Queer Bookshops in the United States
The LGBTQ+ community members in the United States are explicitly protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and access to public accommodations. Though they face challenges like in many societies they still exist in a country where there is some level of acceptance. However, the discrimination is such that you can find books dedicated to this community in many regular bookshops so you need a guide on where you can get such books to read. Here’s a list of popular queer bookshops in the United States.
ALABAMA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Burdock Book Collective
Burdock Book Collective is an intersectional feminist bookstore that has a well assembled queer section alongside ranges for a number of other marginalised communities.
Location: 4413 5th Avenue South,
Birmingham, AL 35222
https://www.burdockbookcollective.com/
ARIZONA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Antigone Books
Antigone Books was originally a lesbian-owned feminist bookstore but has expanded to include other genres of books. Despite the expansion, the bookstore still has a strong queer literature section with classic gay, trans, lesbian, and ace titles in stock. They include YA and children’s books, graphic novels and queer fiction and lesbian romances.
Location: 411 N. 4th Ave.
Tucson, AZ
https://www.antigonebooks.com/
Marigold
Marigold is a women-owned pop-up bookshop for “queer and femme voices” in various locations in Phoenix. If you want to be at their events you can check their event schedule for locations or you can check out their bookshop.org pages or email them and they can order whichever book you want. They also have a book club called Mad Women, where you can mix with an amazing community of Phoenix book lovers.
Location: Pop up shop in various locations
CALIFORNIA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Fabulosa Books
Fabulous Books is another very popular queer bookshop in Arizona. This store in The Castro specialises in LGBTQ+ books, but also includes sections for other genres such as science & nature writing, ethnic studies, witchcraft, poetry, progressive politics, history, cookbooks, sci-fi, and all types of literature. The store hosts a lot of events supportive of the LGBTQ+ society. This includes an LGBTQ+ book club and they also send LGBTQ+ books to groups in states that ban them, making sure people still have access to those materials.
Location: 489 Castro St,
San Francisco
CA
https://www.fabulosabooks.com/
A Seat at the Table
This is a family-owned bookstore that is not solely focussed on queer books. It includes a cafe and community space and it is queer-owned. The It’s for many under served sections of the community. The store was founded by Emily Autenrieth (ey/em) in January 2020 and initially run as a pop-up, before moving into a physical shop in 2021. They also have regular events and there is a quiet room for neurodivergent and nursing people to enjoy a sensory break, and a camping-themed play area.
Location: 9257 Laguna Springs Dr, Suite 130
Elk Grove,
CA 95758
https://aseatatthetablebooks.org/
The Salt Eaters Bookshop
The Salt Eaters Bookshop is an independent bookstore in Inglewood which focuses on books, comics, and zines by and about Black women, girls, femmes, and gender expansive people. Inspired by The Salt Eaters by Toni Cade Bambara, the shop is making efforts to create a relaxation ground for everyone. The shop also has a lively events programme and merch.
Location: 302 East Queen Street
Inglewood, CA 90301
https://www.thesalteatersbooks.com
The Ripped Bodice
The Ripped Bodice is pays great attention to the celebration of romance novels. The store is proudly woman and queer owned and features a vast and diverse selection of romance fiction which is the fastest growing aspect of LGBTQ+ literature. The store also has events most evenings, from various book club meets to author signings.
Location: 3806 Main St.
Culver City, CA 90232
https://www.therippedbodicela.com
The Lavender Library
The Lavender Library is a volunteer-run LGBTQ+ library and community space which offers a range of books, films, zines and a large research archive. They also have a full schedule of events, including support groups, book club meets, open mic nights, and community events. The Lavender Library, Archives, and Cultural Exchange, or LLACE is an amazing place that has a lot resource supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.
Location: 1414 21st Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
https://www.lavenderlibrary.com
COLORADO QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Petals & Pages
Petals & Pages is a feminist & queer bookstore in Denver founded by Dylah Ray. The bookshop also operates a flower shop, and community space where people gather and connect. The bookshop owner is a queer poet and lifelong lover of both books & florals. They host a monthly book club, open mic nights, author talks, flower and craft workshops, seasonal parties, and more. This is a very supportive bookshop to the LGBTQ+ community.
Location: 956 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204
https://petalsandpagesofdenver.com
FLORIDA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Hello Again Books
Hello Again Books is a woman-owned, LGBTQ+ owned small bookstore that offers a safe space for the local community by providing a variety of new and used books, literary gift items, and inspiring, fun weekly and monthly events for readers of all ages. The bookstore is primarily aimed at embracing the creativity of a truly diverse community and contributing to making LGBTQ+ corner of the world a more welcoming and friendly place. This is a bookshop you should visit.
Location: 411 Brevard Ave.,
Cocoa Village,
Cocoa FL, 32922
https://www.helloagainbooks.com
Common Ground Books
Common Ground Books is the only LGBT+ and feminist focused bookstore in Tallahassee, Florida. It specialises in LGBTQ+, feminist, and banned books. They also have merch, events and book clubs. The bookstore carries a wide selection of books and can special order any book that is in stock with their distributor. They also offer gift cards.
Location: 128 N Bronough St
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
GEORGIA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Charis Books & More
Charis Books & More is a queer feminist bookstore that is aimed at fostering sustainable feminist communities, works for social justice, and encourages the expression of diverse and marginalised voices. They bookshop also has loads of queer and trans events for youth, young adult and adult groups.
Location: 184 S. Candler St.
Decatur, GA 30030
https://www.charisbooksandmore.com
ILLINOIS QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Women & Children First
Women & Children First is a feminist bookshop run by intersectional trans-inclusive feminists, with more than 20,000 books in stock. The store has been in existence for more than 40 years. Although it was sold to two of its staffers in 2014, they have carried on the mission, and seen interest in feminism increase in recent years, particularly from young people. The bookshop focuses on trans literature as part of their feminist outlook. It is a supportive platform for queer community in Illinois.
Location: 5233 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
https://www.womenandchildrenfirst.com
Unabridged Books
Unabridged Books is a neighbourhood bookstore that describes itself as Chicago’s premier go-to-bookstore for LGBTQ literature. The website showcases a prominent Queer Book Club and in the local queer community they are an institution, having focused on LGBTQ+ literature since the 1980s. You will enjoy your visit to this bookshop.
Location: 3251 N Broadway,
Chicago, IL 60657
https://www.unabridgedbookstore.com
KANSAS QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Sapphic Sweets & Reads
Sapphic Sweets & Reads is a queer-oriented travelling bookstore based in Wichita, KS, owned and operated by a married trans lesbian couple. They stock a number of different literature genres, plus comics and graphic novels. The bookstore also has sections for youth and young adult books. They plan to eventually transition to a permanent bricks and mortar store. For now you can check their website to know their pop up store locations.
Location: Mobile and Pop up stores (See website for locations)
https://shop.sweetreadsict.com
MAINE QUEER BOOKSHOPS
The Lucky Fox Bookshop
The Lucky Fox Bookshop was founded and run by the Ash (she/Her) who has a passion for books and reading leaps out of the pages of the store website. The bookshop operates online and as a pop up at various locations around Portland (check their website for locations and dates). They have a range of books from fantasy, fiction, historical, LGBTQ+, romance, thriller/horror and young adult, plus loads of lovely merch and regular queer events.
Location: Pop up – Various locations
https://www.theluckyfoxbookshop.com
MARYLAND/WASHINGTON D.C. QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Little District Books
Little District Books is an impressive little queer bookshop in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood in Southeast Washington. They stock fiction, non-fiction, childrens and teens books and graphic novels, including a great selection of queer merch. You can also buy audiobooks from them and they have loads of interesting book clubs and a full calendar of events for children and adults. Little District Books has interesting Curated Surprise Gift Box idea which helps you to send a book to someone based on the information you give them about that person. This is a place you will enjoy visiting.
Location: Barrack’s Row
737 8th St SE
Washington, DC 20005
https://littledistrictbooks.com
Loyalty Bookstore
Loyalty Bookstore was founded by Hannah Oliver Depp and focuses on serving the communities of colour and queerness. The primary aim of this bookstore is to bring a diverse array of books, plus regular community events, gifts, stationary and programming. They have an exceptional range of intersectional books centred in the store and in the staff picks.
Location: 843 Upshur Street NW,
Washington, DC 20011
&
923 Gist Ave,
Silver Spring, MD 20910
https://www.loyaltybookstores.com
MASSACHUSETTS QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Womencrafts
Womencrafts was established in 1976 and has grown to become a lesbian and feminist institution the United States. The bookstore stocks a vast array of books across every genre and type to satisfy the needs of their audience. It’s an inviting space that also hosts many events, and has become a destination for many women of multiple generations. The owner of the bookstore, Michelle Axelson said her path as a woman and as a lesbian has been made easier by places like Womencrafts and the women who have run it so lovingly. This is a supportive environment for the queer community in the United States.
Loction: 376 Commercial Street
Provincetown, MA 02657
All She Wrote Bookstore
All She Wrote bookstore was founded originally as a pop up in 2019 but gradually transitioned to a lovely bricks and mortar store in the eastern part of Somerville, a town just to the northwest of Boston. They have books centred around intersectional queer feminist literature. This also includes a wide range of subjects including health, horror, comics, design and biographies. They also have several events each month. This is a place that offers a common ground for queer community members to meet and socialize.
Location: 75 Washington Street
Somerville, MA 02143
https://www.allshewrotebooks.com
MICHIGAN QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Wayfaring Booksellers
Wayfaring Booksellers is a queer/women-owned bookstore that aims to celebrate and amplify queer books and stories, including facilitating the uplifting of the LGBTQIA+ community. They carry both new and used books, and have a fun bingo card prompt called ‘Read Queer all Year’, in which they prompt customers to read a different type of book each time.
Location: 1023 South Washington Avenue
Lansing, MI 48910
https://www.wayfaringbooksellers.com
MINNESOTA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
The Irreverent Bookworm
The Irreverent Bookworm is a friendly Minneapolis neighbourhood queer & ‘neuromagical’-owned bookshop selling both new & used books. They sell a diverse range of books and offer a trade in service too. They also provide a place that offers a common ground for queer community members to meet and socialize.
Location: 5163 Bloomington Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55417
MISSISSIPPI QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Violet Valley
Violet Valley is Mississippi’s only queer feminist nonprofit bookstore. It is a lesbian, feminist and queer bookshop founded by Dr. Jaime Harker, author of The Lesbian South. The bookstore has a huge selection of titles covering a wide range of feminist and queer genres and topics, and some lovely merch. Violet Valley was established in 2017 by Dr. Jaime Harker, a professor of English and gender studies at the University of Mississippi. Her primary purpose of establishing this bookstore was to make queer, trans, feminist, and multicultural books more accessible to our local community, the state of Mississippi, and the U.S. South more broadly. The bookstore sells new and used books at affordable prices so that all of their patrons, regardless of income level, can access accurate and valuable information. Violet Valley has grown to incorporate a range of new programming which includes author readings, virtual/in-person book clubs, youth writers’ workshops, outreach at statewide Pride events, and more. The bookstore helps to build a public space for LGBTQ persons (especially youths) who live in some of the most rural regions of Mississippi.
Location: 303 N Main St
Water Valley,
Mississippi 38965
303 N Main St
Water Valley,
Mississippi 38965
MISSOURI QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Left Bank Books
Left Bank Books is a radical bookshop that was established in 1969 by a group of graduate students at Washington University who wanted to create a place where one could find all kinds of literature. The bookstore operates regular reading groups for both gay men and lesbians and a separate Pride reading group. It is an interesting place to visit.
Location: 399 N. Euclid Ave
St. Louis, MO 63108
MONTANA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Montana Book Company
Montana Book Company is a queer-owned bookstore offering a wide range of genres to everyone. The bookstore also offers greeting cards, stationery, vinyl, gifts, author readings, book clubs, community events, and more. The owners, Chelsia Rice and Charlie Crawford, is to build community and defend equal rights through promoting engagement in social justice through advocacy, giving and philanthropy. They also provide a space where interested visitors are welcomed and have access to stories that reflect their experience. This is an inclusive platform for gathering and socializing.
Location: 31 N Last Chance Gulch
Helena, MT 59601-5013
NEBRASKA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Sower Books
Sower Books is a queer/woman owned general interest bookstore which specially focuses on marginalised voices and local creatives. They feature fiction, non-fiction, comics, graphic novels, toys, and gifts. They have specific sections online for LGBTQ+ books.
Location: Meadowlane Shopping Center
914 N. 70th St.
Lincoln, NE
Opening on Labor Day, Sept. 2nd 2024
https://bookshop.org/categories/m/fiction/lgbtq-fiction
NEW MEXICO QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Harvest Moon Books
Harvest Moon Books is a bookshop dedicated to books by queer and trans authors and authors of colour. The bookstore offers a lot of experimental fiction and newly translated works here, as well as non-fiction that covers a wide range of issues.
Location: 3123 Central Ave NE Ste A
Albuquerque, NM 87106
https://bookshop.org/shop/harvestmoonbooks
NEW YORK QUEER BOOKSHOPS
The Ripped Bodice
The Ripped Bodice is a bookstore that specializes in romance novels. It is a sister shop to The Ripped Bodice in California. Its growing popularity makes it an interesting destination for queer book lovers.
Location: 218 5th Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY 11215
https://www.therippedbodicela.com/ripped-bodice-brooklyn
Bluestockings
Bluestockings describes itself as New York’s only queer, trans and sex worker run bookstore. The bookstore which is much more than a bookstore, is actually a collectively-run activist centre, community space and feminist bookstore that engages in political education. Bluestockings which is located on the Lower East Side it aims to provide a safe space for all genders, cultures, expansive sexualities and identities. It serves as a common ground for queer community members to meet and engage.
Location: 116 Suffolk Street
New York,
NY 10002
Bureau of General Services – Queer Division
Bureau of General Services – Queer Division was created by The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York. This all volunteer space is a combination of bookstore, cultural centre and event space. The basic goal of this platform is to foster a sex-positive community by offering books, publications, and art and by hosting readings, performances, film screenings, book discussion groups, and workshops.
Location: Room 210 (second floor)
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center,
208 West 13th Street,
New York City
https://bookshop.org/shop/bgsqd
NORTH CAROLINA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Firestorm Books
Firestorm Books is a collectively-owned radical bookstore and community event space in Asheville, North Carolina. The LGBTQ+ Collective owns this bookshop. The bookstore features regular events, such as film screenings, political and economic teach-ins, game nights, local and travelling musicians and community workshops. The bookstore also has a community event space.
Location: 1022 Haywood Rd,
Asheville, NC
OHIO QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Little Gay Bookstore
Little Gay Bookstore is a non-profit bookstore and coffee shop in Columbus, Ohio that aims to be a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. The bookstore is owned by Reese Steiner and Lauren Branch, who wanted to create a space that would uplift queer writers and artists, and support local authors. The bookstore’s mission is to make books with LGBTQ+ representation more accessible. The bookstore stocks queer authors and queer stories, and offers a wide variety of queer literature. It also supports local authors and authors with smaller followings.
Location: Short North neighborhood, Columbus, Ohio
https://www.littlegaybookstore.com/
OREGON QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Always Here Bookstore
Always Here Bookstore is a queer/neurodivergent-owned bookstore born out of the belief that everyone deserves to see themselves in books, and that LGBTQ+ stories – especially those that are also BIPOC and/or disabled – are important, and deserve to be told. The bookstore offers a wide range of books, from kids to adult books. It covers a wide range of genres plus a range of teas, pride flags and lovely merch.
Location: 3808 N Williams Ave Ste 114,
Portland, OR 97227
https://www.alwaysherebooks.com
Bishop & Wilde
Bishop & Wilde is a queer owned and run bookshop, with prominent LGBTQ+ book selections and a great programme of events. For you to be able to access the shop pages you will be required to create an account on the website. The bookstore offers satisfactory services.
Location: 2601 NW Thurman St
Portland, OR 97210
https://shopbishopandwilde.com
PHILADELPHIA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Giovanni’s Room Bookstore
Giovanni’s Room Bookstore is a gay bookstore opened in 1973 by thee Gay Activists Alliance members. The bookstore which was named after James Baldwin’s novel Giovanni’s Room, operates as a non-profit, with proceeds donated to local organisations involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. They have loads of books for all identities and areas of the community plus book clubs, signings, and discussions throughout the year. They also sell Pride merch.
Location: 345 S. 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
SOUTH CAROLINA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Queer Haven Books
Queer Haven Books was founded sells books by LGBTQ+ authors or books that feature LGBTQ+ characters and have books of all genres for all ages. They also have coffee, snacks, drinks, games, art, gifts and other merch. This is a nice for the community to hang out and meet. It was established as a ‘place of safety and refuge’ for all people in the LGBTQ+ community in the Southern States.
Location: 1332 Main Street, Unit #120
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
SOUTH DAKOTA QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Full Circle Book Co-op
Full Circle Book Co-op is a cishet-owned general interest bookstore in Sioux Falls with a clear and prominent allyship both online and in store. The bookstore also operates a a beer and wine bar, and event space. It is a fun place for queer book lovers to meet.
Location: 123 W. 10th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
https://bookshop.org/shop/fullcirclebookcoop
TEXAS QUEER BOOKSHOPS
The Little Gay Shop
The Little Gay Shop in Austin Texas is a shop that sells books, queer artwork (including work by queer artists), lovely Pride merch and homewares. This is queer marketplace and community organizer in the heart of Texas that amplifies the voices and artistry of queer creatives from around the world. The business was established to represent and showcase the work of thousands of queer artists, authors, and creatives from around the world. The bookstore hosts hundreds of events and community gatherings to create very supportive queer spaces all year round. They always have a full programme of events and LGBTQ+ book clubs.
Location: 1902 E 12th Street
Austin TX 78702
UTAH QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Under the Umbrella Bookstore
Under the Umbrella Bookstore prides itself as a queer little bookstore. The bookstore shares and celebrates queer books written by queer authors and offering a safe, sober, and accessible space for, “2SLGBTQIA+ people of all ages to congregate and celebrate their stories”. Kaitlyn and their team prioritise less heard sections within the LGBTQ+ community to give them a greater voice. Under the Umbrella offers books across all genres and for all ages, including current and classic fiction, non-fiction, poetry, graphic novels, and more plus merch. You will be satisfied by the services offered by this bookstore.
Location: 511 W 200 S, Suite 120
Salt Lake City,
UT 84101
https://www.undertheumbrellabookstore.com
WASHINGTON QUEER BOOKSHOPS
Left Bank Books
Left Bank Books was founded in 1973 when a group of people split off from the University District’s Red and Black Books to form their own collective bookstore in the Pike Place Market. This is a radical bookshop collective that specialises in anti-authoritarian, anarchist, independent, radical and small-press titles, and includes sections on queer and trans studies. Left Bank is collectively owned and operated by its workers, and has been since its inception. As an anarchist collective, Left Bank has no bosses or managers. Decisions are made in bi-monthly collective meetings based on a consensus process. Despite all the changes over the years, Left Bank Books continues to thrive at our Pike Place Market storefront based on the efforts of Seattle’s radical community and the many folks who visit the bookstore from out of town. Left Bank Books stocks over 10,000 new and used books, and has close to 70 sections. They also host events related to queer literature. This is an interesting place to visit.
Location: 92 Pike
Seattle
WA
WISCONSIN QUEER BOOKSHOPS
A Room of One’s Own
A Room of One’s Own is a feminist bookstore with prominent LGBTQ+ fiction and non-fiction sections that offers a wide selection of current and classic fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, local interest titles, gifts, toys, and greeting cards. The bookstore also has interesting programme of events including queer and gender nonconforming events. It is an interesting place to visit.
Location: 2717 Atwood Avenue,
Madison,
WI
