Happy Birthday, To My Blog... 2 Years, More than 200 Gay Teen Books, Over 100,000 visitors!

It's my blog-o-versary! Today, September 15, 2009 is exactly 2 years to the day since I started "I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell do I Read?"

Over 100 countries!

Over 100,000 unique visitors!

Over 200 books for Teens with GLBTQ characters and themes!

I thought to celebrate, instead of candles, I'd share with you a few excerpts from some really heartwarming comments I've gotten about this blog:

So happy about the blog. This is very BIG.

- dp

...I'm 22 years old and a gay man. I love your blog, as I have plans of my own to write a story (just finished my plot outline!) that I like to think of as a mixture between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Harry Potter. ...Someday I hope my book will appear on here, and that yours will too =) Thank you very much because I am here, I am queer, and I've found some things to read.

- Jacob

I decided to google an old term I have heard a few times. Winkte. I am Lakota (Sioux) of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. It is nice to see some understanding and remembrance for the peoples of the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires - Great Sioux Nation). Thank you!

- Bobby

I am a youth services librarian and I follow your blog religiously. I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoy all of your recommendations. While I am not gay, growing up as a young adult in Iowa I had many friends who were and could have definitely benefited from a resource like this. ...keep up the good work and I look forward to continue reading!

- Sara

WONDERFUL blog and the work you are doing for GLBTQ teens; thank you!

I’m a public educator in Portland, OR and 25 years ago, when I took an class on adolescent literature, I wrote a “bibliotherapy” paper for the same cause. The few books I found had very tragic, grim outcomes for gay characters; so much has changed and I applaud your efforts.

Glad I found your blog tonight for all that it holds. Thank you so much for the work you do.

- Gwen

...Thanks again for such a wonderful site! I'll be sure to check the reviews, since I'm always in a mood for something new to read. :)

- K L

I've been reading your blog for a while now and really hate the effect it's had on my wallet (no, really, I find more new titles here than just about anywhere else).

- Brian

I just wanted to say thank you for making this site available to teens. I am straight, but I have friends who are gay. I think anyone can relate to stories about people of a different sexual preference because we all deal with things that we want to hide. I have recommended this site to many friends and I will continue to do so.

- Korianne

I think your blog is amazing. I'm a teen reader and it's like discovering a whole new world! Thanks for doing this, you must put a lot of time and effort into it. I wish my local library carried all the books on your list, I'd never leave there :)

- Charlie

Comments like these make me see that I'm making a difference, and that, together, we're changing our world for the better, one book - and one blog post - at a time!

Thank you all for your support, for reading my blog, and for reading and talking and being excited about the culture, the politics, the poetry, and these great GLBTQ Teen books!

Here's to another amazing year ahead,

Namaste,
Lee