Seven out of the top 10 banned books in 2023 were banned for LGBTQIA+ content.
However, GSRM organization Spectrum Alliance and the English honor society Sigma Tau Delta organized a literature read-in to combat this and highlight queer literature.
Members from both organizations got up in front of the audience and shared their favorite pieces of queer literature. This could include literature with LGBTQ+ themes or works written by a queer author. Excerpts from books and poetry were shared.
“It doesn’t need just to be words on a page,” said Sigma Tau Delta president Hailey Alcathie, a senior English education major from Daphne, Alabama. “This is something people experience, and it’s important to share it with people, even in hard times.”
The works of Virginia Woolf and Emily Dickinson are only a small example of what was shared during the read-in. Many of the pieces featured characters facing discrimination due to their sexuality.
Some students also shared original work, highlighting some of the struggles they face through poetry.
“Literature is often an outlet for minority groups to express themselves in ways that other forms of media couldn’t,” said Spectrum public relations officer Vorah Patterson, a sophomore psychology major from Phenix City, Alabama. “It makes us feel seen, like I’m not alone in how I feel.”
Many members of both organizations also shared their recommendations for LGBTQ+ books and authors. Some of these books included ‘The Starless Sea’ by Erin Morgenstern, ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ by Steven Chbosky and ‘Call Me by Your Name’ by Andre Aciman. The two latter books have been adapted into films.
Members of both organizations encourage students to read queer literature and broaden their horizons with new authors and new themes.
“There is still a lot of work to do when it comes to acceptance of the queer community,” said Sigma Tau Delta member Emma Steberson, a senior English education major from Slocomb, Alabama. “I think some people tend to be very closed-minded when it comes to literature or any kind of art that comes from queer authors and artists.
“There’s still such a reluctance to accept people who are different from me.”
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