At CASA, we serve many children who are members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, and we are committed to raising our voices against all forms of oppression to ensure that these children grow up in a world where they are loved, accepted, and celebrated for who they are.
As Pride Month comes to an end, we're closing it out with a special list of recommendations from CASA staff and volunteers of shows, documentaries, books, and more that serve to educate our following while uplifting the diverse and powerful voices of the LGBTQIA+ Community.
Enjoy What We're Into: Pride Edition!
These shows and specials prominently feature LGBTQIA+ characters and tell the diverse stories of the LGBTQIA+ Community's past and present:
Pose inspired by the documentary Paris is Burning, starring Mj Rodriguez and Billy Porter—now streaming on FX and Netflix
We're Here starring Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara, and Shangela—now streaming on HBO
Vida created by Tanya Saracho and starring Melissa Barrera—now streaming on Hulu
What It's Like to Be Transgender in Texas: VICE News Special—watch the condensed segment below and stream GLAAD-Nominated episode "Black and Trans in Texas" on HBO
Work in Progress written, directed, and also starring Abby McEnany—now streaming on Showtime and Amazon Prime
Feel Good written by and starring Mae Martin—now streaming on Netflix
These documentaries tell the true stories of the struggles and joys experienced by members of the LGBTQIA+ Community:
Paris is Burning directed by Jennie Livingston—now streaming on Amazon Prime
Disclosure featuring Laverne Cox, Alexandra Billings, Jazzmun, Chaz Bono, Lilly Wachowski, and more—now streaming on Netflix
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson directed by David France—now streaming on Netflix
State of Pride directed by Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman, and Raymond Braun—now streaming on YouTube
Podcasts that explore LGBTQIA+ issues:
UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America
Closeted Conversations With My Wife
These books for children feature LGBTQIA+ people and their families
Sylvia and Marsha, Best Friends: A Picture Book created by Joy Ellison
Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Mommy, Mama, and Me by Leslea Newman and illustrated by Carol Thompson
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell and illustrated by Henry Cole
Other Boys by Damian Alexander
Books for Adults that tell LGBTQIA+ stories
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
A Burst of Light: and Other Essays by Audre Lorde
To My Trans Sisters by Charlie Craggs and Laura Jane Grace
The Last Time I Wore A Dress by Daphne Scholinski
"The Last Time I Wore a Dress is a memoir about a teenager who was hospitalized for three years for being an 'inappropriate female.' It’s been years since I’ve read the book, but I was so moved by it, I actually went to a lecture where the author presented. I believe their experience took place in the 80s, so things have hopefully changed since then, but it shows the problematic, and abusive, mistreatment of youth in mental health institutions." - Kathryn Schorg, Teen Advocacy Specialist
Would You Rather? by Katie Heaney
The Bold World by Jodie Patterson
Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by Jacob Tobia
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib
Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
"I recently read Stone Butch Blues which is a classic in lesbian and queer literature. It’s incredibly well written, thought-provoking, viscerally told, complex and nuanced. It’s about a butch lesbian’s experience in the lesbian subculture(s) of the ’50s, which as you can imagine was rough. It included a lot of police brutality, even for white queer people and especially for black queer people." - Laura Honsig, Senior Child Advocacy Specialist
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
Becoming a Man: The Story of a Transition by P. Carl
Borderlands / La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
"My husband, himself a science fiction and fantasy aficionado, immediately recommended that I read The Fifth Season as soon as he began reading it. And I am forever grateful that he did. It has been years since a novel has impacted me like this one has. N.K. Jemisin has created such a fully realized world with a rich history of being made and unmade of incredibly compelling and nuanced characters, many of whom are LGBTQIA+." - Ryan Broussard, Training Specialist
Instagram accounts that support LGBTQIA+ Youth, and amplify the community's history and voices:
CASA Recommends 2020 June Advocacy Culture & Diversity LGBTQ
