1. Serving LGBT Library Users in a
“Post-Gay” World
Matthew P. Ciszek
LFO Research Colloquium
February 22, 2012

2. “Post-Gay?” What’s that?
“To be post-gay means to define oneself by more
than sexuality, to disentangle gayness with
militancy and struggle, and to enjoy sexually
mixed company.” (Ghaziani, 2011, p. 102)
“*Young men and women+ say that the terms “gay”
and “lesbian” conjure stereotypes that do not fit
them, even when they are attracted to and have
had sexual encounters with individuals of the
same sex.” (Winter, 2004, p. 15)

3. “Post-Gay?” What’s that?
“Sexual diversity is becoming more normalized, and the
gay-straight divide is becoming blurred. Straight teens
are acting, looking, and becoming gayish, and an
expansive array of nonstraight teens is becoming
visible.” (Savin-Williams, 2007, p. 219)
“Social perspectives that focus on coming out of the
closet, the championing of a core gay identity and gay
pride, and the migration to gay urban enclaves are
less descriptive of gay life today than they were years
ago.” (Seidman, 2002, p. 21)

4. Just the Facts
• 16% of participants in the 2010 National
Survey of LGBT Campus Climate listed “queer”
as sexual orientation
• 70% of adults 18-34 support full marriage
rights for same-sex couples in a 2011 Gallup
poll
• Movement in many LGBT student groups to
post-gay names like Rainbow Alliance

5. Competing Narratives of LGBT Life
Struggle and Success
• “Classic” narrative
• Characterized by
“coming out” process
• Identity developed
through social practice
in larger LGBT culture
Emancipation
• Fluidity in self-labeling
• Rejection of
“traditional” LGBT
culture
• Normalization of LGBT
experience
Kohler and Hammack, 2007

6. Serving Post-Gay Patrons
1. Make no assumptions.
2. Perform a needs assessment of LGBT patrons.
3. Develop relationships with local LGBT organizations.
4. Engage with “non-normative” LGBT groups.
5. Develop collections/services for both narratives.
6. Improve cataloging, subject headings, and index
terms.
7. Embrace change!

7. More Information
Presentation and resource list available at
www.slideshare.net/mciszek
Thank you!
mpc16@psu.edu