The Queer Library is open…
Friday, June 26th through Sunday, June 28th sees the return of the Aesop Queer Library to select stores across the US in collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU). Showcasing titles from LGBTQIA2S+ authors, both classic and contemporary, visitors are invited to take home a book of their choice as a gift. Now in its sixth year, the initiative has distributed over 115,000 books around the world.
Being named after a master storyteller and with a spirit of reverence for the written word, Aesop has always been informed and inspired by literature. Since its inception, the Queer Library has given a platform to underrepresented or silenced voices, affirming the ability of the written word to broaden minds, embolden individuals and foster community.
The 2026 Queer Library theme, Body of Work, celebrates how writing that centers on the queer body can challenge assumptions, give greater visibility to stories too often overlooked or ignored, and serve as an act of joyful resistance. Spanning a broad range of subjects, the selection of titles explores the diverse experiences of the LGBTQIA2S+ community through multiple styles and genres, with works from authors including Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Torrey Peters, Seán Hewitt, Ocean Vuong, Brandon Taylor, Pedro Lemebel, Alejandro Varela, and Kristin Arnett.
The Aesop Queer Library has always been keen to support and uplift local bookstores and organizations and continues Aesop’s support of the ACLU. For nearly a century, the ACLU has been a watchful guardian of America’s liberty, defending individual rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution—notably those of speech and expression. The partnership reflects a shared belief in the transformative power of storytelling.
“The ACLU Foundation is grateful and proud to be collaborating with Aesop and its Queer Library for the fourth year”, comments Chase Strangio, Co-Director of LGBT & HIV Project at the ACLU. “As an organization relentlessly pursuing justice for all LGBTQ people, we understand the power that stories have both in stoking fear and also in connecting our common human experiences. We hope these works will allow readers to see ourselves and each other as we are — vibrant, complex, and beautiful.”
As with previous editions, each visitor will be invited to select a complimentary book to take home, while stocks last—no purchase required. Some stores will see their shelves cleared of most products and stocked with books instead. Others will feature Reading Rooms—designated areas in-store furnished with a smaller selection of books—in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Houston, and Miami, coinciding with Pride month.
Partnering with Penguin Random House, titles have been sourced from a diverse range of queer authors. A select number of audiobook titles will be available online, to extend the experience beyond the physical spaces and to offer an accessible alternative to the printed word.
For Penguin Random House, the collaboration represents an opportunity to bring queer voices to new audiences. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with Aesop for the sixth edition of Aesop Queer Libraries, a thoughtfully curated initiative that creates meaningful space for queer stories to be discovered, shared, and celebrated”, shares Alyssa Taylor, Director of Brand Marketing. “This year’s Body of Work collection spans generations of LGBTQIA2S+ storytelling, from Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin and Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde to Stag Dance by Torrey Peters, The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor, and Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One by Kristen Arnett. By featuring a wide range of LGBTQIA2S+ voices across genres and formats, we hope to invite more readers into the fullness, complexity, joy, and resilience of the queer experience.”
Aesop Queer Library Dates:
Friday, June 26 – Sunday, June 28
Main Branch Libraries
Los Angeles
Aesop Larchmont
128 N Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90004
New York
Aesop Nolita
226 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012
Reading Rooms
Los Angeles
Aesop Abbot Kinney
1504 ½ Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
Los Angeles
Aesop Silver Lake
3513 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
New York
Aesop Park Slope
225 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
San Francisco
Aesop Fillmore
2450 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Miami
Aesop Design District
160 NE 41st Street, Miami, FL 33137
Austin
Aesop Domain NORTHSIDE
11624 Rock Rose Avenue, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78758
Houston
Aesop Montrose
1665 Westheimer Road, Suite B, Houston, TX 77006
Dallas
Aesop NorthPark
8687 N Central Expressway, Space N1-1208, Dallas, TX 75225
Washington DC
Aesop Georgetown
3275 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Hoboken
Aesop Hoboken
407 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Chicago
Aesop Lincoln Park
857 W Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
Portland
Aesop NW 23rd Avenue
827 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97210
Seattle
Aesop Capitol Hill
321 E Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98122
Philadelphia
Aesop Walnut Street
1528 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Aesop was established in Melbourne in 1987, and has since been formulating products with efficacy foremost in mind—their complex, distinctive aromas are but an incidental treat. The range now spans skin, hair and body care, as well as fragrance and accessories for the self and home. Some of the ingredients used are plant-based; others are laboratory-made; all are ethically sourced and have a proven record of safety. Aesop—a Certified B Corporation™—does not test its formulations or ingredients on animals. All Aesop products are vegan, Leaping Bunny approved, and included on PETA’s cruelty-free and vegan lists. They are available at aesop.com, in Aesop signature stores and department store counters, and from select like-minded retailers across the globe.
Leave a Reply