Pride Month 2025 is here, and today we've highlighted some critical and impactful LGBTQ+ comics that you should be reading and why we recommend them. Whether it's about Queer history, a controversial title being challenged in libraries across the United States, or a whole collection of tales, we've got a list you'll love.
1. Gender Queer - Oni Press
In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Then e created Gender Queer. Maia’s intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fan fiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: It is a useful and touching guide on gender identity.
In recent years, LGBTQ-themed books have made up over 25% of all banned or challenged titles, raising concern about access for the teens and young adults these stories are meant to support, especially in today's political climate. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, published by Oni Press in 2019, has become one of the most frequently banned book in the U.S. for three consecutive years. This graphic memoir chronicles Kobabe’s journey of gender identity and self-discovery, offering an honest, relatable perspective for young readers navigating similar experiences. However, its bold approach to controversial topics has made it a frequent target of censorship, often driven by anti-LGBTQ groups like “Moms for Liberty.”
Reading Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe during Pride Month offers a powerful opportunity for self-discovery and empathy. As a Non-Binary Trans person myself, it was comforting to see someone go through a journey I saw similarity in. For LGBTQ+ people, especially those currently exploring gender identity, it can be deeply affirming to see someone else's journey reflected on the page. Growing up nonbinary and asexual can feel isolating and vulnerable, and I hope that readers can feel seen and understood.
For those outside the LGBTQ+ community, Gender Queer provides a valuable window into experiences different from their own. It promotes empathy and awareness by exploring personal struggles with identity, pronouns, body dysphoria, and societal expectations. It's a wonderful way to educate yourself and create a stronger understanding as an ally.
2. Stonewall Riots -TidalWave Productions
In June of 1969, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York called The Stonewall was raided by police. This is historically agreed as the catalyst to set forth the gay rights movement. Facing persecution, prosecution and a violation of their civil rights, the homosexual community was mad as hell and they weren't going to take it any more. The events at Stonewall lead to riots and demonstrations...
Stonewall Riots by TidalWave Productions is a powerful graphic novel that introduces readers to the pivotal 1969 uprising at the Stonewall Inn. It was an event that sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement as a society, but also in comics as a movement. It highlights the courage of those who stood up against the violence that is trying to be censored or washed away by our current country's administration. This book is a great educational tool, especially during Pride Month, offering an accessible way to understand LGBTQ history and the roots of Pride. It’s perfect for readers of all ages looking to learn more about the fight for equality and the importance of community resilience. Something we need more than ever in 2025.
3. The Color of Always - A Wave Blue World
The flutter of first dates, the thrill of a text-back, the heart-stopping seconds before coming out, and the rush when finally discovering who you truly are – all of these life-changing moments across the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ experience are ready to explore in this bright and inspiring comics anthology! The Color of Always is a collection of personal stories, testimonies, heirlooms, evocations, and evangelisms for queer creators and readers that celebrates feeling good about who you are.
This stunning and vibrant anthology by A Wave Blue World celebrates LGBTQ+ love, identity, and self-expression through the lens of multiple queer creators. There's a wonderfully diverse mix of stories from poets, artists, and comic creators across the LGBTQ spectrum, all coming together for this anthology collection. It offers heartfelt, imaginative, and deeply personal reflections on queer life. Each story explores love in its many forms—romantic, platonic, and self-directed—highlighting joy, struggle, and authenticity. Perfect for Pride Month, The Color of Always reminds us that love, in all its forms, is worth honoring.
4. A Quick & Easy Guide - Oni Press
In this quick and easy guide to queer and trans identities, cartoonists Mady G and Jules Zuckerberg guide you through the basics of the LGBTQ+ world! Covering essential topics like sexuality, gender identity, coming out, and navigating relationships, this guide explains the spectrum of human experience through informative comics, interviews, worksheets, and imaginative examples. A great starting point for anyone curious about queer and trans life, and helpful for those already on their own journeys!
A new book I've only recently started reading, I have found this insightful with many things I wish I'd known when I was younger. A Quick & Easy Guide series from Oni Press is an ideal Pride Month pick for readers seeking accessible, inclusive education on a wide range LGBTQ+ topics. Within the series are titles like A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns and A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities break down complex subjects with humor, clarity, and empathy. We currently have 2 releases live, with two more to be released each week during Pride Month. Be sure to add it to your GlobalComix Library to not miss out on future releases like guides on coming out, asexuality, consent, and more.
Created by queer authors and illustrators, the series is perfect for all ages. Whether you're exploring your own identity or learning how to support others, these guides foster understanding, promote respect, and empower readers to engage in informed, compassionate conversations about gender and sexuality.
5. Transitions - IDW Publishing
When Anne learns that her 19-year-old is a transgender man, she struggles to understand her son’s new identity. A new landmark in nonfiction comics, Transitions is a sympathetic, informative, and moving story of a family’s journey to acceptance.
This graphic novel is a meaningful celebration of identity, resilience, and the journey toward living authentically though the eyes of a parent watching their child transition. Through a collection of personal stories, it explores the diverse experiences of transgender and nonbinary individuals navigating gender identity, acceptance, and transformation. This type of information is critical to keeping our community informed, both as LGBTQ+ people and allies. Transitions offers readers an intimate look into the realities of transitioning—emotionally, socially, and physically. It’s an educational and empathetic read that fosters deeper understanding for allies while offering validation and representation for trans readers.
Here's a list of resources used for today's article, as well as other links to lots of lists of recommended queer reading:
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Banned & Challenged Comics by CBLDF
- Commonly Banned Comics @ Cal State LA
- The Censorship of LGBTQ+ Comic Books with Maia Kobabe and Mike Curato
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Queer comic creators talk their hopes, helps (and fave new reads!) for Pride from PopVerse
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7 LGBTQ comic artists share how they navigate their identity from The Washington Post
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20 Essential Queer Comics from the Past Five Years by Publishers Weekly
See you again soon, and happy Pride Month 2025 from all of us here at GlobalComix!