The American LGBTQ+ Museum

L.A. INTERCHANGES: A BROWN & QUEER ARCHIVAL MEMOIR BY LYDIA OTERO | HOSTED BY MEAGAN SOLOMON

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.

AUTHOR

Lydia Otero, a native of Tucson, is an author and activist whose work highlights the intersections of identity, activism, and community. Their newest memoir, L.A. Interchanges: A Brown & Queer Memoir (2023), reflects on their experiences as a queer activist in Los Angeles, blending personal stories with insights on LGBTQIA+ identity and community building.

Their 2019 memoir, In the Shadows of the Freeway: Growing Up Brown & Queer, explores environmental racism and intergenerational trauma in Tucson through a personal and historical lens. With a PhD in History and a career as a tenured professor in Mexican American Studies, Otero finds their foray into memoir writing deeply fulfilling. They were also featured in the 2023 PBS SoCal documentary, Unidad: Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos. Learn more at www.lydiaotero.com.

HOSTED BY

Meagan Solomon is a Chicana Jewish femme scholar and educator whose work centers on the lives and literature of lesbian, feminist, and queer Latina/e communities. Based in Austin, Texas, she is currently an Assistant Professor of Feminist Studies at Southwestern University. Her research has been published in Chicana/Latina Studies: The Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social, The Journal of Lesbian Studies, Chicana Portraits: Critical Biographies of Twelve Chicana Writers edited by Norma E. Cantú, and more. She is also the founding director of Malflora Collective, a digital platform dedicated to uplifting and preserving Latina/e lesbian history, creativity, and culture.

GRAPHIC

Our beautiful graphic is designed by the incredible Loveis Wise (they/he), a multidisciplinary artist, designer, creative director, and Capricorn, drawing reimagined futures and playfulness in Los Angeles.

ACCESSIBILITY

This program will be presented via Zoom with live captioning in English. We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please reach out with any questions, requests or needs to info@americanlgbtqmuseum.org.