Summer 2021 Queer Youth Book Club

Queer Youth Book Club is a social reading group for LGBTQIA+ middle and high school students.  We will focus on new texts each month or as the students' reading pace allows (books, zines, graphic novels), eat snacks, and have fun doing it! Each session will be hosted by a mentor and informed by youth interests; we may make art projects, assemble our own zines, play games, learn from guest speakers, tend to local community gardens, etc. We hope that this club will cultivate a sense of belonging, foster opportunities for self-determination among area youth, and provide space for their creative and critical thinking. We may have multiple reading options each month to accommodate participants' ages or reading levels. We will continue to update this page to reflect changes in the program based on youth leadership. 

Summer 2021 sessions will meet in-person at an outdoor location on the near east side of Madison, WI! Exact location details will be emailed to participants prior to the program start date; it is not being posted to this registration page for to help keep all participants safe. Late enrollment in the club is okay; contact Borealis at [email protected] to get updated information including changed meeting locations, current club reads, or other club expectations. Students are asked to attend at least two sessions a month to stay active in the club.

Please register (free or by donation) so that we have emergency contact information for all participants, so that you can stay updated on date or location changes, and so that we can be sure to keep group numbers low for public health reasons. Youth without a supportive adult to register for this club (or counselors who suspect that enrolling in the program by name could cause undue hardship) please email Borealis ([email protected]) for discreet ways to sign up for this club. Please arrive wearing masks. Gatherings may be rescheduled due to inclement weather or any changing public health guidelines.