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LGBT+ organisations and helplines

Gay and LGBT+ book shops

While you may instinctively reach for Amazon or Waterstones, we urge you to visit your local bookshop instead. For those of you visiting or if you live in London Gay's the Word bookshop is a must-visit destination. Two minutes walk from Russell Square tube station, it's the only specifically lesbian and gay book shop in the UK. And here's your map. It recently appeared as a primary location in the film Pride, which we thought was rather good. Gay's the Word is also on Facebook with books, events and news.

When the shop was founded in 1979, gay books were not generally available in ordinary bookstores. From the beginning, the bookshop was used as a community and information resource for lesbians and gay men, providing information on gay organisations and forthcoming events.

Homage | Three Flying Piglets
Made by GMHC volunteers, a fond homage to Gay’s the Word which marks its 40th Anniversary in January 2019.

London

Gay’s The Word, 66 Marchmont Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1AB
Established in 1979, the UK’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop offers a wide selection of queer fiction and nonfiction and hosts regular community events.
The Common Press, 118 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, London E2 6DG
A queer intersectional bookshop, café, and event space. It champions marginalised voices and hosts various events, from book launches to workshops.

Scotland

Category Is Books, 34 Allison Street, Glasgow G42 8NN
An independent LGBTQIA+ bookshop focusing on queer literature and community events, including writing workshops and pop-up barbershops.
Lighthouse Bookshop, 43-45 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DB
A queer-owned, feminist, and antiracist bookshop with over 10,000 titles. It hosts events like author talks and LGBTQ+ book clubs.
Lavender Menace Queer Books, Edinburgh Palette, St Margaret’s House, Room G25c, 151 London Road, Edinburgh EH7 6AE
Originally Scotland’s first gay bookshop, it collects and conserves LGBTQ+ books and preserves queer history. It also hosts events and book groups.

Northern England

Queer Lit, 27 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 5AJ
Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ bookshop, offering over 4,500 queer titles and pride merchandise.
Gay Pride Shop, 2nd Floor, Afflecks, Manchester M4 1PW
The UK's largest LGBTQ+ and gender identity shop, selling books, accessories, and donating profits to LGBTQ+ charities.
The Portal Bookshop, 5 Patrick Pool, York YO1 8BB
Specialises in LGBTQ+ science fiction and fantasy, with a dedicated YA section and monthly book club.
The Bookish Type, 58 Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8NG
An independent queer bookshop focusing on LGBTQIA+ literature, hosting events and supporting local charities.
Wave of Nostalgia, 74 Main Street, Haworth BD22 8DP
An award-winning bookstore focusing on feminism, LGBTQ+, and environmental themes, hosting regular events.
News From Nowhere, 96 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4HY
A radical and community bookshop run as a women's co-operative since the 1980s, supporting LGBTQ+ literature and events.

Midlands and Wales

Proud Geek, Online (based in the UK)
A queer bookshop catering to fans of LGBTQ+ comics, manga, and geek culture, offering nationwide delivery.
Paned o Gê
A Welsh queer bookshop and social enterprise promoting LGBTQ+ talent and creators.
Gay on Wye, H2 Lion Street, Hay-On-Wye, HR3 5AA
A queer bookshop aiming to be a vibrant hub for the LGBTQ+ community and allies, celebrating queer history and literature.
Shelf Life Books & Zines, Cardiff
An independent queer bookshop focusing on LGBTQ+ literature and zines, supporting local creators.

South and South West England

The Queery, 46 George Street, Brighton BN2 1RJ
A queer radical bookshop and community space, operating as a co-op to benefit the local queer community.

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