WTF is a Radical Librarian, Anyway?

I have been trying to write this post for half a month now and it is incredibly difficult. In fact, writing in general, has been difficult lately. I still haven’t written my feelings about Library Journal’s Mover and Shakers announcements and how Library Journal has buried all the controversy about their transphobic actions in the hope that the field will move on. I haven’t written about my own experiences with book banning and censorship as a school librarian when parents brought highlighted sections of books that “proved” the book was pornography. I haven’t written about my own experience of coming out in an incredibly conservative African Christian family. All of these feelings float amorphously through my self-conscious…never coming into actual fruition and yet feeling necessary to expel.

-sigh-

Perhaps the problem is that everything that can be said has been said already. Or at least it feels that way. Will my experience of furtively checking out books about homosexuality and being incredibly grateful to all the library workers who affirmed me during this difficult time cause another library worker to keep Pride collections in their library? Should my story be a catalyst to fight for queer patrons? Or is it dismissive to the very valid threats to various library workers’ careers to do so? Is my continued condemnation of Library Journal and their incredibly cowardly transphobic acts important or does it take away from the very real life or death experiences our trans fellows are going through?

In today’s climate so many want to speak on things as if they have expertise. So few people actually stay in their lane and learn from others. I feel compelled to speak about how vital libraries were to my coming out process, but I also would never want to ignore the very real trauma library workers are going through during this era of hate groups and bomb threats and overall violence that are the Christian Nationalists and alt-right.

I don’t know. As I said all my thoughts and feelings are mostly amorphous and embryonic. All I know for sure is that Pride is incredibly important right now. Affirming and supporting queer folks is more vital than ever. We need all the support and allyship you can give.

p.s. Seattle Public Library you’re still the worst and Library Journal you’re the worst for standing by your decision to award them Library of the Year. How many Pride marches do you have to be kicked out of before you realize the error of your actions?