PHOTO GALLERY: Queer in the Bedroom

Sarah Beewell / 33 / Montréal, Canada / Writer

“I spend 20 hours a day in this cozy cove of a bed. I eat, write, craft, and share sexy good times here. The 4-poster bed once belonged to a friend, when he was a child in Indonesia. The artwork is the 4th in a series I began in March 2016, using the blood in my menstrual cup. The image of me on the wall was taken in Sydney when I was 21, and had just discovered how much I like kissing ladies.”

Misa, Lucy / 26, 7 / Hoosick Falls, NY / High School Librarian; Resident Diva

“I usually have pretty positive thoughts before falling asleep (“wow, books are so great”/”why is this dog so cute?”/”what is Gillian Anderson doing right now?”), but the second I wake up everything is terrible – until I have a cup of coffee.”

Marianne / 26 / Bay Area, CA

“I love filling my bedroom with my favorite things – my plant collection (it takes me an hour to water them all), my art prints (I also have more than I can hang), and my comics/zines (thankfully a more reasonable amount).”

Erin / 28 / Ontario, Canada / Student, Mother of three tiny, wild humans

“This is indeed a basement suite. The kids have real beds in their own room; don’t worry. Here the smallest one is playing Connect Four. I’m a bit concerned about being judged by submitting this, but the realness of the last gallery was inspiring, so here it is. I’ve applied for graduate programs and we’re planning to move in the summer to some place that’s really ours. For now, this is my bedroom. That weird poster on the wall is from when I ran the Cincinnati flying pig marathon. The other pictures are of my dad and my kids.”

Pam Barrett / 25 / Cleveland Heights, OH / Writer with a Day Job

“Björk has been an inspiration to me creatively since December 2013 when I listened to her and thought about music in a way I never had before: I called it a musical epiphany. Behind me hang character descriptions for a fiction series that I’ve been working on for almost a year. Having both at the head of my bed remind me how important art and creativity are to me, and to continue working toward sharing mine with others.”

Abby, Clara, Django / 22, 22, 3? / Lansing, MI / Organic Farm Crew Member; Pollination Biologist

“The room looks over an abandoned elementary school playground, but neighborhood children are always playing there so we can hear their laughs and games through the windows. We have a twin mattress we found in the attic on top of a futon. The last thing I (Abby) think about is how good Clara’s arms feel around me and how I wish the dog would stop barking!”

Amanda / 30 / Houston, TX / Web Designer

“Our bedroom is awesome. I mostly enjoy that I share it with my wife (seen here fetal-position-phone-Facebooking while our dog looks out into nothingness/the noises in the backyard) and it’s cozy for both of us. It’s way too ridiculously huge for us, but we’ve filled it out nicely with a king sized bed (which we collectively only fill half of), a sweet projector set up, and some artsy shit on the walls. I like it.”

Effie / 28 / Seattle, WA / Volunteer Coordinator

“I knew my girlfriend was a keeper after the first time she stayed the night and said nothing about the taxidermy, animal skulls, or antique medical supplies scattered throughout the house. My favorite thing in my room has to be my grandfathers old external frame hiking pack from when he was search and rescue for the Army in Alaska during WWII. Also featured here: Bones the institutionalized serial killer (indoor cat).”

Jaye / 39 / Seattle, WA / Information Specialist

“My room is so small that I shot from the doorway, but it’s also the coziest place in my apartment. I’m rarely home — I took these as I was dashing out in the morning to a film noir festival — but it’s definitely where I spend the most time when I am here. My favorite bit has to be all the handmade things, from blankets to art, mostly made by myself or talented friends.”

Heather Mangione / 31 / Worcester MA / Community Relationship Manager

“I love my bedroom, especially my bed — it’s my favorite part of the room. We spend a significant portion of our lives in bed, let’s enjoy it. I’ve created a cozy nest and I love reading in bed. This is also a favorite spot for my kitties to sleep as well.”

Isobel Eagle-Wilsher / 21 / Bristol, UK / Student

“My favourite part of the room is the piano desk, I made it a couple of years ago. It was a bit of a struggle to get it in the house and I’m not looking forward to moving it out in a couple of months!”

Hannah, Ashlyn / 19 / Richmond, Virginia / Art Students

“This room is a retreat for both of us; it’s big and messy and comfortable and gives us a space to be silly and sweet and spend time together. We grew up with very different levels of safety in out homes, so being able to give her this calm space to come to means a lot for both of us.”

Grace K / 20 / State College, PA / Student, Music Major and Aspiring Opera Singer

“This is my little ‘Corner of Chaos’, featuring a small horde of knickknacks, sheet music everywhere, a paper model of the human larynx, a signed photo of my favorite mezzo-soprano, and this week’s Super Gay Opera Photo desktop wallpaper.”

Alicia / 26 / Cambridge, MA / PhD Student

“I hung a painting of Ishmael and Queequeg (made for me by a friend) over my headboard so they may bestow queer blessings on my bed. Not ladies, but still pretty gay. Currently reading: The Well of Loneliness (on nightstand). Not pictured: my girlfriend (the photographer).”

Katharina / 21 / Small Town Near Dortmund, Germany / Freelance Tutor

“I’m sharing a home with four flatmates (including my sister pictured in the background), so my bedroom contains basically everything that I own (minus kitchen stuff) and is a bit clutterd, but I love it anyway. My favourite things in my room are my skull-lamp, which I made out of an empty bottle of terrible margarita-mix and my Tarot cards – I started tarot-reading thanks to Autostraddle’s “Fool’s Journey” column!”

Brittney / 26 / Brooklyn, NY / Lifestyle Editor

“My room is probably 85 percent bed and I own way too many (but also somehow never enough) pillows.”

Alice Lesperance and Taylor Kraus / 26, 25 / Brooklyn, NY / Grad Student, Library Research Assistant; Retail Manager

“The bedroom was a big selling point for this apartment, we love how much light comes in. Our cat is named Stevie Nicks and she likes to sleep between our legs.”

Haley Foydel / 25 / Allston MA / Restaurant Manager

“I just settled into this room after living in four different houses over the last six months while moving around for my company, and it’s a huge relief to be here. So far my favorite things about it are how much light it gets during the day, and the rainbow twinkly lights my girlfriend hung for me. I usually fall asleep thinking about tomorrow’s breakfast.”

Sarah / 28 / San Francisco, CA / Copywriter

“My room is my haven. I recently moved into the place I live after getting out of a 7 year relationship and I’m proud that my room is a reflection of me. It’s filled with DIY projects, meaningful art, and small details that reflect my personality. My favorite item is the space themed fabric bunting I made that hangs above my bed. I embroidered a few constellations on it and stamped the phases of the moon.”

Ellen / 32 / Charleston, SC / Nanny

“My bedroom! My favorite parts are my cats and my book collection. I ALWAYS hit snooze at least twice.”

Rebecca Jeanne Vipond-Brink / 30 / Chicago, IL / Writer

“I have really bad insomnia, so I used to hate being in my bedroom. But I’m transmasculine and as of today 17 weeks pregnant, and the bedroom I share with my husband is one of the few places in the world that guarantees a great deal of comfort and understanding in what has been, basically, a second transition.”

Julia / 22 / Fort Collins, CO / Student, GIS Enthusiast

“Last night I dreamt I went to the grocery store, and I was excited because Cheerios were on sale. I love my room because it’s a quiet space where I don’t have to be anything for anybody; I can just be me.”

Crystal Claire / 34 / Los Angeles, CA / Smut Peddler at GayVintageSleaze.com

Vicky / 27 / Madrid, Spain / Marketing

“I love that I bought plain white furniture and decorated it to make it my own. However my favorite item is the voile curtains – I had a lost-in-translation moment and the fabric ended up being €10 per metre more than I thought! The fabric was so expensive that these curtains will be handed down to my children and my children’s children!”

Kelly Thomas / 28 / Los Angeles, CA / Writer

“This is my new bedroom. I share it with my boyfriend Ben. For a queer girl in a relationship with a man, falling asleep every night next to someone who sees and embraces your identity is so important. This bedroom hasn’t yet been graced with non-monogamous play, but we’ll see what 2017 holds.”

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102 Comments

  5. fox mulder and ruth bader ginsburg! everyone on this website is so good at naming cats. next queer irl gallery– queer pets?

    • Wait…as an owner of one of the many photos of fairy lights you mean to tell me I FINALLY got something right as a lesbian?! Hahaha :D

    • It’s not just lesbians

      All my straight friends have Christmas lights

      I’ve never gotten into it but apparently it’s trendy in a decidedly pinterest way

      • I’ll have you know I put Christmas lights up long before Pinterest! It actually always makes me think of the bit in “Easy People” by The Nields: “In my house we see by Christmas lights and your TV // and that seems to be enough // to see what we want to see”.

    • Hello queer early childhood professional! Whenever I go to trainings I often think, “I wonder if anyone else is queer?” And so far I haven’t found many, any? So yes, “Hello!”

  12. Hey Bee from Sacramento! I am also living in Sacramento! We should meet up! We also have a NorCal straddlers group and I have been trying forever to get an IRL meetup going there!
    Love everyone’s pets and plants! I missed the deadline for this but I think I might post a picture of my room in the comments later.

  13. It never would’ve occurred to me to take multiple pictures and now there’s so much I wanna share with you! The poem on my wall. The Converse piggy bank my old nanny kid and I painted together. The fox pillow, the quotes, the way everything turns pink from the salt lamps at night. The framed pic of the porcupine in love with a cactus. It’s all there, and you can’t see any of it!

    Next time :-D

  14. Erin, 28, Ontario – judge you? Who would do such a thing? You tell me and I’ll punch them in the nose (unless immediately after the photo was taken you won at connect 4 then danced round the room gloating until your kid cried. Then I think I’d consider judging you pretty harshly).

  15. Weird I had that same exact desk and chair combo in college, out here in SoCal, that Col had. You definitely made it cooler & more gay than mines ever was.

  20. Loving how many other early childhood educators I see!

    Firm believer that I have the best, most emotionally fulfilling job ever

  22. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! i love this project so much!!!! also everyone with a beer on their bedside table: i love you especially

  23. Um, so, Megan…I can has move in with you? ?

    You had me at night sounds…

    I will have to come back and read the rest of this later, this is excellent! Thanks for another great article ?

  27. I love this! It is so exciting to see myself up here with all you amazing people and I echo Queer Girl’s sentiment that I wish I would have taken more pictures. Next time.
    I also now want to purchase all the fairy lights, make my own curtains, and buy more books so I can be as amazing as you all.
    I love seeing you beautiful humans. You are awesome and your hair looks really good today :)

  28. Pigeon of Kent! Your Ghostbusters prints! Well, the one, and I can’t make out the one below fully but it also looks like Ghostbusters.

    and Kells the Librarian-ISH! Yay for more FL straddlers.

  30. Col, i feel like we are the same person
    -three letter name
    -18 year old student in chicago
    -loves yellow

    • Hello! I just saw this (I know, I know) but wow! Truly an amazing coincidence; do you go to school here?

  31. so awesome to see some other Charleston, SC folks on here. (we should have an autostraddle meet up, even if its super small!)

    Such a great post, this was very interesting. thanks! :)

  34. I don’t know what’s the coolest : the bedrooms, the people, the kids (the little one standing in a blue onesie is so so so cute !), the cats, or the job’s name.

  35. I stayed up until 2:20 AM reading this, and I probably feel more refreshed now than I will when I wake up because this was amazing

  36. I thought the caption said “Bicycle Eater” instead of “Bicycle Fixer” and I was so impressed. Still an amazing room, though!

  37. ADORABLE. WAVING. DOG. !!!!!!!

    These are some of my favourite posts; I love being able to see how vast this community is! <3

  39. I love seeing everyone’s spaces and it makes me feel happy and proud that I am part of this awesome community <3

    Also I've realised my bedroom was pretty minimalist in comparison to most, apparently I don't give enough credit to the Virgo side of my Virgo/Libra cusp!

    Can't wait for the next assignment!

  41. Thanks for letting me visit your wonderful bedrooms, y’all! Not gonna lie, my favorite part was meeting all your pets. :-)

  44. Everyone with stacked book bookshelves, you have inspired me and a LOT of new stuff is on my Amazon wishlist!

  46. So beautiful!!! I love all the little window gardens people have! My room does not have enough good light for that but I wish!
    Side note: Where are the +1 buttons??? I want to +1 everyone’s comments!

    • For the record, now that the button is back (YAYYYYYYYY!!!) I liked everyone’s comment cause this post just makes me so happy!

  48. i love how many of us have the same ikea herb-ish wildflower vaguely witchy bedspread cover. you can’t tell in the picture but i’m sitting on mine in my picture, and the person above me is wrapped in the same blanky. synchronicity!

    also, sionnain: seeing other thoughtful queer bookworms from long island makes me feel slightly less alone in the world, even though i haven’t lived there in so long.

    • Ocean! It was, in a lot of ways, not the easiest place to grow up queer, but it was even longer ago for you. I think you’ll be happy to know that I’m running a queer book club for high school kids, and the queer kids I know who are growing up here now are so amazing. They give me hope.

      • yay! i am so glad things have gotten better. i met my first girlfriend in the 90s because she saw the rainbow sticker on my riot grrrl lunchbox and we used to make out in the food court at roosevelt field and people were so mean to us but we did it for the closeted queer girls and cos we liked each other. Anyway, you rule!

  49. Lots of cosy bedrooms! I definitely don’t feel at all weird about having cats, random stuff on the walls and fairy lights in my room anymore, although I am per definition an adult.
    I live in Norway, and over here everyone pretty much has the same layout when it comes to bedding. Thus, I am intrigued by what seems to be duvets with no cover at all? Is this a common thing in the US?

    • Yes! Cultural differences in bedding are interesting. I noticed in Europe people use duvet covers but no top sheet sometimes. We (my corner of America) sleep between two sheets with then an uncovered duvet/quilt/comforter/blanket on top.

  50. Shout out to Jordan rocking that #blackjoymixtape gear!

    Also,I have better room inspiration now than pinterest could ever provide.

  52. Vest collector is a title I would like to aspire to and probably could.

    But those trans Pride flags being used as DIY decorative curtains.
    Brilliant, I love it.

    When AS gets to queer in the bathroom tho call me up.
    Need to show off my duct tape patching of the hole in my wall.
    I feel it represents my life right now.

  54. I now want a dating app that shows pictures of bedrooms instead of (or in addition to?) bedrooms. You learn so much more about people from their effing cute bedrooms. Call it Slumbr?

  55. one thing I’ve learned from this is that we queers have really really cool names. :)

  56. my girlfriend and I are ready to close our Somerville-Jamaica Plain divide and Uhaul it to Roslindale.

    That’s one of the lesbian-est sentences I’ve read in a while.

  57. These galleries are so captivating and calming and I’m even more excited than usual to go to bed now.
    This whole series gave me serious bedspread envy, however. I need to up my game.

  58. I really enjoyed this series! I’ve lived in my new place (my first apartment all to myself) for nearly a year and haven’t yet finished decorating my bedroom, so I definitely drew some inspiration from these lovely humans.

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