“Queer Joy: A Mosaic of Self-Love, Community, and Resistance”
by Bethany Meier-Evans
Tehom Center, 2026, 140 pages

At A Glance: “Queer Joy” is an accessible and affirming guide to healing, self love, community, and the radical power of queer joy.

Overview: “Queer Joy: A Mosaic of Self-Love, Community, and Resistance” challenges the idea that queer lives are defined primarily by pain and survival. Instead, it argues that joy is not something queer people must earn after suffering, but something they inherently deserve. Rooted in both personal healing and collective liberation, the book explores how joy can become a source of resilience, connection, and resistance.

Written by interfaith minister, advocate, and podcast host Bethany Meier-Evans, the book blends personal storytelling, accessible research, practical exercises, and creative reflection. Drawing from decades of LGBTQ+ advocacy work, Meier-Evans focuses on three interconnected foundations of queer flourishing: self love, affirming community, and liberation rooted in mutual care and solidarity.

“Queer Joy” is especially meaningful for readers healing from religious trauma, family rejection, internalized shame, or long periods spent in survival mode. Through journaling prompts, creative exercises, and grounded reflections, it invites queer people to imagine joy not as denial of struggle, but as part of what makes liberation possible.

Thoughts from Readers: