#the book of queer mormon joy

[nerdygaymormon]

I traveled to Utah this weekend to attend the Gather Conference and while here met up with Elder & Sister Renlund.

At the end of our visit I gifted them a copy of The Book of Queer Mormon Joy, and bookmarked my story of my friend Kris who is trans masc.

I also bookmarked @loveerran’s story of her first time going to an LDS family ward and attending Relief Society presenting as her feminine trans self and how meaningful that was for her.

They promised to read both stories.

I have no idea if they’ll read any of the rest of the book but I’m pleased they will read these two stories of trans members

[waddup-its-homegirl]

(“Triple Dog Dare” Lucy Dacus)

(“To Dance in the Dim Light: Meditation in Joy” by Kerry Spencer Pray, included in “The Book of Queer Mormon Joy”)

[xmo-rmon]

“Inseminary”

or “Lockpick to the Priesthood” or “Come Unto Me” or “Pearl Necklace of Great Price” or “Faith is Like a Little Seed”

Authentic stolen holy text, Near Clear silicone, gold pigment.

I went to the mormon church’s website, looked up their views on homosexuality, noted the scriptures they referenced, ripped them by hand out of the bible and book of mormon I stole from their chapel, and then mixed them into a silicone dildo of my own design like confetti. A dildo which will of course be used for homosexual purposes (with non-lubricated condoms and water based lube, for safety).

I’ve wanted to try dildo making for literally over a decade. I don’t have any fancy equipment like a 3D printer or a vacuum chamber, I made the sculpt by hand, and I fucked up a lot along the way, but all that being said I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish and I learned a lot. I put in more gold than I meant to, but honestly, it was meant to represent scripture’s gilded edges, and as it turned out, it looks really beautiful or quite filthy depending on the lighting, which feels entirely appropriate for scripture.

It was hard to read all of those verses. But as I tore them up I bathed them in the intention to take words that were meant to inflict queer pain wherever they go, and say “Actually, I pull those words out when I want some queer pleasure.” Build joy where they want you to have it the least.

Read about/donate to the Timpanogos tribe, for whom brigham young sent out an “extermination order”

LandBack

[gay-mormon-wizard]

I’m LDS and considering that I may be queer. What do I do?

welcome!!!! I've found that the biggest problems for us queer LDS folk are feeling alone, and feeling suspended between our sexual identities and spiritual identities. you need the other members of the queer LDS community!

on tumblr, check out the tag #queerstake. especially check out the blogs @nerdygaymormon, @official-mormon-posts, @mormonculturememes, and @bookofmormonmemes - all prominent members of the queer LDS tumblr community.

irl, if you start wearing rainbow anything to church, like a pin or bracelet, you may find that people approach you to talk about queer family members or friends, and you can meet other queer folk and allies that way. you can also go on facebook and search for LGBTQ LDS groups in your state or province or wherever.

Queer LDS podcasts include Questions From The Closet, Listen Learn & Love, Latter Gay Stories, and Lift + Love.

For literature, I recommend Toward a Post-Heterosexual Mormon Theology, Queer Mormon Theology: An Introduction, The Book of Queer Mormon Joy, and We're Here, We're Queer: A Proclamation to the World.

again, welcome to queer mormon tumblr. make yourself at home 💖

[thoughtfulfoxllama]

I kinda struggle with the "Family Proclamation," but not in the way most people do

"By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families." It's a small thing, and when I see quotes from the Proclamation, it skips this part over. But I can't

I'm left wondering "what's wrong with me." I want to be a good Father, and a good Priesthood Holder (neither of which I had growing up), but I want to be the parent staying home. Me & my wife discuss, and we go back & forth on this issue, but we won't even have kids for a few years. It shouldn't be an issue then, but it is

I love cleaning the house, making dinner, and all those those activities that would've been called "women's work" in the savage ages. I have trouble holding down a job, no matter how much I like it (in fact, I try harder when I dislike it, for some reason). And this leads me to ask "how can God love me as much as other people, when he made them according to his divine design, but makes me against it." It's like when I realized I was attracted to my best friend (who was also AMaB), and wondered why God made me that way

It's kind of a stupid thing to get hung up on. I was able to keep my testimony from the worst slander the Baptists could throw at me (and I mean dig deep for stuff like "Adam-God" or "Blood Atonement"), from my own discovery of bisexuality, from my Liberal politics, from literally being told I couldn't go to the Celestial Kingdom because I didn't want to be sealed to my abusive mother (fun fact, I first met my wife when I was crying about that particular gem), but I struggle with this!? And I still believe the Book of Mormon is true, and Joseph Smith was a Prophet (as well as Brigham & having the Apostolic Authority, reinforced by the Savior visiting Lorenzo Snow). So, is this a case of God wanting me to suffer, or the Church getting it wrong?

And there's ways around it. My wife says we fall under "Disability, death, or other circumstances," which "may necessitate individual adaptation" (I have ADHD, Autism (which is just self diagnosed for now), and Depression). My father says I'm "providing for the necessities by making sure my wife is able to not worry about home." Both, while possibly true, just don't strike with me. But why can't I accept them!?

Whatever the answer, I hold on to the Testimony I have, that men are that they might have joy. Not joy in some far off future, but here and now. That we are called to build Zion, and I will do my part (even if the part of Zion I'm called to is only found in my home. Or even if it's across the world). That the Savior is my perfect example, whether I stay at home, or go abroad

But, I'm hoping for an answer sooner rather than later. Obviously, I'm looking for Work (Amazon is firing me because their Health Leave policy is crap, and they should obviously make a guy who is regularly passing out work but heavy machinery that has killed people before), because damn it, I don't want my kids to survive, but thrive. I'll work as much as I can to save up for them, and for mine & my wife's retirement. But if we ultimately decide, when we have them, that I'll be the parent staying home with the kids, I don't want to be constantly consumed with thoughts that I'm defying God's will

(And I do understand how heartless this may sound to the Queer Mormon Community. I'm in a Straight passing marriage (to someone I'm actually attracted to), and will hopefully have kids one day. In the Church where we're constantly told that's the ideal. I am not trying to be whiny, or take attention from the issue of Queerphobia in the Church, because it is an issue, and people are obviously struggling more than me. I hope it doesn't come across like I'm entitled or trying to say I'm suffering on the same level as some other people. I'm sorry if it does, and I'll do better next time)

[captain-moroni-is-trans]

I don’t post a lot of personal stuff, but I want to put this out there.

Hi. My name is Ellis. I use they/them pronouns. I’m genderfluid and transmasc and oriented aroace. I like to joke that my gender is yeah and my sexuality is maybe. I was born and raised Mormon.

All growing up my religion, and my relationship with God was incredibly important to me. If you aren’t religious it’s probably hard to understand how important it was. But it was everything to me. It was my community. It was the foundation of my beliefs, and my morality. It was my identity. It was my friends. It was my family. It was doing activities during the week and having fun practicing with the ward choir and getting up at 5:30 am for early morning seminary and reading the Book of Mormon every night with my family. It was following certain dietary rules because it was healthier, but also because it symbolized my relationship to God. It was praying, asking questions and getting answers, and more than anything, it was feeling God’s love for me.

When I realized I was queer, it was praying to God, and knowing that he loves me as I am. It was finding the queerstake community, and working through my internalized homophobia. It was believing with every fiber of my being that President Nelson was going to change things so that queer people could live happily with the church, that first general conference after I came out to myself.

When I came out to my parents, it was the thing I clung to desperately, as I was met with unacceptance, and the insistence that I had been led astray by the world.

When I told them that I wanted to transition, my faith is what they shattered.

I told them that I was certain that this is what God wanted for me. That I had felt the spirit, and received personal revelation that it is what I’m meant to do.

They told me that what I felt was not of God. That it was Satan deceiving me. And that broke me. Because if what I felt wasn’t of God, neither was anything else, from the day I attended my cousin’s baptism, and at 7 years old decided I wanted to be a member of the church.

Maybe it seems silly, that that was what broke everything. I think it just might’ve been a long time coming from the way they treated me.

When I came out to them, they sent me to an lds therapist they thought would fix me. They asked questions about my identity to try to prove me wrong. They called me an apostate for trying to wear pants to church. They keep my identity a secret from my siblings. They asked my little sister to spy on me. They have gone behind my back to see if my friends are queer. They interrogate me whenever I don’t behave the way they want me to. I think it was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.

When they shattered my faith….I’ve never been in as much pain as that caused me. I didn’t know anything at all. I was living in constant fear. I felt like I was dying. I almost killed myself. They had destroyed my very foundation. A huge part of my identity. Gone, in an instant. It felt like the emotional equivalent of losing a limb. Something important, that’s always been there suddenly and painfully removed, and never coming back.

I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive them.

There isn’t really a happy ending to this story. It’s started to get better. I’ve moved out. I’m finding spiritual fulfillment in other places. But I’m still mourning my old faith. It still hurts, that the religion that meant so much to me, the place that gave me so much joy and comfort, only gives me feelings of pain and loss now. That they took that from me.

I wish there was less of an all or nothing mentality with the church. Either it’s fake and you hate it and you were brainwashed into believing it, or it is the one true church and if you don’t believe you’re either wrong or of the devil. I wish there was more space for people like me. Who believed with all their hearts, and who acknowledge that it was incredibly important to them, but for one reason or another, have stepped away, or no longer believe.

So I’m making that space. If you want to talk about it, I’m all ears <3

[demoisverysexy]

Wait, you're Mormon? I'm ex-Mormon and grew up in Utah (and currently still live here) so it's always super interesting to me to find Mormons on tumblr, especially progressive Mormons. I haven't been in touch with the Mormon side of my family years and don't really keep up with anything that happens in the church anymore, but I'm always fascinated seeing people discuss things on here that I haven't thought about in nearly a decade. If you don't mind me asking, what draws progressive Mormons into staying a part of the church?

Hey! A cool ex-Mormon! I love to see it. Hit me up in my DMs if you wanna chat!

First off, oof, Utah. I do not envy you. I have fortunately never lived in Utah, and I grew up around Boston, which means that I was exposed early on to more liberal and left-leaning Mormons. That along with being the only Mormon in my school made it so that being Mormon became a part of my identity early on, and that I was exposed to both a version of Mormonism more open to new ideas, and an environment where I lived mostly with non-Mormons. Me becoming a liberal was inevitable, and when my Mom introduced me to theology (specifically the works of Adam S. Miller, go read his work now), it would eventually lead to me getting interested in philosophy, which in turn led to me being a queer Marxist. Thanks to my unique trajectory though, Mormonism has always been a relatively comfortable part of my identity, in spite of everything.

I can see how that might be a bit weird to see. My church is, after all, rather infamous for some of its more, ah, conservative doctrines and practices, both past and present. And while I cannot speak for every progressive Mormon, I can speak as to why I stay. A few reasons:

I love being Mormon. I love the Book of Mormon, I love a lot of Mormon doctrines and theology, I love the history, I love the sacrament, I love a lot of the culture, and I love Mormon people. I love it I love it I love it, even with all the problems it has.

As an act of defiance. I don't want my church to get the last say on what it means to be Mormon. I am a Mormon, whether they want me or not. I can't let the conservatives win with their assumption that someone like me can't be a faithful Mormon. So I stay to spite them, and prove them wrong. I'm a Mormon, but in a punk way.

I love the doctrine and theology. I feel that my unique way of looking at Mormon doctrine, influenced by the works of theologians and Marxists, is in many ways more harmonious with what the doctrine is saying than many church-sanctioned interpretations. What if we look at the Book of Mormon through a Marxist lens? Through a literary one? What if we take seriously some of the ideas that Joseph Smith had that bordered on an almost non-theistic, materialist theology? What if we question whether or not the Book of Mormon is historical while believing it to be scripture all the same? Mormonism is, fundamentally, a religion of asking questions. It's how the church came to be, and it's how it goes on, in my opinion. Mormonism persists because it is an ethos, a way of viewing the world and engaging with it in a creative way. For me, letting it breathe like this has been a source of joy and enlightenment. Mormon doctrine, untethered to the institution that demands a strict interpretation of it, can sing.

I am a believer in personal revelation, and at the end of the day, this church is mine. It doesn't belong to the general authorities, but to me and God. I don't care too much about what they have to say, really. If they say something that gets in the way of my understanding of God, I gripe about it for a day, then move on. I'm still a Mormon. What are they going to do?

I believe that while I can do some good, staying in the church will help other people like me. So until I can no longer do it in a safe way, I plan on being an active Mormon for as long as possible. Seems that it's a place I can do some good.

That should about do it, I think. Hit me up if you wanna chat, or have other questions, or wanna be my friend! I love meeting new people, and I would love to hear more about your experiences, anon. Thank you for your lovely question.

[talisidekick]

I can trace back all of my trauma to cisgender heterosexual people and the catholics, christians, and mormons. My hell, living quiet as a transgender kid, forcing down feelings because people told me to or scared me into doing so for 25 years of my life, is because of cisgender heterosexual people and their christian, catholic, and mormon views. Queer people opened my eyes, and slowly I saw, remembered, and began to become me. And I had every reason to hate those in my past.

Yet, despite being told queer is wrong by cis-het people, being bullied and assaulted all while being called queer focussed insults, I do not hate them. Why? Because they knew no better, believed wrong without thought and compassion. I do not try to change them. Why? Because I cannot and will not force them to be something they're not. I will simply remove their ability to cause harm unto others.

I believe in no gods or goddesses, follow the words of no saints and no prophets, I have no "good" book to guide me. They called people like me demons and devil possessed, freaks, villains, evil incarnate. They sought to carve their heaven into earth by advocation of blood and incarceration as necessary, and I became a product of the very Hell they described and unknowingly imposed upon me. I'm the demon they prayed away at dinner, the devil they tossed salt over the shoulder to blind, the words of grace a lie on my lips.

And yet, despite their insistence that I exist to only cause harm, I wish and wished no harm to others and seek and sought to prevent others from causing harm. I seek not arrogance and aggression but peace and understanding. I seek not division but unity. I seek to be everything they claimed to be but weren't. In a few words; loving, caring, and understanding.

I do not hate them though, the cisgender and heterosexual, the catholics, christians, and mormons that sought and seek to harm and hurt me. I simply wish they learn to be better.

And I hope you all learn that I do not seek heaven, but hell. I seek it because the Hell they described to me I found it more kind, forgiving, accepting, and understanding. I found it more suited to me. Their hell of non-binary and xeno pronouns, of genderfluid people, of gays, of aromantics, of asexuals, of consorting outside of marriage, of polyamory, of transgenders, of witches and pagans, and of so much more appeals to me. It is so much more beautiful than the cross they wish to wash over this beautiful tapestry. I wish for debauchery and hedonism. I wish for the motivation lust, gluttony, envy, and pride provides to the individual. I seek not absolution of these "sins", I seek temptation and pleasure and joy.

I'm a demon. Proudly. And I'm glad we stole the rainbow for pride. We always were the more colourful.

[bookish-bi-mormon]

Somewhat inspired by Ryn’s poem, I wrote my own lament to the complications of being a queer Mormon, although this is focused more on my experience with gender identity.  

fair warning it’s rather depressing 

“I belong to the church of Jesus Christ” I said from the pulpit with defiance in my voice. Because this is my home. This is my truth.  This brings me joy. I know who I am. I know God’s plan.

I belong

I belong

Don’t I?

But where is my place? I finger my tie as the seats empty, flowered skirts and cute flats pass me on one side, while deep voices in suit coats laugh as they head in the opposite direction. They talk about God in their groups – or do they just enforce cultural norms?

Righteous women.

Worthy Priesthood holders.

Neither woman nor man, I find God by myself. The book is marked extensively but sometimes I don’t recognize the markings – done in a small apartment in Miami by someone who thought they had things figured out.

Someone who stood in front of a mirror in a holy temple and thought “this is God’s daughter.”

But if she ever existed, I don’t recognize her. I have the same face, now unpainted, the same legs, now unshaven, the same hands, arms, ears – though now the hair is gone. Am I no longer “sister.” I am now the one the leaders look to with confusion, the one they hope will go “back to normal” or just go away. They don’t have answers to the questions my existence poses.

And the book says “The Lord remembereth all them who have been broken off” but then why has he stayed silent for so long?

And I said I would carve out my own place in the church. I said I would pave a way for those who come after me. But I am so young and already so tired and how much longer must my people live in captivity? How much longer will the Lord suffer us to be sacrificed on the altars of proclamations and traditions?

And a building that once brought me peace now seems to loom over my life. You cannot come home, it says to me with it’s promise of white dresses and binary blessings. You cannot bring yourself or the one you love within my doors.

You don’t belong here.

And how could I?

This institution built by humans. There is divinity within it, there has to be. But it has been lost and twisted by ages of people interpreting God’s word to fit their own intentions. The Great Apostasy, I explained to ears both willing and uninterested for 18 months of my life. But we were supposed to be different. We were supposed to be true.

But now I hold the shattered pieces of my picture-perfect future in my hands. It was never going to look like they all thought. And deep down I didn’t want it to.

But it still hurts.

[frog-princ3]

Anyways, the strongest testimony I have to offer anyone is that I'm trans and queer and thinking about being a Latter Day Saint my whole life feels like I'm accepting that I will have a body that I'm not happy with my entire life. That I will live in the agony of dysphoria and also do it alone my WHOLE life.

There is almost no greater allure for me in this life than excommunication. Before I got brain damaged last year I was planning on leaving the church.

And then I almost died. And I saw the Living Christ. And I was told that I was saved because I was so loved. And I tasted of the sweet bliss the prophets speak of in the scriptures. The bliss of being in the pressence of God. It's immeasurable. It's such a great bursting joy of pure bliss. It's what Heavenly Father wants for all of us forever. To live with them in everlasting joy.

To see is to believe and God cannot lie. They promise us this joy for eternity. Any confusion or mistranslations from the Bible are easily cleared up in the Book of Mormon.

It is plain what God intends for us for eternity. And it is plain to me that I currently belong to the Church of Jesus Christ. That I'm on the path to that eternal bliss, even an eternal life of bursting happiness where I love my body and I'm sealed to my celestial mate.

So this life, this mortal human life where I don't fit, where my body is an enemy and where there is a good chance I'll die alone, is what I'm paying for eternity. Even an eternity of what I desire most.

And when I look down at my cup and think it's too bitter and harsh and that I must be unloved by God to have such; when I'm thinking about running away and failing at what I desire most in all of the universe, I remember no one had a harder life than Jesus Christ. And while He drank his bitter cup alone, and paid the harsh price for what He wanted most eternally all alone, even after begging for it not to happen, I remember that He is literally Right There for me as I drink mine. And he won't leave me until I've chugged this bitter cup that is my life. That He won't leave me until I've succeeded just because He loves me.

So although the allure of excommunication for me is terribly great in this life, ultimately, there is no where else I would rather be than at the side of my Savior and King.

[killted]

Quintessential recent queer books that aren’t all about sex (not that there is anything wrong with that ofc)

Gay edition

A Boy Worth Knowing - Jennifer Cosgrove

A typical story about a boy in love with his best friend, well typical other than the fact that he can see ghost and his best friends dead brother won’t leave him alone.

The Infinite Noise - Lauren Shippen

A boy with empathic powers struggles with the weigh of everyone’s emotions, until he is shielded by a boy who’s emotion are beautiful, not suffocating.

Autoboyography - Christina Lauren

A bisexual kid in a Mormon town finds himself falling hard for the Bishop’s pride and joy. The author does not villianize those of the LDS faith, but shows the struggle of loving your family and your faith but not yourself.

Openly Straight - Bill Konigsberg

A kid travels back in to the closet in order to be seen without the label, and discovers himself and new friends. He ends up crushing on someone who is also trying to figure himself out.

Here are some that are a bit more,,, racey, but still are impeccablely written!

Like Us Series - Becca and Krista Ritchie

Think Kardashian level fame for three talented families, now think of the bodyguards that these generationally famous people have. Boom, romance. Our main boy is falling fast and hard for his childhood crush as their relationship shifts from family friends to bodyguard and client.

Him - Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Childhood best friends and world class hockey players reconnect over a summer of teaching young players, a discover something that was always there.

Wolfsong - TJ Klune

An epic tale that spans decades watches the inevitable happen, friendship, love, heartache, and helaing. A wolf pack invites a teen into their lives as their youngest clings to him. They grow up together, and fall apart. It is a story of growth and strength.

[nerdygaymormon]

I'm excited for this!! Coming in May 2024 is the Book of Queer Mormon Joy!!!!!

I love the cover!!!!!

I have a short story in the book about a moment of queer joy with my friend Kris Irvin.

I haven't read any of the other stories, but I do know who some of the authors are, including Jaclyn Foster, Andi Elaine Ybarra, Erran Speaker, Laurie Lee Hall, Blaire Ostler, Emmett Preciado!

[nottskyler]

Catching up from the weekend I saw a this post: “the media will not acknowledge the presence of gay Christians who have chosen celibacy, or bi Christians who have chosen to renounce same-sex romantic relationships, entirely of their own volition.“

I wanted to give my two cents on it without seeming mean since I strongly disagree with this statement. If I had not been trans, I would have been a lot worse of an advocate against gays because I am bi. For bi individuals it is a choice, like not dating the sexist creep no matter how attractive he looks or not dating a non-member or not dating someone going into a career that you can’t handle the moral implications of what your spouse is going to be doing to provide for the family. It’s a choice that bi people have the luxury of making and it isn’t a big deal. Maybe you missed out by not dating the same-sex, but it would be like the non-member converting while you were on your mission and you could’ve been the one to help them into the Church or like the individual who wanted the morally questionable job could’ve easily been swayed into a different career, but in the end your life isn’t on the line when it comes to who you chose as your spouse.

Some gay Christians may find themselves leaning towards asexuality or are repulsed with the idea of any sex. For them choosing to remain celibate is like an asexual person choosing that path, it doesn’t take a lot of pain and maybe living with a romantic partner would be nice, but they’ll live.

For the rest of the queer community it isn’t a “sacrifice” like not drinking alcohol or not having sex before marriage or limiting marriage options to members.  Choosing to not live our eternal gender or as ourselves is choosing to be depressed, anxious, and possibly suicidal for our entire live. While it might not always mean that death comes by suicide, living as a hollow shell trying to present as human to hide the void that you have become is a death of who you are as a child of Gd. The choice is one of life or death.

There is a recurring question about choosing good and evil in the Book of Mormon that equates choosing good as choosing life and choosing evil as choosing death. -“And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil” 2 Nephi 2:27 -“But he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.” Alma 29:5 -“He hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; “ Helaman 14:30-31

This comparison has meant a lot to me as I have navigated my faith and identity because transitioning is choosing life and choosing Christ. It makes my path as clear as day is from the night. From what I see about gay people who aren’t asexual leaning, the same goes for them. Abstaining from relationships, or worse trying to live in a hetero relationship, kills them just as much as living as a woman did to me.

There is definitely a keenness for suffering-porn with Protestantism where the suffering of others is seen as for their benefit and the belief that suffering causes the suffering person’s exaltation even though most Church goers would never opt to go into those situations even if it was their only path for salvation. There is this belief that life being difficult is what life is about. But it isn’t. Life is about learning and growing and becoming better.

The enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ because it is a tool and not a solution. Seeing the Atonement as something that makes things right instead of a tool to make things right is why so many Christians opt for supporting charity organizations instead of going out and doing their part to stop suffering where they are. It’s why the Church sits back and says that everything will be made right later, so be depressed and suicidal i this life if you are queer and you will be saved. But the whole point of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is to heal us NOW (obviously not like a miracle cure, but it is a treatment to start using now). Jesus Christ suffered to help carry our burdens not so we can carry them to prove we are worthy of eternal life. The enabling power shakes the chains of death and hell that came from living the wrong gender and sexuality so we can learn to live our lives and be happy members of society that can contribute to bettering it. Repentance looks like coming out of the closet and living as who you truly are.

I have nothing against people who try to live as they were taught as long as it isn’t killing them, it would be very hypocritical of me to judge since I lived that way for most of my life. But stop thinking that you aren’t represented. You chose to be another body in the congregation of the Church. That is your representation. Don’t complain because you think you deserve to be more than one in the crowd, that you’ll be different from every other poster child used to tell queer people how to live their lives only to step down and follow everyone else in a few years. Don’t worry, the Church takes care of telling us how to live so we don’t need representation on how not to follow the “queer lifestyle”.

Being a good Christian means being a good person. Being a good Christian frequently means doing good things without being acknowledged or thanked. Being a good Christian means having a relationship with Christ. Stop worrying if other people are seeing your righteousness.

[sophielovesbooks]

Sophie’s Queer YA Rec List

Hi everyone! :) I’m back with another list of book recommendations! Yes, two of the books on here cross-feature on my Dark Academia Rec List, but here, the focus is different.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my YA LGBTQ+ Rec List!

Her Royal Highness (Rachel Hawkins)

Listen, we’re starting off strong, because this one is an absolute GEM. American girl goes abroad to a fancy boarding school in Scotland. Also, she’s bi, her roommate is the princess of Scotland and the cutest haters-to-lovers situation ensues!! Read if you like fluffier reads, if you’ve ever been on a year abroad, if you’ve ever wanted to go on a year abroad, if you love Scotland or if you’re a girl who likes pretty girls! <3 (Note: This is the sequel to “Royals”, but I didn’t read that one either and you 100% don’t need to in order to understand this one.)

As I Descended (Robin Talley)

Okay, now this one is a lot darker. It’s a queer Macbeth retelling, which is a pretty amazing concept in itself. Also set at a fancy boarding school, but in Virginia. The main girls are a closeted power couple who more or less succumb to the darkness in their strive for even more power. This book is super diverse with Hispanic characters, wlw, mlm and one of the main two girls being disabled (though some people have criticised the way she was written). Read if you want a spooky story, if you love boarding school settings or if you love Shakespeare retellings!

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Benjamin Alire Sáenz)

This book is a classic of the queer coming-of-age genre, and it reads like one, too! The style is fairly simple, which may take some getting used to, but the author nailed the narrator’s voice, the story is meaningful, the characters feel complex and real and Ari’s fight to accept himself for who he is will break your heart! Set in the 1980s in El Paso, Texas. The two main boys are both Mexican American. And for reasons I can’t exactly put my finger on, this read like a modern-day Catcher in the Rye! Read this book if you want boys fighting to accept the fact that they love boys and complex family dynamics!

If I Was Your Girl (Meredith Russo)

Can ONLY recommend this one! The main character is a trans girl who goes to live with her dad after a traumatic event. At her new school, all she wants is to blend in, but she ends up suddenly popular for the first time in her life and dating a cute boy! This book was definitely fluffy at times, but still dealt with the darker aspects of being trans in this world (trigger warning for depression, dysphoria, a suicide attempt!) Read if, like me, you’re a cis person looking to get a better idea of what it’s like to be trans or if you’re trans and want to see yourself represented! The author is a trans woman herself and the book ends with a really emotional and thoughtful author’s note (that, yes, made me cry).

You Know Me Well (David Levithan & Nina LaCour)

Out of the books on this list, this one focuses the most on LGBTQ+ themes. It’s literally set in San Francisco during Pride Week, and it’s about a gay girl who is madly in love with another girl, but self-sabotages at every turn, and a gay boy, who is madly in love with his best friend, who fools around with him occasionally but doesn’t love him back. One thing that bothered me a bit was the insta-friendship between the two main characters, but I’m here for the gay-lesbian solidarity, and I thought the wlw romance was so cute! Read for a slightly fluffier dual-perspective book with strong LBGTQ+ and coming-of-age themes and a central friendship!

We Are Okay (Nina LaCour)

Oh God, this one. Read only if you are ready to be emotionally destroyed! The main character grew up with her grandfather, and after losing him, too, she feels completely alone. Set during Christmas break of her first semester of college, which she spends on campus in New York. Alone! Until her friend/lover comes to visit and emotionally reconnect with her. Hauntingly and lyrically written, this book is an absolute beauty that had me in literal tears and made my heart hurt. Can only recommend!

People Like Us (Dana Meele)

This one cross-features on my Dark Academia rec list, because it’s set at yet another elite boarding school (yes, this is my thing) and begins with a murder. The wlw themes in this came as a very pleasant surprise! Read if you’re looking for more of a mystery thriller that still includes wlw, but not as the main focus. Personally, I had certain issues with the plot, but the book was still a very engaging, quick and fun read!

Radio Silence (Alice Oseman)

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME! The main character is Frances, a biracial, bisexual girl whose main goal in life is getting into Cambridge. Her friends see her as nothing but a study machine, but secretly, Frances is the biggest fangirl and draws fanart for a podcast called “Universe City”. The book is all about her close friendship with Aled, who turns out to be the podcast’s creator, academic pressure and figuring out what actually matters to you in life. I connected strongly with the themes of working so hard toward certain goals and not being seen by your friends for who you really are. Read if you want the most adorable platonic friendship EVER (between a bi girl and a demisexual guy), internet culture being represented accurately, wlw and mlm and an incredibly relatable main character!

Autoboyography (Christina Lauren)

Tanner is bi and was happy and out when his family still lived in California, but is forced back into the closet, basically for safety, when his family moved to Provo, Utah, where there are more Mormons than non-Mormons. His best friend Autumn convinces him to sign up for a very special class with her in their final year of high school, where the idea is that every student writes a novel. This is where Tanner meets Sebastian and falls head-over-heels! The problem? Sebastian is Mormon and not allowed to be with another boy. Even worse? He’s the bishop’s son! Read this one for two adorable boys actually going through something incredibly hard together and breaking your heart in the process! What I loved about this was that religion was shown in its full complexity, the good and the bad, and Sebastian’s struggle was so realistic! Also, this love story was much more high stakes than the usual “I’m sure he doesn’t like me back!” non-issue and it really drew me in!

I Was Born For This (Alice Oseman)

Another Oseman book!! (Spoiler alert: It’s also very good!) Told in dual perspective. The first one is Fereshteh, who tends to go by the English translation of her name: Angel. The biggest source of joy in her life is the popular boy band “The Ark”, and she plans to go to London to finally meet her best online friend in person, then go to an Ark concert together with her. The second perspective is Jimmy, a trans boy and one of the three members of the band. Things definitely don’t go as planned that week in London, Angel and Jimmy actually meet, chaos ensues. Read this if you’re looking for a fandom-based story that just gets internet culture and also has a very diverse set of characters! But be prepared for this to actually become very dark and intensely emotional at times! (The characters, especially Jimmy, were struggling more mental-health-wise than I had expected, and it wasn’t always easy to read, so be safe, everybody!)

These are the ones I’ve read so far, but don’t worry, I’ll update this list soon with many more! Already on my TBR (and in some cases even already on my shelves!) are These Witches Don’t Burn, Let’s Talk About Love (asexual main character!!), Tash Hearts Tolstoy (another asexual main character!) and I Wish You All the Best (non-binary rep!!!)

[basket-of-epiphanies]

Guys, Tan France is writing a book and I am Ready For It

It’s called Tan France: Love, Family, Queer Eye, and What I Wore .

Description: In this heartfelt, funny, touching memoir, Tan France, star of Netflix's smash-hit QUEER EYE tells his origin story for the first time. With his trademark wit, humor, and radical compassion, Tan reveals what it was like to grow up gay in a traditional Muslim family, as one of the few people of color in Doncaster, England. He illuminates his winding journey of coming of age, finding his voice (and style!), and how he finally came out to his family at the age of 34, revealing that he was happily married to the love of his life--a Mormon cowboy from Salt Lake City. In Tan's own words, "The book is meant to spread joy, personal acceptance, and most of all understanding. Each of us is living our own private journey, and the more we know about each other, the healthier and happier the world will be."

It’s set to release in May 2019 and let me tell you May cannot come fast enough.

[astorywithnoend]

Musicals as one day at a time quotes

Book of Mormon: Jesus and Santa were cousins everybody knows this

Legally blonde: makeup makes you beautiful. Beauty gives you power

In the heights: oye. La nieta de Olguitita got new tetas

Be more chill: he is possessed by the YouTube

Fun home: all these boys were talking to me, which is the last thing I want

Company: hey, so, for the quinces, is there a way I can get a plus three?

Jamie: I’m the pretty one in this family

Mean girls: I think there’s something a little bit, uh, queer

Dear Evan Hansen: look at you in a good mood! It’s the drugs isn’t it?

Come from away: god bless white guilt, or is it Canadian goodness?

Les Mis: don’t leave me in all this pain, don’t leave me out in the rain

Newsies: I do it for the joy! You owe me $30

Holy musical b@man: I am a badass! But I’m also kind of a scaredy cat, you know

Chicago: experienced Latina will make your body do things you didn’t know it could

Falsettos: Cubans have nothing on the Jews when it comes to force-feeding their children!

Hamilton: immigrants, we get the job done