Pride in Your Words: Stick It to ‘Em, an LGBTQ+ zine, was released by Penguin Random House as a response to the inspirational effects of queer books on individuals and society. Zines are typically small, self-published, and original leaflets of texts and images on a topic or idea. They have been useful in many protest movements and sub-cultures to spread information and develop an identity.
Launched during Pride 2023, Penguin Random House’s project set out with the goal of being an ever-evolving and ever-growing project that celebrates queer voices in the community. After its release, the zine shifted to an online website that continues to uplift queer and marginalised voices.
The project continued into 2024 and on Monday, June 3, Penguin Random House shared the 2024 zine as part of its #PrideInYourWords campaign. Alongside the zine, a list of LGBTQ+ authors was featured, as was a tattoo sticker sheet from High Hopes Tattoo.
In partnership with LGBTQ+ CenterLink, for every zine ordered, a set of books will be sent to LGBTQ+ youth centres to create queer libraries across the United States.
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The 2024 edition spotlights authors Geena Rochero (Horse Barbie), Jiaming Tang (Cinema Love), Melissa Mogollon (Oye: A Novel), Brittney Griner (Coming Home), Vanessa Angélica Villarreal (Magical / Realism: Essays on Music, Memory, Fantasy, and Borders), Steven Rowley (Guncle Abroad), and Bianca Xunise (Punk Rock Karaoke).
The website, an expansion of the zine, continues to add to curated categories such as ‘Otherworldly Sci-Fi/Fantasy with Queer Characters,’ ‘Historical Fiction That’s a Little Bit Queer,’ ‘Queer Book Club Must Reads,’ ‘Thrillers with Queer Characters Who Don’t Die First,’ ‘Classic Queer Fiction From Trailblazing Authors.’ In using the content from the print edition, the website offers over 250 books from queer authors.
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As reported by Advocate, the 2023 43-page zine highlighted authors Luma Mufleh (From Here), Gabe Cole Novoa (The Wicked Bargain), Brandon Taylor (The Late Americans), Andrew Rannells (Uncle of the Year), and Carlyn Greenwald (Suzzle Red). The issue also contains a Q&A with queer booksellers from across the United States and a list of 2023 LGBTQ+ titles. While only 1,000 print copies were made in 2023, the digital issue was made available soon after.
Books are a powerful force, both as objects of identity and fear. The introduction to Penguin’s first edition of the zine in 2023 reads that their power is “why some people want to ban and burn them. It’s why we love to read them and publish them and share them.
“Have you ever read a book and felt completely seen? Have you ever picked up a book and been delighted to find that someone else had the same thought as you?
“Books offer community, even when you’re alone. Books can be allies and friends.”
The zine spotlights queer voices and book clubs. The annually published project is created in partnership between the Penguin Random House brand marketing department and the internal LGBTQ+ Network Employee Resource Group to promote change and acceptance of queer communities.
As the world’s largest trade book publisher, Penguin Random House has tremendous sway over book popularity. However, the increasing controversy concerning book bans on LGBTQ+ content in the United States remains.
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