Lending Library Creates a Written W(Her)d for the Brooklyn LGBT Community

Posted on 31. Oct, 2009 by admin in News & Gossip

It was a warm Thursday evening in June when I walked into Tillies Café in Fort Greene Brooklyn to sit down and have a chat with Cleopatra LaMothe, referred to as Cleo for short. Calm, cool, and collected amidst the somber mood of Michael Jackson’s untimely passing earlier that day, Cleo cordially welcomed me into her space on a comfortable couch at the café with a wide smile.

With bike helmet still in hand, one would not recognize this soft spoken, humble youth coordinator from Massachusetts as the power house behind the vision and force of shaping the minds of queer youths of color. Some of you may know her as the brainchild behind Zami Like Me: Queer Womyn of Color CipHER, which was described by brownblackandqueer.com as “A social, political, activist, artistic, educational and entertainment two day event that served lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, non-conforming, and two-spirited women of color and allies in celebration of our multiple identities, works and talents”. This was a well attended event which was sponsored by The CipHER Project and co-sponsored by the New School Women of Color Organization and OPEN, the gay/straight alliance at The New School (Cleo’s Alma Mater).

This same brilliance and fervor to empower were the driving forces that created Written W(her)d—a safe space where LGBTQ youths of color can find literature that speak to their reality as queer people of color. Written W(her)d has been gaining momentum via word of mouth and strategic marketing, including a fundraising party that occurred in early June. When asked how the idea came about, Cleo laughed and then with a serious demeanor, replied “It was always there. It has been on my conscience for a long time. So one day I decided to say it out loud…put it out there…and here we are…” This response gave me an opportunity to probe more about the story behind Written W(her)d.

Nicole: So tell me more about Written W(her)d…what really inspired you to do this or made you finally realize that it ABSOLUTELY needed to be done?

Cleo: Well…my life experience is one thing that got me in this place where I am today. As a queer woman of color growing up in Massachusetts, I was never exposed to stories about me or my life…stories that spoke to me before, during or after the coming out process. All the stories I came across were geared towards whites, and the few stories I found that spoke to me as a queer woman of color were by accident. My privilege to even find queer literature was further bolstered by my opportunity to be in academia. Unfortunately, not a lot of “us” (queer youth of color) get the opportunity to go to college, especially those who have been incarcerated. Therefore, I became determined to give them what I was later privileged to have—an opportunity to be exposed to stories/literature that speak to us…that inspire us…that empower us….that let us know in a creative form and space that we’re not alone.

Nicole: So you are targeting youths?

Cleo: Yes. One thing I find is that spaces where we are exposed to literature about us are not spaces where we would find our youths. Therefore, many of them are not even reached. So my goal is to make Written W(her)d an establishment where books can be available to youths who would not have been reached otherwise.

Nicole: I read somewhere that you are collaborating with other businesses to work as “drop off spots” for the books. Tell me more about that.

Cleo: Currently I’m checking out hole in the wall bookstores in different cities in getting local bins for people to drop off books. In NYC, I managed to get stores such as “Not Just Vintage”, Mike’s Bakery, and “Marzotti Music”—which is a women run music store. I’m reaching out to other local businesses in Brooklyn like the Audrey Lorde Project, mainly to the staff at SOS (Safe OUTside the System) in helping to provide lists of businesses they work with, which have volunteered to be safe spaces. I do not want any and any businesses to be “drop off spots”. It has to be businesses that support “us” (LGBTQ). Therefore, I ask a lot of people to suggest “safe” businesses they know of.

Nicole: How much luck have you been getting with collaborating with people and businesses?

Cleo: I am so grateful for all the support we’ve been getting . . . I’m surprised that people responded to my idea and actively want to help out!

Nicole: I noticed that you said we? It’s not just you?

Cleo: No…we are a collective and as a collective, there are more than one people who contribute to this effort with me. There are many hands present in this effort behind Written W(her)d. I am even collaborating as we speak with two women in particular, Anna Barson and Ana Jahnnes, who created “Kitchen Table”—a zine that will be present in our space for the youths to read. Also, I am appealing to people to donate books, zines, music, anything that they think was very inspirational to them as queer youths or anyone growing up that would be beneficial to these youths today. Before you donate, just ask yourself, “What did this book or movie mean to you when you were coming out as a queer person of color?” I am also appealing to artists who want to get their stuff out there and need a venue to do so. You don’ have to be published. Everybody needs to be supported. Even if you don’t want to let go of certain books, you can suggest websites where we can get the books; or join the exchange effort where you can temporarily exchange your book for another one that you haven’t read with a trusted partner.

Nicole: Sounds like a great and well thought out plan. I’m so happy this is finally in place because finding literature that speaks to the reality of being a queer person of color (even as an adult) was hard for me and for most of us in the beginning. I thank God for the little hole-in-the-wall bookstore I found at age 19 in Chelsea by accident.

Cleo: You see…that’s why Written W(her)d was born…to be that space where one can find those books we’ve been looking for but could not have found elsewhere.

Nicole: Word. So what do you want to leave our reading audience with today who may want to help out with this effort, but who need an extra push?

Cleo: We need to look out for each other as queer people of color. I usually ask myself this, “How are we supposed to survive as queer people of color if we cannot support each other?” No one else will do it but us.