queerHeart: Faith. Sexuality. Community.

Welcome to qH’s curated recommendations on movies, TV shows, books and music to inspire your exploration of sexuality and other personal identities. Don’t see your favorite below? Give us a shout here on what we’re missing!

Content Advisory Legend

Green Recommendations: Content PG rated

Blue Recommendations: Content PG-13 rated

Black Diamond Recommendations: Content R rated

Our Favorite Reads & Listens:

  • 6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did) by Tess Sharppe (Blue)
    • About: 6 Times has become one of my favorite romances ever, and was a delight to read two summers ago when God reawakened my sexuality. The narratives are comical and heartrending, and I resonated deeply with both Tate and Penny’s struggles with loss and family dysfunction. Tate, one of the protagonists who identifies as bisexual, is by far the best representation of a “B” character I’ve seen or read. Where most books and cinema posit bisexuals as wishy-washy or untrustworthy, Tate is steadfast, strong and noble in her values and actions. I’m honored to have a sexuality like hers.
  • Women Who Run With the Wolves by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés (Blue)
    • About: Dr. Pinkola Estés’ groundbreaking examination of the feminine psyche through stories was written 30 years ago, but her insights are still as strong and potent for today’s readers and thinkers. Basically everything I’ve processed in the last decade-and-a-half of my therapy experience resonates so deeply with her themes of a creative, passionate and flourishing femininity. Please give this one a read. “We are all filled with longing for the wild. There are few culturally sanctioned antidotes for this yearning. We are taught to feel shame for such a desire. We grew our hair long and used it to hide our feelings. But the shadow of the Wild Woman still lurks behind us during our days and our nights. No matter where we are, the shadow that trots behind us is definitely four-footed” (Except)
  • The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder (Blue)
    • About: I picked up this cozy gem at a local bookstore and the first chapter had me – two treasure hunters + magical ruins with killer traps = one delighted queer. The book’s direction lost steam towards the end, but I sure loved Vedder’s world-building of witch orders. I’ll have to check out the second book in hopes her writing has grown. Shane is a lesbian with a knack for falling in love with the wrong girl, but here’s hoping that she gets together with Fi at the end.
  • Abba’s Child by Brennan Manning (Blue)
    • About: This wonderful book coaxes us back to our core and eternal identity as tenderly beloved children of God. Manning challenges the lies of our “imposter selves” with grace, truth and love, where we can even bring our shadow selves to God’s adoring light without shame. Manning also speaks positively of the LGTBQ+ community, which I appreciated.
  • Love in Color by Bolu Babalola (Blue)
    • About: Babalola is an incredibly intelligent and masterful writer. In this wonderful anthology of the world’s most beloved love stories, Bablola infuses wit, humor and love with rich African heritage. I adore each of these stories, but Psyche and Nefertiti’s romances are my absolute favorites.
  • Torn: Rescuing the Gospel From the Gays vs Christians Debate by Justin Lee (Blue)
    • About: This book was recommended by my counselor when I came out to her with my re-budding bisexual attractions. Lee shares his story of coming out as a gay man, the intense conflict between his sexuality and his deep love for Christ and the Evangelical faith, and his humble courage in reconciling the two.
    • Note (2024 Update): I’ve still yet to read the update, but I’m sure it’s excellent.
  • Lobizona by Romina Garber (Blue)
    • About: Manu is not a stranger to liminal existence – not belonging fully to the U.S. culture or her parents’ Argentinian heritage and certainly not feeling fully human with her unusual star-pupiled eyes. When her family is torn apart by ICE, Manu crash-lands in a school for werewolves and witches, and the quest to embrace her identity and belonging begins.
  • A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid (Blue)
    • About: Another favorite for romance, Reid’s dreary gothic novel follows Effie Sayre, an architectural student tasked to redesign the sinking estate of the late fairytale writer Emrys Myrddin. But when Preston Héloury, a rival student, determines to uncover the beloved author as a fraud, Effie must face the tide of dark magic, abuse and injustice that threatens Hiraeth Manor and all who live in it. I enjoyed watching the growth of Effie’s courage to take her sexuality into her own hands and her relationship with Preston is one to cheer for.
  • Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti (Blue)
    • About: Rossetti’s poetic use of symbolism to portray sexuality and sensuality is erotic, stirring and haunting. You can check it out for free with a library account on Hoopla.
  • Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson (Blue/Black Diamond)
    • About: A poetic coming-of-age story about young Geryon, a queer red-winged monster and his creative passion as a photography. Also available on Hoopla.
  • The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter (Blue/Black Diamond)
    • About: Carter expertly retells various fairytales through a dark and predominantly feminist lens, often giving her female characters opportunity to explore their sexuality within or despite masculine influences. If you’re reading Dr. Pinkola Estés’ WWRWW , this will make a fascinating companion in dissecting the feminine psyche through fairytales.
  • Polysecure by Jessica Fern (Blue)
    • About: An intriguing intersection of psychology, attachment theory and non-monogamous relationships, Fern’s insights I think can be helpful to anyone who wants to grow in any relationship.
    • Side Note: Fern also mentions another book, Sex Before Dawn, that I unfortunately was not impressed by due to its lack of credible sources and jumping-to-conclusions. FYI if you’re considering buying it.
  • Life Isn’t Binary by Iantaffi and Barker (Blue)
    • About: It’s brilliant for anyone wanting to explore how life’s layers are not quite as black-and-white as they seem. Each chapter’s topic ends with reflection questions to relate to your own life, friendships, relationships (sexual and other), sexuality and other identities. They even have an amazing reflection exercise where you “Map Your Sexuality”. Brilliant.
  • The Big Book of Christian Mysticism by Carl McCorman (Blue)
    • About: Christian Mysticism has always been a fascinating topic to me, and perhaps what draws me most to it is the liminal space it asks us to inhabit with God – a searching for Him in that twilight world that is the “Dark Night of the Soul” where we release what we were so sure of to make room for the Mystery that He is. I guess my liminal sexuality resonates with it too. Don’t be afraid of its “bigness” or “not being holy enough”; McCorman does a wonderful job relating mysticism to our everyday lives and spiritualities. This spiritual lens is something anyone can step into and be transformed by.
  • The Dark Night of the Soul: A Deep Dive into the Shadow Side of Spirituality, Embracing Disorientation, Doubt, and Despair for Authentic Spiritual Growth and Wholeness by Dr. Gerald G. May (Blue)
    • About: Another wonderful book on mysticism and a challenge to the mainstream Church that refuses to acknowledge suffering or doubt in your faith. The title pretty much says it all. ❤
  • The Heart of Dominance by Anton Fulmen (Blue/Black Diamond)
    • About: BDSM communities have pointed again and again to Fulmen’s book as an essential guide for practicing consensual dominance. I’ve been curious about my own role in power-dynamics with a future partner and appreciate the thoughtful and sensible manner in which Fulmen approaches the dominant role in a kinky relationship.
  • The Highly Sensitive Person and The Highly Sensitive Person In Love by Dr. Elaine Aaron (Blue)
    • About: See Chi’s about page for more of her experience as an HSP. The HSP in Love is a fascinating companion for understanding an HSP’s experiences (and challenges) with love and developing loving relationships with others, HSP and non-HSP.

Our Favorite Movies & Cinematic Moments:

  • Bloom Into You (Anime) (Blue)
    • About: To be honest, the theme song intro sequence is my favorite part – the flowers drenching Touko and Yuu’s high school walls are gorgeously whimsical. Touko and Yuu’s awkward lesbian romance is cute too!
  • Sweet Blue Flowers (Anime) (Blue)
    • About: Will childhood friends Akira and Fumi enter into something more at the series end? Don’t worry – their rekindled friendship is just as sweet to watch.
  • The Long Way North (Children’s Movie) (Green)
    • About: Mkay, I caught wind of this movie a few months ago and it has become one of my all-time favorites. Think Mulan meets Russian arctic exploration, and you’ll have our strong-hearted heroine Sacha, who leaves her aristocrat life behind to find the unsinkable ship of her deceased Oluk (Grandpa). An utterly lovely girl-power film.
  • Tell It To the Bees (Black Diamond)
    • About: Dr. Jean Markham and mother Lydia’s romance is gentle and lovely, though the homophobic (racist, and sexist) environment of 1950s Britain is a stomach-churner to watch. The couple’s first kiss is one of my favorites ❤
    • Note: There is a forced abortion scene that is rough. Ugh…
  • The Piano (Black Diamond)
    • About: Actress Holly Hunter plays a mute pianist who brings her daughter and beloved piano to New Zealand after marrying a severe missionary. I wasn’t a fan of either of Ada’s lovers because each had some toxic and controlling masculinity going on that hasn’t aged well since the 90s. However, I appreciated Ada’s exploration of her own sexuality, desire and courage.
  • A Little Chaos (Black Diamond)
    • The last movie directed by the great Alan Rickman, this was my first time seeing Kate Hudson in over a decade, and I loved her character’s quiet strength and vision as a female landscaper who challenges gender and social norms while building one of the gardens in the Palace of Versailles. Best scene: When Sabine meet’s the king’s harem and there’s an unashamed exposure of breasts from women of all ages. Yes to body positivity and diversity!
  • Secretary (Black Diamond)
    • About: I’ve never seen or read the 50 Shades of Grey series, but when I began a literary exploration of BDSM this summer I quickly heard the community’s disapproval of the dubious consent between Mr. Grey and his lover. In the BDSM world, sane and safe consent is everything. If I had to pick between the two, I’d choose Secretary as a better display of female empowerment in SM dynamics, and I loved how Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character learned to stand up and demand that her submissive desires to be respected. Definitely some cringe-worthy moments with James Spader’s unhealthy character, but damn, Gyllenhaal was mesmerizing. Loved her unashamed inclusions of masturbation, fantasy and enjoying her sexual expression.
  • Professor Marsden and the Wonder Women (Black Diamond)
    • About: While it painted a polyamorous life a bit too unrealistically fluffy at points, Professor Marsden and the Wonder Women was a daring voyage into the dynamics of three lovers and their sexual and amorous exploration together. Both sides of my bisexuality delighted in their love scenes and got me curious about how healthy polyamorous relationships function.
  • Gia (Black Diamond)
    • About: Okay, Angelina Jolee was AMAZING in this retelling of 1970s supermodel, Gia, and her tragic downward spiral and death. My heart ached for Gia’s doomed lesbian relationship and the utter dehumanization of her feminine self in the fashion industry. Best scene: Gia’s delight in watching her ‘boyfriend’ kiss a man for the first time and enjoy it. Compersion at its finest.
  • My Days of Mercy (Black Diamond)
    • About: Steel yourself, this movie is all social grit and doesn’t shy from some difficult punches. Elliot Page plays Lucy, an anti-death penalty demonstrator and Kate Mara as Mercy, who wants justice in her community. As Lucy and Mercy continue to cross paths at prison protests, affection, grief and loss meld into passion. Lucy and Mercy’s relationship pulls you in, but I also loved the long and painful healing of Lucy’s relationship with her grieving siblings.
  • Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Black Diamond)
    • Honestly, I appreciate the “normalcy” that French movies can sometimes give to nudity when done in good taste. One of my favorite scenes is painter Marianne crouches naked on the floor of her bedroom, casually smoking while drying her drenched pads of paper by the fireplace. The feminine form doesn’t have to be sexualized when the clothes come off! And Marianne and Hélouise’s first kiss is wonderful.
    • Note: There is an abortion scene that is tough to watch.
  • Boy Meets Girl (Black Diamond)
    • About: Transgender Ricky is one of my favorite cinematic characters, and I loved her genuine wit and desire to just be herself. Best scene: How Robby kisses Ricky on the head at the end. So freaking cute. But also, the cultural pressure of “passing” as a man or woman is real, as the movie touches on. Let’s change this.
  • Princess Cyd (Black Diamond)
    • About: This was an interesting indie following teenage Cyd and her exploration with people of different identities while reconnecting with her aunt. Best Scene: Cyd’s aunt gives a wonderful speech on the beauty and respect a soulful and single person deserves. SO few stories stand up for singleness so poignantly this way.

Other Noteworthy Mediums

  • Fire Emblem: Three Houses Video Game (Blue)
    • About: As a mercenary turned professor at a soldier academy for the country’s three kingdoms, it’s up to you to train your “house” and assure victory in this strategy-war game. I’ve never played any other games in the series, but Three Houses quickly found a special place in my heart. Each student in your house has their own backstory and character arc, and helping them along in their “studies” and skills was the most satisfying part of this game. I also deeply enjoyed that female Byleth could develop homosexual relationships with other select professors and peers – the romantic in me loved I could win a woman’s attention through a charming tea party or gifts. Unfortunately, male Byleth cannot have a homosexual relationship in the game. Hopefully this changes in the next installment.
  • The Dare to Lead Podcast by Brené Brown
    • About: In tandem with cropping attraction to a a female fitness instructor two years ago, this first episode of Dare to Lead yanked my dormant bisexuality up on her feet thanks to Brown’s interview with former USA Women’s soccer player Abby Wombach. A delightful talk on servant leadership from an awesome LGTBQ+ lady.