3 minute read
Pride Month
PRIDE MONTH EVENTS
Pride Month originated with the 1969 Stonewall Riots and Uprising in New York City and recognizes the comittment to achieve equality, liberty and justice under law for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals.
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Pride Parade Prep
June 1–4 / Hub
Drop into the Hub from Wednesday, June 1 through Saturday, June 4. We’ll have all the supplies you need to accessorize fabulously and make Pride signs to show your pride or support at the June 5 Pinta Pride Parade in Buffalo Grove. Grades 7-12.
Rainbow Pride Storytime
Saturday, June 4, 10–10:30 a.m. Lindsey Room
We’ll share stories, songs and crafts to celebrate inclusion, diversity and all types of families. Books such as Love is Love by Michael Genhart or Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour may be shared and many titles representing a variety of family structures will be available to check out. For children ages 0-6.
Pride Month Pop-Up at the Farmers Market
Saturday, June 11, 9 a.m.–noon N. Vail Ave. and W. Fremont St.
Stop by to enjoy an activity and find a variety of books and other materials celebrating LGBTQ+ characters, experiences and issues. Find local resources available to the LGBTQ+ community and families and chat with library staff.
Bend the Binary: Understanding Gender + Pronouns
Thursday, June 30, 7–8:30 p.m. Hendrickson Room
What is pronoun etiquette? How does Generation Z look at the gender spectrum differently? How can our communities support our transgender neighbors? This presentation will answer your questions about the distinctions between gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and sex assigned at birth. Presented by Heather McCammond-Watts, a children’s librarian and parent of two transgender children.
A Wider Lens
Wednesdays / Hendrickson Room
This series showcases issues and personal experiences through documentary film screenings, followed by facilitated discussions intended to inspire understanding, learning and conversation.
Do I Sound Gay?
Wednesday, June 8, 7–9 p.m. Approaching middle age, David Thorpe laments his single gay status. In his selfcritical view, he blames what he considers his stereotypical gay-sounding voice, something he himself doesn’t like. Thorpe speaks to celebrities about their voices and to other experts about how “the gay voice” came into being and learns more about himself in the process. Not rated, 77 minutes.
Transhood
Wednesday, June 15, 6:30–9 p.m.
This thought-provoking film follows four young people and their families as they navigate growing up transgender in America’s heartland. Over the course of five years, they struggle through parenting and these youths are transformed as they experience the complexity of their identities and redefine “coming of age.” Not rated, 96 minutes.
Paris is Burning
Wednesday, June 29, 7–9 p.m.
Filmed in the 1980s, this classic documentary chronicles the drag ball culture of New York City and the African- American, Latino, gay and transgender communities involved. Critics consider the film an invaluable documentation of the end of the “Golden Age” of New York drag balls, as well as a thoughtful exploration of race, class, gender and sexuality in America. Not rated, 71 minutes.
Looking for inspiration and understanding through books and reading? Our Readers Advisors for Adults and Youth Services Librarians have curated booklists for Juneteenth and Pride Month. From picture books and short stories for kids and teens to fiction and nonfiction for adults, here are some of their top picks:
For Adults
Juneteenth
On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry See complete booklist at: ahml.info/list/ Juneteenth-booklist
Pride Month
The Pink Line: Journeys Across the World’s Queer Frontiers by Mark Gevisser One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston ¡Hola Papi! : How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons by John Paul Brammer See complete booklist at: ahml.info/list/ celebrating-pride-month-literature
For Young Readers
Juneteenth
All Different Now by Angela Johnson Black Boy Joy edited by Kwame Mbalia Black Enough edited by Ibi Zoboi
Pride Month
Love is Love by Michael Genhart The Stonewall Riots by Gayle E. Pitman Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff
