Happy Pride, Despite the Times.

Dear Readers,

Locals! Come see me in conversation with my friend Edward Underhill at The Ripped Bodice on Friday, June 19! I cannot wait to chat about Edward’s newest book, The House of Now and Then!

OK, so, I don’t always think a lot about Pride Month during the rest of the year, if I’m being honest, because all the stuff that comes along with queer identity is sort of a year-long thing, right? Still, I am always glad when it pops up, a reminder of the fights already won and the stuff that’s still ahead. But also in the year 2026 it genuinely feels weird to type “happy” because times are tough with this hateful administration still in charge, as we watch terrible laws be enacted against trans people for simply existing.

I traveled last week to a book festival in Ohio, and as always feel very lucky that wherever I go, I get to connect with LGBTQ+ folks in different communities. I still remember the first time this happened in a big way; after The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) came out, I was at a teen book festival in Kentucky. When I signed books, I had a rubber stamp shaped like a burger, and a rainbow stamp pad. (As exhaustively extra as I am, just feel how I have always been this way.) Kids kept running over demanding to be stamped with “the gay burger.” Anyway. It felt very special. (Also I’m sorry to the parents whose children came home with rainbow burgers stamped across their kids’ faces; this is where they demanded to be stamped.)

2018 felt weird, all things considered, the first Trump administration and feeling more asea than I had in a very long time. In many ways, of course, 2026 feels worse. I’m sick of seeing rights chipped away for no good reason other than hate and fear and a determination to return to a past that never existed to begin with. One good thing, however, is that I’m on the board of a very cool organization called Trans Stories, which puts on an annual festival to celebrate trans voices called The Joy Who Lived. Our organization is still trying to finish fundraising for this year’s festival, which happened in April, and we are still a little short. If you are looking for a way to give during Pride, this is an excellent place to do so. I was truly honored when I was asked to be on the board of this tremendous organization; as a cis member in the LGBTQ+ community I wanted to do MORE, especially during These Unprecedented Times. I’m beyond lucky that I get to work with a group this cool! Here’s a cool writeup from the LA Times about the festival so you can see how vital this is to the community.

Another thing you can do during Pride is support LGBTQ+ authors by buying their books or, if you can’t afford them, be sure to request from your local library! Obviously my leading recommendations are books by Amy Spalding, but in no particular order (and I am probably forgetting many many folks, I’m sorry, this is a quick list looking at my recent-ish reads, if I forgot someone amazing please remember I have ADHD!), some LGBTQ+ authors to check out from your local bookstore or library: Cat/ie Disabato, Camille/Cameron Kellogg, Adib Khorram, Gabrielle Korn, Celia Laskey, Dominic Lim, Rachel Meredith, Gabe Montesanti, Rasheed Newson, Camille Perri, Page Powars, Emily St. James, the aforementioned Edward Underhill, M.A. Wardell, Julian Winters, and Emily Zipps. Please share your favorite LGBTQ+ authors in the comments!!

xoxoAmy

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