COD Library: LGBT+ Pride Month: Home

Introduction

Pride
noun
1. Confidence in one's identity as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, nonbinary, or otherwise nonheteronormative person.
2. A movement that promotes equal rights and social justice for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

In the United States, Gay Pride--or simply, Pride--is celebrated during the month of June in honor of a series of violent demonstrations that occurred at Stonewall Inn, a New York City gay bar, on June 28, 1969. The Stonewall Riots are largely credited for starting the cultural conversation around gay rights and continue to be celebrated as a symbol of gay liberation. (From The queen's English: the LGBTQIA+ dictionary of lingo and colloquial expressions.)

This guide is a starting place to begin research, as well as find fiction and films on Queer and LGBTQ+ Topics. There are also links to COD and community resources for the LGBTQ+ community.

Check out our corresponding Display and eBook "Display"!

Use the tabs on the right to find information on:

If you have any further questions, you can ask for help at the Reference desks or online.

College Success Skills

Language and Terminology

Language within and referring to the queer community changes quickly, much more quickly than library cataloging, and there is no one "right" word for everybody. Different communities and individuals have different preferred language, and that's wonderful! However, resources in the library catalog or databases may use terms that are unfamiliar to you, or feel out-of-date. Some may be widely recognized as having more accurate terminology, and some are terms which some members of the queer community may find harmful. That doesn't mean the information might not be helpful, just that it might be more complicated to find.

When searching our catalog and databases, consider using search terms or subject headings that might not be your first choice. For instance, if "transgender" doesn't pull up what you're looking for, you may have better luck with "transsexual" or "cross dressing".

When speaking to, about, or within the queer community, it may not be obvious what language someone prefers. When possible, defer to how they talk about themselves, or simply ask (politely!). If someone corrects you, don't take it personally. Note the correction and move on, and appreciate that it can take a lot of courage and trust for someone to share who they are.

See COD's informational page on LGBTQIA+ Terminology for tips on language about gender and pronouns, particularly in a classroom setting.

And, visit the Safe Zone Project's LGBTQ+ Vocabulary Glossary of Terms for an "ever-improving list of definitions for terminology relating to LGBTQ+ identities & people, sexualities, and genders."