This page provides a list of books that you may find useful in understanding more about the experiences and issues faced by LGBTQI people. Whether you are part of the community yourself or whether you are someone who wants to learn and understand more about LGBTQI friends, co-workers or family members – these books might help give you some insights into yourself and/or someone close to you.

The Velvet Rage – Alan Downs PHD

This book by psychologist Alan Downs takes an in depth look at shame based trauma affecting gay and bi-sexual men and the affect this has on gay/bi men’s health throughout the course of their lives. Downs brings his own life experience as a gay man, as well as his professional knowledge to bear in this illuminating book. Despite some criticism that the author focuses too heavily on stereotypes of gay men, this book is well worth a read!

Straight Jacket: How to be gay and happy: Matthew Todd

This book, published some years after The Velvet Rage, also takes an in-depth look at the social, cultural and environmental factors affecting the health of LGBTQI+ people. As suggested by the title, the author focuses on the difficulties some LGBTQI+ people find in trying to navigate a world that is built for and primarily caters to heterosexuals, aside from the active homophobia and transphobia that has existed down the centuries, from the level of government down to individuals, and that continues to the present day.

Todd brings to bear his own personal experience as a gay man navigating these issues in his life, as well as his experience of addiction and mental health problems – providing some excellent insights into how his experience of living as a gay man in a straight world affected him, as well as insights into the less positive aspects of the LGBTQI+ community.

This book also provides straightforward advice and information on how to spot mental health or addiction issues and what to do about them. 

Trans: A memoir – Juliet Jacques

In 2012, at the age of 30, Juliet Jacques underwent gender reassignment surgery. This book chronicles her life and journey leading up to her finally becoming the person she felt she had been since childhood.

Through her memoir, Jacques interweaves the narrative with powerful explorations of many of the major debates surrounding trans: the uses of life writing, the relationship with feminism, and the before and after images that illustrated so many articles and documentaries.

And the Band Played On – Randy Shilts

Randy Shilts was an openly gay literary journalist who devoted himself to reporting on the developing AIDS epidemic in the early 1980’s. And the Band Played On exposes why AIDS was allowed to spread while the medical and political authorities ignored or even denied the threat. A harrowing but essential read for anyone interested in LGBTQI experiences, stigma and trauma – that highlights many issues still pertinent within our community today.

Love is the Cure – Elton John

Here, LGBTQI icon and music legend Elton John talks about his experiences of life, love and loss around HIV/AIDS. Elton writes movingly about living through the AIDS epidemic, losing many close friends, his own struggles with addictions, and how the inspirational Ryan White helped turn his life around and led him to found the Elton John AIDS Foundation from his kitchen table in Atlanta.

Elton reflects on the advances of HIV treatment and prevention since the beginning of the epidemic and provides a call to arms to end HIV transmission across the globe. But, he says, medical advances are not enough on their own. To beat HIV he argues we need to end stigmatisation of those affected most by HIV, including the LGBTQI community, people who use drugs and sex workers. Love he says, is the cure.