Founded | May 29, 2022 |
---|---|
Founder | Tara Sypniewski |
Type | Not-for-Profit Corporation November 1, 2022 |
Location |
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Products | Books by trans authors, historical works on trans issues and people, non-trans titles, and future plans include a music library. |
Services | Lending library Resource center Safe community space Community events Book donations Online catalog |
Website | Ottawa Trans Library |
The Ottawa Trans Library, founded by Tara Sypniewski in the Hintonburg neighbourhood, opened on May 29, 2022, [1] reflecting Sypniewski's deep involvement in Ottawa's transgender community since the 1980s. Functioning as a non-profit lending library and community center, the space serves as a vital resource hub. [2]
In the late 1970s, Tara Sypniewski sought to comprehend transgender experiences using limited resources like Deborah Heller Feinbloom's "Transvestites & Transexuals" from the Ottawa Public Library. Her academic journey at Carleton University introduced her to diverse narratives through works like British sexologist Henry Havelock Ellis's case histories. Motivated by these experiences, Sypniewski established the Ottawa Trans Library, addressing the scarcity of resources during her early exploration of transgender identity. [3]
Structured into a lending section dedicated to trans-themed books and a free library housing non-trans titles, the library prioritizes inclusivity. Hosting events like board game nights and book discussions, it emphasizes the significance of books despite the digital age. Donations, including graphic novels, local zines, and even transphobic titles, contribute to an expanding collection, reinforcing the commitment to diverse perspectives. [4]
Beyond its book-focused initiatives, the library operates as a philanthropic venture. Funding secured by Tara Sypniewski covers two years of lease and book acquisitions. Events like board game nights and discussions underscore the library's role as a dynamic community hub. Tara's initiative to spotlight local transgender trailblazers through the "Canadian Trans Activists" webpage demonstrates a commitment to recognizing contributions. [5]
Providing a welcoming environment, the library boasts four separate sitting areas, a free coffee and tea station, and free WiFi. Patrons are encouraged to utilize the space beyond borrowing books, fostering connections, meeting friends, or engaging in conversations with the librarian. The single rule, to be respectful of others, maintains a positive atmosphere. [4] [6]
Since its inception, the Ottawa Trans Library has experienced significant growth, expanding its collection from 190 titles to approximately 700 by February 2024. Plans to establish a music library, supported by a donation of 500 albums from trans musicians, underscore the library's widening scope. Serving as both a resource center and a community hub, it offers free access to a diverse array of materials and hosts inclusive events for various age groups and identities. The library's commitment to fostering a welcoming environment reflects its positive impact on the Ottawa community, effectively filling a gap in local LGBTQ+ spaces. [7] [8]
To enhance accessibility, the Ottawa Trans Library provides an online catalogue. Users can search for books using keywords or access advanced search features for specific fields like title, author, tags, etc. The dynamic collection regularly incorporates new titles, aligning with the library's commitment to offering diverse and updated resources. [9]
Transphobia consists of negative attitudes, feelings, or actions towards transgender people or transness in general. Transphobia can include fear, aversion, hatred, violence or anger towards people who do not conform to social gender roles. Transphobia is a type of prejudice and discrimination, similar to racism, sexism, or ableism, and it is closely associated with homophobia. People of color who are transgender experience discrimination above and beyond that which can be explained as a simple combination of transphobia and racism.
The LGBTQ community is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning individuals united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. LGBTQ activists and sociologists see LGBTQ community-building as a counterweight to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. The term pride or sometimes gay pride expresses the LGBTQ community's identity and collective strength; pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. The LGBTQ community is diverse in political affiliation. Not all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender consider themselves part of the LGBTQ community.
The origin of the LGBTQ student movement can be linked to other activist movements from the mid-20th century in the United States. The Civil Rights Movement and Second-wave feminist movement were working towards equal rights for other minority groups in the United States. Though the student movement began a few years before the Stonewall riots, the riots helped to spur the student movement to take more action in the US. Despite this, the overall view of these gay liberation student organizations received minimal attention from contemporary LGBTQ historians. This oversight stems from the idea that the organizations were founded with haste as a result of the riots. Others historians argue that this group gives too much credit to groups that disagree with some of the basic principles of activist LGBTQ organizations.
Hintonburg is a neighbourhood in Kitchissippi Ward in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, located west of the Downtown core. It is a historically working-class, predominantly residential neighbourhood, with a commercial strip located along Wellington Street West. It is home to the Parkdale Public Market, located along Parkdale Avenue, just north of Wellington. It is considered to be one of Ottawa's most "hipster" neighbourhoods.
The 519, formerly known as The 519 Church Street Community Centre, is an agency by the City of Toronto. A Canadian charitable, non-profit organization, it operates a community centre in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The 519 serves both its local neighbourhood and the broader lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) communities in the Toronto area. The 519 defines its local neighbourhood by a catchment area that spans from Bloor Street to the north to Gerrard Street to the south, and from Bay Street in the west to Parliament Street in the east.
The 'Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is an organization dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. The MTPC educates the public, lobbies state and local government, and encourages political activism.
Ottawa Capital Pride is an annual LGBTQ pride event, festival, and parade held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and Gatineau, Quebec, from mid to late August. Established in 1986, it has evolved into a 7 to 9-day celebration of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, advocating for equality, diversity, and inclusion in the National Capital Region. The festival offers bilingual events in English and French, known as 'Capital Pride / Fierté dans la capitale', seamlessly blending local pride with national importance.
LGBTQ student centers and services are administrative offices of a college, university or students' union that provide resources and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students. LGBTQ has expanded to LGBTQ2IA+ to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, intersex, aromantic, asexual, agender and other identities.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) affirming denominations in Judaism are Jewish religious groups that welcome LGBTQ members and do not consider homosexuality to be a sin. They include both entire Jewish denominations, as well as individual synagogues. Some are composed mainly of non-LGBT members and also have specific programs to welcome LGBT people, while others are composed mainly of LGBT members.
Kind Space is an LGBT community centre located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are the oldest registered LGBT-specific charity in Canada, becoming registered in 1984. The organization serves gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, non-binary, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, QTBIPoC, of all ages within the National Capital Region. They provide a number of services including support groups, education, research, advocacy and community space.
In the post-Stonewall era, the role of libraries in providing information and services to LGBTQ individuals has been a topic of discussion among library professionals. Libraries can often play an important role for LGBTQ individuals looking to find information about coming out, health, and family topics, as well as leisure reading. In the past 50 years, advocate organizations for LGBTQ content in libraries have emerged, and numerous theorists have discussed various aspects of LGBTQ library service including privacy concerns, programming, collection development considerations and librarian/staff education needs, as well as special services for juvenile and teen patrons.
The Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria is the "largest transgender archive in the world".
Ottawa Tool Library (OTL) is a not for profit tool lending public library system based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Tool libraries lend specialized tools for both experienced and inexperienced community members who are interested in home repair, maintenance, building projects, community projects, gardening and landscaping as well as cooking. The OTL offers annual, short-term, group and gift memberships. See the website for current rates.
Casey Plett is a Canadian writer, best known for her novel Little Fish, her Lambda Literary Award winning short story collection, A Safe Girl to Love, and her Giller Prize-nominated short story collection, A Dream of a Woman. Plett is a transgender woman, and she often centers this experience in her writing.
Quatrefoil Library is a member-supported, 501(c)(3) non-profit library and community center for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. It is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it was founded by David Irwin and Dick Hewetson in 1983. It is the second LGBT lending library in the United States, and the oldest such library in the Upper Midwest. In the beginning, it was not only an educational resource center but also a safe space for LGBT people. The library houses over 15,000 books, 7,000 DVDs, a collection of first editions and rare books, and books in braille. It hosts poetry readings, panel discussions, book launches, and other events, open to all.
Kai Cheng Thom is a Chinese-Canadian writer, performance artist, mental health community worker, youth counsellor, and former social worker. Thom, a non-binary transgender woman, has published five books, including the novel Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir (2016), the poetry collection a place called No Homeland (2017), a children's book, From the Stars in The Sky to the Fish in the Sea (2017), I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl's Notes from the End of the World (2019), a book of essays centered on transformative justice, and Falling Back in Love With Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls (2023).
Dragonsani "Drago" Renteria is a Chicano social justice, LGBTQ+ rights activist, community leader, educator, editor, historian, and artist.
Rest in power is an expression used to mourn, remember or celebrate a deceased person, especially someone who is thought to have struggled against systemic prejudice such as homophobia, transphobia, racism or suffered because of it, particularly in black and LGBTQ communities in the United States. It has been used to eulogize victims of hate crimes while protesting the social inequality and institutionalised discrimination that may have led to their deaths. It is a common phrase to use to honor someone's legacy, though as an activist.
Transphobia in the United States has changed over time. Understanding and acceptance of transgender people have both decreased and increased during the last few decades depending on the details of the issues which have been facing the public. Various governmental bodies in the United States have enacted anti-transgender legislation. Social issues in the United States also reveal a level of transphobia. Because of transphobia, transgender people in the U.S. face increased levels of violence and intimidation. Cisgender people can also be affected by transphobia.