prologue: the night we met

Cris should have been on a plane to study abroad for their semester in Spain. L should have already graduated nursing school and moved far far away from Birmingham, AL. Things did not go according to plan and these two humans found themselves & each other in a bible study Tuesday night, August 17 in one of the only LGBTQIA+ inclusive churches in the state of Alabama.

chapter one: books & uhauls

After several eternally long first dates (as one can expect from young lesbians), Cris & L have arrived to a bookstore in Birmingham, AL eager to begin their family library. Shelves & shelves of bookcases later, they couldn’t find a story that reflected their identities and their relationship. They began to recognize the reality for so many LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially teens & young adults in the southeast: we cannot access books that represent our identities and our sexualities. This ignited the passion to find and collect stories representing all facets of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and share them with those who needed them.

chapter two: building our library, book by book

Cris & L moved to Washington, DC after college and were stunned by the books and stories they now had access to, thanks to the accessibility provided by independent bookstores in the area. Suddenly, their home became filled with stories for all ages representing individuals of all identities in the LGBTQIA+ community. These stories provided wisdom, comfort, and encouragement. Many provided the love and support of found family, in a time they needed it most. Every book was a light guiding them through the darkness to moments of hope and connection.

chapter three: books for all 

Fast forward three years, two proposals (one at a queer-owned and operated bookstore), one wedding, and a very cute dog later, Cris & L brought their collection of stories to a resiliency retreat for trans and nonbinary-identifying teenagers from the southeast. They experienced how the accessibility of stories written by and representing LGBTQIA+ individuals can save lives and provide profound support to individuals who would not have access to such stories otherwise.

Thus began Rainbows and Reflections...