{"product_id":"the-queer-bookshelf-an-evening-with-layla-mccay","title":"The Queer Bookshelf: An Evening with Layla McCay","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWe are in the middle of a vibrant renaissance of queer writing. But LGBTQ+ writers, characters and readers have been here since the beginning — quietly, defiantly, and persistently telling their stories — if you know where to look.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Queer Bookshelf is your guide to this essential queer history, and to its contemporary flourishing. Drawing on the author’s own journey as a queer reader and book club host, and packed with recommendations from authors, booksellers, and book lovers around the world, The Queer Bookshelf is a celebration of the books that have helped generations of LGBTQ+ people find themselves on the page.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eJoin author Layla McCay for an evening of discussing and celebrating the past, present and future of queer books, exchanging stories of books that have meant something to her, and to you.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLayla McCay\u003c\/strong\u003e is a passionate reader, host of queer book clubs from the UK to the US and Japan, and acclaimed performance storyteller with The Moth. She can frequently be found on the BBC and features in The Mortified Guide Netflix miniseries about growing up gay. Layla has won numerous awards for her positive impact on LGBTQ+ culture and inclusion, from Attitude 101 to the Rainbow Honours and Outstanding Executive Role Models. Her book Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling: how LGBTQ+ people can thrive and succeed at work won an Axiom Gold Book Award. Layla lives with her wife in London.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate\u003c\/strong\u003e: Friday 12th June 2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTime\u003c\/strong\u003e: 7-9pm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVenue\u003c\/strong\u003e: The Bookish Type, 77a Great George Street, LS1 3BR\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTickets\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eare on a sliding scale (£8 \/ £5 \/ £3 \/ £0)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease be honest about your financial situation when selecting what to pay for your ticket.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIf you purchase a ticket at the lowest end of the scale when you could afford the higher ticket prices, it makes it harder for us to provide financial flexibility to those who most need it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e£8\u003cspan\u003e \"I have more than enough to comfortably meet my basic financial needs and can afford to contribute a little extra to support access for others.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e£5 \"\u003cspan\u003eI am comfortably able to meet all of my basic financial needs.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e£3 \"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI may stress about meeting my basic financial needs but still regularly achieve them.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e£0 \"I have no disposable income to afford the event\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTickets are only refundable up to 7 days before the event starts. Please email to cancel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"\u003e----------------------\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eAccess Info\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe shop has an 8cm step but we have a ramp we can put in place if required.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is a downstairs bathroom with toilet and hand basin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is a range of seating including chairs that are armless with padded seats and backs, armless sofa, bench with cushions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFace masks are encouraged but not required; an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eH13 HEPA  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eair purifier will be in use. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn street parking available (charges may apply).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease email in advance if you have any specific access needs: thebookishtypeleeds@gmail.com\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Bookish Type","offers":[{"title":"£8","offer_id":58199591879037,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"£5","offer_id":58199591911805,"sku":null,"price":5.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"£3","offer_id":58199591944573,"sku":null,"price":3.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Free","offer_id":58199591977341,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0264\/0891\/0933\/files\/tqbkshlf.png?v=1779467838","url":"https:\/\/thebookishtype.co.uk\/products\/the-queer-bookshelf-an-evening-with-layla-mccay","provider":"The Bookish Type","version":"1.0","type":"link"}