Banned Books Club

Banned Books Club

The Stand with Trans Banned Books Club, is a safe and inclusive space dedicated to celebrating the voices and stories of the trans* community. Thanks to the generous support from the Flagstar Foundation, our club provides an enriching and free opportunity to connect with LGBTQ+ literature and forge meaningful relationships.

Our book selections are curated from banned books lists, predominantly authored by queer and trans writers. With increasing attacks on our community, representation is more important than ever. When children (and adults!) read books with diverse voices and experience, they grow their skills of empathy. We feature a diverse range of genres, including children’s books, tween and teen literature, and adult fiction, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of queer and trans experiences.

Each quarter, we explore a thematic focus such as BIPOC queer and trans folx, intersectionality, relationships, and trans voices. Alongside our engaging book discussions, we encourage everyone to connect with the books artistically. Whether by bringing your own projects or participating in our quarterly art sessions. These sessions encourage creativity through activities like spoken word, drawing, music, and more, fostering a supportive environment for self-expression.

Whether you’ve finished the book, read part of it, or are eager to start, all are welcome to join our discussions and contribute to our community’s vibrant dialogue.

Meets every 4th Friday* of the month.

Here is our list of books for the next several months so you can get a head start on reading, if you like! Special guests, Kelly and Marte, will provide an interactive art experience for all attendees. Feel free to bring your own creative endeavors whether it’s a knitting project, a spoken word poem, or a design idea based on the book club theme. We can’t wait to have lively conversation and explore everyone’s creative side.

June 28
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, with special guest, Kelly Darke

Q3: Trans Voices
July 26 A Letter to My Transgender Child: A Girlhood Book by Carolyn Hayes
August 23 The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (12+)
with special guest, Kelly Darke
Sept 27 Trans Mission: My Quest to a Beard (12+)
with special guest, Marte Marini
 
Q4: Intersectional Voices
Oct 25  Lily and Duncan (10-13) by Donna Gephart
with special guest, Kelly Darke
Nov 22  In the Dream House (13+) by Carmen Maria Machado 
with special guest, Marte Marini
Dec 20 Daisy Wormwood Saves the World (8-12) by Melissa Hart
with special guest, Marte Marini

FYI: If you are unable to purchase a book due to financial difficulties, we are happy to assist by ordering said book and having it sent directly to you. Please email us at info@standwithtrans.org for assistance or if you have any questions about the book club.

Please make sure to check your local libraries and local indie bookstores for copies, as well.

*with some exception

Facilitators

 

Aaron Lytle (they/them)
I’m non-binary trans man (labels are tricky) who fell in love with books as a young child thanks to my mother, who teaches HS English. My experience in DEI work includes both corporate and non-profit settings, including redesigning GM’s LGBTQ+ training and running an intersectionality book club.
In my spare time I enjoy rock climbing, yoga, and nature when the weather is good. I am a huge baker who constantly has to give away baked goods (this might be why I have a D&D group). And my favorite cozy activity is…Reading.
Books can be an escape to other worlds, a way to explore our own identities, and to learn about others. I’m excited to read and discuss some fabulous books with the
community!
Kelly Darke (she/her)

Kelly Darke is a board-certified art therapist, published author, certified
K-12 art teacher, professional artist, and speaker. Darke has extensive experience working with groups and individuals of all ages with various developmental and emotional needs for over a decade.

She has presented at the Expressive Therapies Summit national conference on the topic Using Digital Tablets & Tools in Creative Therapy, and has a chapter published in the book, Digital Art Therapy: Material, Methods, and Applications, all based on the case study she developed from her experience providing art therapy services to adults with traumatic brain injuries. Darke has presented at local and national conferences, both in person and virtual, on the use of art therapy with transgender youth, and the neuroscience of art in art therapy for self-care. She co-authored the book, Art Therapy with Transgender and Gender-Expansive Children and Teenagers, which was published in 2020.

Marte Marini (she/her)

My philosophy is that we all have the keys to our own healing, but through the challenges of our lives & circumstances, those keys can become lost & we might need help finding them again. This process is unique for each of my clients &
I enjoy adapting my approaches to fit each person. Practicing as a counselor &
art therapist, my passion is to empower clients to trust their own intuition & to help them unlock the doors to their own healing.  This is a process & a journey
we embark upon together. I do not see myself as an expert on anyone’s life, but I hope that through my training & insights, I can offer different tools or
perspectives that allow people to heal & be inspired.

BFA Art Education from Kendall College of Art & Design 2013

MA Clinical Mental Health with specialization in Art Therapy 2021
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Mailing Address

23332 Farmington Rd #84
Farmington, MI 48336

Call

248.907.4853

Email

info@standwithtrans.org