Lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender or queer (LGBTQ) literature depicts LGBTQ content in books oriented for young adult audiences. The complexity of sexuality and identity is explored in these novels, along with stories regarding gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexual or queer characters simply living their lives.
What qualifies a book as young adult literature? In The Heart Has Its Reasons, authors Michael Cart and Christine A. Jenkins define young adult literature as being defined by books “published for readers age twelve to eighteen”, that “have a young adult protagonist”, “are told from a young adult perspective”, and that “feature coming-of-age or other issues and concerns of interest to YAs.”[1] In the case of LGBTQ books for young adults, the books also present gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer content.
LGBTQ books for young adults can be valuable to all teenagers in that they deal with concerns shared by many teens, such as acceptance, the process of growing up, establishing identity, falling in love, friendship and family. These works may also carry special meaning for young adults who identify as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual or queer to have the opportunity to see their own life experiences reflected in literature.
[1] Cart, Michael, and Christine Jenkins. "Give Us Faces." In The heart has its reasons: young adult literature with gay/lesbian/queer content, 1969-2004, 2-16. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2006.
