This QUEER LIT Saved My Life! with J.P. Der Boghossian

It’s crossover time! In this week’s episode, Queer Lit enters a unicorn union with This Queer Book Saved My Life!, a brilliant new podcast by J.P. Der Boghossian. Before we get to the books that were our personal saviours, J.P. and I talk about The Queer Armenian Library – a digital resource of queer Armenian texts, shows, films, poetry and so much more. In addition to creating incredibly impactful projects such as these two, J.P. is also extraordinarily lovely to chat to. We laugh, we sigh… an unmissable double feature that will turn you gay on the spot.Want to keep up to date with what J.P. does next? I sure do, which is why I follow @jpderboghossian and @queerlitpodcast on Twitter and Instagram.Texts, people and resources mentioned:@jpderboghossianhttps://jpderboghossian.com/ The Queer Armenian Library ( @readtheQAL )https://queerarmenianlibrary.com/ This Queer Book Saved My Life ( @thisqueerbook )https://thisqueerbook.com/ GALAS Gay and Lesbian Armenian SocietyArmenian WeeklyMika Artyan’s Unzipped: Gay Armenia http://gayarmenia.blogspot.com/ Bookshop.org ( @bokshop_org_uk )Arlene Voski Avakian’s Lion Woman’s LegacyMoshin Hamid’s Exit WestMichael Cunningham’s A Home at the End of the WorldKate Davies’ In at the Deep EndChloe Caldwell’s WomenAlison Bechdel’s Fun Home and The Secret to Superhuman StrengthCarmen Maria Machado’s In the Dream HouseLara Lillibridge, author of Girl-ish and Mama MamaNancy Agabian, author of Me as Her AgainDr. Joe Perazzo – Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of NursingGreg Louganis’ Breaking the SurfaceS.A. Chant’s Peter DarlingThe Queery (@thequeerybtn )Andrea Gibson’s “Orlando” ( @andrewgibby )Mary LambertVirginia Woolf’s OrlandoMichael Barakiva’s One Man GuyHeartstopperQuestions you should be able to respond to after listening:1.What role can specialised collections like the Queer Armenian Library play for individuals but also for queer life and culture more broadly? 2.If you were to create a queer library, what special kind of queer literature would it house?3.What does JP say about the role of representation in queer lives and literatures? What are your thoughts?4.Please find one scholarly text that you could use to write about the role of representation for marginalised communities. Which one did you pick and why?5.And of course I must ask: Which queer book saved your life?