Category: Read with Pride – LGBTQ+ blogs and articles

Let’s be real: as much as we love a dimly lit bar or the frantic swipe-left-swipe-right of the apps, the LGBTQ+ community is currently having a collective “aha!” moment. We’re moving beyond the standard nightlife scene and into something a bit more tactile, a bit more grounded, and, honestly: a lot more like our favorite …

Why Everyone Is Talking About Queer Hobbies (And How to Build Real Community Through MM Romance Tropes)Read More

So, you’ve got a story burning a hole in your brain? Maybe it’s a slow-burn MM romance that kept you up until 3 AM, or a high-stakes gay fantasy where the prince definitely shouldn’t be falling for the grumpy stablehand (but absolutely does). Whatever it is, you’re here because you’re ready to stop dreaming and …

The Ultimate Guide to the Read with Pride Author Journey: Everything You Need to SucceedRead More

Let’s be real: sometimes our “hobby” is just scrolling through TikTok until our thumbs hurt or re-reading our favorite gay romance novels for the fifteenth time. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, we love a dedicated reader at Read with pride, but there is something incredibly powerful about finding a physical or technical outlet that …

Archery, Lockpicking, and Beyond: 15 Queer Hobbies to Get You StartedRead More

There’s a quiet, persistent myth in our culture that coming out is a young man’s game. We see the stories of teenagers finding their feet or twenty-somethings stepping into their truth at university, and we celebrate them: as we should. But for many, the journey to self-discovery doesn’t follow a straight line (pun intended). Sometimes, …

The Ultimate Guide to Coming Out Later in Life: Everything You Need to Embrace Your TruthRead More

Hey there, wordsmiths and storytellers! If you’ve been sitting on a spicy MM romance manuscript or a heart-tugging lesbian contemporary novel, wondering how to get it into the hands of readers who actually get it, then pull up a chair. At Read with Pride, we know the struggle is real. The mainstream publishing world can …

The Ultimate Guide to Our Free Publishing Portal: Everything You Need to Succeed as a Queer AuthorRead More

Let’s be real for a second: being part of the LGBTQ+ community in 2026 is a vibe, but it’s also a lot of work. Between navigating the world as our authentic selves and dealing with the weight of everything that’s come before us, “resilience” isn’t just a buzzword, it’s our survival gear. But here’s the …

Your Quick-Start Guide to LGBTQ+ Resilience and Future Visions: Do This FirstRead More

There is a specific kind of silence that follows the shattering of a heart. It isn’t the absence of sound, but rather the presence of a hollow, ringing void that makes even the simplest breath feel like an intrusion. When love departs: whether it leaves with a slamming door or fades like a ghost in …

Gritty Soho Nightlife Vs The Silence of Nature: Which Is Better For a Healing Heart?Read More

Let’s be honest: as a community, we’ve pretty much mastered the art of the “hobby-as-personality-trait.” Whether it’s sourdough during the pandemic, becoming an amateur botanist with forty-two houseplants, or deep-diving into the world of MM romance books, we don’t do things by halves. But if you’re looking for a new pastime that combines focus, incredible …

Queer Hobbies 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Archery (On and Off the Page)Read More

Let’s be real: for a long time, the “life script” we were all handed felt a lot like a suit that was three sizes too small. You know the one: the “relationship escalator” that starts with dating, moves swiftly to a mortgage, and ends with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids. For the LGBTQ+ …

Why Redefining Traditional Milestones Will Change the Way You Experience Queer LoveRead More

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like the world was trying to squint at you, trying to force your edges into one of two very specific, very rigid boxes? It’s a feeling many in our community know all too well. It’s the weight of the binary gaze: that cultural habit of looking …

Non-Binary Beauty Matters: Why Living Beyond the Binary Gaze is EssentialRead More

Let’s be real: as introverts, the idea of “community building” usually sounds like a fancy term for “standing in a crowded room wishing you were at home with your cat and a steamy MM romance novel.” We love our community, but sometimes the “community” part involves a lot of noise, a lot of eye contact, …

5 Steps How to Turn Queer Hobbies into Community Building (Easy Guide for Introverted Bookworms)Read More

Hey there, wordsmith. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve got a story burning a hole in your heart. Maybe it’s a steamy MM romance, a high-stakes gay thriller, or a sweet lesbian contemporary romance that needs to be heard. But let’s be real: the road from “Once upon a time” to “Available on Kindle” …

7 Mistakes You’re Making as an Aspiring Queer Author (and How to Fix Them on Read with Pride)Read More

Let’s be real: as queer folks, our hobbies have always been a little… different. While the rest of the world was busy with fantasy football, we were busy world-building entire queer utopias in our heads or perfecting the art of the “is he/she/they into me?” stare. But in 2026, the game has changed. We’re reclaiming …

Top 10 Queer Hobbies Ideas: From Urban Lockpicking to ArcheryRead More

Let’s be real for a second: writing a book is hard enough. Between crafting the perfect MM romance slow burn and making sure your characters have actual chemistry, the last thing you need is a massive bill just to get your story in front of readers. In the world of 2026 gay books, the hurdles …

Stop Wasting Money on Publishing Fees: Try Our Free Global Portal for LGBTQ+ AuthorsRead More

Let’s be real for a second: growing up queer often feels like you’re handed a script where the ending is already written: and it’s usually a tragedy. We’ve all seen the “bury your gays” trope in mainstream media, where the queer character is either the sidekick, the villain, or the one who doesn’t make it …

Why Queer Healing Will Change the Way You Dream About Your FutureRead More

If you’ve spent any time in the more “eclectic” corners of the queer internet, you’ve probably noticed that we don’t just collect houseplants and overpriced iced coffee. Sometimes, we collect tension wrenches. Welcome to the world of locksport, the art of opening locks without a key, purely for the thrill of the mechanical puzzle. At …

Queer Hobbies Explained in Under 3 Minutes: The Strange Appeal of LockpickingRead More