During the month of Pride, it can sometimes be difficult to find the joy in Queer media. So many tropes emphasize the pain, suffering and angst of Queer existence—and while these stories do reflect many aspects of Queer culture, we are not a monolith. Many members of the LGBTQIA+ family have uplifting moments of life that they wish to express with the world. Queer joy is as hard-won as our rights and it should be celebrated, too.
A
s Pride 2024 comes to an end, we encourage you to check out this selection of books and films for adults that embrace the lighter side of queerness, as well as an upbeat soundtrack of disco, pop, hip-hop and other music in a rainbow of languages.
Some queer films and shorts that celebrate life’s joys and sorrows and have happy endings include:
- Go Fish – This low-budget indie film is a classic of lesbian cinema. Max is trying to figure out her life, spend time with friends, and find her happily ever after.
- Beautiful Thing – Two teens from working-class London explore a relationship together. Although things aren’t always easy, they have each other and they have their upbeat Mama Cass-loving best friend who’s there for them too.
- Short films to check out – In a Heartbeat, about two middle school boys with a crush; Bloom, about two high schoolers and flowers; Asexual Story, about connecting and dating as an ace person.
Indulge in some fun nonfiction:
It is something truly wonderful to have queer elders who can share wisdom from their years of being out. The Old Gays Guide To The Good Life: Lessons Learned About Love And Death, Sex and Sin, and Saving The Best For Last tackles how they’ve lived, loved, and thrived. Want a bigger burst of joy? Check out their fun videos where they play with music, dress-up, and drag!
Sometimes there is joy in surviving, thriving, and getting older, especially in a world that can often be hostile to queer folks. To Survive on This Shore: Photographs and Interviews With Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Older Adults contains portraits and interviews with trans elders.
For stories with happily-ever-afters:
Noah blogs about happy trans couples in his blog, Meet Cute Diary, but when someone reveals that the stories are made up, Noah is on the hook to prove that those happy couples are real after all. All it will take is a bit of fake dating that turns into real feelings...
Sometimes hitting the right note in love can be tough, but when you give karaoke and love a chance, you might just end the night in a beautiful duet! Be bold, be brave, and Sing Anyway!
Upcoming Events
Story Play: Celebrate Pride!
Enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, and more! For children aged 18 months – to 5 years (with a caregiver). Please come early so you have time to settle in and to minimize disruptions. We will start promptly at 11:00 AM. Stay after the stories for a short playtime.
Due to limited…
Pride Month Storytime
Please join us for this special storytime to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month!
Summer Reading Kick Off: Drag Story Hour
Enjoy songs and stories for kids age 3-8 during Drag Queen Story Hour.
Drag Queen Story Hour NYC provides a range of fun and fabulous educational experiences for children and teens from 3 to 18 years old in libraries, schools, museums, and community spaces in all five boroughs of New York…
Summer Reading Kickoff Party with Strawbitty Yops!
We're kicking off summer reading with a musical performance by Strawbitty Yops, accompanied by face painting and other fun activities!
Strawbitty Yops is an Austin based, family music project creating interactive, high energy musical experiences for children and families. They write songs…
Teens Meet The Author: Page Powars
Teens (ages 13-19)! On Tuesday, June 16th, 2026 join us in the Teen Zone (Eco Lab 3) from 4-5PM to meet author Page Powars. He will discuss his books, writing process, video games, and more to answer our Summer at the Library question, "What's your story?"
We will be giving away a…
CBH Talk | Queer Modernism and “The Little Review” - How Margaret Anderson and Jane Heap Reshaped Literature and Each Other
This Pride Month, the Center for Brooklyn History turns to the story of Margaret Anderson and Jane Heap, the visionary editors behind "The Little Review," whose partnership, both personal and professional, helped shape the course of modern literature.
At a time when both queerness…
Kids Create Grab-and-Go: Decorate-Your-Own Paper Fan
Stop by the Highlawn Library to pick up a craft kit with everything you need to decorate your own paper fan--perfect for Pride Month!
Kits include a paper fan, feathers, and glitter glue. You will need to supply your own glue (to attach feathers to the fan) and markers (to color the fan to…
Teen Time: Juneteenth Celebration with Zakiya N. Jamal
Join Zakiya N. Jamal, Brooklyn's own YA author, in the Teen Mezzanine for a book talk. Stay after and chat with the author!
In celebration of JUNETEENTH, button making supplies will also be provided to spread the words of freedom.
Booksmart meets Phantom of the…
Fashion in Film: Pride Edition
What Hollywood designs today, you will be wearing tomorrow.—Elsa Schiaparelli
This program will present clips from various films and explore how the fashions worn by actors help narrate the stories. Several topics will be covered, including a variety of costume designers, film genres, and…
Sankofa Cinema Club Presents: Documentary Double Feature!
The Sankofa Cinema Club Presents a Double Feature for this June! Please join us for the latest instalments in this series:
The New Black: LGBT Rights in African American Communities 1hr 15 min 2013
The New Black boldly examines the controversial and…
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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