All posts by Blue Heron Books and Zines

Contactless pickup

Blue Heron is closed (again) during this lockdown but we are offering contactless “curbside” pick up and returns! If you would like to borrow a book, message us on Facebook or at blueheronbooks@riseup.net with the title and author, and your name and contact information (phone and/or email). Contact us before 3pm on Mondays or 5:30pm on Thursdays and we will place your book in the little box at the top of the ramp and message you when it’s ready.

As always, our online catalog is available here: https://www.librarything.com/catalog/blueheronbooks.

Books that enable child abuse do not belong in the library

In the last few days, we’ve seen calls on social media to request that the Kingston Frontenac Public Library remove a recent addition to their collection for blatant transphobic hate speech. The book is Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier. It’s written for parents, in particular “progressive” parents who support gay rights and vote left, but who are not fully on-board with the “trans thing”. It presents them with an alternative perspective to trans issues, one based in pseudoscience, stereotypes and overreactions.

We believe its addition to the library was a mistake, as the book has many problems like misinformation and the inclusion of deceptive and unethical interviews that indicate a lack of “honesty of presentation” as per the Library’s Collection Policy. However, what we find most harmful is the potential impact this book can have on trans and non binary youth in Kingston who live with adult caregivers who want to deny their existence and experience. This is a kind of intimate abuse and harm that studies show can lead to suicide, homelessness and other negative consequences for young people. According to a study by 519 Centre in Toronto, 77% of respondants seriously considered suicide and 45% attempted suicide, and that “LGBTQ2S Youth experience 14 times the risk of suicide than straight cisgender youth”. Additionally, “risk of suicide decreases by 93% with strong family support”.

Children and youth don’t get to choose their parents or the ideas their parents subscribe to, and communities have a responsibility to step in when there is risk of harm to children. Shrier’s screed reads like a handbook for abuse. Books that enable people to abuse children, or provide strategies for people in positions of power to abuse children, should not be in the library. The Library’s Collection Policy states that quality materials are those “designed to increase an individual’s ability to function effectively as a member of society.” This book encourages the opposite.

(Content warning: the next two paragraphs are an analysis of the book, including descriptions of abusive parenting, transphobic language, and discussion of suicide. Please skip ahead if you don’t want to read any of that.)

There are many case studies throughout the book from parents who “lost” their children to the so-called “transgender craze”. The parents interviewed have a concerning tendency to invade their children’s privacy by reading their private messages and opening their mail, and to offer opinions like “maybe you should try appearing less unusual”. One couple isolated their child from their friends and support system at school and moved the family to a rural Southern US town to “outrun the forces that had ensnared” their child. The book also repeatedly describes how parents generously paid for their children’s hobbies and education, only to be betrayed when they start transitioning. The implication to parents is this: if your child doesn’t comply with your wishes, you should withhold resources until they do. Could that be why many of the stories end with the child cutting off contact and moving away?

Shrier is not concerned with the wellbeing of the children she writes about. She is concerned for narcissist parents who lose the ability to control and manipulate their children when–after being pushed away–the children depart into the care of a found family instead. Her contempt of trans teens is perhaps best exemplified in Chapter 6, when Shrier is faced with the irrefutable evidence that trans youth are at a much higher risk of suicide than the general population. Her response is dismissive, sarcastic, and apologetic to the abusive parental behaviours that contribute to that risk. She writes, “put out of your mind every manner of very understandable parental interjection. You don’t want your child to hang ‘himself’ in the garage just because you accidentally referred to her as ‘Rebecca’.” What exactly are her readers supposed to think beside: your child is just making threats of suicide because they aren’t getting their way and are throwing a teenage tantrum. You know better than them–don’t fall for it. This is an incredibly dangerous response to threats of suicide that could result in kids in our community being hurt or worse.

(End of content warning)

What can the library do?
Remove the book from the collection, based on its misinformation and potential to enable child abuse. If the library chooses to keep the book in the collection, it could provide a label stating the book contains misinformation, or introduce a different sign-out process for the book like that used for “reference” materials that must stay in the library.

Other recommendations for anyone:
Borrow and read books by Trans writers (books that are frequently borrowed will remain in the library’s collection while books that just sit on the shelves are more likely to be removed). Think about and discuss books by Trans authors. Ask the library for book club copies of the titles you like best and organize discussion groups.
Request books by 2SLGBTQI authors at your kid’s schools, from public schools all the way to universities. Request that the public library purchase more books too! You can request up to 3 books per month.
If parents in your life are needing resources, direct them to helpful books (all of which can be borrowed from the Kingston Public library!), such as:

Chasing Rainbows Exploring Gender Fluid Parenting Practices

The Gender Creative Child: Pathways For Nurturing And Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxes

The Transgender Teen: A Handbook For Parents And Professionals Supporting Transgender And Non-Binary Teens

Transgender Children And Youth: Cultivating Pride And Joy With Families In Transition

Raising The Transgender Child: A Complete Guide for Parents, Families, & Caregivers

A message for trans, questioning, and gender non-conforming children & youth out there:
You are beautiful and worthwhile. The struggle is real but you don’t have to fight it alone. Here are some local resources out there for you:

Fuse (Kingston LGBTQQIP2SAA Group for youth under 19)
Reelout (Kingston queer film festival)
Trans Health Clinic
Trans Family Kingston (support group)
Education on Queer Issues Project (EQuIP – queer student group @ Queen’s)

Red Dirt: Growing up Okie by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz is a cherished movement elder, historian and writer. We are pleased to have many of her books in our collection, including her most recent, Loaded: A Disarming History of the Second Amendment. In Red Dirt, the first book in her three-part autobiography, published over 20 years ago, she describes her childhood as the youngest, disabled girl in a poor white-identified mixed-race family of rural Okies. I read this book several years ago, and the thing that I remember the most is the evocative descriptions of how popularized conservatism infiltrates and takes root in all aspects of life and community. In our current context of the growing acceptability of far-right politics, these stories of the 40s and 50s feel relevant. In any case, it is a captivating read and a page turner. Check it out in the Work & Class section of our library!

Applied Anarchy: Responding to Climate Change

Title: Applied Anarchy: Responding to Climate Change
Location: AKA Autonomous Social Centre
Link out: Click here
Description: Join us at AKA on Monday June 17th for a discussion of radical responses to climate change, including Indigenous resistance and ideas about what we can do here in Kingston to prevent, mitigate, or prepare for climate disaster.

***

It is now widely accepted that Earth is on track for a global average temperature increase of >1.5°C, and that such an increase in thermal energy will accelerate the melting of glaciers and sea ice and send us into a feedback loop of global warming, sea-level rise, and ecological collapse.

The Canadian state sits on 167.7 billion barrels of crude oil, most of which must stay in the ground to prevent this catastrophic temperature rise. Unfortunately, the government seems intent on exploiting these reserves, while telling the rest of us to reduce our environmental impact by driving less, going vegan, or buying local. But what does it mean to attack the root of the climate crisis—namely the capitalist-colonial system itself?
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2019-06-17
End Time: 21:00

Let’s Read: “Cities: The Unfolding of History” by Murray Bookchin

AKA invites you to another reading group. They will be reading  “Cities: The Unfolding of History” by Murray Bookchin
Tuesday June 14, 6:30-8:30pm at AKA Autonomous Social Centre

“The overriding problem is to change the structure of society so that people gain power. The best arena to do that is the municipality—the city, town, and village—where we have an opportunity to create a face-to-face democracy” – Murray Bookchin

We will be reading the third of three essays by Murray Bookchin related to “libertarian municipalism,” a term he used to describe a system where libertarian institutions, which practice direct democracy (through assemblies) would oppose and replace the state with a confederation of free municipalities.

All three essays are published in The next revolution: popular assemblies and the promise of direct democracy. This book is available at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (www.kfpl.ca) or you can download the article here.

For this reading group, no advance reading is required! We will read/listen to the essay and discuss it. Also, a vegetarian dinner will be provided!
For child care needs or more information please contact germinations(at)riseup(dot)net

Let’s read “Libertarian Municipalism: A Politics of Direct Democracy” by Murray Bookchin

AKA invites you to their reading group. They will be reading  “Libertarian Municipalism: A Politics of Direct Democracy” by Murray Bookchin
Thursday April 14, 6:30-8:30pm at AKA Autonomous Social Centre

“The overriding problem is to change the structure of society so that people gain power. The best arena to do that is the municipality—the city, town, and village—where we have an opportunity to create a face-to-face democracy” – Murray Bookchin

We will be reading the second of three essays by Murray Bookchin related to “libertarian municipalism,” a term he used to describe a system where libertarian institutions, which practice direct democracy (through assemblies) would oppose and replace the state with a confederation of free municipalities.

The essay is “Libertarian Municipalism: A Politics of Direct Democracy” and “Cities: The Unfolding of Reason in History.” All three essays are published in The next revolution: popular assemblies and the promise of direct democracy. This book is available at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (www.kfpl.ca) or you can download the article here.

For this reading group, no advance reading is required! We will read/listen to the essay and discuss it.
For child care needs or more information please contact germinations(at)riseup(dot)net
FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/1727613864174780/

Montreal Anarchist Bookfair 2015

Blue Hereon Books & Zines will be at the 2015 Montreal Anarchist Bookfair on May 23rd & May 24th. As tabling is only happening on one day this year, we will be tabling only on Saturday, May 23rd.

The Bookfair is a great place to stock up on anarchist and radical literature and learn all about anarchism through workshops, presentations etc. Find out more about the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair on their website: www.anarchistbookfair.ca

If you’d like to help us with tabling or preparing for the bookfair, contact us! blueheronbooks@riseup.net

We also want to help people get down to Montreal from Kingston for the bookfair! Please contact us at blueheronbooks@riseup.net if you need a ride to or if you can offer a ride in either direction.

May 6th, 2013 Newsletter

Welcome to the newsletter list for Blue Heron Books and Zines' Book Club!

Expect a more full newsletter soon, but, for the moment, we just wanted to
send out a hearty welcome to our Book Club members, and remind you all
that, we are continuing with our open hours, from 2 - 6 pm every Monday.

We'd also like to extend the invitation to any of you who may be
interested in getting involved as volunteers to swing by the shop during
open hours and pick up a volunteer application and chat with the person
who's on shift for the day!

Additionally, we'd like to share the exciting news that we've been
accepted to table at the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair and would love to see
you there!  Check out their website at http://anarchistbookfair.ca/ for
details on the other vendors who will be in attendance, the list of
workshops, and other information relating to their ongoing Festival of
Anarchy, that is running throughout this month in various locations
throughout Montreal!  It should be a great time!

More soon!
Keep learning/keep fighting!
-Roadbike, for Blue Heron Books and Zines

June 17th, 2013 Newsletter

Hello!

This is the second issue of the Blue Heron Books & Zines Newsletter! Read
on to hear what's new with Kingston's only anarchist bookstop & zine
distro.

On the week-end of May 25th & 26th, we tabled at the annual Montreal
Anarchist Bookfair http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/. It was a bustling
week-end with anarchists and anarchism-interested folks from far & wide
getting together for books, workshops, zines & fun. We sold some books,
zines, patches and t-shirts. We also brought back some new Zines & books
for our collection! Here's what we got:

Zines:
PANIC – A guide to recovering from panic attacks with resources for
managing long-term anxiety (by Corina)
Pathologize This! & Pathologize This! 2 – a mental health zine
(compilations, several authors)
Mapping Our Madness – a workbook for navigating crisis, extreme states, or
just foul moods
OCD Throws Bows (by Dirk A. Keaton and a team of readers/editors)
MADNESS First Aid Kit
Sex Testing and the Olympics – A history, revised edition
Cultural Appreciation... or Cultural Appropriation? A zine on culture,
respect allyship, and racism (NRN – Native Resistance Network)
Gentrify This! A Student's Guide to Understanding and Resisting
Gentrification (by fred burril, kerri flannigan, sunny doyle & noah
eidelman, QPIRG Concordia)

...and here's an oldie-but-a-goodie!
What are you talking about? Why should I cut my dreads? What's wrong with
a Mohawk? Answers for white people on appropriation, hair and anti-racist
struggle (by Colin Kennedy & Qwo-Li Driskill)

We also got some really exciting new books:
Decolonizing Anarchism by Maia Ramnat, and
Don't Leave your Friends Behind: Concrete Ways to Support Families in
Social Justice Movements and Communities, edited by Victoria Law & China
Martens

So much good reading!

Next Saturday, June 22nd, we are looking forward to having a table at the
Skeleton Park Music Festival (http://skeletonparkmusicfestival.ca/). We
will be selling our own silk-screened clothing & patches and promoting the
Blue Heron Book Club. Come by and say hello!

... so, what else? You want to support Blue Heron or be more involved?
Here's how:

- Spread the word! We are a pretty new little project at AKA and we are
really looking to let people know we exist. Help us out by forwarding this
newsletter to your friends and encouraging folks to stop by and check us
out.
- Volunteer! We are looking for volunteers to help us with staffing open
hours, organizing the collection and promoting the space. Swing by during
open hours to pick up an application of email us at
blueheronbooks@riseup.net
- Submit a review! If you've read a book or zine from the collection and
have some thoughts, we would love to share them! We are really interested
in promoting the exchange of ideas. If you would like to write-up or
record a free-format review of anything we've got, we would happily share
it. And, if you need a hand to make that happen, we would be happy to
help!

As always, you can contact us by email at blueheronbooks@riseup.net. Drop
by in person during open hours to preview or buy a book, buy a t-shirt or
hang-out and read or chat. Open hours are Mondays, 2pm-6pm at Blue Heron
in the AKA Autonomous Social Centre, the black & red house on Queen St. at
the corner of Wellington.

See you soon!

Madeleine for Blue Heron Books & Zines