National Coming Out Day

October 11 is National Coming Out Day, a day when people celebrate living openly as LGBTQ. It’s totally normal to be nervous about coming out (I sure was!), but it’s also normal to feel excited, too.

Every person is different. Some people start by telling only a few friends and family while others post it on Facebook and announce it to the world. There is no “right” way or time to come out. If you feel you’re ready, awesome! If you're not, or if you feel it wouldn't be safe for you to come out right now, it's completely fine to wait. (Either way, know that your library is a safe space for you to find books, legal information or adult support when you need it.)

Or, maybe this National Coming Out Day isn't about you, but you have a friend or family member who is coming out that you want to support. In either case, here are some books about teens navigating these sometimes murky waters:

In Ask the Passengers by A.S. King, my favorite thing is how Astrid resists labeling herself as anything, even as she falls hard for a girl she works with. Labels are for jars, not for people.

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan follows several teens and groups of teens in different places. I love the variety of experience that is shown. Everyone's journey is different.

I Am J by Cris Beam is the best window of insight into the life of trans person that I have ever read. It made me feel ALL THE THINGS!

In Pink by Lili Wilkinson, Ava has been out as a lesbian for several years when she begins to realize she may be bisexual. Sexuality is fluid, and I love how the book shows this.

If you're interested in more, here's a list of LGBTQ books.