"I Don’t Fit Into Your Neat Little Plan”: Defending Queer Youth From the Censorship Crusade

2024/06/27 by Ronald Padrón
#LGBTQ+ #marginalized youth #public libraries #social justice

paper · doi:10.7936/pollib.8898

Abstract

The current attacks on minority representation and visibility are often given cover by claims of “protecting the children”. Too often this excuse goes unchallenged and marginalized youth suffer the consequences. This paper shows how public libraries, librarians, and the programs that train them can step up to protect part of this forgotten population – LGBTQ+ youth – by: actively positioning themselves as public health partners in combatting negative health outcomes in LGBTQ+ youth, utilizing intergroup frameworks around empathy building to promote social justice in their communities, and actively integrating training to become social justice leaders and advocates into MLS/MLIS curricula

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