LibGuides: Pride: Spotlight!

OWN VOICES: Celebrating LGBQTIA+ Authors

Own Voices: Celebrating LBQTIA+ Authors

Staff Picks: LGBTQIA+ Authors

What Are #OwnVoices Books?	Why Do #OwnVoices Books Matter?
#OwnVoices books means a book contains diverse characters that are written by people that share those identities. It was coined by Corinne Duyvis. For example, we are celebrating the author Vivek Shraya during our Pride celebration this year. Any book that Shraya writes featuring characters that are queer/trans or south Asian would be an #OwnVoices book, because Shraya shares those identities. Because the author shares lived experience with the characters, these books are richer because the author has the deepest possible understanding of that aspect of the character's life. Reading from an #OwnVoices perspective gives us an opportunity to consider who is writing what we read and how their perspective influences the stories. When we read #OwnVoices books, we can celebrate individuals with diverse experiences sharing their own stories, instead of stories where they are spoken about or for.	Kayla Whaley writes, "There’s a long history of majority-group authors (white, abled, straight, cisgender, male, etc.) writing outside their experience to tell diverse stories. Sometimes the characters and stories they create are wonderful! But many times, they’re rife with stereotypes, tropes, and harmful portrayals. Time and again, marginalized people have seen their stories taken from them, misused, and published as authentic, while marginalized authors have had to jump hurdle after hurdle to be published themselves. Many feel they must fight to receive even a fraction of the pay, promotion, and praise that outsiders get for writing diverse characters’ stories, and that’s when they’re allowed in the door at all."

What Are #OwnVoices Books?

Why Do #OwnVoices Books Matter?

#OwnVoices books means a book contains diverse characters that are written by people that share those identities. It was coined by Corinne Duyvis. For example, we are celebrating the author Vivek Shraya during our Pride celebration this year. Any book that Shraya writes featuring characters that are queer/trans or south Asian would be an #OwnVoices book, because Shraya shares those identities. Because the author shares lived experience with the characters, these books are richer because the author has the deepest possible understanding of that aspect of the character's life. Reading from an #OwnVoices perspective gives us an opportunity to consider who is writing what we read and how their perspective influences the stories. When we read #OwnVoices books, we can celebrate individuals with diverse experiences sharing their own stories, instead of stories where they are spoken about or for.

Kayla Whaley writes, "There’s a long history of majority-group authors (white, abled, straight, cisgender, male, etc.) writing outside their experience to tell diverse stories. Sometimes the characters and stories they create are wonderful! But many times, they’re rife with stereotypes, tropes, and harmful portrayals. Time and again, marginalized people have seen their stories taken from them, misused, and published as authentic, while marginalized authors have had to jump hurdle after hurdle to be published themselves. Many feel they must fight to receive even a fraction of the pay, promotion, and praise that outsiders get for writing diverse characters’ stories, and that’s when they’re allowed in the door at all."