For the last episode of the first series, we welcome our first guest, Matt Cornford, owner of Manchester's very own Queer Lit!
Queer Lit is a LGBTQIA+ bookstore based in Manchester Northern's Quarter, and stocks over 4000 books. Matt explains why there is a need for dedicated queer bookshops, and the trio share some of their favourite books, how they have helped them on their own journeys and the different sub-genre's that are out there for people to explore.
Here are some of the books mentioned in the pod:
The House in the Cerulean Sea - T J CLUNE
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea
Tell me I'm Worthless - Alison Rumfitt
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/tell-me-im-worthless?_pos=1&_sid=8f72f34c7&_ss=r
Manhunt - Gretchen Fletcher-Martin
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/manhunt?_pos=1&_sid=0de6bef43&_ss=r
My Shadow is Pink - Scott Stuart
The Queer Mental Health Workbook - Brendan J Dunlop
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/the-queer-mental-health-workbook?_pos=1&_sid=1d00975c0&_ss=r
Rewriting the Rules - Meg-John Barker
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/rewriting-the-rules?_pos=1&_sid=7b77e565d&_ss=r
The Velvet Rage - Alan Downs
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/the-velvet-rage?_pos=1&_sid=c94688a30&_ss=r
Straight Jacket - Matthew Todd
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/straight-jacket?_pos=1&_sid=ef214e2d7&_ss=r
Pride - Matthew Todd
Love in the Pink Palace - Jill Nalder
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/love-from-the-pink-palace-1?_pos=1&_sid=278bc9f2a&_ss=r
All the Young Men - Ruth Coker Burks
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/all-the-young-men-1?_pos=1&_sid=225a8938a&_ss=r
The Transgender Issue - Shon Faye
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/the-transgender-issue?_pos=1&_sid=6793e7f72&_ss=r
Trans Britain - Christine Burns
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Produced by Ben Morling at High-Rise Communications
Are the Gays OK?
Welcome to the “Are the Gays OK?” podcast, a show about mental health in the LGBTQIA+ community. Hosted by James Wilkinson and Stephen Griffiths.
We are 2 gay men wanting to honestly share our experiences in the hopes of destigmatising the world of mental health. We won’t shy away from difficult topics. we hope being vulnerable and sharing honestly we can contribute positively to the conversation surrounding mental health in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Stephen Griffiths, Is a gay man, based in Manchester, with lived experience of addiction and recovery from substance abuse.
It was Stephens' own personal struggles with, growing up as an LGTBQIA+ person in the world and his subsequent battles with addiction that led to him becoming a therapist.
He has a keen interest in mental health and runs a private counselling practice offering counselling to primarily LGBT people and those suffering with addictions both behavioural and substance based.
www.swgcounselling.co.uk
James has lived in Manchester for 15 years and works in Digital Marketing.
He has a passion for DJing (DJ Dry Clarity), Video editing and all things media. Having volunteered at Gaydio in 2019/2020 presenting the exchange.
He has lived experience with mental health and is 3 and a half years sober.