A “Queer” Manifesto of Interventions for Libraries to ‘Come Out’ of the Closet! A Study of “Queer” Youth Experiences during the Coming Out Process(March 2006)

Based on qualitative analysis of data gathered during in-depth narrative

interviews and informal discussions about "queer" youth experiences with twenty-one

"queer" individuals, this paper presents a "queer" manifesto of library interventions in

support of "queer" youth during various phases of the coming out process. Important

characteristics of coming out are discussed, especially as a life-long process for "queer"

individuals to acknowledge their sexuality and share that awareness with others.

Significant concerns and challenges faced by "queer" youth during different phases in

their coming out experiences provide a context for the identification of library

interventions that reflect (and require) extending traditional library functions of

information provision as well as fulfilling non-traditional expectations that include

proactive social justice efforts for libraries to come out of the closet in support of "queer"

youth.