Pride Month is a time to celebrate and appreciate the LGBTQIA+ community. In honor of Pride Month, CBR has selected a few LGBTQIA+ manga titles with which to celebrate the occasion
From Revolutionary Girl Utena to What Did I Eat Yesterday? each of these manga celebrates all identities and spreads the importance of self-love and acceptance.
Revolutionary Girl Utena By Be-Papas
Be-Papas' Revolutionary Girl Utena is about a young girl named Utena Tenjou who desires to be a prince so that she can encounter the prince she met long ago who gave her a rose-engraved ring after her parents died. In the process, Utena joins Ohtori Academy and strikes up a relationship with the mysterious Anthy Himemiya.
Overall, Revolutionary Girl Utena, which was originally published in the '90s, is a great introduction to the world of yuri/shoujo-ai and illustrates the importance of female friendships. Utena herself is also a great icon for the LGBTQIA+ community.
My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness By Nagata Kabi
My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness is a critically acclaimed autobiographical manga by Nagata Kabi. The series won the Harvey Award for Best Manga in 2018 and was well received by critics in general. With an authentic and humorous writing style, Kabi describes their journey in discovering their sexual identity as well as provides a highly relatable story about the struggles with adulting and mental health. Two sequels have since been released.
My Brother's Husband by Gengoroh Tagame
Gengoroh Tagame's My Brother's Husband follows Yaichi, a work-from-home dad living in Tokyo and raising his young daughter, Kana. Yaichi has an estranged twin brother named Ryoji, who moved abroad but sadly passed away. One day, a Canadian man named Mike Flanagan shows up on Yaichi's doorstep, claiming to be Ryoji's husband.
This series addresses some hard-hitting issues such as homophobia in Japan and cultural differences. My Brother's Husband focuses on characters who must learn how to accept and empathize with the people they love who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. It was awarded the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia in 2018.
Wandering Son By Shimura Takako
The critically acclaimed Wandering Son is a coming of age story by Shimura Takako that focuses on the friendship between Shuichi Nitori and Yoshino Takatsuki. This series addresses the adolescent lives of transgender children as they figure out their identities and learn to love themselves. Wandering Son has over one million copies in print in Japan and was adapted into a well-received anime in 2011.
Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare By Yuhki Kamatani
Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, by Yuhki Kamatani, is about a high school boy named Tasuku Kaname who desperately wants to keep his sexual identity hidden from his friends and family. One day, he's forcibly outed and nearly commits suicide before being saved by a woman named Tasuku Kaname, who introduces him to a "drop-in center" where he meets other people just like himself.
Our Dreams at Dusk draws from Yuhki Kamatani’s personal experiences as a nonbinary, asexual individual. Like the other series in this article, Our Dreams at Dusk addresses issues of self-acceptance and marginalization in a society that looks down on the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Bride Was a Boy By Chii
The Bride Was a Boy is an autobiography by Chii, a transgender woman who was assigned male at birth. Chii talks about her childhood and journey to becoming a bride. She focuses on the joys and trials of exploring her gender identity, her sexuality and her transition. Like My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness, this series is based on true life events and illustrates that everyone can achieve a lifetime of happiness.
Whispered Words By Takashi Ikeda
Whispered Words is a yuri manga series set in a co-ed high school and focuses on the relationship between Sumika Murasame and Kazama Ushio. Murasame Sumika is the popular girl at school who excels in sports and academics, but she's secretly in love with her classmate, Kazama Ushio. However, Ushio has yet to notice her feelings. This series is a refreshing romantic comedy yuri series depicting unrequited love.
What Did You Eat Yesterday? By Fumi Yoshinaga
What Did You Eat Yesterday?, by Fumi Yoshinaga, is a yaoi manga and cookbook. The story is about a middle-aged gay couple, Shiro and Kenji, living in Tokyo and enjoying the finer things in life.
This series discusses issues involving domestic life, workplace environment and LGBTQIA+ rights in Japan. However, what separates this series from the rest of the manga mentioned in this article is the fact that this series teaches readers how to cook. Shiro narrates the cooking process of each meal through internal monologue.