LGBTQ+ Authors: Folktales have been the heartbeats of cultures worldwide—stories passed down through generations, wrapped in magic, morals, and mysteries. These timeless tales have shaped how societies view heroism, love, identity, and community. However, many traditional folktales reflect the values and norms of the eras and cultures from which they emerged—often centering on heteronormative relationships, rigid gender roles, and exclusion of queer identities.
Enter LGBTQ+ authors who are courageously reimagining these age-old folktales. They are weaving fresh threads into these classic tapestries—infusing queer perspectives, challenging conventions, and broadening the horizons of identity and love. Their retellings honor the spirit of folklore while innovating narratives that resonate with contemporary readers and celebrate diversity.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore how LGBTQ+ writers are reshaping traditional folktales, why their voices matter, and the cultural and literary impact of these new narratives. We’ll dive into themes, examples, and the power of re-visioning folktales through queer eyes.
The Enduring Power of Folktales
Folktales are universal storytelling vessels that hold cultural values, human experiences, and collective wisdom. They serve many functions—entertaining, educating, preserving history, and reinforcing social norms. Stories like Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, or the tales of Anansi the spider have traveled across borders and time, evolving as they adapt.
But traditionally, these stories often promote heteronormativity and gender binaries. The prince rescues the princess; the maiden waits for a suitor; evil often lurks in “otherness” that isn’t queer-coded. This creates a narrative gap for LGBTQ+ readers and writers, whose realities are seldom reflected or are outright erased.
Why LGBTQ+ Retellings of Folktales Matter
Reclaiming Stories for Queer Identities
By reimagining folktales, LGBTQ+ authors reclaim narratives that historically excluded or marginalized queer identities. This act is powerful—it says, “Our stories matter too, and we are here to tell them.” It creates representation where none existed and reclaims cultural heritage for queer communities.
Expanding the Meaning of Love and Family
Folktales often teach lessons about love, loyalty, and family. Queer retellings expand these definitions beyond traditional heteronormative frameworks. They explore varied forms of love—romantic, chosen family, and self-love—making these themes more inclusive and relatable.
Challenging and Deconstructing Norms
Retellings provide an opportunity to question gender roles, power dynamics, and moral binaries embedded in folklore. LGBTQ+ authors often subvert these elements, flipping narratives to challenge patriarchy, heterosexism, and binaries.
Enriching Literary Traditions
Adding queer perspectives enriches the literary landscape with fresh interpretations, innovative storytelling techniques, and diverse voices. This encourages empathy and understanding in readers across all identities.
Common Themes in LGBTQ+ Folk Tale Retellings
LGBTQ+ retellings of folktales often explore recurring themes that connect queer experience with folklore’s timeless qualities.
Transformation and Identity
Many folktales center on transformation—physical or spiritual. Queer retellings use this motif to symbolize gender fluidity, coming out, and self-discovery. The metamorphosis becomes a metaphor for embracing authentic identity.
Forbidden or Hidden Love
Secret romances and forbidden love are classic folktale motifs, well suited to queer narratives. Retellings explore the tension and beauty of love that defies social expectations.
Queer Chosen Families
The concept of family in queer retellings often goes beyond blood relations. Folktales provide a backdrop to explore chosen families, support networks, and community resilience.
Challenging Good vs. Evil Dichotomies
Folktales frequently pit good against evil in black-and-white terms. Queer retellings blur these boundaries, portraying complexity in characters often stereotyped or demonized in traditional versions.
Notable LGBTQ+ Authors Reimagining Folktales
Several LGBTQ+ authors have gained acclaim for their imaginative and transformative folktale retellings. Here are a few shining examples:
Roshani Chokshi
An author of Indian descent, Roshani Chokshi blends South Asian myths with lush, inclusive storytelling. Her works, such as “Aru Shah and the End of Time,” reimagine Hindu mythology with queer characters, creating space for LGBTQ+ youth in culturally specific fantasy.
Alex Jennings
Alex Jennings, an openly gay author, retells fairy tales with a queer twist in books like “Wolf and the Woodsman.” Jennings’ narratives challenge traditional roles and include LGBTQ+ identities seamlessly woven into the story.
Nghi Vo
Vo’s work reinterprets Southeast Asian folklore with queer protagonists, such as in “The Empress of Salt and Fortune.” The stories focus on female empowerment, queer love, and intricate world-building drawn from cultural myths.
Neil Gaiman
While not exclusively LGBTQ+, Neil Gaiman’s works, including “The Graveyard Book” and “Stardust,” feature fluid gender representations and queer themes, reworking European folktales with modern inclusivity.
Malinda Lo
Malinda Lo, a lesbian author, retells classic fairy tales with queer characters in books like “Ash,” a queer retelling of Cinderella that centers a same-sex romance and challenges traditional fairy tale tropes.
Cultural Contexts and Intersectionality in Queer Folktale Retellings
LGBTQ+ authors often come from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, bringing intersectionality to their retellings. This adds depth and complexity, addressing multiple layers of identity.
Embracing Ethnic Folklore
Reclaiming folklore from marginalized cultures allows queer authors to highlight both ethnic heritage and queer identity. This counters the dominance of Eurocentric fairy tales and enriches the global folklore canon.
Addressing Marginalization
Intersectional retellings tackle not only queer erasure but also issues of racism, colonialism, and cultural appropriation. These stories’ foreground voices are often doubly marginalized.
Language and Storytelling Styles
Many queer retellings incorporate native languages, dialects, and oral storytelling techniques, preserving cultural nuances while innovating narrative forms.
The Impact on Readers and Society
Reimagined queer folktales serve crucial roles for readers and culture.
Providing Representation and Validation
For LGBTQ+ readers, especially youth, seeing themselves reflected in culturally rich stories affirms identity and offers hope.
Educating and Challenging Bias
Non-queer readers gain exposure to queer perspectives and diverse cultures, fostering empathy and breaking down stereotypes.
Inspiring Creativity and Dialogue
These retellings invite readers and writers to question tradition, experiment with storytelling, and engage in conversations about identity and culture.
Examples of Popular Queer Folk Tale Retellings
Let’s explore some influential titles that highlight how LGBTQ+ authors have transformed traditional tales:
“Ash” by Malinda Lo
Ash reimagines Cinderella as a story of queer love and self-empowerment. The protagonist’s romance with a huntress replaces the traditional prince, challenging gender roles and expanding fairy tale romance.
“The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
This novel offers a fresh twist on mermaid folklore with a queer pirate crew navigating identity and freedom on the high seas. It explores gender fluidity, chosen families, and the fight against oppressive norms.
“The Tiger’s Daughter” by K. Arsenault Rivera
Inspired by Asian and Indigenous mythology, this epic fantasy centers a love story between two warrior women, blending mythic motifs with queer romance and cultural pride.
“The Bear and the Nightingale” by Katherine Arden
While not explicitly queer, Arden’s novel incorporates subtle queerness and challenges to gender expectations within Russian folklore, setting a stage for more inclusive retellings in the fantasy genre.
Challenges LGBTQ+ Authors Face in Reimagining Folktales
Despite the richness of these retellings, LGBTQ+ authors often encounter obstacles.
Retelling folklore can raise questions about cultural ownership and authenticity. Queer authors from within or outside a culture must carefully balance respect with creative freedom.
Publishing Industry Bias
Mainstream publishing has historically marginalized queer and diverse voices. Although progress has been made, many authors still struggle for visibility and support.
Risk of Backlash
Challenging traditional narratives and social norms can provoke criticism or censorship, especially in conservative contexts.
How to Support LGBTQ+ Folktale Retellings
Readers, educators, and industry professionals can play active roles in elevating these voices.
Read and Recommend Widely
Engage with queer retellings from diverse cultures and share recommendations within communities and classrooms.
Support Queer Authors and Publishers
Purchase books from LGBTQ+ authors, attend readings, and support independent and queer-owned presses.
Create Inclusive Spaces
Foster safe and open environments for discussing and celebrating queer folklore and literature.
In Conclusion, LGBTQ+ authors reimagining traditional folktales are revitalizing one of humanity’s oldest storytelling traditions with fresh, inclusive, and transformative perspectives. Their work not only enriches literature but also affirms queer identities, challenges entrenched norms, and expands cultural narratives.
These retellings invite readers to step into worlds where love is multifaceted, identity is fluid, and heroism is redefined. They bridge past and present, honoring tradition while boldly reshaping the future of storytelling.
In a world where representation matters more than ever, queer folktale retellings are a vital beacon—lighting the way toward more diverse, empathetic, and magical stories for all.
FAQs About LGBTQ Authors
1. What distinguishes LGBTQ+ folk tale retellings from traditional versions?
They often center queer characters and themes, challenge gender norms, and expand concepts of love and family beyond heteronormative frameworks.
2. Are queer folk tale retellings only about romance?
No. While many explore queer love, they also address identity, transformation, community, and cultural heritage.
Yes, but it requires respectful research, cultural sensitivity, and often collaboration with community members to avoid appropriation.
4. Why do these retellings resonate with readers today?
They provide representation, reflect contemporary values of diversity and inclusion, and offer fresh takes on familiar stories.
5. How can educators incorporate queer folktale retellings into curricula?
By including them alongside traditional folktales, discussing themes of identity and diversity, and encouraging critical thinking about storytelling traditions.
