Books celebrating queerness, as recommended by Tatler community’s LGBTQ+ members

Hands down, it would be And the Band Played On by (1987) Randy Shilts. This searing book chronicles the early AIDS epidemic and catalysed me to become engaged politically, joining ACT UP in NYC in the early 1990s. Like just about everyone in New York at that time, I had many friends who died of AIDS, but in particular, when I was about 25, my best friend got sick and I was one of his primary caregivers until he died of AIDS 18 months later. This experience had a profound effect on me, and Randy Shilts’ book helped me understand how I might play a small role in fighting ignorance surrounding the illness. I carry those lessons with me today.

- Septime Webre, artistic director of the Hong Kong Ballet

Sing You Home (2011) by Jodi Picoult came out at a pivotal point in my life when I was starting to fully lean into my queerness. I believe it was also one of the first books in my generation that had a gay storyline that also involved the controversial topic of embryo freezing and ownership. Picoult just has a way of telling stories in a very personal way and it really made me feel seen to read a book that painted a full picture of someone rediscovering their identity and sexuality with highs and lows. Having children is always a big topic between a same-sex couple because it is not a straightforward process, so to get to read a story that laid all the hardest parts out but also showed light at the end of the tunnel really gave me hope. 

- Kayla Wong, entrepreneur and founder of Lang

I was around 11 years old when I went to London with my family on holiday. While my parents were busy shopping in Harrods, I went to the book department and was drawn to a book that looked interesting—the name was Tales of the City (1978) by Armistead Maupin! I read the description on the back cover and quickly decided I wanted to read it. I quietly bought it and hid it in my backpack. That night I couldn't wait to finish dinner and rushed back to my hotel room to open the front cover. 

Tales of the City depicts the journey of a young woman who moved to San Francisco in the 1970s and quickly encountered a group of eccentric and kind-hearted misfits. They formed their own alternative family and explored friendship, love, sex and gender politics. The characters were full of fun, wit and passion but most importantly they were part of the LGBTQ+ community where the subject of queerness was taboo at that time. The writer celebrated what were regarded as freaks and dysfunctional characters of that era and portrayed them as colourful, vulnerable and three-dimensional people. 

To me the story opened a whole new world; it showed me that you can be different from mainstream society and yet still can find like-minded friends and allies. For the first time, I didn't feel alone and awkward as to who I was. Until that moment, I never knew there were people out there in the universe who thought like me, with the same sense of humour and desires! 

Tales of the City is about seeking your identity, finding the courage to love, and embracing the freedom to be who you are, without guilt and anger. As I grew older through the years, I was able to find my own alternative family who has supported and inspired me to be my true self.

- Ray Yeung, screenwriter and director

There are many reasons I love Oral history of male sex worker in Hong Kong (2022) by Midnight Blue. First, the book talks about something we don’t hear in mainstream media: true human stories of male sex workers, which reflect on how their lives have been evolving in Hong Kong. It’s a great way to get to know what life is like for them, outside of their work. 

This book discusses a lot of the visions male sex workers have about sex, morality, boundaries, and peer pressure. That's something I can relate a lot with, being an out-gay artist.

Their bravery and openness in sharing their stories and doing what they do inspire me to keep fighting for what I believe is right.

- Zelos Wong, singer, actor, model

I do have many “favourites”, but if I had to choose it would be The Price of Salt/Carol (1952) by Patricia Highsmith. I first read the novel when I was in my university years, and I remember crying when I got to the end. Before The Price of Salt, all the queer-themed novels that I read had terrible endings. I cried reading the book because for the first time, the story did not have a terrible ending and that gave some “hope” to me as a young adult. It was a lonely experience growing up knowing that who I am and who I love is not “accepted”. And somehow the book helped me see that I do not have to live a miserable, lonely life as a woman who loves women.

- Lisa Lam, managing consultant at KorumLegal and co-chair and general counsel for 2023 Gay Games

Growing up as a gender-non-confirming child, I didn’t see any representation of transmen. The only thing I knew was the handful of transwomen (either from TV or newspaper) who were often portrayed in a very negative light. Until now, media coverage of transgender people still rarely seems to be driven by the desire to inform and educate the public about the actual issues—although strategic litigation might have improved things a bit locally.

With two lawsuit filings, transpeople can now update their gender marker on their Hong Kong ID without having gone through full sex reassignment surgery (I finally collected mine in April). However, there remain other human rights issues in the revised policy. Legal protection alone doesn’t equate to trans equality—this book I’m recommending here would provide an incisive analysis that recontextualises the discourse surrounding transgender lives within a broader framework of social justice.

The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice (2021) by Shon Faye is not just a call for empathy but a demand for action. As the trans movement progresses in Hong Kong (as well as our neighbouring jurisdictions), Faye’s work would be a timely read for Pride Month. The book has been translated into Japanese, Korean, and other languages.

- Henry Tse, founder of Transgender Equality Hong Kong

The Little Prince (1943) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry has truly influenced the way I understand love. The connection between the rose and the prince showed me that love must be mutual, requiring both giving and receiving. And when the prince met the fox, I learned the importance of protecting and caring for those we hold dear. This story of discovery and adventure has taught me that love transcends the boundaries of time and culture, echoing in the depths of our imagination as we each strive to find our own truths and shine brightly in this world.

- Vincent Guy Raffin, luxury brand specialist

I couldn't choose one in particular, so here are two of my favourite books celebrating queerness this year. 

First, I loved Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (2022) by Gabrielle Zevin and the way the characters had such beautifully real relationships with one another, and the way the sexuality of the characters felt very fluid. Friendship, love, queerness, all wrapped up in pages that felt like they could've been written about my friends.

The second would be The Power (2016) by Naomi Alderman. I really enjoyed this because it makes you question how gender roles are defined by power and vice versa. It's fictional, playful until it’s not, and a book that I thought highlighted both sexuality and gender in a creative, fictional way.

- Joya, singer-songwriter

I was fortunate enough to grow up in an idyllic part of Sydney’s northern beaches, with a very loving and supportive family. But for all its natural beauty and easy lifestyle, being gay and a teenager in the 90s and early 00s was fraught and full of judgment, real and imagined.

In 1995, Tim Coingrave released the most beautiful and harrowing book, Holding the Man. It is the story of two gay men falling in love, set in suburban Australia and with all the stresses of school as his characters discover and reveal their sexuality and develop the most beautiful relationship. It is a revelatory book that is heart-wrenching and brave. AIDS is at the heart of the story, the reminder to us born just a decade or so later somehow, mostly missed this cruelest of diseases. The film and stage show were that rare feat of matching the soul of the book. 

Its impact on me is about love, the kindness of friends and family, chance and bravery. An appreciation for all I had growing up, and the appreciation that some were not as lucky! 

- Ben Hallam, global CMO for four seasons

The New Life (2023) by Tom Crewe delves into the complexities of queer life in the 19th century. Crewe sheds light on the struggles and triumphs of queer individuals in a time of repression and societal constraint and masterfully conveys the joy and pain of living an authentic life in a world that seeks to suppress it.

Growing up with Asian heritage in a conservative working-class part of Sydney’s southern beaches and a very religious family, I found myself at times reflected in the characters’ struggles with self-acceptance, navigating the complexities of sexuality, familial expectations, and the quest for authenticity.

Crewe’s masterful storytelling highlights the continued importance of exploring, navigating and most of all celebrating the complexities of sexuality, redefining family, and building identity in a society often rooted in tradition and conformity. The book is a testament to the resilience and courage of queer people and a powerful reminder of the importance of living one's truth and that our stories matter, our identities are valid, and our love is worthy of celebration.

- Jono Toh, artist

Paris is Burning (1990) by Jennie Livingston is a very iconic documentary which brings us back to the 1990s. It gives us a glimpse of what the ballroom culture was like, and what the Drag Queen community was thriving for at a time that was difficult for them. It’s a perfect documentary to watch during Pride month, especially if you don't know much about voguing, or if you need a timely reminder to trust yourself, be proud of yourself, love yourself and love your community. 

- Jace Chan, singer and actress

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