As many of you know, books written by and about queer folks are coming under increasing attack. They’re being challenged or pulled from schools and public libraries, and the teachers and librarians who make sure queer teens have access to books with people like them in their pages are often threatened for having LGBTQ+ collections.
So, that got me to thinking how we could get queer books into the hands of teens who need them in safe spaces that can’t be challenged. This led me to reaching out to a ton of LGBTQ+ centers for teens or that have teen programs, and finding out that they do indeed often have libraries and they can help give books to teens who are hoping to read about characters like them. And here is where the Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball Donation Drive was born.
I’ve partnered with three indie bookstores (Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane, WA; Brain Lair Books in South Bend, IN; and Brazos Bookstore in Houston, TX) where you can preorder a copy (or copies!) of Riley Weaver to be donated to a LGBTQ+ youth center or a safe space teacher/librarian who will pair that book with a teen looking for a queer read. After months of constantly seeing books featuring characters like them banned or challenged, this will be an opportunity for queer teens to get a novel written specifically for them.
HOW TO DONATE:
Go to one of the three links below to donate. After you've added the number of copies you'd like to donate to your cart, please write "DONATION" in the comments section of your order. Choose in-store or local pickup for delivery because I’ll be covering shipping of all the donated copies!
Auntie’s Bookstore: https://www.auntiesbooks.com/donate-riley-weaver
Brain Lair Books: https://www.brainlairbooks.com/book/9780063260030
Brazos Bookstore: https://www.brazosbookstore.com/riley
So far, we've had requests for hundreds of books! Thank you so much for helping out a queer author, helping out indie bookstores, and, most importantly, giving books to the teens who need them most!
-JJ
LGBTQ+ Center Partners for the RILEY WEAVER Donation Drive (and we're still accepting more!):
Austin Sexual Health + Wellness
Grand Rapids Pride Center
Hawai'i LGBT Legacy Foundation
Just Us at Oasis Center
Lambert House
Magic City Acceptance Center
Montrose Center
Odyssey Youth Movement
Orlando Youth Alliance
SMYAL
Wyoming Equality
Youth Pride Inc.
-and-
Teachers and librarians throughout the country who provide safe spaces for their readers
So, that got me to thinking how we could get queer books into the hands of teens who need them in safe spaces that can’t be challenged. This led me to reaching out to a ton of LGBTQ+ centers for teens or that have teen programs, and finding out that they do indeed often have libraries and they can help give books to teens who are hoping to read about characters like them. And here is where the Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball Donation Drive was born.
I’ve partnered with three indie bookstores (Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane, WA; Brain Lair Books in South Bend, IN; and Brazos Bookstore in Houston, TX) where you can preorder a copy (or copies!) of Riley Weaver to be donated to a LGBTQ+ youth center or a safe space teacher/librarian who will pair that book with a teen looking for a queer read. After months of constantly seeing books featuring characters like them banned or challenged, this will be an opportunity for queer teens to get a novel written specifically for them.
HOW TO DONATE:
Go to one of the three links below to donate. After you've added the number of copies you'd like to donate to your cart, please write "DONATION" in the comments section of your order. Choose in-store or local pickup for delivery because I’ll be covering shipping of all the donated copies!
Auntie’s Bookstore: https://www.auntiesbooks.com/donate-riley-weaver
Brain Lair Books: https://www.brainlairbooks.com/book/9780063260030
Brazos Bookstore: https://www.brazosbookstore.com/riley
So far, we've had requests for hundreds of books! Thank you so much for helping out a queer author, helping out indie bookstores, and, most importantly, giving books to the teens who need them most!
-JJ
LGBTQ+ Center Partners for the RILEY WEAVER Donation Drive (and we're still accepting more!):
Austin Sexual Health + Wellness
Grand Rapids Pride Center
Hawai'i LGBT Legacy Foundation
Just Us at Oasis Center
Lambert House
Magic City Acceptance Center
Montrose Center
Odyssey Youth Movement
Orlando Youth Alliance
SMYAL
Wyoming Equality
Youth Pride Inc.
-and-
Teachers and librarians throughout the country who provide safe spaces for their readers