Books, TV shows, and music for the LGBT Community. If you are Queer, click here!

While it’s impossible to make a comprehensive list of great LGBTQ+ books, songs and TV series (there are so many!), we decided to share with you some of our favorites. Celebrate Pride by laughing and crying along with these excellent entertainment options, including contemporary choices (from 2010- 2020), some golden oldies, and even some foreign selections, so you can put your language skills into practice while getting to know more about the LGBTQ+ community.

Top 3 contemporary queer books

All these books are written in English, so they are a great means to acquire new vocabulary and structures related to the LGBTQ+ community, if English is not your first language.

• The Deep (Rivers Solomon): The Deep follows the story of a young woman called Yetu, who descends from African women who turned into mermaids centuries ago. One day, and moved by sheer curiosity, she decides to flee to the surface, where she discovers painful details about her family while falling in love with a girl. The book is a celebration of queerness as Yetu understands she should be able to love whoever she chooses without fear.
• On Earth, We Were Briefly Gorgeous (Ocean Vuong): This coming-of-age novel will break your heart and piece it back together as you learn more about Little Dog, a Vietnamese boy who sends heartbreaking letters to his mother, telling her about his hardships. You’ll read about his economic struggles, his first love, and, ultimately, about the joy he feels for being alive.
• Anger Is a Gift (Mark Oshiro): This novel touches upon very up-to-date issues, like police brutality, racism, and queerness. The main character, Moss, is a boy whose father was murdered by the police. Now in high school, he and his queer friends are treated differently, being constantly intimidated by the police. So, they decide to fight the system and regain the dignity and respect they deserve.

 

Oldies but goodies:

– Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

– The Hours by Michael Cunningham

– Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

– Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman

– The Color Purple by Alice Walker

 

Top 3 contemporary queer TV series:

Merlí: Although Merlí is a series that revolves around a Philosophy professor (called Merlí) and his relationship with his students, the true stars of the show are his son, Bruno, and his best friend, Pol. Have fun following the (sometimes heartbreaking) stories of Merli’s students and delight in witnessing Pol and Bruno’s relationship unfold as they explore their sexuality.

Merlí is a Spanish series, so it is a great way to put your skills into practice! The series is also available to watch in Catalán, the language spoken in Cataluña, which was heavily influenced by Latin, Spanish, French, and Italian.

Osmosis: This French TV series is set in the distant future and follows the story of several people trying to find true love using an app. The main character is a gay man, but the app is not what it seems, and everything starts to go wrong. Osmosis is an exciting story and also an opportunity to increase your French vocabulary and develop your listening comprehension.

Pose: This LGBTQ+ drama explores the New York of the 1980s through the eyes of African-American and Latino LGBT models, depicting the fun and glamorous ballroom scene, but also the brutal, bigoted society of the time. But most of all, this is an expertly written story of love (between family members, partners, or friends) by the lead writer of American Horror Story, American Crime Story, and Hollywood. Do not miss it!

 

Oldies but goodies:

– Queer As Folk (2005)

– Will & Grace (2002- today)

– South of Nowhere (2005)

 

Top 3 contemporary queer songs

• Mujer Contra Mujer by Mecano: This Spanish song was originally performed in 1986, but recent versions render it contemporary. As the name implies, the song talks about the love between two women and the obstacles they have to face to be happy in a society that does not fully accept them. Put your Spanish skills to use and get familiar with vocabulary relevant to the LGBTQ+ community!
• Born Naked by RuPaul: RuPaul’s song is an uplifting track that shows how proud he is of his own identity. The most iconic line of the song is “we are all born naked, the rest is drag,” stating that, at the end of the day, we are all just people underneath.
• Corpo Sensual by Pabllo Vittar: Corpo Sensual is a dance-pop song performed by Brazilian drag queen Pabllo Vittar that talks about sexual freedom and liberation. Listen to this track and you will not only gain insights into the LGBTQ+ community in Brazil, but practice your Portuguese!

 

Oldies but goodies:

– I Want to Break Free by Queen

– YMCA by The Village People

– Freedom by George Michael

– Take Your Mama by Scissors Sisters

 

Pride Day is a special date to boost your LGBTQ+ activism and learn more about this community. We hope you enjoy these contemporary and classic LGBTQ+ songs, TV series and books, and you improve your language skills at the same time!