It’s “National Coming Out Day”, a day to celebrate homosexuality and the larger LGBT community and encourage openness and pride in sexuality and gender identity. This year’s theme, “Come Out. Vote.” ties in with the upcoming U.S. election in November and encourages civic participation. I pulled a few selections from the OverDrive content catalog that can help your library promote awareness and participate in the national dialogue for NCOD.

Fighting to Serve
One hot topic political issue in recent years is addressed in “Fighting to Serve: Behind the Scenes in the War to Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Alexander Nicholson, a former member of the military, was discharged under DADT and began to fight publicly against the policy. His book chronicles the struggle leading up to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2011.

It Gets Better
After a tragic wave of teen suicides, writer Dan Savage founded the “It Gets Better” project with his husband Terry Miller to help inspire young LGBT people who were being bullied. What began as a series of YouTube videos grew rapidly and inspired a book. “It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living” shares 100 essays from people of all sexual orientations about being proud of who you are and encouraging teenagers to push through the hard times and look forward to a happy and successful adult life.

A Queer History of the United States
For a look at LGBT history in the U.S., try Michael Bronski’s “A Queer History of the United States,” a comprehensive study of the year that’Columbus sailed the ocean blue’ (1492) through the present. This award-winning title offers an in-depth look at the past and how it shapes our culture today. Another historical take is “Victory” by Linda Hirshman, which covers the social-justice movement of fighting for gay rights over the past century.

Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal?
When she fell in love with a woman, Jeanette Winterson was asked the question, “Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal?” This haunting question became the title of her autobiography, which chronicles her journey to find happiness. Celebrities like Jane Lynch (Glee) and singer Chely Wright have recently shared their coming out stories in personal memoirs. Authors like David Levithan and Oscar Wilde write fiction about gay characters.

Find these diverse titles and more that cover a wide variety of LGBT topics in Content Reserve.