The landscape of LGBTQI+ books and literature experienced a remarkable expansion between 2000 and 2025, marked by a significant increase in the volume and diversity of published works. An analysis of the provided sources reveals a clear upward trend, particularly in young adult (YA) fiction and a broad range of resources catering to various aspects of LGBTQI+ life.
Investigations have highlighted the PFLAG Library Collection, and also a deep trawl of the internet enabled me to put together a spreadsheet showing those publication details available for the years 2000 to 2025.
The “PFLAG Library Collection” from February 23, 2005, offers an insightful snapshot of the types of materials available early in this period. This collection already showcased a diverse array of resources, including **books (some in Spanish), fiction, audiocassettes, videocassettes, and DVDs**. Topics ranged from personal narratives and coming out stories like *Acts of disclosure: the coming out process of … gay men* and *Coming home*, to guides for parents such as *Always my child* and *Coming out to parents*. The collection also featured works on religious perspectives, historical accounts, anti-homophobia initiatives, and specific identities, with titles like *Beyond Queer*, *Bisexual resource guide*, and *Becoming a visible man*. Notably, it included several **fiction titles** like *Annie on my mind* and *Daddy’s roommate*, and **media formats** such as the *Celluloid closet* and *Both of my moms’ names are Judy* on videocassette, indicating a multi-faceted approach to resource provision at the time.
Fast forward through the period, the “LGBTQIA_books_2000_2025.pdf” document illustrates a **dramatic surge in publication numbers**, particularly evident in the Young Adult category. In 2000, fewer than 10 YA books were documented. This number saw a steady increase, reaching **36 in 2009, 79 in 2016, and an estimated 200–300 in 2020**. By 2025, the estimate stands at over 175 YA books annually. The “Rainbow evaluated/selected (youth)” column, starting in 2021, further highlights this growth, with approximately 450 youth books evaluated and 122 selected in 2021, growing to around 550 evaluated and 190 selected by 2023.
Beyond YA, the “Estimated conservative floor (NA English)” column for all LGBTQI+ publications also shows substantial growth, from **fewer than 50 in 2000 to 350–450 by 2020, and projecting over 700 by 2025**. The category for “Adult considered (Over the Rainbow)” also remained robust, with figures around 300-330 from 2021 to 2025. This comprehensive data underscores a remarkable increase in the **visibility, availability, and dedicated evaluation of LGBTQI+ literary and educational resources** across a quarter-century.
So if we accept the very conservative figures shown in the two areas of my investigation, and bear in mind that this does not cover those published in the UK, Australia or many other countries; we have many books being published for our community but we rarely get to find out about them because unless we know of an author, and follow that author, we don’t know that they have published; or indeed take the time to check out the N I Library website and also Watersones (our only mainstream book shop in N Ireland).
The Northern Ireland Library does its best with its limited resources, and its website would seem to indicate that over 200 books for our community have been put in the catalogue. As I have stated, the only mainstream bookseller left in Northern Ireland is Waterstones, it has a Pride page with many books on it, covering a wide range (just as the N.I. Library does).
But I would ask, would it be possible for a dedicated section of the library or shop to be given over to a selection of LGBTQI+ books to enable browsing – this must increase the purchase of books and or the lending in the case of the library?
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