Affirming the Rights of Transgender People

NCRL stands with the American Library Association in affirming the rights of transgender people.

Here is part of ALA’s press release, published on June 23:

“The American Library Association (ALA), and particularly its Rainbow Round Table, unequivocally and emphatically stands in solidarity with its transgender staff and members, transgender library workers, transgender library users, transgender authors, and the transgender members of the communities we serve. As an organization committed to social justice, ALA seeks to support all transgender people, and in particular, those who are vulnerable or at risk of discrimination, including supporting the specific needs and perspectives of transgender people who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, transgender people in sex work, transgender migrants and asylum seekers, intersex people (who may or may not identify as trans), transgender children and youth, senior transgender people, and transgender people with disabilities.”

ALA celebrates the recent Supreme Court decision recognizing the workplace equality of all people and categorically rejects all statements and actions intended to invalidate, harm, erase, and oppress transgender people’s identities and lives.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the work of ALA. Discrimination based on gender identity or expression is damaging to the health of children, families, and society. Libraries must actively affirm and support the safety and rights of transgender people.”

Click here for the full press release.

NCRL’s leadership team is committed to ongoing listening and learning about how NCRL can better serve as an ally and advocate for gender diverse people of all ages. Here are just a few of the ways we are actively seeking to advocate for transgender people:

Diversifying our collections to include and promote stories and resources by transgender people
Prioritizing inclusion of trans topics in our regular services and programs
Including the goal of creating safe spaces for transgender people in our facilities
Fostering an organizational culture of inclusion and advocacy through our new core competencies and ongoing staff training plans