834:
391:
17:
1549:
917:
814:
282:
247:
71:
53:
81:
839:
722:
585:
418:
272:
86:
546:
511:
163:, also owned by Regent Media, is now the largest gay and lesbian publisher.
160:
897:
159:
Other publishing houses have begun to show an interest in gay fiction.
856:
143:
When I look at our backlist and see the first LGBT children's books-
652:
114:
851:
625:
606:
333:
There have been earlier published LGBT children's books, see
616:
611:
467:"Interview with Brent Hartinger, Author of Geography Club"
617:
YA Pride LGBTIQ+ characters in Young Adult
Literature
567:
565:
563:
1493:
1445:
1402:
1371:
1256:
1247:
1166:
1056:
1049:
991:
960:
931:
877:
804:
797:
751:
715:
669:
543:"Books give honest portrayal of growing up gay"
653:Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer
637:
8:
536:
534:
493:
491:
489:
487:
231:, Kansas school librarian and sponsored by
101:I'll Get There. It Better Be Worth the Trip
1253:
1053:
801:
644:
630:
622:
297:Children and Young Adult Literature portal
211:The annual Rainbow List is created by the
41:. This article covers books about gay and
1485:History of homosexuality in American film
430:
428:
381:
363:
361:
524:Weise, Don. "Whither Gay Literature?".
357:
326:
7:
52:is usually considered to begin with
435:Wildman, Sarah (11 November 2003).
25:
1586:Children's books with LGBT themes
541:Donahue, Deirdre (28 June 2001).
526:Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide.
45:teenage characters who are male.
33:is a subgenre that overlaps with
1555:
1554:
1543:
1511:Non-binary characters in fiction
942:List of transgender publications
469:. AfterEllen.com. Archived from
342:Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin
289:
275:
137:Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide
66:is often credited with starting
1506:Media portrayal of pansexuality
983:Media portrayals of bisexuality
62:, which was published in 1942.
1516:Intersex characters in fiction
607:List of gay young adult novels
1:
1501:Media portrayal of asexuality
27:Subgenre of LGBTQ+ literature
697:Blue Metropolis Violet Prize
437:"Queer lit for the gay teen"
310:List of gay male teen novels
217:American Library Association
98:In 1969, the publication of
545:. USA Today. Archived from
370:Youth Services in Libraries
1612:
961:Other literature and media
227:. This award, named for a
1538:
1526:cross-dressing characters
1521:Gay characters in fiction
1319:
1274:Children's TV programming
707:Gaylactic Spectrum Awards
660:
586:10.1108/01604959910256526
465:Warn, Sarah (June 2003).
419:10.1108/01604950010310848
723:Gaylaxicon SF convention
903:List of lesbian fiction
512:10.21061/alan.v23i1.a.7
225:Michael L. Printz Award
146:Heather Has Two Mommies
1064:Modern written fiction
933:Transgender literature
157:
68:young adult literature
50:young adult literature
39:young adult literature
1591:Gay male teen fiction
682:Lambda Literary Award
240:Lambda Literary Award
141:
18:Gay male teen fiction
978:Bisexual pornography
692:Bisexual Book Awards
687:Stonewall Book Award
336:When Megan Went Away
1596:Young adult fiction
1041:Single-gender world
1019:Speculative fiction
702:Dayne Ogilvie Prize
574:Collection Building
528:16.3 (2009): 25-29.
407:Collection Building
213:Rainbow Round Table
1581:1969 introductions
879:Lesbian literature
738:Saints and Sinners
305:Lesbian literature
64:Seventeenth Summer
59:Seventeenth Summer
1568:
1567:
1534:
1533:
1456:Western animation
1415:directed by women
1367:
1366:
1279:Radio and podcast
1243:
1242:
743:Violet Metropolis
35:LGBTQ+ literature
16:(Redirected from
1603:
1558:
1557:
1550:LGBTQ portal
1548:
1547:
1546:
1452:Animated series
1254:
1054:
1050:LGBTQ characters
947:Media portrayals
923:Media portrayals
869:Media portrayals
825:Early gay novels
802:
646:
639:
632:
623:
590:
589:
569:
558:
557:
555:
554:
538:
529:
522:
516:
515:
495:
482:
481:
479:
478:
462:
456:
455:
453:
452:
443:. Archived from
432:
423:
422:
402:
396:
395:
385:
365:
346:
331:
299:
294:
293:
292:
285:
280:
279:
278:
152:Daddy's Roommate
31:Gay teen fiction
21:
1611:
1610:
1606:
1605:
1604:
1602:
1601:
1600:
1571:
1570:
1569:
1564:
1544:
1542:
1530:
1489:
1441:
1432:LGBT characters
1398:
1379:Cartoon Network
1363:
1315:
1249:
1239:
1162:
1045:
1036:Anime and manga
987:
956:
927:
873:
793:
747:
711:
677:Triangle Awards
665:
656:
655:(LGBTQ) fiction
650:
598:
593:
571:
570:
561:
552:
550:
540:
539:
532:
523:
519:
500:The ALAN Review
497:
496:
485:
476:
474:
464:
463:
459:
450:
448:
434:
433:
426:
404:
403:
399:
383:10.1.1.454.2951
367:
366:
359:
355:
350:
349:
332:
328:
323:
295:
290:
288:
281:
276:
274:
271:
209:
194:
169:
123:
96:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1609:
1607:
1599:
1598:
1593:
1588:
1583:
1573:
1572:
1566:
1565:
1563:
1562:
1552:
1539:
1536:
1535:
1532:
1531:
1529:
1528:
1523:
1518:
1513:
1508:
1503:
1497:
1495:
1491:
1490:
1488:
1487:
1482:
1481:
1480:
1479:
1478:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1449:
1447:
1443:
1442:
1440:
1439:
1434:
1429:
1428:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1406:
1404:
1400:
1399:
1397:
1396:
1391:
1386:
1381:
1375:
1373:
1369:
1368:
1365:
1364:
1362:
1361:
1360:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1331:
1326:
1320:
1317:
1316:
1314:
1313:
1308:
1307:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1260:
1258:
1251:
1245:
1244:
1241:
1240:
1238:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1222:
1221:
1220:
1210:
1205:
1204:
1203:
1193:
1192:
1191:
1181:
1176:
1170:
1168:
1164:
1163:
1161:
1160:
1159:
1158:
1153:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1127:
1126:
1125:
1124:
1116:
1115:
1114:
1109:
1101:
1100:
1099:
1094:
1086:
1081:
1071:
1069:Animated films
1066:
1060:
1058:
1051:
1047:
1046:
1044:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1027:
1026:
1016:
1011:
1006:
1001:
995:
993:
989:
988:
986:
985:
980:
975:
970:
964:
962:
958:
957:
955:
954:
949:
944:
938:
936:
929:
928:
926:
925:
920:
915:
910:
905:
900:
895:
890:
884:
882:
875:
874:
872:
871:
866:
861:
860:
859:
849:
844:
843:
842:
832:
827:
822:
817:
811:
809:
806:Gay literature
799:
795:
794:
792:
791:
786:
781:
776:
771:
766:
761:
755:
753:
749:
748:
746:
745:
740:
735:
730:
728:Film festivals
725:
719:
717:
713:
712:
710:
709:
704:
699:
694:
689:
684:
679:
673:
671:
667:
666:
661:
658:
657:
651:
649:
648:
641:
634:
626:
620:
619:
614:
609:
604:
597:
596:External links
594:
592:
591:
559:
530:
517:
483:
457:
424:
397:
356:
354:
351:
348:
347:
325:
324:
322:
319:
318:
317:
315:Gay literature
312:
307:
301:
300:
286:
270:
267:
263:David Levithan
208:
205:
193:
190:
168:
165:
128:Geography Club
122:
119:
95:
92:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1608:
1597:
1594:
1592:
1589:
1587:
1584:
1582:
1579:
1578:
1576:
1561:
1553:
1551:
1541:
1540:
1537:
1527:
1524:
1522:
1519:
1517:
1514:
1512:
1509:
1507:
1504:
1502:
1499:
1498:
1496:
1492:
1486:
1483:
1477:
1474:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1464:
1462:
1459:
1458:
1457:
1454:
1453:
1451:
1450:
1448:
1444:
1438:
1435:
1433:
1430:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1412:
1411:
1408:
1407:
1405:
1401:
1395:
1392:
1390:
1387:
1385:
1382:
1380:
1377:
1376:
1374:
1370:
1358:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1343:
1340:
1338:
1335:
1334:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1321:
1318:
1312:
1309:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1286:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1261:
1259:
1255:
1252:
1246:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1219:
1216:
1215:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1202:
1199:
1198:
1197:
1194:
1190:
1187:
1186:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1171:
1169:
1165:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1148:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1123:
1120:
1119:
1117:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1104:
1102:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1089:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1076:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1061:
1059:
1055:
1052:
1048:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1025:
1022:
1021:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
999:Homoeroticism
997:
996:
994:
990:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
965:
963:
959:
953:
950:
948:
945:
943:
940:
939:
937:
934:
930:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
889:
886:
885:
883:
880:
876:
870:
867:
865:
862:
858:
855:
854:
853:
850:
848:
845:
841:
838:
837:
836:
835:Slash fiction
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
821:
818:
816:
813:
812:
810:
807:
803:
800:
796:
790:
787:
785:
782:
780:
777:
775:
772:
770:
767:
765:
762:
760:
757:
756:
754:
750:
744:
741:
739:
736:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
720:
718:
714:
708:
705:
703:
700:
698:
695:
693:
690:
688:
685:
683:
680:
678:
675:
674:
672:
668:
664:
663:LGBTQ writers
659:
654:
647:
642:
640:
635:
633:
628:
627:
624:
618:
615:
613:
610:
608:
605:
603:
600:
599:
595:
587:
583:
579:
575:
568:
566:
564:
560:
549:on 2007-04-05
548:
544:
537:
535:
531:
527:
521:
518:
513:
509:
505:
501:
494:
492:
490:
488:
484:
473:on 2007-02-17
472:
468:
461:
458:
447:on 2007-10-18
446:
442:
438:
431:
429:
425:
420:
416:
412:
408:
401:
398:
393:
389:
384:
379:
375:
371:
364:
362:
358:
352:
344:
343:
338:
337:
330:
327:
320:
316:
313:
311:
308:
306:
303:
302:
298:
287:
284:
273:
268:
266:
264:
260:
259:
258:Boy Meets Boy
254:
250:
249:
243:
241:
236:
234:
230:
226:
220:
218:
215:(RRT) of the
214:
206:
204:
200:
198:
191:
189:
185:
181:
177:
173:
166:
164:
162:
156:
154:
153:
148:
147:
140:
138:
132:
130:
129:
120:
118:
116:
110:
107:
103:
102:
93:
91:
89:
88:
83:
79:
78:
77:The Outsiders
73:
69:
65:
61:
60:
55:
51:
48:The genre of
46:
44:
40:
36:
32:
19:
1420:by storyline
1372:Animation on
1218:in animation
1201:in animation
1189:in animation
1122:2020–present
992:LGBTQ themes
908:Pulp fiction
847:Teen fiction
846:
830:Pulp fiction
580:(1): 32–39.
577:
573:
551:. Retrieved
547:the original
525:
520:
506:(1): 38–43.
503:
499:
475:. Retrieved
471:the original
460:
449:. Retrieved
445:the original
440:
410:
406:
400:
376:(1): 43–55.
373:
369:
340:
334:
329:
283:LGBTQ portal
256:
253:Alex Sanchez
248:Rainbow Boys
246:
244:
237:
232:
221:
210:
201:
196:
195:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
158:
150:
144:
142:
136:
133:
126:
124:
117:characters.
111:
106:John Donovan
99:
97:
85:
75:
72:S. E. Hinton
63:
57:
54:Maureen Daly
47:
30:
29:
1410:LGBTQ films
1394:Nickelodeon
1352:transgender
1333:Characters
1289:1960s–2000s
1235:Transgender
1167:By identity
1146:Video games
1136:Soap operas
1131:Graphic art
1079:1960s–1980s
1031:Video games
952:Pornography
913:Pornography
864:Pornography
774:El Salvador
733:Naked Heart
413:(1): 5–16.
207:Recognition
121:Publication
82:Paul Zindel
1575:Categories
1248:Television
1225:Non-binary
840:Omegaverse
752:By country
553:2007-02-28
477:2007-03-01
451:2007-05-28
353:References
87:The Pigman
1299:2016–2019
1294:2010–2015
1250:and radio
1230:Pansexual
1179:Aromantic
1141:Webcomics
1074:Animation
1057:By medium
1014:Mythology
935:and media
881:and media
820:BL dramas
808:and media
759:Argentina
716:Festivals
441:Salon.com
392:140917456
378:CiteSeerX
197:USA Today
161:LPI Media
1560:Category
1437:Intersex
1357:intersex
1347:bisexual
1329:Episodes
1257:By genre
1208:Intersex
1184:Bisexual
973:Intersex
968:Bisexual
898:Femslash
798:By media
764:Colombia
269:See also
233:Booklist
167:Audience
43:bisexual
1446:History
1425:by year
1389:Netflix
1337:lesbian
1269:TV film
1213:Lesbian
1174:Asexual
1112:2015–19
1107:2010–14
1097:2005–09
1092:2000–04
893:Erotica
888:Class S
779:Iceland
769:Ecuador
94:History
1384:Disney
1311:Horror
1264:Comedy
1118:2020s
1103:2010s
1088:2000s
1009:Horror
1004:Comics
857:Danmei
784:Mexico
670:Awards
390:
380:
339:, and
229:Topeka
192:Themes
1494:Other
1476:2020s
1471:2010s
1466:2000s
1461:1990s
1324:Shows
1304:2020s
1284:Drama
1156:2020s
1151:2010s
1084:1990s
789:Spain
388:S2CID
321:Notes
115:LGBTQ
1403:Film
1024:list
918:Yuri
852:Yaoi
815:Bara
255:and
238:The
149:and
37:and
1342:gay
1196:Gay
582:doi
508:doi
415:doi
261:by
251:by
104:by
84:'s
74:'s
56:'s
1577::
578:18
576:.
562:^
533:^
504:23
502:.
486:^
439:.
427:^
411:19
409:.
386:.
372:.
360:^
265:.
80:,
645:e
638:t
631:v
588:.
584::
556:.
514:.
510::
480:.
454:.
421:.
417::
394:.
374:7
345:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.