Tucked away at the top of the Merrion Centre in Leeds city centre is a bookshop boasting a small size and a big heart. The Bookish Type is Leeds' only independent Queer book store, it's a place for people to read about the past, present and future of the community and for those outside of the community to enlighten themselves on LGBTQ+ culture.
The LGBTQ+ community face hardship everyday, from little points of discrimination to ongoing hate crimes and violent attacks, such as the tragedy that struck Club Q in Colorado Springs last month. These safe and importantly, sober spaces are a place where the community can meet together and engage with a community, that in Leeds, is growing every year.
The shop is owned by Ray Larman and her partner Nicola, it opened just over two years ago during the height of the COVID pandemic after Ray and Nicola traded in modest book stalls for a fully-fledged space to sell all manner of Queer literature.
