LGBTQ+ inclusive binge-worthy culture, as recommended by the G-You Team.

From podcasts to movies to books to bookstores - here are our suggestions!!✨✨✨✨

🎥 POSE as recommended by Beth.

An award-winning series set in New York in the late 80’s and shines a light on the African-American and Latino LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming ball culture world. Set against the background of Trump’s growing empire and the AIDS crisis, the show is a dazzling portrayal of LGBTQ+ resistance and celebrates all the diverse intersections within the community.

📚 Category Is Books as recommended by Nina.

“Fiercely independent and queer”, Category Is Books is an AMAZING bookshop in the Southside of Glasgow, stocking a number of queer books. This is a brilliant place to immerse yourself in LGBTQ+ history, writings and storytelling. The owners grew up under the struggles of section 28, and therefore wanted to create a space to share their love for queer history, culture, writing and storytelling. This bookshop is such an amazing place, from the decor, to the staff, to the actual stock. Although they are shut right now, it is really easy to order books for delivery (they ship worldwide!), and postage is very reasonably priced. Further, if you’re not sure what you want there is a book-suggest service whereby you can say what you’re into, and get a surprise suited to your interests in the post! Beyond this brilliance, the shop runs a “pay it forward shelf”, so you can even donate money for others to be able to access books free of charge! Category Is Books is a truly remarkable place, and I love that we reside in a city that supports such business! Post lockdown, I’d really recommend a trip there, and in the meantime, defo make use of the delivery service! Check them out online at: https://www.categoryisbooks.com

🎥 Legend of Korra as recommended by Duncan.

An American cartoon and the sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, this show featured one of the first portrayals of same-sex romance on TV, back in 2014 before equal marriage rights were affirmed across the US by the Supreme Court and only just after it was legalised across the UK.

📖 Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf as recommended by Imogen.

Woolf manages to bend time, reality, and hearts with this novel. By exploring boundaries of gender and identity, Woolf’s biographical novel follows a protagonist who was truly ahead of their time. A book that I think is key to beginning a journey of self acceptance and understanding, the twists and wonderful turns will capture you right where you need it to.

📖 Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides as recommended by Catherine.

The product of nine years of research and writing, Middlesex was a book I think I first read when I was 15. It was the first time I'd really seen the concept of the intersex explored and helped introduce me to some of the complexities of gender identity. I keep returning to it not just because of Eugenides' mastery of the novel, but also because of how many of its issues are still relevant. Through exploring themes of rebirth, family and social identity, Eugenides depicts the intrinsic mythology of the American Dream set in the Greek community of Detroit and tells a story that spans generations. It was my first introduction to literature addressing the queer gender identity and captures the complexities of human emotions and history behind the issue. Eugenide's distinctive take on tragicomedy is the perfect complement to the detachments of life and this book is a great way to reflect on some more challenging narratives whilst immersing yourself in a modern epic.

🎥 Parque Mayer as recommended by Kika.

We all love some international film so here it goes! This movie is set in Portugal in the mid-1930s in this neighbourhood (Parque Mayer) where all the famous theatre stars lived, where the best  theatres were and basically a hotspot for cultural entertainment. This was an important era not only because of theatre but because Portugal was under a very censored dictatorship. The movie is stars a homosexual playwright and the horrific discrimination he went through. I'll leave at that and let you watch it! Bem haja!

📻 Fluid as recommended by Fuad.

This new podcast series, hosted by Nic Desborough, leads us on a journey through identity and its relationship with society. Nic explores how sexuality and gender identity were treated in the past and how we struggle with it in the modern technological age.

🎥 It’s A Sin as recommended by Ewan.

Russell T Davies’ It’s A Sin has been proclaimed Channel 4s “most binged new series ever” with more than 6.5 million viewers who watched  his latest project in its entirety. It’s A Sin tells the story of queer culture and of the gay men whose lives intersected in pubs, clubs and parties, their relationships with one another and of the dreams and passions that brought them to the capital. Davies is revealing unheard stories, they are the stories of his youth, of his friends, and most importantly of the young men lost in the AIDS epidemic. It’s A Sin never shifts its focus from relationship, how the lives of individuals interact and intertwine with each other and within their communities. To value our time with the people closest to us and to hold onto connection is central to Davies exploration of relationship, one exemplified in this masterpiece, pulled together from memory, from love and from friendship.

Please let us know if you try any of these out and what you think! 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈