Queer-Affirming Books

Pride Place of Belonging (a queer-affirming program of Niles Discovery Church) offers this list of queer-affirming non-fiction, written from a Christian perspective. We picked a Christian perspective both because it is our tradition, so it’s a tradition we know, and because so much evil has been perpetrated against members of the queer community in the name of Christianity that we want people to know there is another Christian point of view that is affirming.

Queer-Affirming Books for Adults

Does Jesus Really Love Me?: A Gay Christian’s Pilgrimage in Search of God in America
by Jeff Chu, 2013

God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships
by Matthew Vines, 2014

Transforming: The Bible & the Lives of Transgender Christians
by Austen Hartke, 2018

What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality
by Daniel A. Helminiak, 1994

Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America
by Mel White, 1994

In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God
by Gene Robinson, 2008

Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology
by Pamela R. Lightsey, 2015

Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians
by Candace Chellew-Hodge, 2008

Stories of Lesbian Women and the Church
by Rev. Bonnie E. Kelly, 2020

The Bible and the Transgender Experience: How Scripture Supports Gender Variance
by Linda Tatro Herzer, 2016

Drag Queen Preacher
by RR Tavárez, 2025

UnClobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality
by Colby Martin, 2016

Outside the Lines: How Embracing Queerness Will Transform Your Faith
by Mihee Kim-Kort, 2018


Queer-Affirming Books for Children

The following is a list of books for children, both fiction and non-fiction, recommended by Niles Discovery Church and lists recommended by The Association of United Church Educators. Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Steven Salerno, 2018

Everything Possible
by Fred Small and Alison Brown, 2023

Uncle What-Is-It Is Coming to Visit
by Michael Willhoite, 1993

You Are Special
by Max Lucado, illustrated by Sergio Martinez, 1997

Whoever You Are
by Mem Fox, illustrated by Leslie Staub, 1997

You Are So Wonderful
by Jacqueline J. Lewis, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau, 2003

I’m Not A Girl: A Transgender Story
by Maddox Lyons and Jessica Verdi, illustrated by Dana Simpson, 2020

When Aidan Became A Big Brother
by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, 2019

Big Wig
by Jonathan Hillman, illustrated by Levi Hastings, 2022

Red: A Crayon’s Story
by Michael Hall, 2015

Our Subway Baby
by Peter Mercurio, illustrated by Leo Espinosa, 2020

From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea
by Kai Cheng Thom, illustrated by Wai-Yant Li and Kai Yun Ching, 2017

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