Gay characters in books

This is a list of gay characters in fiction, i.e. characters that either self-identify as gay or have been identified by outside parties to be gay, becoming part of gay media.

This list contains books by gay, lesbian, trans and queer authors as well as fantastic reads with characters from across the LGBTQ+ rainbow of identities.

Read on for Deibert’s annotated syllabus on the LGBTQ+ characters and creators who paved the way, weaving from The Color Purple to Stone Butch Blues. Image by daboost/Getty Images. Amanda Deibert: “Alice Walker was the first Black woman to ever win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Discover powerful LGBTQ+ books that explore identity, love, and resilience—stories that inspire, challenge, and celebrate diverse voices and experiences.