The non-profit cultural association in Malmö has grown rapidly during the two years that have passed since the association was formed.

The goal of starting an LGBTQ bookstore has now been reached after a crowdfund fundraiser and Sweden's only bookstore with a focus on queer literature has thus become a reality.

- There have been a bit similar places, Raspberry Cave for example, but they have been a bit more of a feminist bookstore.

It feels good to be a pure queer bookstore, says Lou Mattei.

Queer literature

Page 28 wants to be “a queer breathing space for all LGBTQ people who love culture but are tired of heterosexual and cisnormative narratives”.

The bookstore will invest in queer literature in the broadest sense, ie books about or written by people with a sexuality or gender identity that violate the so-called heteronorm.

- We invest in everything we can really get our hands on.

For example, we have found a book called "Homosexuality - problems and causes" from 1952. It is not a particularly queer-friendly book, but can be important for understanding how others have looked at us, says Lou Mattei.

The story is filled to the brim with world-famous writers who themselves have been queer or described queer love in their literature.

Everything from Virginia Wolf, Marcel Proust, Selma Lagerlöf, Karin Boye, Allen Ginsberg, Michel Focault, Tove Jansson to contemporary literary stars such as Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart.

"Being touched"

Why is a specific LGBTQ bookstore needed?

- There is a risk that you will not find this literature otherwise, says Lou Mattei and continues:

- On the one hand, it has been important to read about characters where I can reflect myself.

Then I also learned so much about the LGBTQ movement's struggle and history through literature.

It's a kind of legacy.

What have you inherited?

- Oh, what have we inherited?

A lot of pain, a lot of struggle, a lot of anger, a lot of violence, but also a lot of love.

And so much ingenious culture that has come from queers.

I'm moved when I talk about it.

The bookstore opens on Wednesday 5 May 2021.