The Queer Library

The Queer Library began with a question I couldn't let go of: what does it really mean to feel safe? Not just in theory, but in your body, in a space shared with strangers.

As a queer person, I know which spaces I'm drawn to and which I tend to avoid. But I didn't yet know how to put that into words, let alone translate it into something others could use. So I started listening.

During my graduation research at the Willem de Kooning Academy, I photographed and spoke with over fifty queer individuals. Each chose their own location, a place that felt safe to them. We talked about what made that place comfortable, what's needed to feel safe, and what feels unsafe.

These conversations came together as The Queer Library.

Their voices form the foundation for the toolkit "Queer Safer Spaces: Why & How" and carry the complexity of safety experiences as a strength for inclusive design.