rainbow people

40 years ago this month some drag queens and other LGBT folks in New York City decided that they were tired of being harrassed on a daily basis and fought back in a big way. Their effort became known as the Stonewall Riots.

To be sure there were LGBT folks around for millennia, though many would never have used the term homosexual to describe themselves. And LGBT people can be found in all walks of life, cultures and economic levels.

Within the Library community there are many LGBT Librarians and for the most part the Library has been a welcoming community. Even the professional organizations have groups for LGBT Librarians - SLA has the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Issues Caucus (GLBTIC), and ALA has the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table

So it is surprising to learn merely being a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgendered person working in a library can be an issue for our fellow librarians. I guess some people feel threatened because we are comfortable with who we are. Or maybe being out keeps others from having leverage over us.

It is sad that 40 years after our brothers and sisters rioted on Christopher Street that we are still having to wage battles with our colleagues.

In the words of Frank Kameny - Gay is Good!