Carabiner Collections
Non-Profit LGBTQIA+ Library, Brazos TX
Number of Books Challenged Per State:
(Source: The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom). Carabiner Collections was established in 2023 by three grassroots activists with a passion for providing accessible resources to the LGBTQIA+ community of the Brazos Valley of Texas. Living in the area, we witnessed ongoing conflict surrounding Texas's efforts to ban books authored by and aimed at LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Texas bans three times more books per year than any other state. 45% of these books were written by or about LGBTQIA+ people
Hence, our mission: A community library for LGBTQIA+ literature!
Who Are We?
Jordan A.
Director & Ecohydrologist Ph.D. StudentJenna T.
Director & Ornithologist Ph.D. Student
Soleil G.
Director & Architecture UndergraduateLavender Symbolism for LGBTQIA+
The color lavender holds a significant historical and cultural resonance within the LGBTQIA+ community. While it's challenging to pinpoint a single origin, several factors contribute to its association with the LGBTQIA+ community. This includes, Victorian Literature, the Feminist Movement, and the Stone Wall Riots. Overall, lavender’s origins lie in literature, activism, and cultural movements, making it a significant emblem of LGBTQIA+ identity and history.
The carabiner symbol for lesbians has its origins intertwined with outdoor and adventure culture. The carabiner, a device used for climbing, mountaineering, and other outdoor activities, is a utilitarian tool paralleled with the concepts of safety and connection, symbolizing strength, reliability, and support. Carabiners became a part of queer code for lesbians during World War II where blue-collar women hooked carabiners to their belt loops to signal their identity to other lesbians. While the adoption of the carabiner as a lesbian symbol may not be as well-known as other LGBTQIA+ symbols, it continues to hold significance for many lesbians who find resonance in its representation.
