You might say that books were a part of my family.
They were a big part of some of my earliest memories: climbing onto my grandma’s couch where she’d read me whichever Little Golden book I had picked out that day; reading an alphabet book with my dad before bed (he would try to skip ahead, and I would always make him go back and read it all); picking out one of the many Dr. Seuss books with my mom at the public library.
They helped me grow up: adventures with a dog named Shiloh; tragedy in a place called Terabithia; history from all kinds of places and times.
They gave me hope and courage as only Harry Potter can. (And what young person didn’t secretly stay up all night to finish the latest book the day it came out?)
There’s a reason those who seek power and control go after them and burning spectacles are to be feared.
Books are powerful things.
That’s why I started the Little Free LGBTQ Library.
Though the LGBTQ community has found greater visibility and acceptance in the last couple of decades, suicide rates among LGBTQ youth are up to 3 times greater than those of their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. LGBTQ youth feel more unsafe in school and report far higher rates of harassment and assault than their peers.
And it’s not just kids. According to a Harvard study, 57% of LGBTQ adults have withstood slurs and derogatory comments and 51% have suffered violence. Significant numbers of LGBTQ adults continue to face discrimination in the workplace, in buying or renting homes, and in pursuing educational opportunities.
“Roughly one in six LGBTQ people say they have avoided medical care (18 percent) and calling the police (15 percent), even when in need, due to concern that they would be discriminated against because of their LGBTQ identity,” the study notes.
And that’s not to mention the levels of racial and gender discrimination that exist within the community itself.
Clearly there is more work to be done — in the outside world and the one within.
Feeling different or feeling “other” is isolating and lonely — no matter how old or out a person is. Even with all of the cultural change, the coming out process is a journey, and for many, it’s a long and tough one.
But stories and characters can help us feel connected — not only to the world around us, but to ourselves. They can help guide us on our paths in life in ways authors and readers can never predict or expect.
I hit on the idea of starting the LGBTQ Library as I dove back into books a couple of years ago. I found so many LGBTQ books and authors I had never heard of — both new and old.
It was heartwarming to find stories I could relate to. It was educational to read about life experiences far from my own. It was liberating to know that all of this existed around me.
But if it hadn’t been for some recommendations from friends, it would have taken me a lot longer to get there. And I began to wonder about those who may not have a community of friends who could point them toward these important sources of comfort and belonging.
I wanted to provide easier access to all this wonderful LGBTQ literature so that others can find the same joy and freedom, too.
“Why at a bar?” you might ask.
Simply put: I wanted to take the library to the community, and maybe get it in front of people who normally wouldn’t notice books otherwise.
The Omaha Public Library has been one of the most open and inclusive spaces for our community, and I hope we can all be thankful and return that support for them.
This effort is not a response to any failings in their efforts. It’s not intended to take anything away from all the hard work they put in every day.
But coming out is as much a personal act as it is a public one. Everyone takes different paths on that journey, and my hope is that the LGBTQ Library can be an additional place of refuge along the way.
For many, Flixx has been more than a bar — it’s been a kind of home for people seeking space to fit in, a place for people looking for community. It’s a relaxed place to meet and mingle, not just promoting the Omaha LGBTQ community, but promoting community itself.
And that is an important aim of my efforts here.
Anyone who knows me knows that I firmly believe in the, “Go big, or go home!” mantra, and my ultimate goals are broader still.
As I hope this project continues to grow and expand, it is my hope and intention to build the library into a hub and connecting point for everyone looking to find their place; to build a space to promote local professional and aspiring LGBTQ authors; and to eventually fund and support students’ educational pursuits.
It will take some time to build to that, but it’s my ultimate vision.
For now, I hope that you’ll drop by, borrow a book — and maybe leave a few of your favorites, too. Be sure to find us on several of the usual social media platforms so you can connect and engage with other readers. And don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly email newsletter for the latest news and information about both the library and local community events.
-b