THE RAINBOW BOOK FAIR

ARTISTS, AUTHORS & PUBLISHERS!
VENDOR TABLE REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Rainbow Book Fair has partnered with Brown Paper Tickets for Table & Ticket sales.

The Rainbow Book Fair is back! For our 13th Fair, the theme is “Queer Resistance Now: No Stopping Us!”  As we face an increasing array of transphobic, racist, misogynist, and homophobic actions by the federal government, the RBF has joined the resistance! The Rainbow Book Fair celebrates LGBT culture and queer joy — nothing can get in the way of our commitment to justice, access, and great books. Our featured readers address the struggles and pleasures of living in community with each other as well as being our authentic selves. And get ready for panels that explore all kinds of LGBT resistance: political, gendered, sexual, and literary.

AND… don’t forget our annual Drag Story Hour, a celebration of gender fabulousness for children of all ages.

PLUS, we’ll be hosting the Come Hear! poetry marathon and a wide roster of short readings in every genre. 

Interested in a 5-minute reading time slot? Click HERE.

Get ready for a literary uprising! The 13th annual Rainbow Book Fair storms back into NYC on Saturday, May 10, 2025, 12 PM – 6 PM at The LGBT Community Center (208 West 13th Street), unleashing a vibrant celebration of LGBTQ+ stories

and voices. With over 100 exhibitors, authors, and publishers, this year’s theme, “QUEER RESISTANCE! No Stopping Us!” ignites the power of queer literature in the face of rising intolerance.

Prepare for a dynamic program of special events, readings, and groundbreaking moments, a hallmark of the Rainbow Book Fair’s commitment to amplifying vital queer narratives:

● 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Room 203): TRANS ANTHOLOGY PROJECT SHOWCASE! Witness powerful video presentations and readings from the participants of this vital project.

● 2:00 PM: Spotlight on Bestselling Author Isle McElroy! Don’t miss the acclaimed author of The Atmospherians and People Collide.

● 3:00 PM: Dive into the World of Donna Minkowitz! Experience the powerful voice behind the groundbreaking autofiction novel DONNAVILLE and the memoir Growing Up Golem.

● 4:00 PM (Room 310): BREAKING NEWS! A Very Special BILINGUAL Drag Story Hour! Prepare for dazzling fun with the mermaid-fabulous Bella Noche of Drag Queen Story Hour of Long Island! Bring the little ones for a heartwarming and inclusive experience.

● 5:00 PM (Room 310): A Moving Tribute to the Legendary Felice Picano! Join a multigenerational celebration of the groundbreaking novelist, memoirist, poet, and queer publisher who deeply cherished the Rainbow Book Fair.

Plus, immerse yourself in the ongoing COME HEAR! The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Plus Poets Reading Their Poems Marathon Event (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM at The Pat Parker/Vito Russo Library)! Hear directly from the poets and purchase their inspiring works.

The Rainbow Book Fair is the essential event for readers, writers, and allies to connect with the dynamic world of LGBTQ+ literature. Join us on May 10th and be part of the QUEER RESISTANCE!