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197 Leadership Books Written by LGBTQIA+ Authors

June 3, 2025 by Dr. Julie Pham Leave a Comment

2025 LGBTQIA+ Leadership Books header

In honor of Pride Month, we created this list of 197 leadership books written by LGBTQIA+ authors. This list is meant to be a resource, not an official endorsement. The books are not ranked in any particular order.


  1. A Place for Us: A Memoir by Brandon J. Wolf
  2. A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski
  3. A Year of Pride and Joy by Simon James Green
  4. All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
  5. All Down Darkness Wide: A Memoir by Sean Hewitt
  6. All In: An Autobiography by Billie Jean King
  7. All Pride, No Ego: A Queer Executive’s Journey to Living and Leading Authentically by Jim Fielding
  8. All The Things She Said: Everything I Know About Modern Lesbian and Bi Culture by Daisy Jones
  9. Allies at Work: Creating a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Inclusive Work Environment by Dr. David M. Hall
  10. Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion at Work by Michael Bach
  11. An Archive of Hope: Harvey Milk’s Speeches and Writings by Harvey Milk
  12. And A Voice to Sing With: A Memoir by Joan Baez
  13. And Now We Are Going to Have a Party by Nichola Griffith
  14. Another Word for Love by Carvell Wallace
  15. Authentic Leadership: An Engaged Discussion of LGBTQ Work as Culturally Relevant by Lemuel W. Watson and Joshua Moon Johnson (Editors)
  16. Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life by Alan Cumming
  17. Banned from California: Jim Foshee – Persecution, Redemption, Liberation… and the Gay Civil Rights Movement by Robert C. Steele
  18. Beautiful on the Outside: A Memoir by Adam Rippon
  19. Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender by Dr. Kit Heyam
  20. Beyond The Rainbow: Personal Stories and Practical Strategies to Help your Business & Workplace Connect with the LGBTQ Market by Jenn T Grace
  21. Binge by Tyler Oakley
  22. Black Boy Out of Time by Hari Ziyad
  23. Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton
  24. Body Becoming: A Path to Our Liberation by Robyn Hnderson-Espinoza
  25. Borderlands / La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa
  26. Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family by Garrard Conley
  27. Breaking Bias: Where Stereotypes and Prejudices Come From–and the Science-Backed Method to Unravel Them by Anu Gupta
  28. Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling: How LGBTQ+ people can thrive and succeed at work by Layla McCay
  29. Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World by Sally Susman
  30. Business, Not Politics: The Making of the Gay Market (Between Men-Between Women: Lesbian and Gay Studies) by Katherine Sender
  31. Coaching Wisdom: Voices of the Gay Coaches Alliance by Gay Coaching Alliance Contributors
  32. Coming Out of the Closet: Exploring LGBT Issues in Strategic Communication with Theory and Research by Natalie Tindall and Richard D. Waters (Editors)
  33. Communicate with Mastery: Speak With Conviction and Write for Impact by JD Schramm
  34. Creating an LGBT+ Inclusive Workplace: The Practical Resource Guide for Business Leaders by Kryss Shane
  35. Deaf Utopia: A Memoir – and a Love Letter to a Way of Life by Nyle DiMarco
  36. Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas
  37. Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery by Casey Parks
  38. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
  39. Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by adrienne maree brown
  40. Entrepreneurial You: Monetize Your Expertise, Create Multiple Income Streams, and Thrive by Dorie Clark
  41. Everybody’s Got Something by Robin Roberts & Veronica Chambers
  42. Fairest: A Memoir by Meredith Talusan
  43. Feeling Power: Emotions and Education by Megan Boler
  44. Fit to Serve: Reflections on a Secret Life, Private Struggle, and Public Battle to Become the First Openly Gay U.S. Ambassador by James C. Hormel & Erin Martin
  45. Forever Young: The Story of Troye Sivan by Alana Wulff
  46. Forging Queer Leaders: How the LGBTQIA+ Community Creates Impact from Adversity by Bree Fram & Elizabeth Cavallaro
  47. Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage by Barney Frank
  48. Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words by Freddie Mercury
  49. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
  50. Gay Issues in the Workplace by Brian McNaught
  51. Gender Ambiguity in the Workplace: Transgender and Gender-Diverse Discrimination by Alison Ash Fogarty Ph.D. & Lily Zheng
  52. Gender Magic: Live Shamelessly, Reclaim Your Joy, & Step into Your Most Authentic Self by Rae McDaniel
  53. Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us by Kate Bornstein
  54. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
  55. Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda
  56. Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work by Tim Gunn
  57. GuRu by RuPaul
  58. Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality: A Guide for Business Practice by Jeff Guaracino, Ed Salvato
  59. Heartbeat: Musings on Leather and Leadership by Thomas Smith
  60. Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons by John Paul Brammer
  61. Homo Economics: Capitalism, Community, and Lesbian and Gay Life by Amy Gluckman & Betsy Reed (Editors)
  62. Horse Barbie: A Memoir by Geena Rocero
  63. How to Get Stupid White Men Out of Office: The Anti-Politics, Un-Boring Guide to Power by adrienne maree brown (Editor)
  64. How to Learn to Be Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde
  65. How to Live Free in a Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir by Shayla Lawson
  66. How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones
  67. Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay
  68. I Can’t Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I’ve Put My Faith in Beyoncé by Michael Arceneaux
  69. I Don’t Want to Die Poor: Essays by Michael Arceneaux
  70. I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition by Lucy Sante
  71. I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl’s Notes from the End of the World by Kai Cheng Thom
  72. I’m Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya
  73. I’m the One That I Want by Margaret Cho
  74. In Defense of Our America: The Fight for Civil Liberties in the Age of Terror by Anthony D. Romero
  75. In My Skin by Brittney Griner
  76. In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose by Alice Walker
  77. In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado
  78. In the Shadow of the Eagle: A Tribal Representative in Maine by Donna M. Loring
  79. In Transit: Being Non-Binary in a World of Dichotomies by Dianne E. Anderson Inclusion: Diversity, the New Workplace, & The Will To Change by Jennifer Brown
  80. Inclusion: Diversity, the New Workplace, & The Will To Change by Jennifer Brown
  81. Inclusive 360: Proven Solutions for an Equitable Organization by Bernadette Smith
  82. Is It Hot In Here (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed On Earth)? by Zach Zimmerman
  83. It’s About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton
  84. Kissing Girls on Shabbat by Dr. Sara Glass
  85. Lavender Road to Success: The Career Guide for the Gay Community by Kirk Snyder
  86. Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing: Essays by Lauren Hough
  87. Lesbian Love Story: A Memoir in Archives by Amelia Possanza
  88. LGBTQ Leadership in Higher Education by Raymond Crossman (Editor)
  89. Liberating Minds: The Stories and Professional Lives of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Librarians and Their Advocates by Norman Kester and Deborah Turner (Editors)
  90. Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls: A Memoir by T Kira Madden
  91. Love and Rage by Lama Rod Owens
  92. Ma and Me by Putsata Reang
  93. Maeve Rising: Coming Out Trans in Corporate America by Maeve Duvally
  94. Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me by Ellen Forney
  95. Martina by Martina Navratilova
  96. Me by Ricky Martin
  97. My Greatest Save by Brianna Scurry
  98. My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing & Hope by Karamo Brown
  99. Naturally Tan by Tan France
  100. Never Silent: ACT UP and My Life in Activism by Peter Staley
  101. No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black & Free in America by Darnell L. Moore
  102. Nothing Personal by James Baldwin
  103. Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction from Social Justice Movements by adrienne maree brown (Editor)
  104. Oh Myyy!: There Goes The Internet by George Takei
  105. On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope by DeRay Mckesson
  106. One Life by Megan Rapinoe and Emma Brockes
  107. Out & Equal at Work: From Closet to Corner Office by Selisse Berry
  108. Out Behind the Desk: Workplace Issues for LGBTQ Librarians by Tracy Marie Nectoux (Editor)
  109. Out in the Field: Reflections of Lesbian and Gay Anthropologists by Ellen Lewin (Editor)
  110. Out of Space: Creating Safe Spaces in Unlikely Places by Julio C. Roman
  111. Out to Lead: Shaping Queer Leadership by Jonathan Dromgoole
  112. Outside the Lines: How Embracing Queerness Will Transform Your Faith by Mihee Kim-Kort
  113. Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness
  114. Pageboy: A Memoir by Elliot Page
  115. People Change by Vivek Shraya
  116. Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by adrienne maree brown
  117. Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I’ve Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes by Billie Jean King
  118. Pride Leadership: Strategies for the LGBTQ+ Leader to be the King or Queen of Their Jungle by Steven Yacovelli
  119. Punch Me Up to the Gods: A Memoir by Brian Broome
  120. Queer Eye: Love Yourself, Love Your Life by Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk, & Karamo Brown
  121. Queer Flourishing: A Guide to Personal Growth and Greater Aliveness for LGBTQ+ Adults by Dominic Longo
  122. Raf Simons by Sunny Chanday
  123. Rainbow Warrior: My Life in Color by Gilbert Baker
  124. Redefining Realness: My Path To Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock
  125. Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on Our Sex-Obsessed Culture by Sherronda J. Brown
  126. Representation Matters: How Victory Fund, Victory Institute, and LGBT Leaders are Transforming America by Karen Ocamb
  127. Revelations: The Autobiography of Alvin Ailey by Alvin Ailey & A. Peter Bailey
  128. Say the Right Thing: How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice by Kenji Yoshino, David Glasgow
  129. Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington by James Kirchick
  130. Seriously…I’m Kidding by Ellen Degeneres
  131. Serving in Silence: Vietnam Nurse, Mother of Four, Highest-Ranking Officer to Challenge the Military’s Antigay Policy by Margarethe Cammermeyer
  132. Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Teens: A How-To-Do-it Manual for Librarians by Hillias Martin Jr and James R. Murdock
  133. Shortest Way Home: One Mayor’s Challenge and a Model for America’s Future by Pete Buttigieg
  134. Shut Up, I’m Talking!: Coming Out in Hollywood and Making It to the Middle by Jason Stuart
  135. Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by Jacob Tobia
  136. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde
  137. Stand Out: How to Find Your Breakthrough Idea and Build a Following Around It by Dorie Clark
  138. Stonewall: The Definitive Story of the LGBTQ Rights Uprising that Changed America by Martin Duberman
  139. Straight Jacket: Overcoming Society’s Legacy of Gay Shame by Matthew Todd
  140. Straight Talk About Gays in the Workplace: Creating an Inclusive, Productive Environment for Everyone in Your Organization by Liz Winfeld, Susan Spielman
  141. Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me by Janet Mock
  142. Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
  143. Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby
  144. The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom: Practical and Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying by Suze Orman
  145. The Apartheid of Sex: A Manifesto on the Freedom of Gender by Martine Rothblatt, PhD
  146. The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro
  147. The Book of Pride: LGBTQ Heroes Who Changed the World by Mason Funk
  148. The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir by André Leon Talley
  149. The Children of Harvey Milk: How LGBTQ Politicians Changed the World by Andrew Reynolds
  150. The Complete Guide to Transgender in the Workplace by Vanessa Sheridan
  151. The Dead Don’t Need Reminding by Julian Randall
  152. The Educator’s Guide to LGBT+ Inclusion: A Practical Resource for K-12 Teachers, Administrators, and School Support Staff by Kryss Shane
  153. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
  154. The G Quotient: Why Gay Executives are Excelling as Leaders… and What Every Manager Needs to Know by Kirk Snyder
  155. The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out is Good for Business by John Browne
  156. The Gloria Anzaldúa Reader (Latin America Otherwise) by Gloria Anzaldúa
  157. The Holly Woodlawn Story: A Low Life in High Heels by Holly Woodlawn
  158. The Lie: A Memoir of Two Marriages, Catfishing & Coming Out by William Dameron
  159. The Male Gazed: On Hunks, Heartthrobs, and What Pop Culture Taught Me About (Desiring) Men by Manuel Betancourt
  160. The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin by Masha Gessen
  161. The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer
  162. The One You Want to Marry (And Other Identities I’ve Had): A Memoir by Sophie Santos
  163. The Path Forward: Rethinking Federal Marijuana Policy by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Jared Polis
  164. The Power of “Out”: LGBT in the Workplace by Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Karen Sumberg
  165. The Queer Advantage: Conversations with LGBTQ+ Leaders on the Power of Identity by Andrew Gelwicks
  166. The Queer Games Avant-Garde: How LGBTQ Game Makers Are Reimagining the Medium of Video Games by Bo Ruberg
  167. The Queering of Corporate America by Carlos A. Ball
  168. The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss by Anderson Cooper & Gloria Vanderbilt
  169. The Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Culture Can Transform Your Leadership Practice by Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown
  170. The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man’s World by Alan Downs, PhD
  171. They Called Us Enemy: Expanded Edition by George Takei
  172. This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism by Don Lemon
  173. This Time for Me: A Memoir by Alexandra Billings
  174. Thriving in Business: Strategies for the LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur by Elena Joy Thurston (Editor)
  175. Tim Cook: The Genius Who Took Apple to the Next Level by Leander Kahney
  176. Tom Ford by Tom Ford
  177. Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America by Mary Ann Horton
  178. Trust: America’s Best Chance by Pete Buttigieg
  179. Truth or Dare: Encounters with Power, Authority, and Mystery by Starhawk
  180. Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements by Charlene Carruthers
  181. Untamed by Glennon Doyle
  182. Virtually Human by Martine Rothblatt, PhD
  183. Warrior Princess: A US Navy SEAL’s Journey to Coming Out Transgender by Kristen Beck & Anne Speckhard
  184. We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation by Matthew Reimer
  185. We Can Be Heroes: A Survivor’s Story by Paul Burston
  186. We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib
  187. We Will Not Cancel Us by adrienne maree brown
  188. White Girls by Hilton Als
  189. Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler
  190. WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game by Abby Wambach
  191. You’re That Bitch: & Other Cute Lessons About Being Unapologetically Yourself by Bretman Rock
  192. Your First Million: Building a Path to Generational Wealth by Arlan Hamilton
  193. Your Queer Career: Workplace Advice from “The Gay Leadership Dude” by Dr. Steven R. Yacovelli
  194. Zami: A New Spelling of My Name: A Biomythography by Audre Lorde
  195. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel & Blake Masters
  196. Transgender Warriors : Making History from Joan of Arc to Dennis Rodman by Leslie Feinberg
  197. Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World by Ijeoma Oluo

Podcast: Curiosity at Work leadership, leadership books, LGBTQIA+ leaders

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