BOSTON, MA - May 28, 2026 - To honor LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the Boston Public Library (BPL) is releasing its We Are Pride booklist, a booklist of recent titles about the diverse experience of the LGBTQ+ community. Observed annually in June, LGBTQ+ Pride Month honors and explores the influence and legacy of members of the LGBTQ+ community. The BPL will also observe LGBTQ+ Pride Month by hosting special events for all ages across branches.
The We Are Pride booklist, featuring selected books written either by LGBTQ+ authors or about LGBTQ+ history and culture, is compiled by staff librarians from the Parker Hill and South Boston branches, along with staff from the Central Library in Copley Square. The 75 titles comprising the We Are Pride booklist highlight selections for adults, teenagers, and children by authors such as Mike Curato, George M. Johnson, Dylan Mulvaney, Rachel Reid, and Alyson Stoner. Genres from this collection include fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, expressions, and poetry.
Each book on the list contains a synopsis and is accompanied by an image of the book cover as well as classification information. In addition to print books, select titles are available as eBooks or audiobooks.
Along with the booklist, the BPL will celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month with panel discussions performing arts events, film screenings, book group discussions, arts and crafts workshops, and more. The full list of programs can be found at bpl.org/events. Highlights include:
- Drag Queen Story Time with Ms. Patty | Various dates, various locations | Children and families are invited to come and celebrate Pride Month with drag queen Ms. Patty for a fun-filled story hour of songs, stories, and more!
- Massachusetts Law: LGBTQ+ Civil Rights | June 4, Online | Staff from the Trial Court Law Library examines the current state of LGBTQ+ rights in Massachusetts. Learn about gender identity markers on identifying documents, gender affirming care, and special considerations for LGBTQ+ individuals when building families or making decisions about their estates, as well as discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals (at work and in housing), and what you can do to protect your rights.
- Queer Nightlife: Business Panel & Drag Show | June 4, Central | An evening celebrating queer culture and community with a panel of Boston nightlife organizers, DJs, and performers from venues like Dani’s Queer Bar, Club Café, Houseboi, Frolic, and Jacques Cabaret. After the discussion, there will be a drag show featuring Slick O’Connell and Chanel the Angel, along with tabling from local queer organizations offering community resources and networking.
- Drag Queen Story Time with Rose Quartz | June 5, Brighton | Celebrate Pride Month with drag queen Rose Quartz in a fun-filled story hour of songs, stories, and more for children and families.
- Smell the Rainbow: Scented Candle Workshop with Sniffs Of Adventure | June 9, Faneuil | Express your uniqueness by learning how to create your own custom scented candle and surround yourself with a scent that you can be proud of! Sniffs of Adventure will show you how the magic behind scented candles works!
- Bilingual Drag Story Time with Just JP / Hora del cuento bilingüe con Just JP | June 9, Connolly | A bilingual story hour celebrating Pride Month that raises awareness of gender diversity, promotes self-acceptance, and builds empathy through an enjoyable literary experience. This program will be led by the wonderful Just JP who will sing songs and read picture books in English and Spanish.
- Drag Bingo Night with Rose Quartz | June 11, Brighton and June 17, Honan-Allston | A fabulous evening of bingo, laughter, and glam at the library, hosted by the dazzling Rose Quartz! This isn't your typical bingo night—prepare for a unique twist, with multiple rounds packed into one hour. Expect fun, fast-paced gameplay, and performances that’ll leave you speechless (and maybe a little bit jealous of the wigs)!
- Kids' Concert with The Grumpytime Club | June 13, Brighton | The Grumpytime Club’s original music for children and their caregivers is creative, positive, thoughtful, beautifully crafted, and catchy as cake! Led by award-winning singer/songwriter Carrie Ferguson, the Grumpytime Club creates live shows that are jubilant sing-along dance parties, highlighting themes of inclusivity, social justice, Earth stewardship, and LGBTQ youth/family pride.
- Cooking with Pride | June 13 and 22, Shaw-Roxbury | Hosted by the Boston Lesbigay Urban Foundation, this event focuses on reducing stigma around food insecurity in marginalized communities through an interactive cooking demonstration. Chef Q and culinary student Morgan Spivey will demonstrate how to prepare affordable small bites.
- Pride Trivia | June 22, Lower Mills | A pride trivia competition with three rounds plus a bonus; teams of six or fewer are encouraged to participate. Categories include queer history, pop culture, and Drag Queens! The winning team will earn a gift card to a local business.
Physical copies of the We Are Pride booklist will be available at all BPL locations starting June 1, 2026; it can also be accessed digitally. In addition, the booklist and information about LGBTQ+ Pride Month programs will also appear on the BPL website at bpl.org and on the BPL social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram). Many of these programs and resources are supported by The Howard Cooper LGBTQIA+ Endowment Fund.
Patrons can view many years' worth of prior affinity booklists, such as those from Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Black History Month, Disability Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Native American Heritage Month in an online archive.
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ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large, free municipal library in the United States; the first public library to lend books; the first to have a branch library; and the first to have a children’s room.
The Boston Public Library of today is a robust system that includes the Central Library in Copley Square, 25 neighborhood branches, the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, the Kirstein Business Library and Innovation Center, and an archival center, offering public access to world-class special collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints, along with rich digital content and online services.
The Boston Public Library serves nearly 4 million visitors per year and millions more online. All of its programs and exhibitions are free to all and open to the public. The Boston Public Library is a department of the City of Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu. To learn more, visit bpl.org.