While LGBTQIA+ creators have been around for millennia, it’s only recently that we’ve been hearing more diverse, more queer-authored, and more queer-performed stories about the entire spectrum of LGBTQIA+ experiences and identities. This list—just like the community it represents—is meant to be fluid. It’s meant to change and evolve alongside the community, and reflect the conversations and issues that are unfolding around us. But most importantly, it’s meant to celebrate and reflect on the issues faced by LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.
Although the US Congress passed landmark legislation to further protect same-sex marriage in 2022, we’ve also witnessed an escalation in anti-LGBTQIA+ hate speech and discrimination. From the criminalization of gender-affirming care for trans folks to the prohibition and censorship of drag, gender identity and expression continue to be under threat. And while that’s by no means a reason to ever stop celebrating how far we’ve come, it’s a necessary reminder of why queer stories, creators, and lists are so important. Whether you consider yourself to belong to one, many, or none of the communities that make up the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, we sincerely hope you find a sense of community, belonging, and celebration on this list. From our favorite classics to more contemporary explorations of gender and sexuality, we’re certain there’s a listen here for just about everyone.
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Explore the 100 LGBTQIA+ Essentials
The beloved comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For plunged lesbians into pop culture. Now, this classic comic has been adapted in an immersive full-cast audio experience.
Queer Eye’s JVN brings buoyant charisma to his vulnerable, author-narrated debut, giving voice to the complicated personal history that made him a champion of positivity.
Only just recently renamed to align with the titular character’s gender identity, this middle grade novel about a trans fourth grader is a must-listen for families.
Though you can't go wrong with any of their stories, McQuiston’s debut rom-com is an all-time favorite. It's impossible not to smile as you're listening.
This insightful yet disturbing audio documentary about a government operation based in an unassuming Australian town should be required listening for all queer folks and allies.
Author V.E. Schwab has described Klune's breakout fantasy as "being wrapped in a big gay blanket," and narrator Daniel Henning is the warm cup of tea to complement it.
With charming candor boosted by a stellar performance from Rocketman star Taron Egerton, John recounts topping the charts, getting sober, and finding love with his now-husband.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning story about a middling writer running away from heartache will steal your heart. Listening to Robert Petkoff is like traveling with a friend you can’t help but adore.
Voiced by the iconic humorist himself, this essay collection oozes with Sedaris’s classic wit, absurdity, and, ultimately, heart.
Performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this coming-of-age tale tackles identity, masculinity, injustice, and learning how to love yourself as you are.
Neil Patrick Harris charmingly narrates this heartwarming tale of two male penguins who start their own family (inspired by a true story!).
Chen’s paradigm-shifting probe into what it means to be asexual in a sex-obsessed culture is a perceptive, nuanced, intersectional look at the ace experience.
Inspired by E.M. Forster’s Howard’s End, this Tony Award-winning play is a meta-referential look at LGBTQIA+ culture as seen through the eyes of three generations of gay men.
Written as a letter from a gay son to his mother and performed by the author, Vuong's debut is one that'll break your heart in the most profound ways possible.
In this cleverly framed and utterly brilliant memoir, Alan Cumming's voice is perfection (with a Scottish accent). Listening to him tell his own story is the definition of essential.
This searing memoir is an unflinching look at self-image, self-care, and embracing every aspect of yourself from the bestselling powerhouse Roxane Gay.
Featuring the multi-cast lineup of our dreams, this podcast centers on two desk cops investigating the case of a D-list reality TV star that's gone missing.
The late great actor Leslie Jordan warmed our hearts with this performance of his memoir about growing up gay in the Deep South and navigating Hollywood.
Queer poet and activist Sonya Renee Taylor invites us all to get radical and practice self-love, conquer body-shaming, and create a world of good.
A heartbreaking story of addiction and poverty, but most of all, love. Shuggie Bain is an epic portrayal of a mother and son that is rarely seen in fiction.
Pop-psychologist Julia Shaw takes listeners on a lively, fascinating, and affirming tour through bisexuality—shining a proud light on an often misunderstood and invisible identity.
First published in 1940, this classic novel queers expectations of gender performativity and same-sex relationships, while exploring themes of isolation and longing for genuine connection.
Humor essayist Samantha Irby recounts the realities of a Black bisexual woman's journey through friendships, loss, dating, and more. Irby's engaging performance shines with unabashed wit and honesty.
Baldwin’s gifts for lyricism and humanity shine in this great novel of sexuality and desire in postwar Paris, both a historical benchmark in gay representation and a timeless literary classic.
This outrageous take on the heist genre, performed by a multi-cast of comedy's funniest LGBTQIA+ stars, was the comedy we didn't even know we needed.
In this soaring memoir, a Tony winner and fashion icon inspires as he touches on his HIV diagnosis and the adversity he faced growing up gay and Black.
Performed by a full cast and with immersive sound design, this deep-space adventure is like no sci-fi listen we've heard before. It's at turns heartfelt, haunting, and hopeful.
Though Albertalli and Silvera have written incredible queer stories on their own, the best-friend duo’s first collaboration holds a special place in our hearts.
The horror icon otherwise known as Cassandra Peterson cements her legacy as a comic genius and feminist trailblazer in this deliciously devilish and surprisingly moving memoir.
Just as their genre-bending tragicomic performance upended stand-up routines, Gadsby's memoir offers an unforgiving and unfiltered glimpse at existing as a queer, neurodivergent individual.
From the White House to Harold & Kumar to his relationship with his partner, Penn's memoir captures the sting of confronting prejudice and the joys of following dreams.
Come for the juicy premise (a man who formerly lived as a trans woman asks his trans ex-girlfriend to help parent the child of his cis partner) and stay for the gender insights in this critically acclaimed debut novel.
Becky Chambers is unmatched when it comes to cozy sci-fi with queer characters, and this novella—with a nonbinary main character voiced by a trans narrator—is warm, fuzzy, and thought-provoking all at once.
Iconic soccer player Abby Wambach recounts the wins, losses, and pivotal moments that helped her become the world-class athlete, leader, and advocate that she is today.
In this utterly moving memoir, Glennon Doyle shares how she finally learned to listen to her formerly silenced inner voice—and how you can too.
When an eclectic group of trans women awaiting gender-confirmation surgery meet in a Thailand hotel, their shared connection is the focus of Shakina Nayfack’s acclaimed audio play.
In pursuit of fulfilling her life-long dream to have a family, Joanne Spataro recounts the love, joy, and challenges of conceiving a biological child with her wife, Lara, a trans woman.
From Sleater-Kinney and the Olympia punk scene to the exploration of her bisexuality, Brownstein reflects on every facet of her identity with thoughtful frankness.
The stars align in Alexandria Bellefleur's charming queer rom-com debut as Lauren Sweet, one of the best voices in romance, delivers a pitch-perfect performance.
Aiden Thomas and Avi Roque make for an electric author-narrator pairing in this story about a trans boy who fights to become a ghost-summoning brujo.
Though not published until after his death, this classic imagines a future that wouldn't have seemed possible during Forster's own lifetime: a gay happily-ever-after in pre-WW1 Britain.
With his memoir, Randy Rainbow offers a glimpse behind his green screen and those iconic pink glasses. It's the perfect celebration of breaking the mold and being your authentic self.
Anouka's poetic and semi-autobiographical performance of her debut play recounts a half-decade of personal growth and asks the audience what life could look like without judgement.
Akwaeke Emezi's first romance novel charts a widow's journey of self-discovery that finds her falling in love with the person she least expects, powerfully narrated by Bahni Turpin.
When lesbian couple George and Ash escape chaotic Manchester for a remote farm, local suspicion and supernatural shenanigans take sinister aim in this immersive folk-horror podcast.
This quick but emotional memoir about growing up queer and Black is an important reflection on gender, identity, and self-acceptance, performed by the author himself.
Carlile's ode to the music that carried her through her tumultuous coming out and coming-of-age, with its raw renditions of “Hallelujah” and “Honky Cat,” sings to our hearts.
Carmen Maria Machado reflects on the abusive relationship she endured with her ex, and how it conflicted with her preconceptions that lesbian relationships represented safety.
This debut author listened to the voices of his ancestors that came to him in a dream—voices that permeate this unforgettable novel and the performance of narrator Karen Chilton.
Sharing introspections on everything from gender dysphoria to the music industry, the frontwoman of Against Me! bares even more of her journey toward fearless authenticity.
Following a gay power couple in Washington, DC, Bath Haus is a twisty, gritty ride. Performers Michael Crouch and Daniel Henning only enhance the intrigue.
Though she needs no introduction, this intimate look at Billie Jean King's life and accomplishments is a must-listen for tennis fans, women’s rights activists, and LGBTQIA+ advocates alike.
This Grammy and Audie-winning autobiography is a deeply personal dive into the nature of fame, identity, and music performed by the iconic singer-songwriter herself.
Alok Vaid-Menon, transfeminine writer and founder of #DeGenderFashion, shows us that gender is a malleable, creative form of expression in this affirming family listen.
Frances McDormand’s performance brings this sparkling comedy of manners to life—creating an indelible portrait of 1970s San Francisco during the post Sexual Revolution/pre-AIDS era.
This genre-bending memoir and work of "autotheory" is an inventive, intelligent, and beautiful listen from poet Maggie Nelson, made all the better by her performance of the work.
This multi-voiced performance dives into relationships that fall outside the heteronormative binary of marriage and monogamy, shining a light on the many "nontraditional" ways of loving.
Kushner’s incomparable Pulitzer-winning play examines the AIDS crisis in Reagan-era America through a fantastical lens; in audio, the 2018 revival’s all-star cast reprise their roles.
This is one of the first books to cover the entirety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans history—including previously unknown and often ignored aspects of American history.
Voiced by Academy Award winner Anna Paquin, this groundbreaking lesbian coming-of-age novel defied the status quo with its portrayal of a queer happy ending.
Queer pop icons and identical twins Tegan and Sara Quin share their high school stories in this stellar performance, including rough recordings of their first songs remastered from ‘90s cassette tapes.
Taking place over a single weekend, this novel follows a young, introverted, queer Black man grappling with grief, trauma, and sexuality—with a stellar performance from Kevin R. Free.
Published in 2003 and imbued with her trademark insight, humor, and compassion, Jennifer Finney Boylan's Lambda Award-winning memoir was one of the first bestselling trans stories of the millennium.
A Black trans student finds love through a catfishing revenge scheme gone wrong in this heartfelt journey of self-discovery from Lambda Literary Award winner Kacen Callender.
Honest and raw, this memoir by iconic queer author Jeanette Winterson is a searing portrait of one woman's courage to see herself as she truly is.
This masterful story of two girls falling in love is widely viewed as one of the most important lesbian books written for teens in the 20th century.
Hilarious, down-to-earth, and relatable, this listen is full of advice for loving yourself when your community tells you not to.
This debut about a trans boy navigating his new-kid status at a Texas high school shines a light on the bravery of trans kids and teens everywhere.
Jazz Jennings won hearts and changed minds in her first Barbara Walters interview at age six. In this intimate memoir, Jennings reflects on her journey and life as a teen activist.
From the creator of Heartstopper, this feel-good story following an asexual/aromantic heroine on her search for platonic love shows how romance is a spectrum.
A long overdue audio debut, David Pittu’s superb performance of Andrew Holleran's iconic 1978 novel is haunting, intoxicating, and worth the wait.
Trans teen Danny Tozer is grappling with coming out when she inherits the powers—and body—of the superhero Dreadnought. A trans kid saving the world? Sign us up.
In this firsthand account of queer parenting, Emmy-winning actor and writer Dan Bucatinsky shares his own journey toward fatherhood with equal parts humor, insight, and love.
This unforgettable memoir guarantees you’ll never think about gender the same way again. With humor and honesty, Tobia reflects on the trauma and healing of their "coming-of-gender" story.
This fictional ode to the Harlem ball scene of the '80s and '90s is a powerful listen that demands a fluidity between languages, gender, and class.
Jen Winston subverts the sterotype of bisexuals as "greedy" and "confused," sharing witty, poignant, and intimate experiences from her own life in this essay collection.
This f/f asexual romance by Jae hits all the right notes as a burned-out pop star finds love in her hometown. Performed by mega-talent Angela Dawe.
This Stonewall-winning debut is an uplifting look at a Black queer teen who finds identity and acceptance as a drag artist, performed by the author.
Performed by Janis Ian and Jean Smart, this is a slow-burn romantic novel where two small-town women find each other and defy their families to start a life together.
A full cast enlivens this necessary history of gay liberation in the 1960s—a portrait fully realized by firsthand accounts and clippings from LGBTQIA+ publications.
Narrator Karla Serrato delivers a beautiful performance full of all the nuance, humor, and love that 16-year-old queer Mexican student Yami experiences at her new Catholic school.
A cult classic about a transgender woman who takes a cross-country journey after a breakup with her girlfriend. What ensues becomes an evergreen coming-of-age story.
Alexander Chee’s provocative essays on writing, teaching, and growing up gay and Korean American comprise this warm and candid self-portrait of a contemporary literary icon.
This standout debut novel follows the life of Ijeoma, a queer girl growing up in civil war-era Nigeria as she experiences the joys and sorrows of living and loving openly.
This 1957 novel from the “Queen of Lesbian Pulp Fiction” kicks off The Beebo Brinker Chronicles—and is loosely based on Bannon's own experience coming to terms with her sexuality.
Samra Habib offers listeners an intimate view into her life as a queer Muslim Pakistani refugee whose family fled to Canada to escape threats from Islamic extremists.
Allen's memoir dives into the good, the bad, and the hilarious moments of her gender transition—all while celebrating the liberation of finding humor in life’s most difficult moments.
From one of the world's foremost intersex activists, Hida Viloria's memoir offers a candid reflection on embracing their gender identity and their decades-long fight for equality.
Performed by Abby Craden, this introduction to Radclyffe's Honor series is a must-listen love story about a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the president's daughter.
Isherwood's classic centers on a gay professor in 1960s suburban California. It’s a somber yet dryly funny portrayal of a man grappling with loneliness, alienation, and grief.
Sly, insightful, and relentlessly witty, Pulitzer-winning critic Andrea Long Chu’s self-narrated audiobook argues that womanhood is more existential and emotional than biological in nature.
Audre Lorde’s words manage to be moving, insightful, and educational all at once. In this collection of powerful essays and poems, Lorde's work utterly shines.
An off-Broadway hit dazzlingly reimagined for audio, this captivating story of missing gay teen Leonard Pelkey features a showstopping performance by writer Celeste Lecesne.
Award-winning storyteller and performer Ivan Coyote relates their experiences growing up as a Canadian “tomboy” with a revealing journey into identifying beyond the gender binary.
This classic story follows the blooming relationship between sales clerk Therese and housewife Carol, marking a historic departure from tragic queer narratives.
Roem, the first openly trans state legislator in the United States, skewers faulty opposition research and reclaims the narrative surrounding her life, career, and identity.
This shiver-inducing memoir about absent parents, kissable women, and the dark side of privilege is an urgent and sensual experience, voiced by the author herself.
Set in Mumbai, this rom-com incorporates the 2018 repeal of Indian Penal Code Section 377, which made it a crime to be gay. It's as heartwarming as it is provocative.
At times hilarious and heartbreaking, poet Stacyann Chin takes us on her journey toward motherhood as a 35-year-old single Black lesbian.
Melinda Lo's queer retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale—narrated by the inimitable Emily Woo Zeller—is at once fantasy, romance, and coming-of-age tale.
