"Gay Abandon" at Coventry Libraries

The Coventry Central Library has a new display, "Gay Abandon," that focuses on fiction and non-fiction books, as well as DVDs, by gay, lesbian and bisexual people. It's front and centre, between the enquiry desk and the racks with the DVDs.

I was told by library staff that, eventually, it will tour regional libraries. The council's website on the display also mentions that there will be upcoming events linked to the initiative.

I was taken aback by the Coventry Telegraph's stance with their "gay sex in the woods" expose over the summer. Ok, it was sex in the woods, but it was consensual gay sex between adults in the woods, and the Telegraph kept referring to it as sordid, disgusting, depraved and frightening. I spotted "Palimpsest" by Gore Vidal on the display's shelf. I found it a rivetting read when I was on vacation in San Francisco in 1997, and it brought back memories of living for 6 weeks in a very queer-positive, sex-positive, city.

There are postcards to send off with feedback on the exhibit, or you can email the Library's officer in charge of the exhibit at: Marc.Williams@coventry.gov.uk. Let him know that it's the kind of exhibit we need more of in Coventry.