April | Lavender Literary Society: Raquel Willis x B. Hawk Snipes
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Virtual Book Club Meeting. Graphic design by the incredible Loveis Wise (they/he), a multidisciplinary artist, designer, creative director, and Capricorn, drawing reimagined futures and playfulness in Los Angeles.
Event Details
The American LGBTQ+ Museum Book Club is a space for community and connection, bridging generations through the magic of storytelling. The selections will be a mix of popular queer history and memoir with inspiring authors and iconic guest facilitators. The pages we turn will become stepping stones for intergenerational dialogue, fostering understanding, empathy, and unity. Together, we’ll traverse the landscapes of queer culture, savoring the nuances and complexities that make our stories uniquely ours.
This isn’t just a book club; it’s a movement. Reading together becomes a powerful act of empowerment, a catalyst for change, and a testament to the resilience of the LGBTQ+ spirit. Participants will be a part of something extraordinary. In this book club, we won’t just read, we’ll weave the threads of our stories into a tapestry of strength, resilience, and pride.
The Risk It Takes To Bloom by Raquel Willis
Hosted by B. Hawk Snipes
“The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation” is Willis’ first book, exploring her journey into her own womanhood as a transgender person, navigating Southern Catholic family dynamics, social justice work and transphobia both in the media and in real life. Across its pages, readers are transported alongside Willis’ life, growing and blooming with her at every step of the way. – CNN Style
As an activist, public speaker, and journalist for more than a decade, Raquel Willis’ powerful voice has shed light on the unique struggles faced by trans women of color. From grassroots organizing in Atlanta, to challenging police profiling and mass incarceration, to leading the Atlanta Trans Liberation Tuesday mobilization with Black Lives Matter, Raquel’s dedication to advocacy for Black folks is unwavering. Among many projects and award-winning publications, Raquel also created Black Trans Circles to address anti-trans violence, focusing “on developing the leadership of Black trans women in the South and Midwest by creating healing justice spaces.” Additionally, Raquel continues to use her platform to fundraise for Black-led LGBTQ+ initiatives and champion campaigns for Black and LGBTQ+ communities.
B. Hawk Snipes (They/She) is an entrepreneur, award winning social activist, non-binary ballroom trailblazer, music artist, entertainer & model from The Bronx,NY. They’re on a mission to conjure honest and captivating projects to explore diversity within the arts through a Black, Queer & Trans lens. She is also one of the board members for the BTFA Collective which helps Black Trans Femmes succeed in the Arts. If you would like to know more…Google THEM.