But its mission-to serve the information needs of LGBTQIA+ library professionals as well as the information and access needs of the LGBTQIA+ community at large-has never faltered.Īmerican Libraries spoke with 11 previous and current members of the group to gather their stories of LGBTQIA+ library life past and present: In the decades that followed, the group’s name changed periodically to reflect the evolving times, finally becoming known in 2019 as the Rainbow Round Table.
Photo: ALA Archivesįifty years ago, under the auspices of the American Library Association’s Social Responsibilities Round Table, a small group of activists, librarians, and activist-librarians formed what was then known as the Task Force on Gay Liberation-the very first gay and lesbian caucus in any national professional organization. The ALA Gay and Lesbian Task Force marching in the 1992 San Francisco Pride parade.
