Recognizing and Celebrating National Coming Out Day, October 11 - LGBTQI

The Asia Collection Librarians have set up a new display in the Reading Room titled, “Recognizing and Celebrating National Coming Out Day, October 11 – LGBTQI.”

In Asian countries, sexuality and gender have long and complex histories of practices that are not easily mapped onto western thinking and practices related to same-sex relationships, transgender and intersex individuals and communities, such as the Hijras (India), and Bugis of South Sulawesi who have five genders: Bissu—supra gender, oroane—male, makkunrai—female, calalai—trans-male, calabai—trans-female (Indonesia). LGBTQI movements have, however, been strategic in Asia to rally around human and equal rights for LGBTQI individuals and communities. This display showcases materials in the Asia Collection that have LGBTQI content.