I wrote a book about LGBTQ+ equality. It comes out in three days. That was interesting timing.

Here's some practical ways of supporting a queer author.

I can’t believe it’s just three days until my book Outrage: Why The Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality Is Not Yet Won And What We Can Do About It is finally out in the world! It feels a bit surreal, honestly. I’ve been pouring my heart into this for years, writing about the attacks on our community, but also about the ways we can fight back and make real, practical change. It’s honestly incomprehensible that it’s almost here out in the world. None of it feels real, yet.

The timing, though… it’s heavy. I hate being right about the trajectory we were on. This past week has been another heartbreaking one, with LGBTQ+ rights under attack in the US yet again. Every piece of awful news just reinforces why this book matters, that I was right that it was needed. We need those who care about LGBTQ+ people to show up tangibly and prove it.

Let’s Do This Together

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by everything going on right now (and who isn’t?), here are a few simple things you can do to support this work:

1. Buy my book. Pre-orders and first-week sales make a huge difference in getting the word out. If you’ve already ordered it… thank you so much. It means the world.

2. Ask your library to stock it. Making sure this book is accessible to as many people as possible is a big goal for me and authors get paid when books are taken out at libraries.

3. Invite me to speak. Whether it’s your workplace, a community group, or an event, I’d love to share the ideas in Outrage and have conversations about how we can create change together. Disappointingly, I’ve not been asked to speak at any business about LGBTQ+ equality or supporting their staff this year, only about neurodiversity (an equally important topic). But when so many of my book-related events have sold, I just wish businesses would get on board - customers and staff clearly want it!

4. Hire me! Most of my income isn’t generated from my writing or advocacy work, in fact this is the smallest part of my income. Besides speaking and DEI training for businesses, I work mostly as a digital strategist helping individuals and businesses fix their approach to social media and make it sustainable in the long term. If you’re looking for a partner, get in touch.

Become part of my Tour Support on Patreon

Writing a book is one thing, but funding a book tour is another! Authors often cover most of their travel, accommodation and launch costs. For my sold-out launch in London I’m paying queer suppliers for their work out of pocket. And your support can make a huge difference. Here’s how you can help:

• Support me on Patreon. Whether it’s an ongoing pledge or a one-off donation, every bit helps me keep doing this work. Patreon supporters get all kinds of extra benefits including early access to events and newsletters, 1:1 sessions and an online book launch.

• Sponsor a book event. Whether you’ve got £20 or £200, make a tangible difference towards LGBTQ+ equality. If you’d like to help cover the costs of travel, accommodation, or my time for an event near you, you can pay on a one-off basis on Patreon or get in touch! It would mean the world.

Come Hang Out At An Event

I’m so excited to celebrate the book with a series of events over the next couple of months. Here’s where I’ll be:

• Thursday, January 30th - SOLD OUT: Launch event at Goldie Saloon, London. Doors open at 6:30 pm. It’s a wheelchair-accessible venue that feels like a big, sexy gay living room—the perfect vibe for an evening of community and celebration.

• Tuesday, February 4: Lighthouse Bookshop, Edinburgh.

• Thursday, February 6: Launch event in Margate.

• Friday, February 14: London Bookshop Crawl (Gay’s The Word & Housmans).

• Wednesday, February 26: In conversation at Waterstones Canterbury.

Dates For Your Diary

• Wednesday, March 5: The Scarlett Letters.

• Wednesday, March 19: In conversation at Backstory, London.

• Wednesday, March 26: Manchester Queer Lit.

• Saturday, March 29: In conversation and signing at The Heath Bookshop, Birmingham.

These events aren’t just about celebrating the book—they’re about coming together, connecting, and figuring out how we move forward. If you’re in the area, I’d love for you to join me.

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Outrage exists because of all of you and your support. We can’t do this work alone, and the good news is, we don’t have to.

So, let’s do this. Let’s fight. Let’s celebrate. Let’s step up and do something because the consequences if we don’t will be dire. You don’t want to look back in 20 years and think that you were silent and complicit during violence. You want to know you did what you could?

With love and solidarity,
Ellen Xx