Libraries Celebrate with Pride

As part of Wollongong City Libraries’ focus on offering diverse events and activities, our Libraries are hosting three events to mark Pride Month in June.

The three events have been planned to enhance literacy, creativity and inclusion within our local community and include a family-focused Storytime activity, a ticketed event at Wollongong Art Gallery and a panel discussion in Wollongong Library.

Rainbow Storytime, Queerstories and Same, Same but Different will provide an opportunity for the community to celebrate and reflect on life for our LQBTQI+ community, and are in line with goals in the Wollongong City Libraries 2017-2022 Strategy.

“Our libraries have a role to play in creating opportunities for social engagement and cohesion and to reduce social isolation,’’ Wollongong City Council Manager Library and Community Services Jenny Thompson said.

“We offer a wide range of events and activities with the intention of catering for as many people as possible in our community. Just last month, for example, we had more than 4,000 people through the doors of our Wollongong Library for Comic Gong.

“But we’re not just about the big events, either. Every week we offer programs ranging from Born to Read to Steam Punks Club and Tech and Tea. In other words, whether your less than one or over 100 years old we’ve something for everyone.

“Plus, we’re proud to be working with the Friends of Wollongong Library to deliver Book to Baton II later in the month. Our Pride Month events are just three more activities in a very busy calendar.’’

Rainbow Storytime, at 10am on Saturday 15 June, kicks off the Pride Month events with an extra-special kids’ Storytime at Wollongong Library. Local Drag Queen Roxee Horror will return to the Library for the fun, family-focused event.

It will be followed by Same, Same but Different on Tuesday 18 June at 5.30pm. The free – but ticketed – event is presented with The Disability Trust. The panel discussion will feature the lived experiences of people with a disability, parents and carers, and community service providers as they share their stories about dating, identity, family dynamics, mental health and prejudice.

The last event of the Library’s Pride Month activities is Queerstories where host Maeve Marsden will lead a night of stories from members of our local LGBTQI+ community. Tickets to this event on Friday 28 June at Wollongong Art Gallery are $28 per person and available via Eventbrite.

“We’re excited by this diverse program of events and aim to offer something for everyone,’’ Ms Thompson said.

“We’re particularly thrilled to have Maeve Marsden and Queerstories on board. Queerstories has been travelled around Australia for more than two years and it’s a real coup to be able to offer it in Wollongong.’’

For more information please visit Council’s website at www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/library or call Customer Service on (02) 4227 7111.

Rainbow Storytime

Wollongong Library

Saturday 15 June, 10am

FREE Event! No bookings required.

Local star, Roxee Horror is back with more stories, rhymes, games and songs for an extra-special kid’s story time!

Same, Same but Different

Wollongong Library, The Lab

Tuesday 18 June, 5.30pm

Book your FREE ticket via Eventbrite

We’re asking the awkward questions about dating, identity, family dynamics, mental health and prejudice. Listen to the lived experiences of people with a disability, parents and carers and community service providers as they share their stories in an open panel.

This event is Auslan interpreted.

Queerstories: Wollongong

Wollongong Art Gallery, Bluescope Gallery

Friday 28 June, 6pm

Ages 16+

Ticket price $28

 Join host Maeve Marsden and some of Australia’s finest LGBTQI+ storytellers for a night of queer stories, unexpected tales of lives well lived and battles fought, pride, prejudice, love and humour. Fast becoming an institution, Queerstories has been selling out events around the country for more than two years, bringing storytellers from all walks of life to the stage. Now, Queerstories travels to Wollongong to celebrate the pride in the Illawarra!

The LGBTQI+ community has been sharing stories for centuries, creating our own histories, disrupting and reinventing conventional ideas about narrative, family, love and community. There’s so much more to being queer than coming out and getting married. Listen to an unexpected tale or two from an eclectic line up of stars and strangers. Funny, moving, surprising and engaging, the stories from Queerstories are also available on a podcast and as a collection of stories published by Hachette and launched at the Sydney Opera House in 2018. This event is Auslan interpreted.

Note: that all speakers have a connection to Wollongong or the Illawarra. We also have permission to add the podcast to our Local Studies collection.

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