For Immediate Release: May 24, 2006

Celebrate Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender
Pride Month at Oakland Public Library

(Oakland, CA) — Celebrate Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Pride Month with author Michelle Tea when she reads from her new novel, Rose of No Man’s Land, and signs books at Oakland Public Library’s Main Library, 125 14th Street. Tea will appear on Thursday, June 29 at 6 pm as part of the library’s Pride Month festivities, which includes an exhibit highlighting our collection of GLBT materials and the first meeting of a new Gay-Straight Alliance for Teens. See below for more information.

Michelle Tea Author Talk and Book Signing
Meet the critically-acclaimed author of The Passionate Mistakes & Intricate Corruption of One Girl in America, Valencia and Rent Girl. Library Journal described Michelle Tea’s latest book, a coming of age novel titled Rose of No Man’s Land, as “Gritty, animated, original and disturbing...hard to put down.” It’s the first novel by the popular San Francisco memoirist, poet, and spoken word artist who founded the Sister Spit spoken word tour. Tea will answer audience questions as well as sign her books, which will be available for purchase at the event. Her appearance is co-sponsored by Spectator Books Oakland and the Oakland Public Library’s GLBT Committee. Main Library, West Auditorium, Thursday, June 29, 6 to 8 pm

Exhibit Highlighting the Library’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Collections
Did you know Oakland Public Library has the largest dedicated collection of GLBT materials in the East Bay? Established in 1994, the Piedmont Ave. Branch collection alone contains approximately 1000 fiction and nonfiction books, magazines, and DVDs for adults and teens that cover topics of interest to or created by members of the GLBT community. Dimond and West Oakland Branch Libraries also have dedicated GLBT collections.

The library’s GLBT collection serves the community in myriad ways. Teens can find novels with characters they can identify with and published information on issues like coming out to their families or being more safe at school. Parents and other family members can find materials to help them understand and support their GLBT loved ones. We also have books for partners planning to have or adopt children and much more. And, of course, we offer many entertaining novels, mysteries, humor, biographies, etc.

To showcase our significant resources in this area, the Main Library will display a month long exhibit in June highlighting a few of our GLBT titles. On exhibit June 1 to 30 at First Floor of Main Library, 125-14th Street.

TeenZone Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) for Ages 13 to 17
Teens are invited to the first meeting of a new group where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Questioning youth and their straight allies can come together to hang out, watch films, talk about books, and plan other fun activities. Refreshments will be served! Main Library, Room 219, Wednesday, June 14, 3 to 4:30 pm

For more information, please call (510) 597-5011, or see the Library's Web site: www.oaklandlibrary.org. Please refrain from wearing scented products. To request sign interpretation, or other accommodation, call the number above or (510) 834-7446 (TTY) at least five working days prior to the event. The Oakland Public Library is a department of the City of Oakland.

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