July is Disability Pride Month, and I’ve got 10 fantastic LGBTQ+ 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ stories from around the world to share with you, Story Questers! Now, in case you don’t know, each stripe on the Disability Pride flag represents a different group of disabled individuals. And though our disabilities might not be immediately apparent on first glance, our struggles are no less valid.
Red Stripe
Represents physical disabilities.
Gold Stripe
Represents neurodiversity, encompassing a wide range of cognitive and neurological differences.
White Stripe
Represents invisible and chronic disabilities.
Blue Stripe
Represents emotional and psychiatric disabilities, including mental illness, anxiety, and depression.
Green Stripe
Represents sensory disabilities, such as blindness, deafness, and other sensory impairments.
1) I Hear the Sunspot
by Yuki Fumino
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance
Disability Representation: Green – Auditory Disability – Hearing Loss/near deafness
Genres: New Adult Romance, Contemporary Romance, Romance Manga, School Romance, Slice-of-life Romance
READ IT
2) Godkiller
by Hannah Kaner
Queer Genre: Queer Genre: Bisexual Fantasy
Disability Representation: Red – Physical Disability – Amputee with Prosthetic
Genres: Epic Fantasy, Action Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Queernormative Fantasy, Coming-of-age Fantasy
Awards: Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Science Fiction & Fantasy
READ IT
3) The Unintentional Time Traveler
by Everett Maroon
Queer Genre: Genderfluid Romance, Genderfluid SciFi
Disability Representation: White – Invisible Disability – Epilepsy
Genres: Young Adult Romance, Time Travel SciFi, Historical Fantasy, Coming-of-age Romance
READ IT
4) #MUTED
Volume 1
by Kandismon
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance, Bisexual Romance
Disability Representation: Blue/Green – Emotional & Psychiatric Disabilities – Anxiety-induced mutism
Genres: New Adult Romance, Contemporary Romance, Webcomic, Romance Comic, Slice-of-life Romance, International Romance (original language & setting German)
READ IT
5) The Spirit Bares Its Teeth
by Andrew Joseph White
Queer Genre: Trans Gothic Horror
Disability Representation: Gold – Neurodiversity – Autism Spectrum Disorder
Genres: Gothic Horror, Historical Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, Young Adult Horror
Awards: Stonewall Honor Book in Young Adult Literature, ALA Rainbow List, Book of the Year Award Shelf Awareness, Book of the Year Award School Library Journal, Book of the Year Award Kirkus Reviews, Chicago Public Library ‘Best of the Best’ Award, Locus Award Finalist, BCCB Blue Ribbon Book, Booklist Editors’ Choice
READ IT
6) Iron Widow
by Xiran Jay Zhao
Queer Genre: Bisexual SciFi, Polyamorous Romance
Disability Representation: Red – Physical Disability – Wheelchair & Cane use, White – Invisible Disability – Chronic pain
Genres: Chinese Fantasy (xianxia), Young Adult SciFi, Mecha SciFi, Coming-of-age SciFi, SciFi Fantasy
*A SciFi reimagining of China’s only female emperor
Awards: Polygon Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Book of 2021, Indigo Best Teen Book 2021, Indigo Best Teen SciFi & Fantasy Book 2021, Barnes & Noble’s Best YA Fantasy & Adventure of 2021, Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Young Adult & Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, New York Public Library Best Book for Teens 2021, Canadian Children’s Book Centre Favourite Book of the Year 2021, Boston Globe Best Book of 2021, Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction, 2022 Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy winner, 2022 Amy Mathers Teen Book Award winner
READ IT
7) Heartstopper
Volume 1
by Alice Oseman
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance, Bisexual Romance
Disability Representation: Blue – Emotional & Psychiatric disabilities – Anxiety, Depression & Eating disorder
Genres: Young Adult Romance, Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance, School Romance, Coming-of-age Romance, Slice-of-life Romance
Awards: Amazon Teachers’ Pick, Winner of ‘Best Book I Wish I Could Read Again For The First Time’ TikTok Book Awards
READ IT
8) Heaven Official’s Blessing
Volume 1
by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance, Demisexual Romance, Queer Fantasy, Genderfluid Romance
Disability Representation: Green – Sensory Disabilities – Partial blindness (missing eye)
Genres: Danmei (Chinese Boys Love), Xianxia (Chinese Supernatural Fantasy), Sword & Sorcery, Romantasy, Historical Fantasy, Slow-burn Romance, Myths & Legends, Epic Fantasy, Legendary Fantasy, Secret Identity Romance, Webnovel, Royal Romance
READ IT
9) Stars In Their Eyes
by Jessica Walton & Aśka
Queer Genre: Sapphic Romance, Non-Binary Romance
Disability Representation: Red – Physical Disability – Amputee with Prosthetic
Genres: Young Adult Romance, Coming-of-Age Romance, Contemporary Romance, Romance Comics & Graphic Novels
Awards: Stonewall Honor Book
READ IT
10) Napkins and Other Distractions
by M.A. Wardell
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance, Bisexual Romance
Disability Representation: Blue – Emotional & Psychiatric disabilities – OCD
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Workplace Romance, School Romance, Second Chance Romance, Slice-of-life Romance
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