Homeless LGBTQ Youth and Public Libraries

Julie Ann Winkelstein, PhDjwinkels@utk.edu

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

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Criminalizing homelessness

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Various Laws

Panhandling, loitering,

camping

Outcome:

Citations/tickets create

barriers to

employment, housing

.

Photos: Seth Anderson, 2004;

Renjishino, 2007

Weaponized Architecture

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Photo: Dan Udey, 2009

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

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• 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.) .

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

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• Say yes

• Challenge bias/hate

• Chosen pronouns

• Gender-affirming or gender-neutral language

• Equal value

• Look at their strengths

YES!

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

• Don’t be afraid to show you care

• “Youth focused language”

• Safety

• Time constraints

• Knowledge

• 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

• Understanding the layout of the library

• Rules and policies

• Knowledge of how libraries can help in general

http://robledo.fromthefog.com/upstanders/harvey-milk/

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

• Displayhttp://www.transstudent.org/graphics

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 Youth-Serving 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

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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

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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

jwinkels@utk.edu