Adults - Midsumma

Midsumma Festival is a celebration of LGBTQIA+ arts and cultures held annually for 22 days over January and February in Melbourne, bringing together a diverse mix of LGBTQIA+ artists, performers, communities and audiences.

Updated December 21, 2025
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Perfectly queer : facing big fears, living hard truths, and loving myself fully out of the closet
Abby, Jillian
Paper Book
Jill had a happy, healthy 20-year relationship with her college sweetheart, two wonderful kids, and rescue cat from the Humane Society. They lived in a nice suburban home with a white picket fence and owned a small bar that was rated one of the "Best Mom & Pop" businesses in Tampa Bay. From the...
Guest Privileges
Adams, Gaar
Paper Book
An intimate and illuminating account of queer lives and migration, homemaking and community in the Gulf, from a brilliant new voice in narrative non-fiction **LONGLISTED FOR THE RSL ONDAATJE PRIZE** 'An eye-opening tour de force' ALEX ESPINOZA ...
The DC book of pride : a celebration of DC's LGBTQIA+ characters
Axelrod, Jadzia
Paper Book
Celebrate Pride with DC's LGBTQIA+ Super Heroes. Written and curated by DC expert Jadzia Axelrod, The DC Book of Pride profiles more than 50 LGBTQIA+ characters in detail, including Harley Quinn, Superman, Nubia, Robin, Batwoman, Aqualad, Dreamer, Green...
DC pride 2021
Ayala, Vita
Paper Book
DC celebrates Pride with this incredible collection starring fan-favorite LGBTQIA+ characters Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Midnighter, Extrano, Batwoman, Aqualad, Alan Scott, Obsidian, Future State Flash, Renee Montoya, Pied Piper, and many more! DC Pride 2021 collects DC Pride<...
Queer : a graphic history
Barker, Meg-John
Paper Book
'Queer: A Graphic History Could Totally Change the Way You Think About Sex and Gender' Vice Activist-academic Meg-John Barker and cartoonist Jules Scheele illuminate the histories of queer thought and LGBTQ+ action in this groundbreaking non-fiction graphic novel. ...
Mood
Bellamy, Roz
Paper Book
Mood is a memoir that perfectly suits our times, and our collective journey to understand how we are shaped by our identities. It is a testament to hard-won growth through self-knowledge. Roz Bellamy is a first-generation Jewish Australian who identifies as non-binary. They met their...
Big love : reclaiming myself, my people, my country
Blurton, Brooke
Paper Book
A raw, moving and uplifting memoir about courage, resilience and the transformative power of love, from one of Australia's most captivating personalities 'Powerful, heartbreaking and beautiful ... a story of incredible triumph fuelled by love and compassion' Osher Gunsberg 'Brooke...
The making of the Victorian Pride Centre
Buckrich, Judith Raphael
Paper Book
Who's afraid of gender?
Butler, Judith
Paper Book
Judith Butler, the ground-breaking philosopher whose work has redefined how we think about gender and sexuality, confronts the attacks on gender that have become central to right-wing movements today. Global networks have formed 'anti-gender ideology movements' dedicated to circulating a fantasy...
Dead ends
Byres, Samantha.
Paper Book
All-round chaos merchant Nell Jenkins has returned to her small hometown to fulfil family duties for the mother and brother she's barely seen since she escaped as a teen. But her homecoming isn't the triumph it should be. She has nothing to show for her time in Sydney but a string of failed...
Queer X design : 50 years of signs, symbols, banners, logos, and graphic art of LGBTQ
Campbell, Andrew Raymond
Paper Book
The first-ever illustrated history of the iconic designs, symbols, and graphic art representing more than 5 decades of LGBTQ pride and activism. Beginning with pre-liberation and the years before the Stonewall uprising, spanning across the 1970s and 1980s and...
Cecilia
Chang, K-Ming
Paper Book
An erotic, surreal novella about the ecstasies of intense friendships and obsessive love Seven, who works as a cleaner at a chiropractor's office, re-encounters Cecilia, a woman who has obsessed her since their school days. As the two of them board the same bus -...
The secret lives of country gentlemen
Charles, KJ
Paper Book
Abandoned by his father, Gareth Inglis grew up lonely, prickly, and well-used to disappointment. Still, he longs for a connection. When he meets a charming stranger, he falls head over heels-until everything goes wrong and he's left alone again. Then Gareth's father dies, turning the shabby London...
Rainbow rainbow : stories
Conklin, Lydia
Paper Book
A collection of stories that celebrate the humour, darkness and depth of emotion of the queer and trans experience that's not typically represented: liminal or uncertain identities, queer conception and queer joy. In this delightful debut collection of prize-wining stories,...
Queer as folklore : the hidden queer history of myths and monsters
Coward, Sacha
Paper Book
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Queer as Folklore takes readers across centuries and continents to reveal the unsung heroes and villains of storytelling, magic and fantasy. Featuring images from archives, galleries and museums around the world, each chapter...
Skin And Its Girl
Cypher, Sarah.
Paper Book
A young, queer Palestinian American woman pieces together her great-aunt's secrets in this "enchanting, memorable" (Bustle) debut, confronting questions of sexual identity, exile, and lineage.   "As beautifully detailed as a piece of Palestinian embroidery, this...
Burning my roti : breaking barriers as a queer Indian woman
Dhaliwal, Sharan
Paper Book
Part memoir, part guide, Burning My Roti is essential reading for a new generation of South Asian women. With chapters covering sexual and cultural identity, body hair, colourism and mental health, and a particular focus on the suffocating beauty standards South Asian women are...
Transformer : a story of glitter, glam rock, & loving Lou Reed
Doonan, Simon
Paper Book
In this funny and poignant memoir and cultural history, the television personality, columnist, and author of Drag pays homage to Lou Reed's groundbreaking album Transformer on its fiftieth anniversary and recalls its influence on his coming of age and coming out through glam rock.<...
The Lgbtq+ History Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
Dorling Kindersley Ltd.
Paper Book
Discover the rich and complex history of LGBTQ+ people around the world - their struggles, triumphs, and cultural contributions. Exploring and explaining the most important ideas and events in LGBTQ+ history and culture, this book showcases the breadth of the LGBTQ+ experience....
Perfume and Pain
Dorn, Anna.
Paper Book
"Perceptive and witty--like a Sally Rooney novel set in Southern California." --Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "It's this author's best work yet. A Sapphic roller-coaster ride." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A controversial LA...
The queen's wife
Drayton, Joanne
Paper Book
A memoir of a turbulent time - and a chess game that broke all the rules. In 1989, two married women met by chance. They instantly hit it off, but little did they know that their new relationship would turn their lives upside-down. This is the true...
Queerly beloved : a novel
Dumond, Susie
Paper Book
A people-pleasing baker tries to find her place as a bridesmaid-for-hire. Will she finally find her happily ever after-and her own voice? "A delightful debut, perfect for any person who's ever created their own place to belong."-Casey McQuiston, bestselling author of Red,...
Nothing to hide : voices of trans and gender diverse Australia
Elkin, Sam
Paper Book
Nothing to Hide is Australia's first mainstream anthology of trans and gender-diverse writing, a powerful contribution to Australian letters.
Forging Queer Leaders : How the LGBTQIA+ Community Creates Impact from Adversity
Fram, Bree
Paper Book
'Helps us all step into our power as queer leaders' - Ben Pechey LGBTQ+ individuals disproportionately encounter bias, adversity, stigma, and marginalization throughout their lives. It's an enormous obstacle - but also prepares them for leadership in a fast-moving, volatile,...
It Used to Be Witches : Under the Spell of Queer Cinema
Gilbey, Ryan
Paper Book
An authoritative celebration of the past, present and future of queer cinema.
After the Siren
Green, Darcy.
Paper Book
Two teammates get off on the wrong foot . . . but might just stumble into love.Theo Bestavros did everything right.He worked hard, got his game-winning moment and - failed. He's determined to make the most of a second chance at the Brunswick Falcons.Jake Cunningham has it all.He's a Falcons fan...
Unfamiliar waters
Grey, Andrew (Novelist)
Paper Book
With the pressures of the job bearing down on him, police officer Garrett Wreckley needs a vacation--in fact, he isn't given a choice in the matter. Since the water has always soothed Garrett's soul, he heads to the Caribbean, hoping some time alone sailing on the open water will help him pull...
Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir
H., Lamya.
Paper Book
A queer hijabi Muslim immigrant survives her coming-of-age by drawing strength and hope from stories in the Quran in this "raw and relatable memoir that challenges societal norms and expectations" (Linah Mohammad, NPR). "A masterful, must-read contribution to conversations on...
Queer heroes of myth and legend : a celebration of gay gods, sapphic saints and queerness through the ages
Jones, Dan
Paper Book
Hidden in the margins of history books, classical literature, and thousands of years of stories, myths and legends, through to contemporary literature, TV and film, there is a diverse and other-worldly super community of queer heroes to discover, learn from, and celebrate. Be captivated by stories...
Queer villains of myth and legend : a revelry of queer rogues and outlaws through the ages
Jones, Dan
Paper Book
The wicked companion book to Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend. Featuring 50 profiles and select B&W illustrated portraits, Queer Villains of Myth & Legend is a celebration of those delightfully villainous queer mystical beings. Every good...
Heretic : a memoir
Kadlec, Jeanna
Paper Book
A memoir of leaving the evangelical church and the search for radical new ways to build community.  Jeanna Kadlec knew what it meant to be faithful--in her marriage to a pastor's son, in the comfortable life ahead of her, in her God--but there was no denying the truth...
Fat girl dancing : a memoir
Kneen, Krissy
Paper Book
How does a person come to know that they are different from the children around them? To measure themselves against a set normal and find themselves lacking? When did I know that I was plump, and then fat? Fat child, self-denying adolescent,...
365 gays of the year (plus 1 for a leap year) : discover LGBTQ+ history one day at a time
Laney, Lewis
Paper Book
365 Gays of the Year is a celebration of Queer history told through one LGBTQ+ figure for each day of the year.
The little book of pride : the history, the people, the parades
Laney, Lewis
Paper Book
Celebrate the LGTBQ community with this small but perfectly formed guide to Pride. What began as a protest for gay rights following the Stonewall riots of 1969 in New York has grown to become a global celebration of LGBTQ culture. In the 50-odd years since the original protest...
Growing up queer in Australia
Law, Benjamin
Ebook
No amount of YouTube videos and queer think pieces prepared me for this moment. The mantle of "queer migrant" compelled me to keep going - to go further. I never "came out" to my parents. I felt I owed them no explanation. All I heard from the pulpit were grim hints. I...
Bad gays : a homosexual history
Lemmey, Huw
Paper Book
These "very funny-deep dives into the lives of the most dastardly queer people in history" offer a passionate argument for rethinking gay politics beyond identity (Vogue). What can we learn from the homosexual villains, failures, and baddies of our past? ...
In spite of you
Lenton, Patrick.
Paper Book
A gloriously spiky modern rom-com that will have you falling head over heels in love (and spite). When Jeremy is invited to the 10-year reunion of his prestigious writing program, his life is a horrible mess. He's a pop-culture journalist with no money, he's permanently single and...
In/out
Lentz, Steph
Paper Book
'Steph takes you into her world with refreshing honesty. Her voice is that rare combination of conviction and vulnerability' Kumi Taguchi 'With In/Out, Steph Lenz shows that if love does not conquer all, something has gone very badly wrong' Ed le Brocq In January 2021, Steph Lentz...
Moonlite
Linnell, Garry
Paper Book
Charismatic, intelligent and handsome, George Scott is unlike any other bushranger. Born into a privileged life in famine-wracked Ireland, Scott's family loses its fortune and is forced to flee to New Zealand. There, Scott joins the local militia and fights as a soldier against the Maori in the...
A short history of queer women
Loehr, Kirsty
Paper Book
No, they weren't 'just friends'! Queer women have been written out of history since, well, forever. 'But historians famously care about women!', said no one. From Anne Bonny and Mary Read who sailed the seas together disguised as pirates, to US football captain Megan Rapinoe declaring 'You...
Arthur and Teddy are coming out
Love, Ryan
Paper Book
The feel-good read of 2024. Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, Beth O'Leary and Alice Oseman's Heartstopper. Selected as one of the Independent's 19 debut authors set to make their mark in 2023 'Gentle, honest and beautifully authentic' Julietta Henderson ...
It gets better . . . except when it gets worse
Maines, Nicole
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER . The irreverent and candid coming-of-age memoir of Nicole Maines, trailblazing trans actress, activist-and sometimes someone who's just existing, which is actually pretty hard! Nicole Maines knows a little something about "happily ever after"-not just because...
Oh Miriam! : stories from an extraordinary life
Margolyes, Miriam
Paper Book
'Oh Miriam! risks the curse of the sequel, and pulls it off . . . A force of nature, a tour de farce. Bold, brave and bright, but also revealing, shocking and touching. Miriam is an icon, a cocksucker - and the star of her show' ROBERT McCRUM, Independent ...
All this could be different
Mathews, Sarah Thankam
Paper Book
2022 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST ONE OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES' TOP 5 FICTION BOOKS OF THE YEAR ONE OF TIME AND SLATE'S TOP 10 BOOKS OF THE YEAR Named one of the BEST BOOKS OF 2022 by NPR, Vogue, Vulture,...
Rainbow history class : your guide through queer and trans history
McElhinney, Hannah
Paper Book
Rainbow History Class is your entry into LGBTQ+ history, sharing queer and trans stories from Ancient civilisations all the way up to the internet.  So much of queer and trans history and culture has been erased, but Hannah McElhinney, writer and...
Do Ask. Do Tell : LGBTQ+ Life, Love and Culture Laid Bare
Oakley, Stuart
Paper Book
'Bursting with empathy, understanding and humour. A crucial book for our community and allies.' Suzi Ruffell What is a black cat lesbian? Is 'aromantic' a sexuality or a preference? How are bisexual and pansexual different? What's it like to be queer and religious? Does Gen Z...
Baby making for everybody : family building and fertility for LGBTQ+ and solo parents
Rachlin, Ray
Paper Book
This inclusive, straightforward guide to fertility is What to Expect Before You're Expecting for families outside the heterosexual nuclear family model--perfect for LGBTQ+ and solo parents who want to have kids but don't know where to start.     
Atmosphere : a love story
Reid, Taylor Jenkins
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK * From the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes an epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go...
Ordinary love
Rutkoski, Marie
Paper Book
'An immersive, glamorous, sexy and gripping modern love story to gulp down hungrily and quickly' SUNDAY TIMES 'This sexy, summer romance slips down as easily as oysters and champagne' DAILY MAIL 'An exquisitely tender portrayal of enduring...
The Secret Public : How LGBTQ Performers Shaped Popular Culture (1955-1979)
Savage, Jon
Paper Book
A monumental history of the LGBTQ influence on popular culture, from the award-winning, Sunday Times bestselling author Jon Savage.
Live, Laugh, Lesbian : Navigating Life as a Lesbian in the 21st Century
Scott, Helen.
Paper Book
"Sometimes, it's easy to feel like the only lesbian in the world - let alone in the village. But wherever you are with your sexuality, you've just picked up a book with the word 'lesbian' in the title and I know baby you would be so proud." From strap-ons and Lesbian Bed Death to...
At Her Service
Spalding, Amy
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Jasmine Guillory 'A wonderfully hopeful, queer, LA love story' Anita Kelly, author of Something Wild & Wonderful 'Highly relatable, laugh-out-loud funny, and full of hot-bartender sapphic swoon' Alison Cochrun, author of The Charm Offensive<...
Unbounded : manifesting a life without limits
Thattil, Maria
Paper Book
What would you change in your life if you could silence the voice that tells you- you're not enough, keep quiet, you can't do it, or there is no space for you? As a queer child of immigrants, Maria Thattil knows what it is like to struggle with belonging. In Unbounded, she shares...
The queer film guide : 100 great movies that tell LGBTQIA+ stories
Turner, Kyle
Paper Book
Beginning with early trailblazers like Different from the Others, Kyle Turner has selected 100 of cinema's greatest queer films to guide you through the eras. From Hitchcock's Rope and cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show through the New Queer Cinema movement of the 90s to the...
Love that story : observations from a gorgeously queer life
Van Ness, Jonathan
Paper Book
Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness dives into his favourite subjects in Love That Story, a new collection of heartfelt and entertaining essays. From experiencing heartbreaking grief to uncovering the hidden LGBTQ history of his hometown, Quincy, from overcoming body...
City of Laughter
Verbitsky, Misha
Paper Book
A rich and riveting debut spanning four generations of Eastern European Jewish women bound by blood, half-hidden secrets and the fantastical visitation of a shapeshifting stranger over the course of 100 years.The City of Laughter follows a young queer woman stuck in a thicket of...
Ace voices : what it means to be asexual, aromantic, demi or grey-ace
Young, Eris
Paper Book
How do we experience attraction? What does love mean to us? When did you realise you were ace? This is the ace community in their own words. Drawing upon interviews with a wide range of people across the asexual spectrum, Eris Young is here to...

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