Pride 2026: A Q+ Celebration
June 24
Stag Dance by Torrey Peters
Following her debut novel Detransition, Baby, Torrey Peters returns with Stag Dance, a collection that showcases the same sharp insight, dark humor, and fearless curiosity that made her one of the most exciting voices in contemporary queer literature. Made up of three novellas and a short novel, the book explores gender, desire, identity, and transformation through stories that range from historical settings to speculative futures.
Rather than offering easy answers, Peters uses each story to examine the ways people construct themselves and relate to one another. Her characters often find themselves caught between competing ideas of gender, belonging, and authenticity, navigating situations that are sometimes funny, sometimes uncomfortable, and frequently surprising. The collection moves across different genres and time periods, but every story shares a fascination with the fluidity of identity and the ways people adapt to the worlds around them.
What makes Stag Dance such a remarkable read is its willingness to take risks. Peters approaches queer and trans experiences with nuance, complexity, and an understanding that identity is rarely straightforward. Whether you’re already a fan of her work or discovering her for the first time, this book is an excellent introduction to her imaginative and thought-provoking queer fiction.
Where to buy? Stag Dance is available to purchase at all reputable booksellers.
Almost Popular
If Mean Girls grew up in the age of TikTok, livestreams, and viral fame, it might look a little bit like Almost Popular. Directed by Nayip Anthony Garcia, the film follows lifelong best friends Susie Quinn (Ruby Rose Turner) and Bobbie Roberts (Reid Miller), two high school students who are tired of being invisible. Determined to finally earn a place among the popular crowd at Clovis Central High, they decide to chase the one thing that seems to matter most in 2025: social media fame.
For a brief moment, their plan works. Overnight, Susie and Bobbie go from overlooked outsiders to campus celebrities, gaining followers, invitations, and attention they’ve always dreamed about. But when their newfound popularity is exposed as being built on purchased followers, their rise comes crashing down just as quickly. Desperate for a second chance, they team up with Renee (Isabella Ferreira), a former member of the school’s elite social circle, and attempt to reinvent themselves once again—this time with even higher stakes.
What makes Almost Popular a great watch is how it updates classic teen movie themes for a generation raised online. Beneath the comedy, awkward crushes, and high school drama is a story about friendship, authenticity, and the difference between being famous and being truly seen. It’s funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly thoughtful about the pressure young people face in a world where popularity can be measured in likes and disappear with a single post.
Where to watch? Almost Popular is available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Google Play, and Prime Video depending on the region.
Dear White People
Based on the film of the same name, Dear White People follows a group of Black students at the fictional Winchester University as they navigate race, identity, friendship, love, and ambition on a predominantly white campus. Rather than centering a single protagonist, the series shifts perspectives between multiple characters, allowing each of them to grapple with questions about who they are and how they move through the world.
One of the show’s greatest strengths is its willingness to embrace complexity. It tackles issues of racism, privilege, activism, media, and representation while recognizing that there is no single Black experience. At the same time, the series gives equal weight to its characters’ personal lives, creating room for romance, humor, mistakes, and growth. Among its many storylines is the journey of Lionel Higgins (DeRon Horton), whose experiences with sexuality, self-acceptance, and community became one of the show’s most compelling arcs.
Sharp, funny, and consistently thoughtful, Dear White People remains one of the most ambitious ensemble dramas of the last decade. It challenges its audience without losing sight of its characters’ humanity, delivering stories that are both politically relevant and deeply personal. For viewers looking for queer representation alongside smart social commentary, it’s a series well worth revisiting.
Where to watch? Dear White People is available to stream on Netflix.
Happy Pride 2026! Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Images Courtesy of Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon MGM Studios, Focus Features, Getty Images, Disney+, Apple TV, Crave.
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