Back in September 2012, after seeing a discussion on Twitter about LGBT YA, I realised I had only read one LGBTQ YA novel. One. I decided this needed to be remedied, and what better way to do so than with another themed blog event? So LGBTQ YA Month was born.
Although I called it LGBTQ YA Month, I covered the whole QUILTBAG spectrum (Queer/Questioning, Undecided, Intersex, Lesbian, Transgender/Transsexual, Bisexual, Allied/Asexual, Gay/Genderqueer) - LGBTQ is quicker to say and easier to fit on a button. I read a number of books for the Month in many genres covering romances, thriller, dystopia, historical, fantasy, contemporary including coming out stories/LGBTQ "problem novels".
The month included reviews and giveaways, author interviews, and guest posts from authors, fellow bloggers, academics, editors, and literary inclusion campaigners!
Check out the hashtag #LGBTQYAMonth on Twitter to see what people were saying about the Month
01/07 – 9am – LGBTQ YA Month is here!
01/07 – 12pm – Review: Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
02/07 – 9am – Review: LGBTQ Themes in The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
02/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Brigid Kemmerer on Breathless
03/07 – 9am – Review: Pretty Things by Sarra Manning
03/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: When a Friend Comes Out: It's Not About You by Janet Ruth Young
04/07 – 9am – Review: Pantomime by Laura Lam
04/07 – 12pm – Interview with Laura Lam
05/07 – 9am – Review: Sprout by Dale Peck
05/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Tess Sharpe on Writing LGBTQ YA
06/07 – 9am – Review: silent snow, secret snow by Adelè Geras
06/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Adelè Geras on silent snow, secret snow
07/07 – 9am – Review: Don’t Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble
07/07 – 12pm – Interview with J.H. Trumble and Giveaway
08/07 – 9am – Review: Coda by Emma Trevayne
08/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Emma Trevayne on Sexuality in Coda
09/07 – 9am – Review: When Love Comes to Town by Tom Lennon
09/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Andrew of The Pewter Wolf’s coming Out Story
10/07 – 9am – Review: Grl2grl by Julie Anne Peters
10/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Non Pratt of Catnip Publishing on the Lack of LGBTQ YA in the UK
11/07 – 9am – Review: Always Mackenzie by Kate Constable
11/07 – 12pm – On Birth of a New Witch: Trans in YA
12/07 – 9am – Review: About a Girl by Joanne Horniman
12/07 – 12pm – Interview with Joanne Horniman
13/07 – 9am – Review: Undone by Cat Clarke
13/07 – 12pm – Review: Falling by Cat Clarke
14/07 – 9am – Review: Out by Joanna Kenrick
14/07 – 12pm – Your LGBTQ YA Recommendations
15/07 – 9am – Review: What’s Up With Jody Barton? By Hayley Long
15/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Kelley York on Stereotypes and Giveaway
16/07 – 9am – Review: Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
16/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Memory of Stella Matutina’s Queer SFF YA Recommendations
17/07 – 9am – Review: Annabel by Kathleen Winter
17/07 – 12pm – Interview with Kathleen Winter and Giveaway
18/07 – 9am – Review: Luna by Julie Anne Peters
18/07 – 12pm – Interview with Julie Anne Peters
19/07 – 9am – Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
19/07 – 12pm – Interview with Emily M. Danforth
20/07 – 9am – Review: Wildthorn by Jane Eagland
20/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Jane Eagland on Changing the Sexuality of Characters on Editor’s Request
21/07 – 9am – Review: Ash by Malinda Lo
21/07 – 12pm – Guest Review: Charlie Morris on Hollow Pike by James Dawson
22/07 – 9am – Review: The Traitor Game by B.R. Collins
22/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: B.R. Collins on Homosexuality in The Traitor Game
22/07 – 3pm – Discussion: How Do We Convince Publishers/Agents We Want LGBTQ YA Novels?
23/07 – 9am – Review: The Culling by Steven dos Santos
23/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Steven dos Santos on The Culling
24/07 – 9am – Review: A + E 4ever by Ilike Merey
24/07 – 12pm – Interview with Ilike Merey
24/07 – 3pm – Review: Skim by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
25/07 – 9am – Didn’t Finish: Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite by Lianne Simon
25/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Terry Trueman on 7 Days on the Hot Corner
26/07 – 9am – Review: Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson
26/07 – 12pm – Discussion: We Need More than Just LGBTQ YA
27/07 – 9am – Review: Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz
27/07 – 12pm – LGBTQ Round-Up – Articles and Posts
28/07 – 9am – Review: The Shell House by Linda Newberry
28/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Inclusive Minds by Alexandra Strick and Beth Cox
29/07 – 9am – Review: Pink by Lili Wilkinson
29/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: Let’s Talk About Lesbian Sex, Baby by B.J. Epstein
30/07 – 9am – Review: Every Day by David Levithan
30/07 – 12pm – Guest Post: 6 LGBT Young Adult Novels with a Twist by Erica Gillingham
31/07 – 9am – Further Reading
31/07 – 12pm – The End: Thank You
As someone who has always loved LGBT YA fiction - and, frankly, has JAP's Keeping You a Secret to thank for getting the ball rolling on the coming out process - it is a genre I aspire to have as a part of my life until I die. Whether that means writing or editing, or both, there is nothing more I want to do than be involved in providing a voice for this community. I only wish I had found this website sooner. Thank YOU for providing another voice. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! :) I am so touched by your comment, and for thinking my event is important! I really appreciate it, thank you! Cheers for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the event!
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