Akoya spotlight on independent LGBTQ+ bookshops
The Booksellers Association Independent Bookshop Week takes place annually in mid-June. It is a celebration of independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland, with the aim to highlight the vital role that they play in their communities.
In honor of Pride month, we are spotlighting eight independent bookshops that celebrate queer writers and we encourage you to support them, whether by purchasing their books, attending their events or following them on social media.
We value these bookshops for their commitment to supporting and showcasing marginalised writers, new voices and independent presses.
She Said (@shesaidbooks) is a bookstore and speciality café focused on amplifying the voices of queer and female writers. The store is driven by a passion to support independent and up-and-coming artists. As such, they accept submissions of postcards, calendars, zines and self-published books. They are renowned for their events, ranging from weekly author readings, book launches and workshops that take place within the vibrant walls of the bookstore.
El Amario Abierto in Mexico City
Founded in 1998 by sexology experts and activists Dr. Rinna Riesenfeld Robinson and Luis Perelman Javnozon, Mexico City’s El Armario Abierto (@elarmario_mx) is a sexuality specialised bookstore. It has become a safe space to provide services and materials that educate their customers on sexual and reproductive health.
Juno Books (@junobookssheff) is an independent, intersectional, feminist and queer bookshop based in Sheffield. Their bookshelves reflect their mission to support marginalised voices, up-and-coming writers and independent publishing houses. Juno Books organises weekly events and hosts five different book clubs that are known to sell out quickly due to high demand.
When Madrid’s Berkana (@libreria_berkana) was founded in 1993, they struggled to stock their shelves or sell their books due to the lack of queer visibility in Spain. Three decades later, Berkana has become one of the largest queer bookstores in the world, with no shortage of options,whether you’re seeking fiction, non-fiction, poetry, zines, photography, graphic novels, comics, DVDs and more.
Melbourne’s first bookshop to specialise in queer identity, sexuality, sex and gender identity, Hares and Hyenas (@hareshyenas) opened its doors to the public in 1991. In the past three decades they’ve established nine different book clubs, hosted more than five thousand literary events and performances, and sold countless books.
Taipei’s first LGBTQ+ bookshop, Gin Gin (GinGinShop), was founded to challenge the mainstream cultural values of heterosexuality in Taiwan. The shop is designed to feel like a welcoming and safe space for the queer community – visitors are greeted by a smiling Asian black bear and a rainbow wall upon entry. Gin Gin’s founder also hosts a one-take podcast after closing hours.
The Little Gay Shop (@thelittlegayshop) is more than just a bookstore. In their own words they are an ‘unapologetically queer marketplace’ and community space in Austin, Texas, that empowers queer creatives by selling books, art, apparel and magazines all exclusively created by queer artists. They have markets and weekly events to involve the community.
Gay’s the Word (@gaysthewordbookshop) is the UK’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop. Established in 1979, it has become a touchstone for the LGBTQ+ community. You’ll find the shop on a bustling street in Soho, London, where four members of staff – Uli, Jim, Erica and Pao – will give you the same warm welcome as when it first opened. The shelves are bursting with books and the shop is also used for book and community events.
Illustration by Ella Galea | Jun 2025