Resources

As a book lover, educator, and community builder, compiling resource lists that uplift the works I have learned from and allow people to take their own learning journey is one of my favorite things to do. Below you'll find an ever-growing list of my favorite resources (centering LGBTQ+ communities). I encourage you to seek out these resources and let your curiosity be your guide as you explore them.

If you purchase any books, please buy from independent feminist and queer bookstores like Charis Books and More, A Room of One's Own, or Women and Children First.

I am also available to curate custom resource lists for your needs, contact me!

If you have suggestions for this resource list, please email me at tory@torysparks.com.

If you found this resource list useful, you can buy me a coffee at ko-fi.com/torysparks

* specific for teens/ young people (could be helpful for all ages)

**specific to Michigan

I need support 

I want to learn about...

Sexual Health / Sex Ed

  • Queer Sex by Juno Roche

  • Girl Sex 101 by Allison Moon and KD Diamond (This is MUCH more inclusive than it sounds!)

  • Let's Talk about Down There: An OBGYN Answers All Your Burning Questions... without Making You Feel Embarrassed for Asking by Dr Jennifer Lincoln, OB-GYN

  • The Big Questions Book of Sex & Consent by Donna Freitas

  • *S.e.x. The-all-you-need-to-know sexuality guide to get you through your teens and twenties by Heather Corinna

  • *Scarleteen.com

  • Educational comics by Isabella Rotman

  • Pleasurepie zines

  • Cliterallythebest

  • Pussypedia

  • Sex Ed with DB podcast

  • Queer Sex Ed podcast

Trans-specific Sexual Health

Abortion

Pleasure 

Self-Love/ Self-Care 

Reproductive Justice / Anti-Racist Sex Ed

Relationships 

  • Creative Interventions Toolkit : A Practical Guide to Stop Interpersonal Violence

  • The Revolution Starts At Home: Confronting Intimate Violence Within Activist Communities edited by Ching-In Chen, Jai Dulani, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

  • Ethical Slut: A Guide to Infinite Sexual Possibilities by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy

  • Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy by Jessica Fern

  • The Map of Non-Monogamy by Franklin Veaux

  • Them: What is Polyamory by Adejoke Mason

  • Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find -- and Keep -- Love by Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller

  • Conflict is Not Abuse: Overstating Harm, Community Responsibility, and the Duty of Repair by Sarah Schulman

  • The Set Boundaries Workbook: Practical Exercise for Understanding Your Needs and Setting Healthy Limits by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Consent

Asexuality

Pronouns

  • The Trans Allyship Workbook by Davey Schlasko

  • En.pronouns.page

  • Mypronouns.org

  • A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns by Archie Bongiovanni and Tristan Jimerson

Gender

  • My Gender Workbook by Kate Bornstein

  • Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon

  • A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer and Trans Identities by Mady G and J.R. Zuckerberg

  • The Gender Book by Mel Reiff Hill and Jay Mays (free download! + safe spaces pack)

Fat Liberation

Gender Affirmation / Transition

Body Literacy

I want to find LGBTQ+ community 

I need legal assistance

I want to better support an LGBTQ+ person

  • The Trans Allyship Workbook by Davey Schlasko

  • Gender Spectrum online groups for parents and support systems

  • The Gender Identity Guide for Parents: Compassionate Advice to Help Your Child Be Their Most Authentic Self by Tavi Hawn

  • PFLAG.org

  • Love, Always: Partners of Trans People on Intimacy, Challenge, & Resistance Edited by Jordon Johnson & Becky Garrison

FOR YOUTH

  • The Trevor Project Resource Center

  • qchatspace safe community chat space for LGBTQ+ teens

  • TrevorSpace an affirming, online community for LGBTQ young people between the ages of 13-24 years old

  • Gender Spectrum online groups for teens and pre-teens

  • amaze.org videos

  • The Pride Guide: A Guide to Sexual and Social Health for LGBTQ Youth by Jo Langford

  • Wait, What? A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up by Heather Corinna and Isabella Rotman

  • Trans Teen Survival Guide and other work by Fox and Owl Fisher

  • Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan

  • Sex Is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Relationships, and YOU by Corey Silverberg and Fiona Smyth

  • You Know, Sex: Bodies, Gender, Puberty, and Other Things by Corey Silverberg and Fiona Smyth

  • Celebrate Your Body and Its Changes Too by Sonya Renee Taylor

  • Respect: Everything a Guy Needs to Know about Sex, Love, and Consent by Inti Chavez Perez

  • Queer: the Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens by Kathy Belge and Marke Bieschke

  • The ABCs of LGBT+ by Ashley Mardell

  • The Gay Agenda: A Modern Queer History & Handbook by Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham

  • It Feels Good To Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn

  • What Are Your Words? A Book About Pronouns by Katherine Locke

I want to access safe and affirming products 

(Note: Tory Sparks is not in any endorsement partnerships with any companies, some of these stores may sell products that are only accessible to those 18+) 

  • New York Toy Collective - binders, packers, pumps, sex toys and accessories

  • GC2B - binders

  • Tomboyx - tucking panties, compression tops, underwear and bras

  • Enby - packers, stp, dilators, gaffes, binders, kink, sex toys

  • Spectrum Boutique - packers, sex toys, kink, books and education, menstrual products, safer sex products

  • Early 2 Bed - packers, binders, stps, gaffs, pumps, dilators, sex toys, kink, menstrual products, safer sex products, books and games

  • She Bop - packers, stps, gaffs, breast forms, pumps, sex toys, virtual classes, books and games, kink, safer sex supplies

  • SheVibe - packers, stp, pumps, dilators, sex toys, kink, books and games

  • The Butters - lube and education

  • Bcondoms.com - condoms

  • Body-safe toy creators to look for at the above: Vixen, Tantus, Lelo, Je Joue, Bad Dragon, Jimmy Jane, Fun Factory, We-Vibe

**I want to find services in Michigan

Affirming Healthcare

Affirming Mental Healthcare

Michigan LGBTQ+ Resources/ Community Centers