Homeless LGBTQ Youth and Public Libraries Julie Ann Winkelstein, PhD [email protected] Let’s talk about… • Homeless LGBTQ youth: Who and why? • The library as.
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Transcript Homeless LGBTQ Youth and Public Libraries Julie Ann Winkelstein, PhD [email protected] Let’s talk about… • Homeless LGBTQ youth: Who and why? • The library as.
Homeless LGBTQ Youth and
Public Libraries
Julie Ann Winkelstein, PhD
[email protected]
Let’s talk about…
• Homeless LGBTQ youth: Who and why?
• The library as a space and culture
• Materials, needs, barriers
• Recommendations and examples
Brief bio
• 20 years as a public librarian
• Received PhD in 2012
• Postdoctoral researcher: 3-year Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant
• Library Anchor Models for Bridging Diversity
Achievements (LAMBDA)
http://lambda.sis.utk.edu/
Why Libraries?
• Human rights:
Materials, space, technological accessibility
• Social Responsibility: Library Bill of Rights
• Library as physical space and emotional space
Why this population?
Often addressed in parts: Homeless, LGBTQ youth, teens
Multiple barriers to providing services
Insight into how public libraries decide who to serve well
Resources exist, but accessing them is the hardest part
Homelessness and Youth
Someone who “lacks a fixed, regular and adequate night-
time residence” (PBS, 2009)
Homeless: Doesn’t define a person
Ages 12 to 24
In U.S., 1.6 to 2.8 million youth
experience homelessness each year
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Homelessness and LGBTQ Youth
Discrimination
• Economic
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity
• Youth
• Survival skills
8
Criminalizing homelessness
Various Laws
Panhandling,
loitering, camping
.
Outcome:
Citations/tickets
create
barriers to
employment, housing
Photos: Seth Anderson, 2004;
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Renjishino, 2007
Weaponized Architecture
Photo: Dan Udey, 2009
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Stereotypes and Fears
• Lack of hygiene;
odors
• Diseased
• Passive
• Mentally ill
• Threatening/scary
• Alcoholics/drug
addicts
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Attitudes
Beliefs about the causes of homelessness
“Blame falls on the excluded themselves, who are
said to have failed to include themselves in social
life.”(Walsh, 2006)
Poverty stigma affects those experiencing
homelessness
Language matters
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LGBTQ Definitions
• Constantly changing
• Allow young people to
self-identify
• “I just want to be
myself”
• Respect chosen terms
• Definitions = education
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LGBTQIAA
• Lesbian
• Gay
• Bisexual
• Transgender
• Queer/questioning
• Intersex
• Asexual
• Ally
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Ally
• “Someone who
advocates for and
supports members of a
community other than
their own” (University of
California, Berkeley, n.
d.)
• Use your power,
privilege and position as
librarians in an
established and
respected institution to
stand by their sides
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Gender
Is social rather than biological
Gender expression/presentation
Binary gender system
PGP: Preferred Gender Pronoun
*Most definitions taken from Sacramento State Pride Center Ally Safe
Zone Training Manual
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Sex
• A medical term designating a
certain combination of gonads,
chromosomes, external gender
organs, secondary sex
characteristics and hormonal
balances.
• Usually subdivided into ‘male’
and‘female.’(Sacramento State
Pride Center, n.d.)
17
.
Statistics
• Suicide is leading cause of death among LGBTQ
youth
• Gay students hear anti-gay slurs as often as 26
times each day
• Approximately 28% of gay and lesbian youth drop
out of high school due to discomfort in the school
environment (PFLAG Phoenix, n. d.)
• LGBTQ youth over-represented in juvenile justice
system
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Societal Assumptions/Stereotypes
• LGBTQ identity is a
disorder/pathology
• All problems are
related to
gender/sexual
orientation
• LGBTQ identity is
sinful or immoral
• Gender identity or
sexual orientation are
choices
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LGBTQ-Affirming Practice
• Confronts assumptions/stereotypes
• Culturally sensitive model
• Views LGBTQ identity through an affirming and
non-medical lens
• Looks at operations of power
• Recognizes influences (Mallon, 2010)
• Sexual orientation or gender identity may not be a
presenting issue
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Affirming vs. Accepting
YES!
• Say yes
• Challenge bias/hate
• Chosen pronouns
• Gender-affirming or
gender-neutral language
• Equal value
• Look at their strengths
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What the youth are saying
• Acknowledgement: Be more welcoming
• Allow more time on computers and technology
• Provide books we can relate to
• Don’t patronize
• The importance of safety
Service Providers and Librarians
• Dialogue is important
• Time constraints
• Don’t be afraid to show
you care
• Knowledge
• “Youth focused
language”
• Safety
• Stereotyping
• Safety
Library as space
• How can design/signage impact feelings of safety
and communicate a welcome environment?
Library as culture
• How do policies create barriers to serving this
community?
• What do displayed materials and featured programs do to
welcome the youth?
• Opening up dialogue – learning from the community
Look Inward
• Examine your rules, policies, procedures
• Do an attitude assessment at your library
• Be aware of your own cultural biases
• http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com
• Examine your assumptions: What do you assume about
the people who enter the library?
• Create a professional sense of self
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Practical Needs
• Education: GED, FAFSA, local programs
• Housing: Access to websites and resources
• Employment: Job skills, workshops, resumes, interviewing
•
Legal rights, places to get help, understanding
procedures
Emotional Needs
• A place to just “Be”
• Community – to belong somewhere
• Spiritual and philosophical resources
Materials
• Health information
• Entertainment
• Historical resources
• Library resource help:
•
•
•
•
How to use the catalogue http://robledo.fromthefog.com/upstanders/harvey-milk/
Understanding the layout of the library
Rules and policies
Knowledge of how libraries can help in general
Short-term activities for libraries
• Examine/Discuss the library climate
•
Resource list/Book list
• Contact an agency
• Research! (reports/videos)
• Create a map for service center
• Newsletter
http://www.transstudent.org/graphics
• Display
Long-term considerations
• Bathrooms
• Spatial arrangements
• Signage
• Offering space
• Engaging youth in planning
• Display art and writing
• Library cards
• Training
http://www.iamsafezone.com/
Long Term: Partnerships with YouthServing Agencies
• Know what your
community is doing
• Reach out to local
agencies, organizations
• Work collaboratively
• Find common goals
• Disseminate information
• Be a local or national
partner
32
Long Term: Other Partnerships
• With local LGBT community
• With local government groups
• With local service groups
• With schools
• With faith community
• With local law enforcement
• With adult education
programs
33
Examples of current activities
• Taking laptops to the shelter: Registering for
library cards
• Library tour
• Books to the shelter
• Inviting youth to come to activities
• Signage/stickers
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Thank you!
LAMBDA Project: http://lambda.sis.utk.edu/
Julie Ann Winkelstein
[email protected]