Read the full article at Sacramento News & Review
Lavender Library, a volunteer-run LGBTQ+ archive and lending library in Midtown Sacramento, has long relied on grassroots donations to stay afloat. Moving forward, that might become even more critical as funding for LGBTQ+ organizations is jeopardized.
Lavender Library Vice President Mauricio Torres said the organization has recently seen an influx of local donations — a sign of community members stepping up at a much-needed time after their door and window were smashed in February.
“It was really beautiful just to see the outpouring of community support,” Torres said, about an event at the library that he speculated could be a hate crime.
Even though the library recently received its first state grant, Torres’ vision of growth has been put on hold due to policy language surrounding LGBTQ+ communities. “We did have dreams of tapping into additional grants, which could have included federal funds,” said Torres. “But the reality of the world right now — we’re just putting a pause to even dreaming about some of those things.”