By Lauren Means • Photos Provided By Joseph Clark
This year, Tennessee has seen a lot of attempts — some successful and others unsuccessful — at censorship. The legislature put up several bills aimed at removing books from public school libraries deemed to have content they do not feel is age appropriate. While there is ambiguity as to what constitutes age appropriateness, it is typically works that contain topics like LGBTQ+ issues, racism, antisemitism, and discrimination. Some legislators, like State Rep. Jerry Sexton, Republican from Bean Station, simply said, “I would burn them,” when asked about books he considers inappropriate.
To combat the censorship of LGBTQ+ material, some good came out of these harmful bills. Communities came together to offer access to books; coffee shops developed small lending spaces; and public libraries stood their ground and kept banned books on display. We also saw the launch of Champagne’s Book Nook.
Champagne’s Book Nook is a wonderful program being run through the Just Us program at Oasis Center. Just Us provides an array of services centered on support and advocacy to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to help them achieve their full potential. They also offer resources and assistance to families and agencies who work with young people.
Joseph Clark is the manager of Just Us and the brains behind Champagne’s Book Nook. “Here at Just Us, we believe that books show us every color of the rainbow and every young person deserves to see themselves reflected and represented in literature,” says Clark. Over the years he has noted how books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes are consistently challenged, censored, or banned across the country. He also brings up the fact that, as a whole, LGBTQ+ representation in literature is very minimal and less likely to be readily available, especially to young people who may only have access to books through their schools or libraries. So when books are removed simply due to the content featuring LGBTQ+ themes, many youth lose access to literature that is representative of who they are.
In fact, Clark says that even though there is no actual policy in place restricting books for having LGBTQ+ content, a school district in Collierville, TN recently pulled over 300 books that featured LGBTQ+ content from their shelves. Nationwide, out of the 10 most challenged books in 2021, five of them contained LGBTQ+ characters and themes, with the top 3 challenged books written by queer authors.
Clark explains that after speaking with friends and colleagues who were angry over the book bans and attacks on LGBTQ+ youth, he began brainstorming and Dolly’s Imagination Library came to mind. “The concept is quite simple, provide an opportunity for youth to request an LGBTQ+ book that they may not have access to – for whatever reason. From there, Champagne’s Book Nook was born and its mission is to get LGBTQ+ books into the hands of young people who want them, for free,” Clark says.
So, you might be asking yourself, who is Champagne, and what is their relationship with Just Us? The common link between the two is actually Joseph. Every year, Just Us holds an amateur drag fundraiser called the Gender Blender and Champagne Van Dyke is Clark’s drag persona. “Usually covered in as many sequins as possible, with big hair and a big personality, one of Champagne’s style icons is Dolly Parton. I thought if Dolly could get books to children through her Imagination Library, then Champagne could do
the same for LGBTQ+ youth through creating the Book Nook,” explains Clark.
Clark says from a young age he has been an avid reader. He would use books as an escape to discover new people, places, thoughts, and feelings. He explains that The Book Nook is important for both him and Champagne because books are such a powerful tool to educate people who may not be in the LGBTQ+ community, but also to show LGBTQ+ youth a life they may never have thought possible. He
states, “I want young people to have access to the same escapes I had, and still have to this day. I also know that not every young person has access to LGBTQ+ literature, whether due to finances, familial support, or literal availability. This is just one more way Just Us can provide opportunity and support for Queer youth.”
Given our current issues in Tennessee and nationwide concerning book banning and censorship, especially with the LGBTQ+ community and other minority groups, many programs have faced backlash or barriers when trying to implement programs to be more inclusive. Thankfully, Clark says that has not been the case for the Book Nook, Just Us, or Oasis Center. He notes that these organizations are fortunate to rarely ever experience or be subject to pushback from the community and because this initiative aligns with the work they are already doing to support, empower, and uplift LGBTQ+ youth, the implementation of the Book Nook was fairly easy.
When asked about potential threats or challenges to the program, Clark says they will cross that bridge if they get to it. “We don’t really ever prepare to tackle hate or vitriol beyond sticking to what we believe – all LGBTQ+ youth deserve a space to explore and celebrate their identities wholly and authentically, and books are just one more tool to help support them on their journeys.”
Clark is excited about the program and wants Champagne’s Book Nook to be available to any young person in Tennessee. “If there is anyone who wants an LGBTQ+ book, I want to get it to them,” he says. He also notes the Oasis staff, Just Us donors, and corporate sponsors have been providing incredible support and positive energy about the program so now they just need to get the word out to everyone.
To date, they’ve sent out books including “Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall, “My Fairy Godmother is a Drag Queen” by David Clawson, and one of Clark’s favorites, “Felix Ever After” by Kacen Callender. Being so new, there is not yet a specific genre that is being requested and he says whether or not a book is formally banned or challenged, as long as it’s an LGBTQ+ book, Champagne’s Book Nook will do all that it can to fulfill the request.
The biggest need to help the Book Nook thrive and expand is financial support to cover the costs of books and shipping. “Youth can request basically any LGBTQ+ title that’s out there whenever they want, so we want to make sure we have funds readily available to fulfill their request as soon as possible. We also think it’s really special for youth to receive a brand new book that’s just for them, with no need to return it once they’ve finished reading it,” says Clark.
As with all of the services at Just Us and Oasis Center, Champagne’s Book Nook is free for young people and, as Clark notes, the goal is simple — “We want to remove as many barriers to access as possible, and as far as I know, Champagne’s Book Nook is one of a kind.”
About Champagne’s Book Nook
To donate, visit oasiscenter.org/donate and note “Champagne’s Book Nook” in the comment box.
To request a book, visit bit.ly/champagnesbooknook.
To learn more about Just Us, visit justusoasis.org.
