Highlight Of The Month: “The Village” by Wrabel
This moving video follows a transgender teenager as they struggle to navigate a world where they are told they are wrong for not fitting in and meeting expectations. The picture painted clearly shows that this person does not find support and acceptance at home. Binding, hiding, and crying, until they finally break free and cut their hair off. They are shown with a family who are all fighting and crying and hurting. Their reaction to this transformation is volatile. School offers a safer space. We see art as a form of therapy and release. We get to see the beauty in acceptance.
No, your mom don’t get it
And your dad don’t get it
Uncle John don’t get it
And you can’t tell grandma
‘Cause her heart can’t take it
And she might not make it
They say, “Don’t dare, don’t you even go there”
“Cutting off your long hair”
“You do as you’re told”
Tell you, “Wake up, go put on your makeup”
“This is just a phase you’re gonna outgrow”
There’s something wrong in the village
In the village
Read
America Is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
Cantoras by Carolina de Robertis
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
Nevada by Imogen Binnie
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Paul Takes the Form of an Immortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor
Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn
Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Real Life by Brandon Taylor
Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
Dreadnought by April Daniels
Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
A Cup of Water Under My Bed by Daisy Hernandez
Exile and Pride by Eli Clare
Here For It by R. Eric Thomas
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel-Essays by Alexander Chee
Insomniac City by Bill Hayes
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Tomboy Survival Guide by Ivan Coyote
We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib
When They Call You A Terrorist-A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele
Bestiary by Donika Kelly
Don’t Call Us Dead by Danez Smith
Nature Poem by Tommy Pico
Transgender History by Susan Stryker
A Place Called No Homeland by Kai Cheng Thom
When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities by Chen Chen
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamai and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
Fierce Femmes and Notorious Lovers by Kai Cheng Tom
Boy Erased by Garrad Conley
We Are Everywhere by Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown
Fairest by Meredith Talusan
The Stonewall Reader edited by the New York Public Library
Stonewall by Martin Duberman
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color is a feminist anthology edited by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria E. Anzaldúa
Real Life by Brandon Taylor
Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
Queer There and Everywhere: 23 People who Changed the World by Sarah Prager
Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton
The History of Sexuality by Michel Foucault
Asegi Stories: Cherokee Queer and Two-Spirit Memory by Qwo-Li Driskoll
Queering the Color Line: Race and the Invention of Homosexuality in American Culture by Siobhan B. Somerville
A Rainbow Thread: An Anthology of Queer Jewish Texts from the First Century to 1969 by Noam Sienna
A People’s history of Heaven by Mathangi Subramanian
Watch
Moonlight (2015)
The Queen (1968)
Rafiki (2019)
Paris is Burning (1990)
The Handmaiden (2016)
I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
Bessie (2015)
Naz and Maalik (2014)
Tongues Untied (1989)
The Boys in the Band (1970)
Philadelphia (1993)
Carol (2015)
BPM (2017)
The Birdcage (1996)
Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
Tangerine (2015)
Parting Glances (1986)
The Color Purple (1985)
God’s Own Country (2017)
A Fantastic Woman (2017)
Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)
Longtime Companion (1989)
Pride (2014)
All About My Mother (1999)
High Art (1998)
Jeffrey (1995)
A Single Man (2005)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
Before Night Falls (2000)
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Pariah (2011)
But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
Beginners (2010)
The Wedding Banquet (1993)
Making Love (1982)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Maurice (1987)
My Own Private Idaho (1991)
Beach Rats (2017)
Personal Best (1982)
The Kids Are All Right (2010)
The Watermelon Woman (1996)
Other People (2016)
Happy Together (1997)
Keep the Lights On (2012)
Desert Hearts (1985)
Viva (2015)
Handsome Devil (2017)
Rocketman (2019)
The Children’s Hour (1961)
Love, Simon (2018)
Punks (2000)
Brother to Brother (2004)
Listen
“The Village” by Wrabel
“Black Tie” by Grace Petrie
“Girls/Girls/Boys” by Panic! At The Disco
“She Keeps Me Warm” by Mary Lambert
“Fuck You” by Lily Allen
“Finally” by CeCe Peniston
“Constant Craving” by K.D. Lang
“Brave” by Sara Bareilles
“I Want To Break Free” by Queen
“We Are Family” by Sister Sledge
“The Origin Of Love” by Hedwig and the Angry Inch
“Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill
“Raise You Up/Just Be” from Kinky Boots**
“A Little Respect” by Ensure
“Do You Really Want To Hurt Me” by Culture Club
“Supermodel (You Better Work)” by RuPaul
“Boys Keep Swimming” by David Bowie
“Glad To Be Gay” by Tom Robinson Band
“Dancing On My Own” by Robyn
“Closer To Fine” by Indigo Girls
“People Like Us” by Kelly Clarkson
“Y.M.C.A.” by Village People
“Firework” by Katy Perry
“You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” by Sylvester
“Follow Your Arrow” by Kacey Musgraves
“Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
“Grace Kelly” by Mika
“I Go To Rio” by Peter Allen
“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” by Elton John and George Michael
“I Love The Nightlife” by Alicia Bridges
“Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat
“Heavy Cross” by Gossip
“New York City Boy” by Pet Shop Boys
“Let’s Have A Kiki” by Scissor Sisters
“Come To My Window” by Melissa Etheridge
“Take Me I’m Yours” by Jobriath
“All The Lovers” by Kylie Minogue
“Bloom” by Troye Sivan
“Got To Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn
“A Little Respect” by Erasure
“What I Need” by Hayley Kiyoko ft. Kehlani
“Freedom! ’90” by George Michael
“LGBT” by CupcaKKe
“Raise Your Glass” by P!nk
“Keep On Living” by Le Tigre
“Take Me Or Leave Me” from Rent
“Vogue” by Madonna
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
“If I Could Turn Back Time” by Cher
“Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
“Sissy That Walk” by RuPaul
“True Trans Soul Rebel” by Against Me!
“Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
“Girls Like Girls” by Hayley Kiyoko
“Closer” by Tegan and Sara
“I Want To Break Free” by Queen
“Queen” by Perfume Genius
“Make Me Feel” by Janelle Monáe
“Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert
“Honey” by Kehlani
“HIM” by Sam Smith
“Strangers” by Halsey ft. Lauren Jauregui
“Follow Your Arrow” by Kacey Musgraves ****
“You Need To Calm Down” by Taylor Swift
“I Feel Love” by Donna Summer
“Elton’s Song” by Elton John
“Groove Is In The Heart” by Deee-Lite
“Anthem” by Pansy Division
“I Love Hardcore Boys/I Love Boys Hardcore” by Limp Wrist
“Take Your Mama” by Scissor Sisters
“Blind” by Hercules and Love Affair
“Alive” by Sia