Queer Youth Book Club (Spring 2021)

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 (web comics, books, zines, graphic novels), 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, watch movies, do group volunteer work, etc. related to our monthly reads. 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 available to accommodate participants' ages or reading levels. We will continue to update this page to reflect changes in the program based on youth leadership.

We believe that LGBTQ+ youth are well situated to be leaders and activists in the mutual liberation of all people. The club takes an intersectional approach to nourishing young people of all identities; 2020-2021's program will be particularly focused on anti-racism work within queer community—and on abolitionist teachings more broadly—including group volunteer activities like writing letters to incarcerated people, once the youth are ready. These programs will be scaffolded with mutual well-being, safety, and learning in mind. Please contact ALL's Education Director with any questions at [email protected]

Key supporters of this project include representatives from Room of One's Own Bookstore, Madison Public Library, and MMSD. This project falls under ArtLitLab's umbrella of free and outreach programs, Youth Arts Lab, which has been funded in part by the American Girl Fund for Children, Dane Arts, Madison Arts Commission, Wisconsin Arts Board (including support from National Endowment for the Arts), and other sponsors.

Links for this sliding scale, online program will be sent out to registered participants prior to the fall start date. Students are asked to attend at least two sessions a month to stay active in the club. 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 [email protected] for additional ways to sign up for this club.