Celebrating Queer Love

Everyone deserves to be safe in a relationship. 

It’s not your fault if someone, like a partner, chooses to use your identity (including gender and/or sexual orientation) against you. 

Queer people’s rights should not be debatable. 

Safe+Sound Somerset stands strongly against stigma, violence, and abuse against all who identify as LGBTQIA+ and/or queer. We also stand firmly against the 490+ anti-LGBTQ+ bills currently being debated across the United States, according to the ACLU.  

Safe+Sound Somerset is here for you. 

Queer people are welcome in our services and safe house. When we present violence prevention programs to the community, we always use gender neutral language, and we specifically discuss barriers that queer survivors may face when seeking support.  

One high school student said: “Thank you for using they/them pronouns in your examples. I felt seen.”  

This month, we encourage you to find, watch/read, and share positive portrayals of queer love in media. Here are some suggestions to start: 

TV: 

  • A League of Their Own (Amazon) 
  • Schitt’s Creek (currently on Hulu) 
  • Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max) 
  • The Last of Us (HBO Max) 
  • And more! Best LGBTQ+ Television Of 2022 (buzzfeed.com) 
  • Heartstopper (Netflix Series)  

Books (Fiction): 

  • The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune 
  • Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli 
  • Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz  
  • Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman (also a show on Netflix) 
  • When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore  
  • Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt 

 Ballet: 

  • Artists across many different artforms are advocating for authentic and positive representation of queer relationships. Check out this groundbreaking ballet piece by choreographer Adriana Pierce, founder of #QueertheBallet. “#QueertheBallet looks to “queer” our ballet spaces and explore choreography often absent from the ballet stage.” Instagram: @adriprc, @queertheballet, queertheballet.com  

Resources for Domestic and Sexual Violence: 

  • Call the Safe+Sound 24/7 Call or Text Helpline at 866-685-1122 for support 
  • LGBTQ+ Survivors of Sexual Violence – for survivors and those supporting survivors (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network – RAINN)