Be Who You Are: Libraries and Living an Authentic Life

October was LGBT History Month and to those in the LGBTQ community, it represents a month that is both hopeful and one that is fraught with fear and anxiety. If you have any LGBTQ friends or family, you probably know of their struggle to come out and to live an authentic life; one that reflects who they are, and not who various parts of society says they must be. Still, in too many parts of the US and across the world, LGBTQ people are treated as 2^nd class citizens or worse. They are discriminated against at work, by the government, and by many of their families. Suicide is still a major problem for LGTBQ youth. They are bullied and ridiculed. They see coming out or living an authentic life impossible and suicide as a way out.

The need to be authentic is not limited to the LGBTQ community. Most under-represented minorities face pressure to conform to societal norms, usually the norms of the white, English speaking majority. Members of the Hispanic or Asian community are regularly shamed when they speak their native language in public. Growing up, my grandmother was shamed for speaking French, so much so that when she learned English she never spoke French again or passed it on to her children. African Americans, Hispanics, Jews, and Asians are still in many, many places treated as if they don’t belong to this United States. They live in fear of being beaten, killed, or harassed just for existing, or for being in places where someone thinks they should not be.

Women, especially over the last hundred or so years, have emerged from the shadows and become a force in education and the workforce. The women’s liberation movement, beginning in the late 1960’s and well into the 1980’s, radically changed the role of women and how they are perceived. However, too many women and girls are still not afforded the opportunities to use their talent and skills. The #MeToo movement, which exploded on social media in October 2017, illustrates that way too often women are still not afforded the opportunity to live an authentic life; but rather are belittled through sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse.

People from many religious traditions often feel they cannot live an authentic life as others mock their beliefs. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and followers of every other religious traditions comes in for their share of mocking and ridicule in some part of society.  Tolerance for the beliefs and customs of others has not been a part of the vocabulary and ethos of most religious traditions, and this leads to hatred of the other. This makes it difficult for any individual who struggles with or against their own tradition.

There are two grand challenges for living an authentic life. One is for any normative group (in my case- white, male, Christian) to not demonize or belittle anyone who is not like us. The second is to welcome those not like us to community; to treat others as we wish to be treated. Easy words to write, difficult to live.

What then do Libraries have to do with living an authentic life?  The answer is quite simple. Libraries support individuals and families with information and programming that supports people across all of society. Librarians and libraries consistently build collections and put on programs that support people across the spectrum of their communities. While some will consider libraries to be bastions of the liberal left, they are in reality pretty balanced in purchasing books and media that cover all perspectives and reach a wide audience. They open their meeting rooms to community and religious groups.

 I can walk into most public libraries and find a Koran, a Bible, the Torah, Buddhist texts, and books on paganism. I can find books representing the broad political spectrum of the US and find literature and film that broadly represents the community the library serves. If you happen to be in a major city you will also find books in multiple languages and ones that represent the rich cultural tapestry of the city.

Over the past 10 years or so, I have become acutely aware of the role that libraries and librarians play in advancing social justice. Broadly speaking, social justice, is the idea of providing support for marginalized people to the point that they have access to the same opportunities and privileges of the majority. Libraries make a concerted effort to build collections and services that are broad and representative. Librarians are often at the forefront of standing up for those who are marginalized in many ways.

I’ve been impressed by the work that libraries, like the Los Angeles Public Library and New York Public Library, are doing with the homeless and with new Americans. Both groups are struggling with creating an identity and a safe space and society is not always welcoming.  Libraries across the US are stepping up and saying, “we can help”, “we’ve got your back”.

Librarians have certainly been very active in the LGBTQ space and have not only made the library profession more welcoming but also have tried to provide resources and programming to make LGBTQ folks feel welcome, safe, and valued. Libraries consistently push back when individuals and groups attempt censorship of LGBTQ materials in libraries; arguing that LGBTQ people should be able to find materials that represent their lived experiences in their local libraries. Likewise, libraries have been at the forefront of making members of the Muslim community feel welcome.

Libraries value and advocate for privacy and confidentiality. This is critical for people who may want to research a topic that they don’t want others to know about. This could be a woman in an abusive relationship looking for information on shelters, or an LGBTQ youth trying to find out if they’re normal, or a young teen wanting information on sex. Ensuring that authorities don’t poach circulation records or Internet search histories, libraries provide a level of freedom for people to be themselves.

Live an authentic life. Love your library. Support others in fulfilling who they are meant to be.