This vibrant, deluxe tarot deck and guidebook set centers and celebrates LGBTQ+ identity, created by queer and trans artist team Ash + Chess. What I love about this deck is how bold and affirming it feels while still honoring the structure of traditional tarot. It reimagines the Major and Minor Arcana with a wide range of gender expressions and sexual orientations, while thoughtfully weaving in queer history and iconography.
 
The artwork really stands out with Ash + Chess’s signature style, using colorful, risograph-inspired illustrations with retro palettes and detailed figures. Each card is based on real LGBTQ+ folx who were commissioned for this project, which brings a strong sense of authenticity and intention. You can feel the care in how inclusive and expansive the representation is across race, identity, and lived experience.
 
The guidebook is easy to follow and fully illustrated, offering approachable interpretations for each card along with sample readings and a brief history of tarot. Overall, this is a joyful and inclusive deck that feels great to work with and makes a meaningful gift for anyone, whether you’re new to tarot, experienced, part of the queer community, or an ally.

Honesty is necessary when it comes to sharing experiences, especially as a queer person myself, because perspective matters. When I first saw the Queer Tarot deck in store, it honestly bothered me. I kept noticing it every time I went into the local bookstore. Seeing the word “queer” in such a bold, loud way brought up something in me. It felt like the creator wasn’t being subtle, and I realized that reaction was coming from an unconscious place shaped by how society has conditioned us within the LGBTQIA+ community, especially with cis heteronormative standards being perpetuated in the U.S. That internalized discomfort and even self hatred towards one’s self can show up in ways we don’t always expect, especially within the gay male community.
 
I eventually gave in and bought the deck, and honestly, it brought memories out of the woodwork. It took me back to being a kid, knowing I was different, and then into my 20s when I really came into myself. It reminded me that when I left a private Southern Baptist-style school in California and went to college, my first real friends were queer folx. Back in 2003–2004, the word “queer” was still new to me, and being around people who openly identified that way, including trans men and women, felt natural. They were the first people who truly accepted me. Over time, though, I saw how society pushed the gay male community to distance itself from that, especially when people didn’t fit a certain mold.
 
Even today, accepting your queerness can still be hard depending on where you are. And even in places like San Francisco, those pressures can still show up, which honestly makes no sense. We’re not meant to only feel free during Pride month. This deck reminded me of that. It feels like you’re celebrating yourself, and using it feels comfortable, like you’re having a conversation with a friend right next to you.
 
I can’t recommend this powerful deck enough.

Themes: LGBTQIA+, Magical, Rich, Radiant, Mysterious, Airy, Warm, Celebratory, Powerful

78 Cards

Dimensions: 5 x 3"

Weight: 1.6lbs

Made In China