“Nowhere to Turn, Nowhere to Go”
LIS Services for Sexual & Gender (LGBTQ) Minorities
LIS 541. LIS SERVICES IN CULTURALLY DIVERSE SOCIETY
Master of Library & Information Studies, University of Alberta
Alvin M. Schrader, PhD
Professor Emeritus, & Adjunct Professor, iSMSS, University of Alberta
September 2013
Key presentation themes:
• Situating LGBTQ (sexual & gender variant) communities
internationally; in the Canadian mosaic; in Canadian library &
information services
• Key resources for supporting LGBTQ library & information services
• Canadian policy framework for championing LGBTQ library &
information services
• Challenges, barriers, issues in LGBTQ library & information services
–
–
–
Library collections
Subject access to library collections
Internet access & filtering in libraries
• Library services & collection strategies for supporting LGBTQ
communities
• Links between LGBTQ discrimination and misogyny & sexism
Another framing:
Challenging Silence
Challenging Censorship
Building Resilience
13+DC
Sources: Freedom to Mary; ILGA: Int’l LGBTI Assn; CIA
World Factbook,. Comps. sergio Pecanha & Bill Marsh, NYT
Sources: Freedom to Mary; ILGA: Int’l LGBTI Assn; CIA
World Factbook,. Comps. sergio Pecanha & Bill Marsh, NYT
* plus:
• 11. Denmark 2012
• Some jurisdictions: U.S.
• 12. England & Wales 2013 (2003+); Mexico (2009+)
• 13. Brazil 2013
• 14. France 2013
• 15. New Zealand 2013
• 16. Uruguay 2013
Milestones in Canadian LGBTQ Human Rights
1969 – federal decriminalization of same-sex sexual
relationships
1977 – Quebec first province to amend the Quebec
Charter of Rights and Freedoms to prohibit
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
1982 (s.15, 1985) – Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms
1992 – Canadian military ended anti-gay policy
2005 – federal marriage equality
“Reaching Out: Library Services for
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and
Questioning Youth”
- a film by Lynne Barnes, 2004
Vancouver Men’s Chorus
~ Canadian LGBTQ statistics
~ Fred Small's “Everything Possible”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4sRC8gzvBc
Not All Minorities are Visible
• Questions about identity are confusing, bewildering, &
impenetrable — but “generation queer” are coming out at
younger ages, especially trans-identifying kids.
• LGBTQ students in Canada are disproportionately targeted
for name-calling, bullying, & violence.
 2/3 of LGBTQ students feel unsafe in schools
 3/4 of trans students are verbally harassed
— Every Class in Every School, 2011
• Sexual, gender, & trans-identified minorities are invisible.
• Silence is a text easy to misread.
• Silence is complicity. Intolerance flourishes in silence.
http://www.nohomophobes.com
faggot
– 14 million tweets/year
no homo
–
5 million tweets/year
so gay
–
5 million tweets/year
dyke
–
2 million tweets/year
2012-2013
all 4 terms – 26 million tweets/year
Public Service Announcement: www.youtube.com/nohomophobes
Volunteers for research project asking people to help categorize
tweets: www.nohomophobesresearch.com
“I was bullied growing up,
and the scars are still there.
But look at me now – I’ve
got the last laugh.”
– Susan Boyle, “Britain’s Got Talent,”
winner, 2009
• one LGBTQ person was murdered every
month in Canada 1990-2004
• many more were assaulted
• most perpetrators were young men
• disproportionate number of transidentified victims
- Pink Blood: Homophobic Violence in Canada,
by Douglas Victor Janoff (2005)
Life-altering library experience
• Libraries are so often how we learn about who we are – not
family, etc.
• My feelings sent me to the “symbolic world of language” in the
library.
• That sent me back to feelings, and to people. And then to more
books.
• It was a life-altering experience to learn of the category
“lesbian” in the library – and not only that, lesbian was a library
subject heading!
• “We will never know how many have found validation on the
shelves of libraries and in LCSH.”
- Alison Bechdel, paraphrasing acceptance speech at the 2007 American
Library Association “Stonewall Book Awards” for Fun Home
“Looking for myself in the word”
• Many LGBTQ youth have turned to libraries to discover more
about their identity and reality.
• “Librarians have individual power – they watch and see and
guide.”
— Jewelle Gomez
• “We show wisdom in how we present information to the
public.” — Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, BC Library Conference
• “The health of the LGBTQ community is a barometer of the
entire community.”
— Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel, Mayor’s Pride Brunch, 2007
• Librarians are catalysts for social change, supporting
diversity and fostering resiliency.
References [Schrader]
- “Reflections on Meaning in Library & Information Studies: A Personal Odyssey
through Information, Sexuality, and Gender.” In: Feminist & Queer Information Studies Reader,
eds. P. Keilty & R. Dean, Litwin Books (in press 2013).
- “The Digital Closet: How Internet Filters Suppress Access to Information By, For, & About
Sexual & Gender Minorities,” Lorne MacRae Intellectual Freedom Lecture, Alberta Library
Conference, 2012. albertalibraryconference.com/presentations/ALC2012Schrader.pdf
- “Queering Libraries & Classrooms in the United States & Canada: Strategies to
Build Inclusive School & Public Library Collections & Services for Sexual Minority & Gender
Variant Youth” (with Kristopher Wells). In: Serving LGBTIQ Library & Archives Users: Essays on
Outreach, Service, Collections & Access, ed. Ellen Greenblatt, McFarland, 2010.
- “Challenging Silence, Challenging Censorship, Building Resilience: LGBTW
Services & Collections in Public, School & Post-Secondary Libraries.” Feliciter 55.3 (2009): 107109. cla.ca/Content/NavigationMenu/Resources/Feliciter/PastIssues/2009/Vol55No3/default.htm
- Challenging Silence, Challenging Censorship: Inclusive Resources, Strategies &
Policy Directives for Addressing Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans-Identified & Two-Spirited Realities
in School & Public Libraries. With Kristopher Wells. Canadian Teachers Federation, 2007.
- “‘I Thought I’d Find Myself at the Library’: LGBTW Services & Collections in Public &
School Libraries.” PNLA Quarterly 72.1 (2007): 4-9. pnla.org/recent-quarterly
Other Resources (1)
- The Advocate [online magazine] advocate.com
- ACT [AIDS Committee of Toronto] actoronto.org/gaymen
- ALA GLBTRT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgendered Round Table)
ala.org/glbtrt/
– Rainbow Book Lists – GLBTQ Books for Children & Teens
http://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/rainbow-books-lists
– “Out in the Library: Materials, Displays & Services for the Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, & Transgender Community”
ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/iftoolkits/glbttoolkit/glbttoolkit
– “Safe in the Stacks: Community Spaces for LGBTQ Homeless Youth”
ala.org/glbtrt/tools/homeless-lgbtq-youth
- Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) Library: “Diversity”
teachers.ab.ca/For%20Members/Programs%20and%20Services/ATA%20Library/Pages/
Diversity.aspx
- “Bully Free Alberta” – Gov’t of Alberta b-free.ca/home/index.html
- Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives clga.ca
- Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition rainbowhealth.ca
Other Resources (2)
- The Canadian War on Queers: National Security as Sexual Regulation, by
Gary Kinsman & Patrizia Gentile. UBC Press, 2010.
- “Chilling Effect” [Bill 44 Alberta], by Dale Wallace. Alberta Views 2012: 36-40.
- The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies, by Vito Russo. Harper &
Row, rev. ed., 1987.
-“Don’t Filter Me!” Project, American Civil Liberties Union
https://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/dont-filter-me-final-report
- Egale Canada egale.ca
- Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer
Culture glbtq.com/social-sciences/genderqueer.html
- EPL “Rainbow Reading” (search ‘lesbian gay trans’ at epl.ca)
bibliocommons.com/list/show/70574071_rainbow_reading/78805111_gsa_rountable_b
ooktalks
~ “Lindy Reads and Reviews” http://lindypratch.blogspot.com
- Every Class in Every School: The First National Climate Survey on
Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia in Canadian Schools. Catherine Taylor et al.
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, 2011. http://egale.ca/every-class/
Other Resources (3)
- Facebook: “Gay Librarians Group”
- Feminist and Queer Information Studies Reader, eds. Patrick Keilty &
Rebecca Dean. Litwin Books, forthcoming 2013.
- “Free & Equal,” a campaign by the United Nations Human Rights Office, 20132014 https://www.unfe.org/en
- The Gay and Lesbian Review glreview.org/
- “Gay/Lesbian Materials for Young Children,” by Sarah Eccleston. Alberta
Teachers’ Association, 2005 (search “gay lesbian”)
teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/Issues In Education/Diversity Equity and
Human Rights/Sexual Orientation/Gay-Lesbian Materials for Young Children.ppt
- Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Librarians Network GAY-LIBN@usc.edu
- Gay-Straight Student Alliances in Alberta Schools: A Guide for
Teachers, by Kristopher Wells. ATA, 2005 [paper & e-book].
- GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) glaad.org
- GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) glsen.org
- Google Alerts
Other Resources (4)
- Huffington Post Gay Voices (USA) huffingtonpost.com/news/lgbt- Human
Rights Campaign hrc.org
- ILGA (International Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Assn) ilga.org
- International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia [IDAHO]
(Fondation Emergence) http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/
- iSMSS, U of A (Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services)
ismss.ualberta.ca
~ Newsletter industrymailout.com/Industry/View.aspx?id=417509&p=077a
~ Inside/OUT Speakers’ Series
~ NoHomophobes – tracks usage on Twitter of Faggot, Dyke, No Homo, & So Gay
nohomophobes.com
- “It Gets Better,” created by Dan Savage itgetsbetter.org
~ You Tube youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject
~ Rick Mercer: “Rick’s Rant – Bullying – It Gets Better,” Nov. 2007
youtube.com/watch?v=t1Y7qpiu2RQ&feature=related
- Lambda Literary Foundation lambdaliterary.org
Other Resources (5)
- “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Information Needs,” by
Patrick Keilty. In: Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, 3rd ed., 2009.
- LGBT Life with Full Text (UAL catalogue)
- LGBTQ Interest Group, BCLA (British Columbia Library Association) lgbtqlist@lists.bclibrary.ca
- “Marriage equality: Same-sex marriage in the United States,” [Internet
Resources], by Martha E. Hardy (CR&L News, June 2013, 304-307,314)
http://crln.acrl.org/content/74/6/304.full
- National Gay and Lesbian Task Force http://www.thetaskforce.org
- NoHomphobes (iSMSS) nohomophobes.com
~ Public Service Announcement: www.youtube.com/nohomophobes
~ Volunteers for research project asking people to help label tweets:
www.nohomophobesresearch.com
- Out Behind the Desk: Workplace Issues for LGBTQ Librarians, ed. Tracy
Nectoux. Litwin Books, 2011.
Other Resources (6)
- Outlooks: Canada’s National Gay Magazine outlooks.ca
- Perceptions: The Gay and Lesbian Newsmagazine of the Prairies
- PFLAG Canada (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) pflagcanada.ca
- Pink Blood: Homophobic Violence in Canada, by Douglas Victor Janoff. University
of Toronto Press, 2005.
- Pink News [UK]
pinknews.co.uk/
- Pink Shirt Day pinkshirtday.ca/
- Pride at Work Canada http://prideatwork.ca
- Pride Centre of Edmonton http://pridecentreofedmonton.org
- Queers Online: LGBT Digital Practices in Libraries, Archives, and Museums, ed.
Rachel Wexelbaum. Litwin Books, 2013.
- Rainbow Family Collections: Selecting & Using Children’s Books with
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Content, by Jamie Campbell Naidoo.
Libraries Unlimited, 2012 [paper & e-book].
Other Resources (7)
- “Reaching Out: Library Services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and
Questioning Youth.” Film by Lynne Barnes, 2004 (16 mins) lynneword@hotmail.com
- “Remarks in Recognition of International Human Rights Day,”
historic speech by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Palais des Nations, Geneva,
Switzerland, December 6, 2011. youtube.com/watch?v=MudnsExyV78 Transcript at
state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/12/178368.htm
- “Resources for Building a High School Library Program that Meets the
Needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, or Questioning Students: Part I,” by
Cynthia Peterson, 2010. http://cjpeterso.edublogs.org/2010/12/20glbtqresources1/
- “Same-sex Marriage: Research Roundup” (Journalist’s Resource, an openaccess project of the Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center and the CarnegieKnight Initiative) http://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/gender-race/researchstudies-same-sex-marriage#
Other Resources (8)
- Saskatchewan Resources for Sexual Diversity, U of Saskatchewan
http://library2.usask.ca/srsd
- See No Evil: How Internet Filters Affect the Search for Online Health Information.
Kaiser Family Foundation, 2002 kff.org/entmedia
- Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Questioning Teens:
A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians, by Hillias J. Martin, Jr. & James R. Murdock.
Neal-Schuman, 2007.
- Serving LGBTIQ Library & Archives Users: Essays on Outreach, Service,
Collections & Access, ed. Ellen Greenblatt, McFarland, 2010 [paper & e-book]
- Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity: Recommended Fiction & Nonfiction
Resources for K-12 Schools. Edmonton Public Schools and EPL
ismss.ualberta.ca/documents/people/kriswells/SOGI%20Recommended%20Fiction%20
&%20Nonfiction%20Resources%20(EPS%20&%20EPL%202011).pdf
- Stonewall National Museum & Archives stonewallnationalmuseumorg
Other Resources (9)
- “Teaching and Learning Resources,” Edmonton Public Schools: Board
Policies and Regulations, HI.AR, Oct. 17, 2010 epsb.ca/policy/hi.ar.shtml
- The Bully Project thebullyproject.com
- The Trevor Project thetrevorproject.org
- University of Alberta Libraries
~ “LGBTQ Resources in English Language & Literature Subject Guide”
http://guides.library.ualberta.ca/content.php?pid=95998&sid=774244
~ “LGBT Life with Full Text”
- “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding – Responding to Public Challenges,” James LaRue,
June 27, 2008 http://jaslarue.blogspot.ca/2008/07/uncle-bobbys-wedding.html
- Womonspace Newsletter womonspace.ca/
- Xtra! Canada’s Gay and Lesbian News http://dailyxtra.com
- “You Can Play” Project http://youcanplayproject.org
- Youth Line youthline.ca
Other Resources: Trans-identified
- Conundrum, by Jan Morris. Faber and Faber, 1974 [paperback with new
introduction 2002].
- “Representations of Trans* Youth in Young Adult Literature: A
Report and a Suggestion,” by Talya Sokoll. Young Adult Library Services, 11.4
(Summer 2013): 23-26.
- The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals, by
Stephanie Brill and Rachel Pepper. Cleis Press, 2008.
- Transgender Explained for Those Who Are Not, by Joanne Herman.
AuthorHouse, 2009.
- “TransGeneration.” 8-part TV mini-series documentary, DVD & You Tube,
2005.
- Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man, by Chaz Bono, 2011.
- “Trans* Titles for Young Adults,” by Talya Sokoll, Summer 2013
http://www.yalsa.ala.org/yals/trans-titles-for-young-adults-summer-2013
Camp fYrefly
an annual youth leadership retreat
Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon – and
expanding!
www.fyrefly.ualberta.ca
… and many many other media resources
http://www.fagbug.com/
Canadian Policy Framework for
Championing LGBTQ Library &
Information Services
Non-Discrimination; Inclusion; Safety;
Duty of Care
• Constitutional & legislative –
international; national; provincial; local
• Administration of justice, policing
• Public schools
• Teachers’ associations
Canadian Policy Framework
Non-Discrimination; Inclusion; Safety;
Duty of Care
• Constitutional & legislative –
international
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948
• Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989
• UN Resolution Against Anti-Gay
Discrimination 2011 – first UN resolution
• UN report on discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity, Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2011 –
first UN report
Canadian Policy Framework
Non-Discrimination; Inclusion; Safety;
Duty of Care
• Constitutional & legislative – national
• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• Canadian Human Rights Act
• Criminal Code of Canada
• Supreme Court of Canada cases – Surrey
School Board; Jubran; Kemperling; Little Sister’s
Bookstore
The Supreme Court of Canada:
Learning about tolerance is … learning that other
people’s entitlement to respect from us does not
depend on whether their views accord with our view.
Children cannot learn this unless they are exposed
to views that differ from those they are taught at
home…. Tolerance is always age appropriate.
– Chamberlain v. Surrey School District No. 36, 2002, par. 66,69
Canadian Policy Framework
Non-Discrimination; Inclusion; Safety;
Duty of Care
• Constitutional & legislative
• Administration of justice, policing – hate & bias
crimes unit; sexuality & gender diversity advisory
boards; LGBTQ police-community liaison committees
Canadian Policy Framework
Non-Discrimination; Inclusion; Safety;
Duty of Care
• Constitutional & legislative
• Administration of justice, policing
• Public schools, e.g., [Alberta] School Act; school
boards stand-alone policies on sexual orientation & gender
identity – Edmonton 2011, St. Albert 2012
“The [Edmonton Public Schools] Board is committed to establishing and
maintaining a safe, inclusive, equitable, and welcoming learning and
teaching environment for all members of the school community. This
includes those students, staff, and families who identify or are perceived
as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, queer or
questioning their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender
expression…. The Board will not tolerate harassment, bullying,
intimidation, or discrimination on the basis of a person’s actual or
perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.”
epsb.ca/policy/ifa.bp.shtml
Canadian Policy Framework
Non-Discrimination; Inclusion; Safety;
Duty of Care
• Constitutional & legislative
• Administration of justice, policing
• Public schools
• Teachers’ associations
~ ATA Code of Professional Conduct – first teachers’
association to include sexual orientation 1999;
gender identity for students 2003, for teachers 2004
~ ATA Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
teachers.ab.ca/For%20Members/Professional%20Develop
ment/Diversity%20and%20Human%20Rights/Sexual%20O
rientation/Pages/Index.aspx
Canadian Policy Framework…cont’d
• Library Associations
– International: IFLA, UNESCO, ALA policy & interpretations
– National: CLA position statements
~ Diversity & Inclusion / Énoncé sur la diversité et l’inclusion (2008):
The Canadian Library Association believes that a diverse and pluralistic
society is central to our country’s identity. Libraries have a responsibility to
contribute to a culture that recognizes diversity and fosters social inclusion.
Libraries strive to deliver inclusive service. Canada’s libraries recognize
and energetically affirm the dignity of those they serve, regardless of heritage,
education, beliefs, race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity,
physical or mental capabilities, or income.
Libraries understand that an acceptance of differences can place individual
and collective values in conflict. Libraries are committed to tolerance and
understanding. Libraries act to ensure that people can enjoy services free from any
attempt by others to impose values, customs or beliefs.
Canadian Policy Framework…cont’d
• Library Associations
– International
– National: CLA position statements
~ Diversity & Inclusion / Énoncé sur la diversité et l’inclusion
(2008)
~ Students' Bill of Information Rights / Charte des droits de
l'élève à l'ère de l'information (CASL 1995)
We believe that all students should have the right to:
- access a wide range of print, non-print & electronic
learning resources at an appropriate level;
- explore materials expressing a variety of opinions &
perspectives; and
- freely choose reading, viewing & listening materials
for recreational & study purposes.
20+ years ago ...
AL printed several homophobic
letters to the editor condemning
the publication of this cover
photograph, as well as some
supportive letters and editorials
critical of the hostility. “The
point is clear: librarianship is
not an especially welcoming
place to gays and lesbians.” –
Christine L. Williams, "A Lesbigay
Gender Perplex: Sexual Stereotyping and
Professional Ambiguity in Librarianship,"
in James V. Carmichael, Jr., ed., Daring
to Find Our Names, 1998, p. 38.
- San Francisco Gay Pride
Parade, July/August 1992
Why our library doesn’t have LGBTQ-related materials …
• Young library users aren’t searching for gay & lesbian materials.
• My library doesn’t provide materials geared to specialized needs.
• Gay people don’t live in my community. At least they don’t seem to
use my library.
• Aren’t most of those materials too technical for most libraries?
• It’s too difficult to find reviews of these materials. How can I tell
what’s worthless and what’s worthwhile? And those materials require
ordering form special vendors.
• I don’t feel qualified to order these materials.
• My library’s vendor doesn’t handle those items.
• My library can’t afford gay/lesbian materials.
Why our library…
• Can’t people just use interlibrary loan to get these materials instead
of my having to buy them?
• I’m uncomfortable with what some of these materials are about.
• That stuff doesn’t belong in libraries – at least not in my library.
• I don’t approve of homosexuality or of homosexuals.
• The library’s books about AIDS adequately address the information
needs of its gay and lesbian patrons.
• Buying library materials for gay and lesbian library users endorses
the way these people live.
• We don’t need special booklists or indexes; gays and lesbians can
use the catalogue and periodical indexes like anyone else.
• We simply haven’t yet found the time to devote attention to covering
this particular subject area.
Library Collections:
Checklist Studies
&
Self-Censorship
LGBTQ Fiction for Teens in
Canadian Urban Public Libraries, 2004
LGBTQ Teen Titles
Number (/35)
Edmonton, Vancouver
Toronto
Ottawa, Saskatoon
Halifax
Regina, Winnipeg
Victoria
32
30
28
23
22
21
Percent
91%
86
80
66
63
60
- Boon and Howard 2004
LGBTQ Fiction for Teens & Children in
Alberta Public Libraries, 2006
LGBTQ Teen & Children’s Titles
Number (/52)
Edmonton
Calgary
Grande Prairie
8 other urban centres
38
38
34
26
Percent
73%
73
65
50
- Schrader 2007
LGBTQ Fiction for Teens & Children in
Alberta Public Libraries, 2006
• True Believer (63 libraries = 60%*)
• Bad Boy (58 = 55%)
• Touch of the Clown (53 = 50%)
• The Game (44 = 42%)
• The Misfits (31 = 30%)
• Postcards from No Man’s Land (31 = 30%)
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower (30 = 29%)
* n=105 libraries serving 1,200+ populations
- Schrader 2007
LGBTQ Titles Challenged in
Canadian Libraries, 2006-2012*
• “Angels in America,” DVD
• “Brazil,” DVD
• “Brüno,” DVD
• “The Girl Who Played with Fire,”
DVD
• “I Love You Phillip Morris,” DVD
• And Tango Makes Three, picture book
• King and King, picture book
• My Princess Boy, picture book
• The Sissy Duckling, picture book
• Uncle Bobby's Wedding, picture book
• Hard and Fast, short stories
• Xtra! West [news magazine]
* “CLA Annual Survey of Challenges to Canadian Library
Resources and Policies”
cla.ca/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Resources&Template=/CM/HTM
LDisplay.cfm&ContentID=14046
Unshelved, July 18, 2009
Library
Subject
Access
Research
Subject Access: Subject Headings reflecting
LGBTQ-Related Content
Bisexuality – Fiction
Lesbians – Fiction
Gay teenagers – Juvenile Fiction
Lesbians – Juvenile Fiction
Gay men – Fiction
Lesbianism – Fiction
Gay Parents – Fiction
Lesbianism – Juvenile Fiction
Gay youth – New York (State) – New York – Fiction
Homosexuality – Fiction
Homosexuality – Juvenile Fiction
- Schrader 2007
Subject Access: Subject Headings not reflecting
LGBTQ Content
Coming of Age – Fiction
Conduct of life – Fiction
Emotions – Fiction
Erotic Stories
Friendship – Fiction
High Schools – Fiction
Identity – Fiction
Interpersonal relationships – Fiction
Love Stories
Schools – Juvenile Fiction
Self-Realization – Fiction
Sex – Fiction
Teenage boys – Fiction
- Schrader 2007
Subject Access to Teen Fiction reflecting
LGBTQ Content, EPL Catalogue, 2009
• Almost half of the LGBTQ titles used the subject
heading ‘homosexuality – juvenile literature’ (52 of 119,
or 44%)
• 21 different LGBTQ subject headings were used for
92 titles
• 1 out of 4 LGBTQ titles had no LGBTQ subject
access (27 of 119, or 23%)
- Lindy Pratch, EPL, 2009
Library
Internet
Access
&
Filtering
(aka Censorware)
Censorware
•
third-party commercial computer programs, relying
on exact match character recognition
•
explicit anti-gay policies – key words; categories
•
underblocking & overblocking are extensive
•
infinite variability & dynamics of human languages
representing human cultures – homonyms,
synonyms, metaphors, similes, double entendres,
regional variations, linguistic changes over time
•
illusory belief in power to control human behaviour
by prohibiting words & ideas
Censored Search Terms & Sites:
breast
alt.sexy.bald.captain
marsexpl
couple
Super Bowl XXXI
groin injury
“The Beaver” [Canadian magazine]
SurfWatch blocked the entire
library web site of…
Archie R. Dykes Medical Library
Health Sites Blocked by Filters:
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/Chart-Pack.pdf
(Chart 3, Kaiser Family Foundation, 2002)
同志
“Comrade” in LGBTQ sub-culture
in Communist China has been
appropriated to mean “gay”
“Don’t Filter Me!”
American Civil Liberties Union
https://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/dontfilter-me-final-report
Library Services & Collection Strategies for
Supporting Sexual Minority & Gender Variant
Communities
- Build Board and community support
- Create inclusive collections and services
- Ensure inclusive access to resources in all formats
~
~
~
~
holistic, interdependent
policy, process, procedures, planning
strategic partnerships for political support
visibility in communities
Library Services & Collection Strategies for
Supporting Sexual Minority & Gender Variant
Communities
 Board Policies and Legislation – Policy is protection!
 Community Development
 Professional Networking
 Selection Criteria
 Challenges and Reconsideration of Materials
 Collection Development
Strategies….cont’d
 Collection Access
 Web Access
 Library Access
 Promotion and Marketing
 Community Advocacy
 Professional Development
 Library Service Charter
Seize the teachable moment
to educate your community!
What a few libraries are doing…
Courtesy Toronto Public Library
TPL Pride Alliance
Toronto Public Library at Toronto Pride Parade, June 30, 2013
Courtesy Toronto Public Library
Courtesy Toronto Public Library
Courtesy Toronto Public Library
Homophobia and Misogyny
~ Freedom from homophobic oppression is
acutely linked to emancipation from
misogyny and sexism & the dismantling of
gendered stereotypes and double standards.
~ There is no hierarchy of oppression – if we
fight against one form of injustice, we must
fight against the other.
~ Ignorance based in fear leads to violence
(Grace, 2001).
In Conclusion …
~ Many young people who identify as LGBTQ do not
have support at home, at school, or in faith
communities.
~ Access to information and resources is especially
problematic for vulnerable LGBTQ youth living in
rural areas, living in poverty, and in some immigrant
communities.
~ Librarians can play a critical role in fostering
diversity and resiliency, in offering safe spaces, in
turning pain and despair into hope and opportunity.
~ Books change lives. Sometimes books save lives.
- Nicola Griffith
Stereotypes aren’t bad
because they are false
or wrong but because
they are incomplete.
What message are we giving to
teenagers, children, families, friends,
and our communities in general, if
we leave the life experiences of
sexual and gender minorities out of
libraries, schools, and other public
institutions?
The worst part of
LGBTQ censorship
is…
%#@^%!*&)_=+”{
]&$#^&$&@#^@!
$$#&@#^%!!!!!!!