EDITOR'S NOTE
Happy Pride!
by Brandi Scardilli
Pride Month is a joyful time for the LGBTQ+ community, but so many roadblocks to equity and acceptance remain. LGBTQ+ books are challenged and banned (see International Report on page 28). Warner Bros. answered with what amounted to a shrug when asked about continuing to work with demonstrable transphobe J.K. Rowling. The Trevor Project reports that at least one LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S. attempts suicide every 45 seconds. Florida, Texas, and other states are determined to police LGBTQ+ people’s bodies and conversations.
But there are so many creators out there who are making content that provides comfort and hope. I recommend @JoshHelfgott on TikTok; authors Alice Oseman, Casey McQuiston, and Abdi Nazemian; and Justin David Sullivan from & Juliet (justindavidsullivan.com). Check out EDI Perspectives and Outside the Box: Marci Wicker explores what the Homosaurus is all about on page 10, and Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig lists organizations that support LGBTQ+ people in tech on page 34.
Everyone needs to take care of their mental health. Amber Boedigheimer shares how to identify and cope with burnout on page 6, and Patti Gibbons compiles a list of mental health resources for library workers on page 16.
We still can’t get enough of generative AI tools—see The Help Desk on page 8, the Report From the Field on page 12, and Let’s Get Strategic on page 36.
Enjoy the issue,
|