Few things are truly universal. But while people across the world speak different languages, eat different foods and even feel different emotions, millions across the world watch porn. Despite being so widely consumed, porn is maligned as the source of society’s ills. It’s even been labelled a public health hazard by politicians in Utah. This mystery set in 1920s Bombay is about Perveen Mistry, one of the first woman lawyers in India. Perveen (who is fabulous) isn’t queer, but her best friend is a lesbian. She plays a minor but important role in the story, and the inclusion of a gay woman in this book only made it even more relevant and feminist. River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey That said, there is a growing body of literature that can provide hints. BBC Future reviewed what researchers have concluded so far: In 1995, a meta-analysis of 24 studies, involving more than 4,000 participants, measured the average correlation between porn use and the beliefs people hold around rape and sexual assault. The studies all used the “rape myth” scale, which measures a person’s beliefs by asking them to rate how much they agree with statements including: “A woman who goes to the home or apartment of a man on their first date implies that she is willing to have sex”. But the researchers concluded that, while they found that the brains of those with CSB mirrored that of drug addicts, that doesn’t necessarily prove that porn is addictive.

For all of the painful physical and sexual abuse and heartache Walker's protagonist Celie endures at the hands of Mister, the man she's forced to marry as an adolescent, and the violent, institutionalized racism she faces as a woman of color, the novel teems with hope and light. Epic in scope, the novel is, in part, a story of love between women --Celie's love for her long-lost sister Nettie and for Shug Avery, the blues singer and former lover of Mister's Celie falls for and with whom she eventually makes a home. One study from the University of Cambridge likened porn addiction to drug addiction, after finding that they both trigger the brain in a similar way. Of Walker's masterpiece, Long Shadows author Kate Sherwood said, "I loved how the characters found hope (and love) despite everything standing in their way."Gyasi’s masterpiece of an epic novel spans ~300 years and follows the descendants of two Ghanaian sisters—one is sold into slavery and the other marries a European slave trader. I really appreciated that she included a queer character in one of the early sections. His story (and much of this book) is heartbreaking to read, but it is absolutely worthwhile. she rises by kate worsley

Despite being Logo’s highest-rated show during its time on air, Noah’s Arc was cancelled after just two seasons in 2006 – a decision that was never fully explained and left the creator, cast, crew and fans of the show questioning the motivations for the plug being pulled on the popular and history-making series. Well, here's one way to divulge some of your deepest secrets: do it to a crowd of anonymous Reddit users. Some straight men played an epic version of "Never Have I Ever" on a Reddit thread, disclosing how far they've gone with another member of the same sex. Porn has been found to make people more open minded and comfortable about sex, but one study found it could make people a little too comfortable. Contrary to this, a study published in May this year found that starting to watch porn can sometimes be a predictor of divorce. Drawing on three sets of data between 2006 and 2014, researchers found the likelihood of divorce was doubled for Americans who began watching porn. Those who said they watched porn two to three times a month had the highest likelihood of separating. The study doesn’t, however, resolve whether starting to watch porn is a cause of divorce or a symptom of an already unhappy relationship. And, importantly, the study also found that people with a very high viewing of porn – at least one a day – were less likely to divorce than those who never watched it.

18th Century

This novel takes place in the 1850s and ’60s, during the wars the U.S. fought against theSioux and the Yurok, and the Civil War. It’s the story of two soldiers—an Irish immigrant, Thomas, and his lover, John Cole. It’s a book about the inherent tension in being complicit in violence and also having violence perpetrated against you, and about the tenderness and love that sometimes hides in the midst of terrible events. Wildthorn by Jane Eagland So what does the more recent research say? One review of more than 80 studies in 2009 concluded that evidence of a causal link between porn use and violence is slim, and any findings proving a connection are often exaggerated by the media and politicians. “It is time to discard the hypothesis that pornography contributes to increased sexual assault behaviour,” wrote the authors. Although, Balzarini concedes, the results between the two studies may differ because the original study was conducted in 1989, when the abundance and content of porn was very different to what it is now.

I don’t remember where my parents were going, or the time of year, or anything else about that day other than what transpired with the boy. I don’t actually remember how old I was but, based on where I was living at the time, I know I was younger than ten years old when this incident happened. We lived in a condo complex that was a collection of young families, and for the most part I have great memories of living there. This gem of a graphic novel is about a prince who loves wearing dresses and a girl who loves making them. Sebastian dons gorgeous gowns and is known about Paris as Lady Crystallia; Frances is a talented seamstress and fashion designer who makes those spectacular gowns. This book is a beautiful celebration of fashion, friendship, love, fabulous dresses, and the joys of being your true self. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders This gorgeous and heartbreaking reimagining of The Iliad, told from the point of view of Patroclus, Achilles’s lover, is one of my favorite books of all time. The prose is stunning, and the characters come to life in refreshing new ways. It’s a book about war, but it’s also a love story, and thus it’s very tender and gentle, which is quite a feat. Prepare to bawl your eyes out. Hild by Nicola Griffith If you’re looking for a queer road trip novel set in 18th century Europe, look no further. After finishing school, Monty sets out on his Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend Percy, determined to finally admit to Percy how he feels about him. But a lot happens as they travel around Europe, including a lot of dangerous (and sometimes hilarious) adventures. This book is a romp of a good time and a great love story. Hamilton’s Battalion by Courtney Milan, Alyssa Cole & Rose LernerI can’t actually remember what happened with the boy. I have not one single memory of what happened in the days after the big fight, but I do know that we never went as a family to our neighbors again. We moved away from the complex a couple years later, and it was an event that I put behind me. I actually didn’t really think about it until my early twenties when I saw the boy, now a man, again. Trigger warnings: graphic depictions of violence, both sexual and physical, rape, abuse, child abuse.