Community Read Celebration for LGBTQIA+ History Month – Ridgefield
Join Ridgefield Pride and the Ridgefield Historical Society for a Community Read Celebration.
The goal of the Community Read is to build connections and foster conversations, a sense of unity, and community through a shared cultural experience, providing opportunities for people to hear different perspectives and to learn from the experiences of others.
Readers’ Guide coming soon.
At the celebreation we will be hosting a reception (2-2:20pm) followed by a panel discussion o
Panel Discussion – Sat., October 24, 2-4pm
COMMUNITY READ
The Queer Side of Ridgefield LGBTQIA+ Experiences of Ridgefield, Connecticut
The objective of a community read of The Queer Side of Ridgefield LGBTQIA+ Experiences of Ridgefield, Connecticut is to have various organizations and individuals in town all read the same book and discuss it with those of their members/community who choose to participate. The goal of such programs is to build connections and foster conversations, a sense of unity, and community through a shared cultural experience, providing opportunities for people to hear different perspectives and to learn from the experiences of others.
The Queer Side of Ridgefield LGBTQIA+ Experiences of Ridgefield, Connecticutfeatures excerpts from the oral history interviews that the Ridgefield Historical Society and Ridgefield Pride conducted with Ridgefield’s LGBTQIA+ community. The stories are moving and enlightening, with several going back generations. One common thread that came out of the project was that living in a welcoming and supportive community was essential for helping our interviewees thrive. There were those who had support from the beginning, and those who yearned for it and eventually found support wherever they could.
We would like to have this set up so that as many different organizations as possible could have their groups read the book and discuss it. If requested, we would also put together a list of guiding questions to help group leaders facilitate discussions.
We will be hosting a community read as well at the Ridgefield Library on Saturday, October 24 from 2-4pm. Here is a link to sign up for the community read and to get updates on the book release.
All community read events would be free to the public.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
The Queer Side of Ridgefield: LGBTQIA+ Experiences in Ridgefield, Connecticut is a powerful, deeply moving compilation of oral history interviews that preserves the raw, unfiltered experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. Spanning generations, backgrounds, and geographic borders, this collection brings together a diverse chorus of individuals sharing their personal journeys of discovery, resilience, and joy.
Through firsthand accounts, readers are invited into the living rooms, activist spaces, and everyday lives of people who fought for the right to exist openly. The book captures the pivotal moments of queer history—from early underground organizing and the devastation of the AIDS crisis to the triumph of marriage equality and the ongoing fight for transgender rights. More importantly, it highlights the quiet, personal milestones: the first time someone found community, the warmth of chosen family, and the bravery of living authentically.
This anthology is more than a historical record; it is a living monument to human connection and survival. By preserving the stories of those who lived through eras of profound change, The Queer Side of Ridgefield: LGBTQIA+ Experiences in Ridgefield, Connecticut offers an indispensable resource for researchers, historians, activists, and anyone seeking to understand history through the people who have lived it.