Queer bookstore owner slams chains for ‘monetising’ LGBTQ+ people during Pride month

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A queer bookshop owner has slammed chains for only stocking LGBTQ+ books during Pride month and “monetising” queer people. Matthew Cornford says businesses such as Waterstones need to “step up their game” so queer people can find themselves in literature “all year round.” Matthew is the owner of QueerLit located on Tib Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

It boasts an extensive range of over 4000 LGBTQ+ titles in store and online, as well as stocking bags, stationery and greeting cards.

Ahead of the start of Pride, Matthew has said big bookshops need to have permanent sections for queer literature in order to tackle homophobia in society. READ MORE: 'Most of our generation can't even fathom buying a house': Young workers react to new deposit-free scheme He said all big bookshops should have permanent sections for queer literature to tackle homophobia in society. “We need mainstream bookstores to step up their game.

Places like Waterstones is why my business exists," he explained. "I went into Waterstones Manchester Deansgate a few years ago and very sheepishly asked ‘can you point me in the direction of your LGBT section?’ and they said they didn’t have one. “This was the biggest book shop in the north.