The Last Time I Wore A Dress by Daphne Scholinski is a great memoir. The author was dxed with Gender Identity Disorder and put in a series of treatment centers. It covers how being gay, trans or just different is pathologized in the medical system. It is a powerful non-fiction book.

Any anthology by Stevie Smith is a good example of poetry. Stevie Smith was a female British poet, she was raised by a strong feminist and lead a very independent life. She was also likely asexual, though Wikipedia describes her as 'celibate.'

Margret Atwood's The Handmaiden's Tale is another book that should be on your list. Its examination of the way religion tries to control women's sexualities is powerful and unforgettable.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbra Kingsolver is another good one; its examination of the lives of a family of missionaries is a striking example of how missionaries tried to destroy African culture. It also examines sexism in the church.

From the Newsweek list, I think you should keep Things Fall Apart; Achebe is truely a voice for his generation.

I look forward to getting new reading ideas from your list!
Joan

Jhumpa Lahiri's short stories are utterly engrossing. A thread of common experience, of humanity, runs throughout her work, and makes it accessible to everyone.
I would also have to echo the above comment. Anything by Barbara Kingsolver is a good choice. I especially liked "Animal Dreams", which covered a woman's experience in a town with Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and American culture all running together. Superb.

Anything by Louise Erdrich, but The Antelope Wife is particularly great, in a horrifying way. She explains the relationships between Native Americans, whites, men, women, young, old, past, and present though a language of violence, obsession, love, and fear. **

I think one of the writers who gets most overlooked in this type of regard, while not a modern one, is Oscar Wilde. Though he wrote in the 1800's his work is incredibly modern and stands the test of time better than nearly everything out there. I think his best work is "The Importance of Being Earnest". Talk about examining class privilege and sexism in an era where the very idea seemed almost mad. Not to mention the fact the Wilde is funny as hell, even today. "Earnest" is so well-crafted that it contains laugh-worthy lines in rapid succession, but sustains this frenetic pace for an unthinkable amount of time.

Not to mention the fact that Wilde was a prominent author who was viciously persecuted once his sexuality was discovered. He might be one of the best comedic writers of all time, and he's so darn good that it can overshadow his social criticism or muffle it, because even those staunchly opposed to him can't help but laugh at his cunning wordplay.

I definitely think that you should include Audre Lorde and bell hooks, two amazing queer writers of color, both of whom directly address intersectionality in their work. I also think poet Adrienne Rich's work is amazing.