Groups | Activity | Beth Ann

Rie replied 12 years, 6 months ago

Good link, Kaye! There was a bit in the ALA book on working with LGBTQ teenagers about the pros and cons of wearing something that signifies being queer or queer allied–I’m on the fence myself. It’s a really wonderful show of solidarity, but I wonder if it could come off the same as wearing a campaign button; if we’re meant to be custodians of…[Read more]
- kaye replied 12 years, 6 months ago
  
  Hmm. I guess it all comes down to the horrible question of how to let everyone know you’re there to support their information needs without making some of the patron base feel alienated.
  
  Of course, with societal norms, making patrons feel comfortable sharing their information needs doesn’t work 100% — apparently books about sex and sexuality…[Read more]
- Missy replied 12 years, 6 months ago
  
  i want to share some feelings with y’all. i feel like this is a safe place. in 2008, a teenager that i knew killed himself. i believe he was gay. i have no evidence of that other than my experience working with teens and my brief interactions with him. no one, not even his sister, who i’ve become quite close to in a mentor/teen relationship, knows…[Read more]
  - Rie replied 12 years, 6 months ago
    
    Missy, I’m so sorry that you lost a young patron. A parochial school that I worked with lost a particularly beloved priest to suicide, and I suspected the same reasons you did. The question of “why?” from the students (still coming years later, when I was their librarian) was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to answer.
    
    I agree with…[Read more]
    - Missy replied 12 years, 6 months ago
      
      :) thanks, Rie. i’ll have to look into getting a unicorn hat for our next cosplay day. *makes plans*
      
      …and yes, i believe that we can be ourselves without giving up who we are, especially when who we are offers a role model or a positive example to our community. i’ve had many patrons glance at the bracelet, but not comment on it. they are…[Read more]
    - Missy replied 12 years, 6 months ago
      
      i’m also sorry that you experienced the loss of a friend/ community member. :(
  - kaye replied 12 years, 6 months ago
    
    Wow, Missy, I’m sorry that your community experienced that, and it’s great that you’re making a difference in his sister’s life.
    
    That’s a good way to look at the symbols debate, although I’m sure that a lot of people wearing religious symbols and other things may not see them as making a personal-political statement — it sounds like a great way…[Read more]
    - Missy replied 12 years, 6 months ago
      
      thanks, kaye. i’ve had a lot of time to consider what i would do if anyone confronted me about it. i made the decision when i officially came out to my friends and family several years ago. to quote Rosemary Kirsten’s Steerswoman’s novels (highly recommended) “if they ask, i will answer.” i’m never gonna lie about being gay again. i had enough of…[Read more]

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