In 2023, Drag Queen Tara and their King dreamed of constructing an area that will be a protected haven for his or her queer group. That dream got here within the type of a group heart bookstore they named Mosaics. The shop in Provo, Utah, is house to not solely books; it’s additionally house to the United Drag Alliance. Each the Alliance and Mosaics are nonprofits with the purpose of uplifting and celebrating LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and different marginalized voices and experiences.
You might do not forget that Mosaics discovered itself with the doubtful honor of getting a bomb menace again in April of this yr. Sadly, that was neither the primary nor final bomb menace the community-centered bookstore skilled. There was one in September 2023 and once more in July 2024.
These bomb threats took a toll not solely on the shop but additionally on Tara and their household. Folks have proven as much as Drag Story Hours hosted past Mosaics, together with elsewhere in Utah and Wyoming, which characteristic Tara as a visitor. They had been additionally doxxed out of their house and have needed to transfer with their household into an undisclosed location. Tara’s well being has additionally been immediately impacted by these threats and acts of violence in opposition to their life and the lives of their family members.
Now, Mosaics is liable to being shut down.
Given the necessity to have a protected house for queer individuals and their allies wherever in america, particularly in locations like Utah the place the state has put a goal on the again of LGBTQ+ individuals during the last a number of legislative classes, non-public establishments like Mosaics serve an important function. Closure can be an incredible loss.
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To remain viable going into 2025, Mosaics wants to boost $200,000. This consists of $6,500 in month-to-month operational prices, alongside $60,000 in labor prices—immediately impacting trans, genderqueer, nonbinary, and different queer workers. Further bills embody medical care, psychological well being companies, and future initiatives for the group.
Crowd Fundraising
Mosaics launched an IndieGoGo marketing campaign that gives the chance to make any sized monetary donation. You may also make donations in several denominations and earn perks for doing so, starting from a customized thanks, a digital Drag Story Home present, naming rights to an area in Mosaics, and extra.
Private Purchases
Audiobooks
You possibly can set your Libro.fm account to buy audiobooks by Mosaics. Every buy will profit the bookstore and United Drag Alliance nonprofit. Seize a few LGBTQ+ audiobooks by Libro.fm this week—or join a membership for a yr of audiobooks—with Mosaics as your bookstore of alternative. Observe: when you’ve got one other indie you assist already this fashion, simply briefly change the shop.
Do some impartial bookstore buying by Bookshop.org. Set your bookstore to Mosaics and make some purchases.
Cease in Retailer
For those who’re in Provo or close by, cease on the retailer to do some buying. Even when books usually are not in your price range, you possibly can present as much as any of the occasions they’ve received deliberate all through December (scroll down on the hyperlink to search out them). That assist can’t be highlighted sufficient.
Another choice for locals is to guide their occasion house in your personal use.
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