Openly, Honestly - A Free Short Story That Bridges Two Gay YA Novels (And Follows The Romance Between Rafe and Ben)

Openly, Honestly by Bill Konigsberg

Rafe Goldberg was planning to spend winter break at home in Colorado openly mourning what he almost had with Ben. He wasn’t expecting his best friend, Claire Olivia, to kidnap him. And he definitely wasn’t expecting what she has planned to cheer him up...

Ben Carver was honestly planning to spend winter break at home in New Hampshire not thinking about Rafe. But he wasn’t expecting to run into his ex-girlfriend, who’s still interested in him. And he wasn’t expecting to find himself still attracted to her...

Add your review of the free short story "Openly, Honestly" in comments!

Kaleidoscope - An anthology of diverse YA Science Fiction and Fantasy stories (with about half the stories featuring QUILTBAG characters) where diversity isn't the main issue

Kaleidoscope, edited by Alisa Krasnostein and Julia Rios.


Here are the stories with LGBTQ characters and themes:

“Seventh Day of the Seventh Moon” by Ken Liu is set in China during a lovers’ festival, and features a lesbian couple who share one last magical night before one of them goes to boarding school overseas.

“The Legend Trap” by Sean Williams is set in a future when teleportation is an everyday thing. Three teen friends (one is the son of two dads, and the other two are a lesbian couple) discover a portal to a parallel universe.

“The Day the God Died” by Alena McNamara shows us a genderqueer/genderquestioning teen who meets a dying god.

“Signature” by Faith Mudge features a gay supporting character who works in a bookstore with our disabled Desi protagonist—unfortunately that bookstore is in a lot of trouble due to a magical contract that the workers have signed.

“The Lovely Duckling” by Tim Susman is about a transgendered teen who wants to go to shapeshifting school to learn how to take the form of a Condor.

“Kiss and Kiss and Kiss and Tell” by E.C. Myers has a bisexual protagonist who can see the future when she kisses people.

“Celebration” by Sean Eads sends one gay teen to a conversion therapy camp, but things turn out to be even more sinister than they first appear when aliens turn up on the scene.

“Every Little Thing” by Holly Kench has a protagonist who is disabled and queer, and also a spellcaster.

“Happy Go Lucky” by Garth Nix is set in a dystopian future where everyone is tested for their luck value and placed in a rigid class system. Jean has always assumed she’d be lucky for life, but when one of her fathers displeases the government and the family’s class is reassigned, she has to find a way to turn her bad luck around.

“Ordinary Things” by Vylar Kaftan has a bi protagonist who is reeling from a bad breakup and finds strength in small rituals.



The editors wrote this about the project:

We wanted to fill a book with stories about all kinds of teens who don’t often get the spotlight in stories. Roughly half of the stories feature QUILTBAG characters, but intersectionality is important to us, too, so in several cases the characters might be diverse in other ways, too. Most of all we wanted to have a book of stories where the race, gender, sexuality, and ability of the characters wasn’t the main issue, though. In Kaleidoscope, some of the stories are happy and some of the stories are sad, but all of them are about more than just the labels we might be able to apply to the main characters.

Add your review of "Kaleidoscope" in comments!

Learning To Kiss Girls (Short Story) - A 14-year Old Sets Herself A Goal

Learning To Kiss Girls by Elizabeth Andre

It’s 1984, and there are lots of things the family of Helen Blumenstein, age 14, doesn’t talk about. Her cousin is gay. Helen’s best female friend may have a crush on her. Helen wants to learn about kissing girls, but she’s scared of being different. Helen will have to find her own voice and decide if she is brave enough to be exactly who she is supposed to be, even if that means being a little bit queer.

Note that while the author usually writes erotica, she wrote to tell me that short story "is G-rated." Add your review of "Learning To Kiss Girls" in comments!

Edge - Short Stories by M.E. Kerr that include a lesbian teen, a homophobic dad, and a society where sex isn't special (but ideas are)

Edge by M.E. Kerr

Three stories from the collection include LGBTQ characters/themes:

“The Fire At Far and Away”
- Gil’s dad constantly makes negative comments about Paul and Robert, a couple who spends their summers in Gil's town. Though it bothers him, he never speaks up and when Gil starts working as a housekeeper for them, Gil fears what slurs his dad will start saying to him.

‘We Might As Well All Be Strangers”
-After coming out to her Holocaust-survivor grandmother and mother, Alison deals with backlash from her mother, who is having trouble coming to terms with Alison's sexuality. As a victim of prejudice, Alison's grandmother is more accepting.

“Do You Want My Opinion?”
- John lives in a society where everyone belongs to each other — you are free to touch anyone you chose, but the sharing of opinions is looked down upon. Sex is not seen as something special to share between two people in love; rather it is the sharing of ideas that you wait for the right person for.

Add your review of "Edge" or any of the short stories in the collection in comments!

Sam & Aaron - A wordless online graphic short story that's free (and heartwarming!)

The website landing (and first) page of "Sam & Aaron"

Sam & Aaron by Gary Hansen

Sam & Aaron is a short illustrated story following the puppy love shared by two young grade-school aged boys. It is a story without an antagonist or conflict and dwells on the innocence and excitement of first love.

The author/illustrator explains (both in his about page and as part of the kickstarter video he's created to print up copies of the story) that being gay and coming out for him was full of negative emotions, confusion, fear and shame. He wrote and illustrated "Sam & Aaron" as a way to heal himself. As he says, "a hopeful view of a world I hope to see for future generations."

Free Reads: Two Short Stories About College Guys Falling For Other Guys

Second Shot  by Andrew Gordon

What do you do when you are deep in the closet but you meet the man of your dreams? Do you take the chance and risk the consequences?  Jason (a closeted soccer player) has to figure it out when he meets Peter, an out martial arts champion.

and


Bettor To Lose by Andrew Gordon

Jack's luck with dating hasn't been the best. When a fraternity brother suggests he can't get a date, Jack agrees to a bet: Jack brings a date to the Fraternity Formal or he loses. Now all he needs is a date. 


The stories are posted by the author and available for free at the http://www.gayauthors.org site (just click on the titles above.)  Add your review of "Second Shot" and/or "Bettor To Lose" in comments.

Sock It To Me, Santa! - A Gay Teen Short Story For The Holidays!

Sock It To Me, Santa! by Madison Parker

Ryan is assigned to Jamie Peterson for his class's secret gift exchange. If word gets out that he has to make a handcrafted gift for flamboyant and openly gay Jamie, Ryan will be the laughing stock of the school. It's a good thing no self-respecting boy would be caught dead in a craft store, because otherwise he'd be at risk of being spotted when his mom drags him to her weekly craft workshops. He hopes Jamie will appreciate all the trouble he's going to for this assignment. Finding the perfect gift is gonna be tricky. Jamie deserves something good, though, after all the crap he has to put up with at school. At least, Ryan tells himself that's the reason he's putting so much thought into the gift. It couldn't be that he has feelings for Jamie, could it?

This story is published by the author.  Add your review of "Sock It To Me, Santa!" in comments!

Diverse Energies - a YA Dystopian Anthology focused on diversity - racial and LGBT!

Diverse Energies edited by Tobias Buckell and Joe Monti

The stories span from past to future, and the protagonists are a diverse group of students, street kids, good girls, kidnappers, and child laborers pitted against their environments, their governments, differing cultures, and sometimes one another as they seek answers in their dystopian worlds.

Two of the stories feature main queer characters:

Malinda Lo's "Good Girl"
In this dystopian world where racial purity puts you in a higher class, a "good girl" from above ground meets a girl who lives in the tunnels below while searching for her vanished brother.

Rahul Kanakia, "Next Door"
In this society, the rich live in a virtual world, ignorant of the poverty the real world holds. Squatters share space with the rich, and a boy and his boyfriend search for the perfect place to call home - somewhere away from the bed bugs that plague much of the city.

Add your review of "Diverse Energies" in comments!

The Winter Garden and Other Stories - Fairy Tales for Gay Teens

The Winter Garden and Other Stories by Hayden Thorne

The Haunted Glade:

Rumors of mysterious music coming from the wood prompt a small group of adventurous young people from a tiny village to solve the puzzle of the haunted glade, not knowing that the music is meant only for one boy. Realizing this, the village potter tries to discover who is now marked by legend in hopes of helping him come to terms with his destiny.

Out of the Depths:

It has been a year since Konstancji’s lover passed away, but rather than move on with his life, Konstancji works obsessively on a statue, which is the means through which he hopes to bring his beloved back from the dead. “Out of the Depths” is a gothic retelling of the “Pygmallion” myth.

The Dollhouse:

A strange force is at work in a magnificent house filled with revelers. When midnight strikes to mark Christmas Day, guests find themselves in the wrong company. The answer to the riddle, however, is
simpler than they think.

The Winter Garden:

Nicholas’ fragile health forces him into a life of isolation in his family’s spacious and paradisial garden. His life changes when a bold young stranger not only befriends him but also dares to trespass into his quiet world. The boys’ friendship deepens, their connection strengthening in defiance of dangers posed by the winter on Nicholas’ health.

The Knight:

A dragon plagues a tiny kingdom ruled by a weak king and is pacified only through a monthly sacrifice of the kingdom’s young people. When Prince Caedmon’s lover falls victim to the dragon, an act of betrayal is discovered. The prince recklessly offers himself as sacrifice to balance the scales, but a knight appears and thwarts his plans.

Erl-King:

Baltasar grows up in a world of absolutes, of black and white, right and wrong. In the countryside he stumbles across an enchanted land and its melancholy, ageless ruler -- a land full of color and magic, and a bond that defies everything he’s always known. "Erl-King" is a retelling of Goethe’s ballad by the same title.

Clouds' Illusions:

Five-year-old Simon, along with his parents and older sister Amy, go to a carnival one day. When a sudden deluge separates the family and leaves Simon alone and frightened, the child undergoes a journey of maturation as he searches for his parents and sister.

The Bridge:

Remy Pepin is orphaned, poor, and bullied by his employer. His only source of hope is a superstition about a lit candle sitting by a window, which is said to attract luck. Day after day, Remy lights his
candle and waits. One snowy evening, a boy appears at his doorstep, seeking shelter.

The Water-Irises:

Hugh LaCaille’s quiet, scholarly life is interrupted one day by a wealthy but obnoxious businessman who hires Hugh as a tutor to his young son, whom he wants to see grow up to be just as successful as
his father in commerce. When Hugh finally meets Aubin, he realizes there’s a great deal more than what meets the eye as far as the boy’s concerned ... particularly his curious and outlandish stories
involving a strange kingdom found at the bottom of a pond filled with water-irises.

Add your review of "The Winter Garden and Other Stories" in comments!

One In Every Crowd: Stories for and about Queer Youth

One in Every Crowd by Ivan E. Coyote

Comprised of new stories and others culled from previous collections, One in Every Crowd is for anyone who has ever felt different or alone in their struggle to be true to themselves. Included are stories about Ivan's own tomboy past in Canada's north, where playing hockey and wearing pants were the norm; and about her adult life in the big city, where she encounters both cruelty and kindness in unexpected places. Then there are the tales of family and friends who live their lives by example, like Francis, the curly-haired little boy who likes to wear dresses, and the brave kids she meets at queer youth camp.

Funny, inspiring, and full of heart, One in Every Crowd is really for everyone; it's about embracing and celebrating difference and feeling comfortable in one's own skin, no matter what the circumstance.

Add your review of "One in Every Crowd" in comments!

Bullied - a short story collection about gay teens and bullying

By Jeff Erno

This collection has seven short stories about gay teens and bullying.

"In Invisible, the bullying victim's voice is heard. Chase Devereaux is fifteen, and he's terrified when he has to give a speech in his oral communications class. To make matters worse, though, he has a really hard day when he falls victim to an episode of merciless bullying in gym class.Worst of all, his humiliation is witnessed by the boy of Chase's dreams.

Chuckie is told in the voice of the bully. David is a high school jock, one of the popular kids, and he's annoyed by the pathetic weakness and vulnerability of his classmate Charles. It seems natural to David to flex his superior muscle in front of the little wimp and remind him who's boss. When David discovers that Charles shares a connection with a mutual friend, David begins to see things in a whole new light.

Bryan Daniels is the narrator of Blending In, the story of a gay teen who stands idly by while one of his openly gay classmates is repeatedly bullied. Bryan feels sorry for Chris, but on some level he thinks perhaps Chris' openness and flamboyance make him an obvious target. Perhaps Chris is really asking for it and is just getting what he deserves. Bryan doesn't want to get involved. It's too risky, because if he speaks up in defense of Chris, he may be the next victim.

Saved: Jonathan goes to a Christian parochial school, and his best friend is Curtis. The boys have been best buds since the seventh grade. Jonathan tells their story in Saved. As he begins high school, Jon aspires to fit in with the guys on his soccer team. When he witnesses his teammates tormenting his best friend Curtis, he knows there really isn't much he can do. In truth, Jon has outgrown Curtis, and he wonders why they ever were close friends to begin with. Curtis just needs to man-up and stop being such a wimp. It's not up to Jonathan to protect or defend him. After all, he's not his brother's keeper.

In Shame,Terri Tyler is a single mother of two teenagers. Her son Cameron has always been her pride and joy. Cam is artistic and sensitive, and his sense of refinement has always been something she's regarded as special. She also prides herself on her open-mindedness. She has gay friends and acquaintances, and is not the least bit prejudiced, or so she tells herself. When Terri discovers that her son Cam is being bullied at school, she becomes very concerned. Of course she is worried about Cam's safety and well being, but more importantly, she fears that maybe Cam's uniqueness is something more profound than merely a matter of refinement.

Different is the story of three gay teens: Caiden, Rick, and Tina. Each of them has battled their own demons and has learned to cope with the reality of being different from their peers. One of them, however, is far more vulnerable than the other two. Caiden lacks social skills, and he feels completely ostracized, which only seems to fuel the bullying that plagues him on a daily basis. When he reaches a breaking point, the other two have an opportunity to step forward and save him, but their efforts may prove to be too little and too late.

Kirby is not only gay but he's also overweight. It's not easy for a teen to cope with being fat, let alone also being homosexual. Kirby's okay though. He's learned how to put on a happy face and ignore the constant name-calling and teasing. The one thing that makes his life bearable is his best friend Tony, and Kirby leans on him for support during his darkest hours. Tony, however, doesn't seem to have the character to be the friend Kirby needs, and the results are devastating. Can Kirby find the strength within himself to rise above the bullying, or will he remain a perpetual victim?"

Add your review of "Bullied" in comments!

A cool opportunity for young writers: A new ficitonal short story anthology is looking for tales of "Being Queer"

Hey, teen and young adult writers!

Check out this call for submissions from Bold Strokes books for a new anthology, OMGQueer.




They're looking for fictional short stories about "being queer" from 14-24 year olds across the USA.

"Use the power of fiction to tell us about coming out (or not), about dating, about sex, about what "family means to you, etc."

Their deadline for submissions is October 15, so now you have a great goal for your summer writing. Good luck!

Namaste,
Lee

ps - My thanks to fellow writer Emily Jiang for sharing this with me so I could share it with you!

Not The Only One: Lesbian and Gay Fiction for Teens - A GLBTQ Short Story Anthology

Edited by Jane Summer

Published in 2004 by Alyson Publications

When I first tried locating this book, I had no success. It turns out that "Not the Only One" is out of print, and that is such a shame. Filled with entertaining and relatable stories this anthology is incredibly fun to read. Each selection is creative and shows a different aspect of GLBTQ culture. (Used copies are still available at Amazon, and hopefully in some libraries...)


Mrs. Houdini’s Wife by Angela Brown
While supporting her husband, Harry Houdini, at one of his many shows, Bess Houdini meets Berta Thomashefsky, otherwise known as Tom, a beautiful Jewish woman who feels more comfortable in men’s clothing. The two become close and bond over Tom’s Jewish faith. As their relationship turns romantic, Bess falls for Tom’s masculinity and vivaciousness.


Guarding the Punch- and Alice by Bonnie Shimko
When Charlotte first laid eyes on Alice Weinstein in 6th grade, she knew that Alice was the one. Now at the senior prom, forced into a prom dress monstrosity by her mother, Charlotte talks to Alice, the prom queen, and discovers that they have had mutual feelings all along.


It Feels Great by Pam McArthur
When a girl named Gina comes out to her school, she inspires another girl to confront her confusions about her sexuality and go to a Gay and Lesbian Youth Alliance meeting. There she gains the confidence to tell her sisters about herself.


Sara by Michael Thomas Ford
Thomas, a rather astute fourth-grader, uses his imaginary friend Sara to help him escape his nagging parents.


Fooling Around by Claire McNab
Brett’s mom completely freaks out when Steve’s dad calls her to tell her that he caught Brett and Steve kissing at a party one night. Brett doesn’t understand what warrants this type of reaction from his mom, who tells him to play off the whole ordeal as a joke, even though Brett knows that it was anything but. He then discovers that his dad is more like him than he could have ever known.


The Widest Heart by Malka Drucker
A girl meets Marcia, an overweight and overworked girl from a Greek family. The two become great friends and dream of moving to the east coast and starting their own book shop. However, Marcia’s strict Greek father stands in their way, because he does not believe that Marcia should go to college, since she’s a girl. The two are driven apart but one day Marcia introduces her friend to Dannie, her girlfriend.


Somebody’s Boyfriend by Laurel Winter
When Alex meets his sister Maggie’s boyfriend Jeff, he finds that he has fallen head-over-heels in love with him. One day his sister divulges that the two haven’t even kissed and Alex ashamedly sees a ray of hope. Maggie employs her brother’s help to find out if Jeff really likes her, but Alex finds out so much more.


Her Sister’s Wedding by Judith P. Stelboum
Veronica is attending her sister’s wedding as a bridesmaid, but all she can think about is how she will never be able to have this ceremony with Leslie, her love. She lets a boy named Buddy dance with her and he even asks her out, but she soon realizes that she can’t live this lie anymore.


Rain by Christina Chiu
A girl feels as though she can’t get out of the shadow of her over-achieving sister, Rainy. Rainy and her best friend Jade had always been the ones to get A’s while Rainy’s sister got by with B’s and a football player boyfriend. Rainy’s sister becomes jealous when Rainy is the one to receive the scholarship. However, one night Rainy and Jade are found together by Rainy’s twin and she realizes how much she needs to let Rainy go to college.


New York in June by Brian Sloan
A boy and three of his peers from his school newspaper get the opportunity to go to Columbia University for a week to study journalism, but they end up learning so much more. Through the trip the boy starts to realize his feelings for his older editor, Roger, and with the help of the musical A Chorus Line, the boys are able to express their feelings.


Crossing Lines by Judd Powell
Forrest and his friends used to make fun of the reclusive old man named Mr. Mueller in their trailer park by calling him a Nazi. When he is a teenager, Forrest begins to realize that this pains the old man and decides to help him out. However, one night their relationship crosses a line and Forrest does not know what to feel or why he stayed. This story reminds me of the Novel and Movie The Reader. Yes, it is disturbing that this old man and this boy have a sexual relationship for a point in time, but it makes for an interesting story.


Two Left Feet by Jane Summer
A girl from a small town in Ohio becomes absolutely infatuated with her attractive and young new Spanish teacher. However, one day a fun activity in class goes horribly wrong and the repercussions affect the girl, Miss Sydney, the town, and even the girl’s family.


Happy Birthday by Nan Prener
At a birthday party Grant meets Willie and the two go on an excursion in the woods. They bond over the various specimens of nature and Grant, overcome with happiness, eats a mushroom. Later that day he feels queasy and is rushed to the hospital, but Willie is the one who comes to his rescue.


Just Like a Woman by Lesléa Newman
Just before Cassie is about to go to the mall with her secret girlfriend Tammy, she discovers her dad applying makeup to himself and serenading his reflection in the mirror with the song, “I feel pretty”. Cassie is angered and confused, especially since her parents have always berated her for dressing masculine. Cassie and Tammy go to the mall and Cassie decides to get a makeover, but when her parents see the makeup on her face their response is unexpected.


The Honorary Shepherds by Gregory Maguire
Told with a great narrative voice, The Honorary Shepherds tells of two young men, Lee and Pete, who represent the mixing pot of America. Lee is Puerto Rican, Polish, and Irish while Pete is Black and Asian. They decide in their film class to make a film that defies all the previous stereotypes about homosexuality. This story is also included in the LGBTQ Teen Anthology, Am I Blue? Coming Out From The Silence


God Lies in the Details by Donna Allegra
An African-American girl goes on a dance and drum trip to Africa with five other black women. They see how badly African-Americans are treated there and try to assimilate into the culture. The girl befriends a lesbian couple but grows increasingly anxious when she sees there is strife between them.


Throwing Rocks at Cats by Brent Hartinger
A boy, jilted by his dad who's found a new wife, finds a boyfriend named Trey, who is beaten by his own dad. One night Trey takes his boyfriend on a journey to show that he is a better man than his dad.


She Won’t Bite by Willam Moses
A man tells of an important time in his childhood, when a dog bit his face and his stepmom, who blames his deceased mom for his being gay, rushes him to the hospital.


Forensics by Stephen Greco
Aaron is a young man working at an art gallery when he becomes a victim to gay-bashing. A couple of weeks later a man calls Aaron wanting to find the man that caused him harm. This man was the illusive Velvet Kidnapper. He finds gay-bashers, gives them a complete fashionable makeover, and puts them on the street for all to see. Aaron helps the Velvet Kidnapper find his predator and later the Kidnapper comes to him with photos for Aaron to sell. Reuben, the man who beat Aaron, finds him through this new publicity and shows how much the Velvet Kidnapper has helped him.


--Posted by Hannah

Growing Up Gay: A Literary Anthology - Including Lesbian and Gay Teen Short Stories

Edited by Bennett L. Singer
Published in 1993 by the New Press


Mostly consisting of non-fiction entries and excerpts from novels, these short stories in the anthology "Growing Up Gay" are few and far between, but each shows an interesting perspective. I also noticed that if you compare these stories, which were published in 1993 and show the harsh oppression of homosexuality, to current stories today, they show just how far people have come.


Johnnieruth by Becky Birtha
A young girl catches two women kissing in the park and reflects on her experience.


Life Line by Gloria E. Anzaldúa
La Prieta and Suel spend a wonderful summer session at UT in each other’s company. However when they return home, Suel won’t return any of La Prieta’s calls and when they see each other a year later, Suel runs from her former love.


Cat by Julia Carter
At 12 years old Cat wants nothing to do with the new girl Sheila, but at 16 years old the two girls discover just how much they like each other. However, everything goes awry when Sheila’s Uncle comes home early from work one day and sees the two girls together.


Dawn by James Purdy
Timmy’s old fashioned father sees his son’s underwear ad in a newspaper. He rushes to New York where he meets Timmy’s “roommate” Freddy. Timmy and his dad hash their issues out but Freddy knows that he has lost Timmy forever.


A Whisper in the Veins by Terry Wolverton
Gregory lost touch with his parents years ago, after he came out to them. However he goes to visit his widowed mother after the death of his partner Roger and what he does next surprises the both of them.


In My Own Space by Calvin Glenn
Chris is extremely excited to be in college and decides to be who he really is, gay. He decorates his new dorm room with poster of his favorite band, a lion, and the perfect man. However, his two roommates say that the picture makes them feel uncomfortable and try to harass Chris to move out. But, it is the reaction of the school dean that shows the progress being made.


Teamwork by Lucy Jane Bledsoe
When a frat boy yells a homophobic phrase at a woman’s college basketball game, the morale of the team is ripped down in a way that even Coach Montgomery can’t repair.


Abominations by Lev Raphael
Brenda shows support for her brother Nat when his dorm room is torched for his being gay.


--Posted by Hannah

Love & Sex: Ten Stories Of Truth - A GLBTQ Teen Short Story Anthology

Edited by Michael Cart


Published in 2001 by Simon and Schuster


Though I loved Michael Cart’s other anthology, How Beautiful the Ordinary, the GLBTQ stories in this collection disappointed me. Though I enjoyed “The Welcome” the other two were not as pleasing. However, I do love the theme of a true portrayal of love, even though at times the stories do become pretty racy.


The Cure for Curtis by Chris Lynch
After having a fantasy dream about himself with another man, namely his cousin, Curtis is very confused. He is convinced that he became gay overnight and tells his girlfriend Lisa and cousin Phil. Lisa helps Curtis talk through his identity crisis and shares some dreams of her own.


The Acuteness of Desire by Michael Lowenthal
Note: This story would be considered erotica.
After becoming ‘excited’ by a game of strip poker in 8th grade, Matt is teased by Jesse and his friends. All throughout high school Jesse makes an effort to separate himself from Matt, until they are put in the same math class. There Jesse must confront his true feelings of desire for the boy he once teased for the same thing.


The Welcome by Emma Donoghue
Luce came out to her mother at 16 and moved to a all-women commune called The Welcome. At 18, these women have become her family and when a spot opens up they welcome one more member, JJ. Immediately the usually picky and prude Luce is attracted to JJ’s strong hands and handsome appearance, but years later Luce will find out that not everyone fits into neat little boxes.



--Posted by Hannah

Hear Us Out! Lesbian and Gay Stories of Struggle, Progress, and Hope, 1950 to the Present - An LGBTQ Short Story Collection

By Nancy Garden

Published by Farrar Straus Giroux in 2007.

At first I was unsure about this book and whether it could be considered fiction, but as soon as I opened it I knew I was wrong. It is divided into six different decades with a introductory non-fiction section explaining each one. From two girls having to hide their relationship to their families to someone going to a gay pride parade, this book shows the progression of the perception of homosexuality.


1950s

Dear Angie, Sweet Elizabeth
Angie and Elizabeth have an amazing night together before Angie leaves for her theater apprenticeship. They correspond through letters until Elizabeth’s close-minded mother finds the letters and discovers that the girls share more than a friendship. In a time where homosexuality has a negative connotation, even in the encyclopedia, these girls discover who they really are.


Silent Song
When Kathy’s parents walk in on her and Jinx holding each other, they call Jinx’s parents who immediately take her on their vacation to Miami Beach. Jinx, hopeless without Kathy, decides that she wants to walk into the ocean and never return. However on her journey down to the sea she encounters a girl playing the harp that makes staying worthwhile.


1960s

Cold Comfort
Charity is the Reverend’s daughter in a small fishing town. She has never lusted after anyone, until she meets the new girl in town, Andrea. But will her father accept her feelings?


Stonewall
Waverly meets Larry during a summer job at an Inn on the Cape and immediately there is a connection. Larry invites Waverly down to Greenwich village one night in the summer of ’69 and there they witness the famous Stonewall riots.


1970s

Maybe Someday?
Teresa has always struggled with her father’s strong faith in the Catholic church because Teresa knows that she is a lesbian. She tries to separate herself from the church as much as possible by not going to confession and attending a public school, until one day an historic moment happens for homosexuality and Teresa is given hope.


Dear Cuz
Cousins Mickey and Jennifer hadn’t seen each other for ten years, but when they finally do a tremendous bond forms. They become pen pals and discover that they are both homosexual and not alone. But Mickey who lives in a small mid-western town, soon believes that the world will never accept him and his boyfriend Sam as they are.


1980s

My Father’s Buddha
Two teenage boys befriend Bruce and Calvin, who has AIDS. Bruce and Calvin become the boys’ close confidants and mentors, but when Calvin’s condition starts to worsen, the boys decide to give back.


“I’m Nobody!...”
Lily and her friend Michael, two friends who bonded over the fact that they were different and homosexual, are confronted by a gang one day who beat Michael and rape Lily. For weeks, Lily is too petrified to tell the story as Michael’s condition worsens. Eventually she learns that the only way she can progress is to speak.


1990s

Parents Night
Having a booth at Parents Night should be an easy experience right? Well not for the Gay- Straight- Bisexual club at one high school. They are faced with insults and stereotypes of homosexuality and must overcome these obstacles to participate in what should be a typical school event. This story was also featured in the anthology Am I Blue?


The Tux
Laine and her girlfriend Sarah, accompanied by their friend Rachel, go to rent a tux for Sarah for their prom. Much to their chagrin, the entire football team is there. Sarah looks so good in her tux that the self-conscious Laine decides to get one too and is applauded and supported by the jocks she once feared. I loved how every character in this story showed acceptance and support, which is a refreshing change from the darker times portrayed in the previous stories.


2000s

Loving Megan
Penny, a freshman, is obsessed with Megan, her beautiful blonde track captain. Her best friend Kat always has to listen to Penny lust after and write poems for Megan, who doesn’t even know Penny’s name. However, when tragedy strikes, Penny realizes who is actually there for her.


Pride
Lisanne attends her first Gay Pride March and is astounded at the immensity and support of the crowd.


--Posted by Hannah

We'll Always Have Paris - A Short Story Collection with Gay Characters

By Ray Bradbury

Published in 2009 by HarperCollins

Leave it to Bradbury to give us a collection of eerie, thrilling and enjoyable tales. Each one has a slight mysterious tone and a compelling plot. My only complaint: the children’s book cover does not do the collection justice. Here are the stories in the collection with a queer quotient:


We’ll Always Have Paris
One summer night in July an American man vacationing with his wife follows a young handsome Frenchman and the two have a complicated and mysterious night.


Last Laughs
A pulp science fiction author goes to find his genius mentor, Andrew Rudolph Gerald Vesalius, who has disappeared. When the man finds Vesalius at his Malibu home, he discovers that Blair, Vesalius’s secretary, has restrained Vesalius and has plans to marry Vesalius in order to own his mind. The man helps his mentor with a very unique method.


Come Away with Me
Joseph Kirk has always prided himself for standing up for other people, so when he sees Willy-Bob walking down the street and being berated by his boyfriend, Joseph gives Willy-Bob, a stranger, the option of coming with him. The two travel around Los Angeles and learn about each other before going their separate paths.


-- Posted by Hannah

Girl Goddess #9 - A GLBTQ Teen Short Story Collection

by Francesca Lia Block

Published in 1998 by Harperteen


In Francesca Lia Block’s Girl Goddess #9 each character is modern and relatable. Every story is beautifully told and I found myself reading even the ones that did not have GLBTQ characters. This is a great, fun, and beautiful summer read. Here are the summaries of the stories that did have queer content...


Blue
La is a little girl dealing with her mother’s suicide. With mean girls at school and a grief-stricken drunk dad, La has no one to turn to until she finds Blue in her closet. Blue is a slender being with a skin color of (you guessed it) blue. Blue shows La many things: Blue’s unique body, and the fact that remembering La’s mother will help her touch many lives.


Dragons in Manhattan
Tuck Budd lives with her two bohemian moms, Izzy and Anastasia, in Manhattan. The three of them always had fun going to plays and museums and many ethnic restaurants, but one day at school a boy teases Tuck about her moms. After finding clues in a baby book, Tuck runs away to San Francisco to find who her real father is, but little does she know that her father has been there all along.


Winnie and Cubby
When Winnie starts dating Cubby it seems that everything is perfect. Cubby is a hot skateboarder who loves her and loves that they both wore matching tuxes to prom. But on a trip to San Francisco, Cubby must confront his best friend and girlfriend Winnie about who he really is.

--Posted by Hannah

So Fey - A GLBTQ Short Story Anthology

Edited by Steve Berman
Published in 2007 by Haworth Positronic, and by Lethe Press in 2009

So Fey is really for the grown-up who misses reading fairy tales. Each story delves into a different fairy world, leaving you feeling enchanted. Some stories are haunting and tragic while others are fun and clever. Each one has a strong GLBTQ storyline and most often a beautiful romance.


A Faun’s Tale by Tom Cardamone
A faun, Christopher, anxiously leaves his home in Union Square to find ‘The Ramble.’ On his way he encounters werewolves and two frolicking fauns.


A Scent of Roses by Catherine Lundoff
Janet is bored with her dreary farm life. Every day she attends to her lazy former hero of a husband, Tam. One day, the Queen of the Faeries, who once was with Tam, visits Janet and tantalizes her with the exciting life of the Faeries. When Tam goes off to fight, Janet realizes who she really wants to be with: The Queen.


The Wand’s Boy by Richard Bowes
Jack is a half-fey and is able to block out the mind-reading talents of the ‘Wands’, a special fey guard. This talent comes especially useful when he is spending time with his lover, the Prince Cal. But when Jack rebels against his Fey father, one of the Wands, he must run away with Cal in tow.


A Bird of Ice by Craig Laurance Gidney
Ryuichi is a Japanese monk who is visited by a swan and a monkey. In his dreams he learns that the two animals were actually one being and that spirit is in love with him. But it's up to Ryuichi to determine for himself what is reality.


Charming, a Tale of True Love by Ruby deBrazier and Cassandra Clare
Ivy, a faery princess who prefers pants to pretty dresses and would rather dance around with faeries than get married, is forced to host a competition to find her future husband. All of the suitors are drab, except for Lord Blythe who may not be what he (or she) seems.


Three Letters from the Queen of Elfland by Sarah Monette
Violet’s husband, Philip, finds secret love letters hidden in her room. But, what he really suspects is actually far from the truth, for Violet’s lover is neither mortal nor a man.


The Kings of Oak and Holly by Kenneth D. Woods
Danny meets Jack at a local coffee shop and immediately there is an attraction between them. When Danny gets confused as to why Jack is, at times, distant, he follows Jack into the park and discovers that his lover is actually a Fey and the Oak King. The only problem is that it is forbidden for Feys and humans to make love. But Jack soon discovers that it is worth the risk. Advisory: this story is, at times, graphic.


Detox by Elspeth Potter
Maria, a 51 year old, uses her brownie to make her look younger and hotter for picking up girls at clubs. But Maria soon starts to realize that going out isn’t as enticing as it used to be. This story would also be considered erotica.


From Asphalt to Emeralds to Moonlight by Aynjel Kaye
Tara, who has just been fired from her job at a production company, is being hunted by siblings Fionn and Aine who are vying for the dying queen’s crown. However once the three of them are all at the faerie court, Fionn and Aine’s incestuous relationship becomes apparent, as does Tara and Ainn’s love, but who will get the crown?


The Price of Glamour by Steve Berman
Tupp Smatterpit is in serious need of some glamour, a magical dust that can disguise Feys as humans. The only problem is that Tupp is in debt to the spriggan Bluebottle. Tupp does not know what to do and thinks that he will be forever in debt to Bluebottle, that is until Lind, a master robber and human, comes around and helps Tupp.


The Coat of Stars by Holly Black
Every night Rafael and Lyle would sneak out to a mattress in the woods and make love, despite Lyle’s grandmother’s warnings about the faeries living there. One day Lyle tells Rafael that he has actually seen the faeries, but just as the two boys are about to run off to New York, Lyle is discovered dead. Rafael moves to New York and becomes a successful tailor, but still can’t get over his loss. On one of his trips home to New Jersey, Rafael discovers that Lyle is actually with the faeries and he could bring him back with his tailoring talents. This story is also in Holly Black’s short story collection Poison Eaters.


How the Ocean Loved Margie by Laurie J. Marks
Margie, a lesbian English teacher, decides to have a baby by artificial insemination. After she is impregnated she has this strong urge to go to a small island off the coast of Maine called Skerry Island. There she camps out and meets the mysterious island woman Gayle, a former olympic swimmer, but as it turns out, Margie’s baby and Gayle share some prominent similarities.


Isis in Darkness by Christopher Barzak
Iris, nicknamed Isis, has nowhere to go until she finds a group of Orphyns, led by Rem. Each of Isis’s new friends, including herself, has a special power and Rem uses his to help Isis to remember her real past. However, tragedy strikes as a powerless man who Rem tried to love seeks revenge.


Touch by M. Kate Havas
When dared to kiss a tree on a camping trip, Trinny is shocked when she realizes that the tree kisses her back. Trinny is then taken to a magical faerie world where she meets her mistress. But when Trinny tries to show her best friend (and crush), Chelsea, this world, she is doubted and their friendship may never be the same.


Attracting Opposites by Carl Vaughn Frick
This witty story is about a faerie named Theodore Winkle who was raised by humans and has a talent for cosmetology and a predilection for the taste of flowers. One day his friend Barry Tone brings him to an actual faerie gathering at which Theodore feels extremely out of place, that is until be meets the charming faerie Morning Glory.


The Faerie Cony-Catcher by Delia Sherman
Nick Cantier is a young apprentice for a jeweler who leaves town with his one prized possession: a beautiful jewel that he made in the shape of a woman. In his journey he encounters a beautiful woman named Peasecod, but little does he realize that Peasecod is not at all what she seems to be.


Exiles by Sean Meriwether
Stories told in second person are rare but powerful. This one is told through the eyes of a man who after visiting his new boyfriend, becomes a victim to gay-bashing. With the help of his friend Jake, this man slowly recovers after losing the use of his eyes. He cannot see anything until a bright green light appears to him and leads him to the destroyed underworld of the elves.


Laura Left a Rotten Apple and Came Not to Regret the Cold of the Yukon by Lynne Jamneck
Laura, a famous New York writer, leaves the Big Apple to live in a small town in the Yukon, much to the dismay of her sophisticated New York editor. There she meets Gwen, a mystifying sergeant at the local police station. Unfortunately on their first date they have an ill-fated run-in with some poachers, but their romance still continues. This story is extremely clever and fun to read.


Mr. Seeley by Melissa Scott
Tully is a local devilery boy in Irish Mountain in the time of prohibition. One day he goes to his lover and employer, Joe’s house only to be confronted by a hunchback man who has a mission for Tully from a mysterious Mr. Seeley. Tully must deliver alcohol to the rich man’s home in order to find Joe. But Tully soon discovers that Mr. Seeley is actually a king of the faeries.


Year of the Fox by Eugie Foster
Mei and Jin are two fox spirits whose mother was killed at the hands of a fox-hunter. The two make a vow to wreak havoc on humans - by breaking hearts as humans. Mei comes across a young woman named Lian and falls in love with her. But when Jin catches wind of this, Mei must choose between her brother and her love.


Ever So Much More Than Twenty by Joshua Lewis
Michael and his partner George adopted Jane, but as life wore on and they grew old, George became increasingly vain and youth-obsessed. A year after George left them, Michael and the 17 year old Jane go to live in Michael’s childhood summer house where he had his great love: a faery named Piaras. Jane begins to disappear and spends all of her time in the forest, which leads Michael to believe that Piaras has fallen for her, but is it really Jane that Piaras is trying to contact?


Mr. Grimm’s Fairy Tale by Eric Andrews-Katz
William Grimm, an unemployment officer, is confronted with Miss Mary Weather, a fairy grandmother straight out of a Disney movie, looking for a job. With the help of Mr. Anderson, William is able to find this fairy an occupation.


-- Posted by Hannah

The Poison Eaters and Other Stories - A Short Story Collection with Gay Characters

By Holly Black

Published in 2010 by Big Mouth House

Suggested by one of our readers, Steph, this collection does a great job of grounding fantasy in reality. For example, it features faeries living in New York City. "The Poison Eaters" contains two well-crafted short stories with homosexual characters. Holly Black, best known for The Spiderwick Chronicles, sucks you into her world of faeries and other mythical creatures. While these two stories are the only ones with queer characters, each of the 12 short stories in "The Poison Eaters" is incredibly fun to read.

The Coat of Stars
Every night Rafael and Lyle would sneak out to a mattress in the woods and make love, despite Lyle’s grandmother’s warnings about the faeries living there. One day Lyle tells Rafael that he has actually seen the faeries, but just as the two boys are about to run off to New York, Lyle is discovered dead. Rafael moves to New York and becomes a successful tailor, but still can’t get over his loss. On one of his trips home to New Jersey, Rafael discovers that Lyle is actually with the faeries and he could bring him back with his tailoring talents.


The Land of Heart’s Desire
Roiben, a faerie king, goes to New York City to visit his girlfriend Kaye, a fellow faery, who owns the Moon in a Cup coffee shop. There, he finds out that Kaye’s best friend Corny has been marketing the café as a place where people can spot faeries. Roiben is angered until he meets someone who has a link to his past. Corny and Roiben then bond over Corny’s problems with his ambitious boyfriend Luis. This story is a great blend of reality and fantasy. (Lee's note: Yes, these are some of the same characters in the same world as in Holly Black's books Tithe, Valiant and Ironside.)


--Posted by Hannah