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June 2, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nicholas Brown
(301) 699-3500, ext. 6241
nicholas.brown@pgcmls.info
Largo, Md. – The Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) invites community members to celebrate and honor LGBTQ+ history and culture this pride month. Recognized with a national award from the Urban Libraries Council in 2020, “Pride at PGCMLS” returns with 19 virtual programs and new educational content at pgcmls.info/pride. Over the past year, PGCMLS has continued to strengthen its programming and services for LGBTQ+ community members and allies. PGCMLS’ staff LGBTQ+ team has also demonstrated tremendous leadership at the state and regional level with various presentations at professional conferences (hosted by organizations like Maryland Library Association and The Catholic University of America) on how to develop and implement inclusive programming. The Library’s 2021 “Pride at PGCMLS” virtual event series includes programs for children and families, teens, and adults that aim to educate and inspire. The programs also recognize the important history of Pride as an act of protest for the advancement of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ Americans.
Featured 2021 events include Lenny Duncan "United States of Grace" with Teddy Reeves (6/9), Meryl Wilsner on "Something to Talk About" (6/8), STEM at Home: Sally Ride and Straw Rockets (6/11), STEM at Home: Animals Outside the Binary! (6/25), Pride Concert with Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC (6/24), Up and Out with PGCMLS: Mayor Patrick L. Wojahn (6/9), and Drag Bingo + Happy Hour (6/11). Visit pgcmls.info/pride to access the events.
Lenny Duncan “United States of Grace” with Teddy Reeves
In “United States of Grace,” on Wednesday June 9 at 7 pm, author and pastor Lenny Duncan shares the resiliency of the “marginalized” in the most difficult circumstances with host Teddy Reeves, curator of religion at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Duncan spent most of his teens homeless after leaving home at age 13. His lived experience as a high school dropout, drug dealer, sex worker, street corner poet, hitchhiker, dharma bum, small town drifter, seminarian, political activists, father, pastor, lover, public theologian, and writer has led him to a life in service and advocacy. He is currently the Pastor of the Jubille Collective, a community organized around the idea that maybe Jesus is anti-racist and loves queer, trans, two spirited people too.
Meryl Wilsner on “Something to Talk About”
PGCMLS is teaming up with DC Public Library to host an author talk with Meryl Wilsner (Tuesday, June 8 at 7 pm), whose hit debut novel, "Something to Talk About" (2020), received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal, as well as being one of Amazon, Kirkus, and NPR’s best books of 2020. The book was also featured twice in Oprah Magazine: as part of 44 LGBTQ Books That Are Changing the Literary Landscape in 2020 and 21 Romance Novels That Are Set to Be the Best of 2020. Wilsner writes stories of queer women falling in love. Born in Michigan, Meryl lived in Portland, Oregon and Jackson, Mississippi before recently returning to the Mitten State.
Pride Concert with Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC
On Thursday, June 24 at 7 pm, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC and PGCMLS present a virtual concert in commemoration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month for Prince George’s County. Selections include pop, Broadway, and fabulous.
LGBTQ+ Pride Month Calendar of Events
About the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System
The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) helps customers discover and define opportunities that shape their lives. The Library serves the 915,000+ residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland through 19 branch libraries, a 24/7 online library, and pop-up services throughout the community. PGCMLS is a responsive and trusted community-driven organization. Programs, services, and outreach activities serve booklovers, immigrants and refugees, job seekers, children, young professionals, seniors, and families alike.
PGCMLS’ robust online offerings include curated content collections for kids, teens, educators, Spanish speakers, and more. Virtual events and outreach provide access to the Library from the comfort of home or on the go. Special programs include the D.R.E.A.M. Lab, STEM Pals, and 3D printing, which offer teens and lifelong learners with opportunities to learn cutting-edge technology and STEM skills for job readiness or personal enrichment. The Library also provides drive-up WiFi access at all branches and mobile hotspot devices. The Library’s Laurel Branch Library received the 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Award and was designated the best new public building in Maryland.
As a strong community partner, the Library regularly collaborates with local government agencies and non-profit organizations to provide access to essential community services and programs. Partners include the Prince George’s County Human Relations Commission, Employ Prince George’s, Prince George’s County Public Schools, and Prince George’s Community College. Learn more at pgcmls.info or by visiting the Largo-Kettering Branch at 9601 Capital Lane, Largo, MD 20774.