Sacred Selections: Our Favorite LGBTQ Authors

Here are some of our favorite LGBTQ+ authors! Who are some of yours? 

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Julie's Picks 

Roxanne Gay – Instead of following on Twitter because I like her books, I started following her on twitter because I enjoyed her wise and acerbic take on the crazy world of politics, gender and feminism. Then I realized that this  wrote articles for the New York Times, where she covers the intersection of identity and culture and I starting reading through her archives. As a queer woman of color, her articles help the reader think through complicated issues that are still somehow universal. Then I realized she wrote books! Better and better. I’ve recently started Difficult Women. It’s definitely on the review list.
 
Matthew Vines – As a former evangelical, I often find myself drawn to questions about the theology that shaped me. Matthew Vines is a gay Christian who grew up in an evangelical church and studied philosophy at Harvard for several years.  Instead of rejecting his religion, Vines took up an extensive study of what the Bible actually said about homosexuality, finding no evidence that committed gay relationships were prohibited by God. His book is God and the Gay Christian, a thoughtful, well-researched book that carefully considers language, theology and context. Whether you are religious or not, this careful consideration of the theology that has underpinned patriarchy and homophobia for centuries is illuminating.

Jarad's Picks 

Virginia Woolf- I'm a huge fan of Woolf's writing, for her spotlighting of the oppression of women in her time, her fiercely feminist writing, her exploration of gender and sexuality. She was writing this at a time when it was dangerous to do so, and I admire her for that. Also, she's a damn good writer and her novels are some of the best I've read. 

James Baldwin- If you have not read this man's work, drop everything you're doing and pick up Giovanni's Room or Sonny's Blues or anything else with his name on it. His work is transformational, poignant and thoughtful on oppression and bigotry in our world. In my opinion he should replace Herman Melville on the required reading list in high school. 

Morty's Picks 

Being an old dead guy, I’m going to recommend another old dead guy. We have to stick together. Go back and read your Oscar Wilde. I would especially recommend De Profundis, a look into a brilliant mind pushed to its limit by both the homophobic and aristocratic fundamentals of Western Society. But don’t stop there. Read it all. Dorian Gray, the Fairy Tales, the quotes. If you’ve only read one or two of these things, then read the rest.
 
Also, Maurice Sendak. Just because everyone needs to read about Rosie, Pierre, and the Wild Things as often as they can.