You can also see our calendar for events, book discussions, and locations.

LGBTQ Awareness Panel Discussion

• Monday, September 16, 6:00 p.m.
• Conway Public Library, 15 Greenwood Ave., Conway, NH 03818, 603-447-5552

In celebration of the annual One Book, One Valley community read event, Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt, we will present a panel discussion as a way to open conversation and provide awareness about issues and questions facing LGBTQ populations. The panel will include some individuals representing perspectives, as well as members of medical and mental health services who have experience serving transgender individuals.

FMI: Tessa Narducci, 603-447-5552

Transgender History

• Saturday, September 21, 1:00 p.m.
• Bridgton Public Library, 1 Church Street, Bridgton, ME 04009

A talk by Alex Myers. The term “transgender” was coined in the late 1980s and came into popular usage in the mid 1990s, but that doesn’t mean that transgender people have only existed in the late twentieth century on. Transgender individuals have a rich history in America and other cultures. This program will present several different historical perspectives on transgender people and then focus on the story of Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as man and fought in the Revolutionary War, as an example of the lived experience of transgender people.

Alex Myers, Barton Evans and H. Andrea Neves Instructor in Humanities at Phillips Exeter Academy, is One Book One Valley’s Project Humanist, providing expert advice for our project, and ensuring intellectual content and historical context are represented. Alex been out as transgender since 1995. He was the first openly transgender student at Harvard University. Since coming out, he has worked as an educator and advocate for transgender rights. Alex visits around 20 schools a year to help them develop policy, practices, and facilities that support transgender students.

FMI: Amy Stone, 207-647-2472

Film and discussion: Screaming Queens

• Wednesday, September 25, 7:00 p.m.
• Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Eastern Slopes, 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, NH 03886, 603-323-8585

Laura Hodgman will introduce this hour-long documentary, and lead a discussion following the film. “Screaming Queens,” directed by Victor Silverman and Susan Stryker, paints a vivid portrait of the transgender scene in 1960s San Francisco. Three years before the famous uprising at Stonewall, oppression of the LGBT community in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District produced violent, collective resistance at Compton’s Cafeteria, a one-time haven for marginalized communities. Through archival footage, period music, and interviews with those involved, this documentary situates the riot at Compton’s within the broader questions of urban renewal, anti-war activism, civil rights, and policing characteristic of the time.

Laura Hodgman, Professor Emerita of History at Eastern Washington University, moved to Tamworth about 18 months ago. Her academic work includes oral history interviews and publications on LGBT history.

FMI: UUFES, 603-323-8585

Gender 101

• Thursday, September 26, 7:00 p.m.
• Madison Library, 1895 Village Road, Madison, NH 03849, 603-367-8545

What is gender? Why does it matter? This program will explore the concept of gender identity, explain the differences between biological sex and gender, gender identity and gender expression, as well as gender and sexual orientation. Participants will have the chance to ask questions about transgender and non-binary identities and do a series of short writing exercises that will get them to examine and understand their own gender identity. 

Alex Myers, Barton Evans and H. Andrea Neves Instructor in Humanities at Phillips Exeter Academy, is One Book One Valley’s Project Humanist, providing expert advice for our project, and ensuring intellectual content and historical context are represented. Alex been out as transgender since 1995. He was the first openly transgender student at Harvard University. Since coming out, he has worked as an educator and advocate for transgender rights. Alex visits around 20 schools a year to help them develop policy, practices, and facilities that support transgender students.

This program is made possible through a grant from New Hampshire Humanities.

FMI: Sloane Jarell, 603-367-8545

Ask a Transgender Person Anything

• Sunday, October 6, 7:00 p.m.
• Jackson Public Library, 52 Main Street, Jackson, NH 03846, 603-383-9731

One Book One Valley Project Humanist Alex Myers describes this event as follows: “These panels provide opportunities for three to five transgender or gender nonconforming individuals to tell a little bit of their life stories, how discrimination has impacted them, and how [new or revised laws] would help them. Then the audience has the opportunity to ask questions.”

FMI: Lichen Rancourt, 603-383-9731

A Pediatrician’s Understanding of LGBTQ

• Tuesday, October 8, 7:00 p.m.
• Bartlett Public Library, Main Street, Bartlett, NH 03812

Dr. Leonard “Skip” Small will be special guest facilitator for the Friends of Bartlett Public Library’s discussion of Becoming Nicole. Explore the many complexities of sex and gender determination. Dr. Small will attempt to increase your understanding of why we, as humans, cannot always be simply defined physically and mentally as male or female. An open mind is encouraged, but not required. Prior knowledge and/or experience is not necessary. Appropriate for teens and older.

Stories and Music with Shana Aisenberg

• Saturday, October 12, 2:00 p.m.
• Jackson Public Library, 52 Main Street, Jackson, NH 03846, 603-383-9731

No Cinderella Story: Friends Remember Ben Scott “Benderella” Rae 

• Wednesday, October 23, 7:00 p.m.
• Cook Memorial Library, 93 Main Street, Tamworth, NH 03886, 603-323-8510

Tacoma, Washington. July 1977. Benderella hurriedly left the ball with her handsome prince. But instead of marrying her, Benderella’s “prince” murdered her. In this presentation, Laura Hodgman delves into the life of one “developmentally disabled” victim of transphobia—a life full with family strife, state institutionalization, hustling, self-advocacy, and friendship. 

Laura Hodgman, Professor Emerita of History at Eastern Washington University, moved to Tamworth about 18 months ago. Her academic work includes oral history interviews and publications on LGBT history.

FMI: Mary Cronin, 603-323-8510

An evening with Amy Ellis Nutt, author of Becoming Nicole

• Thursday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.
• Kennett High School, 409 Eagles Way, North Conway, NH 03860

One Book One Valley’s culminating, regional event will feature a presentation by the author Amy Ellis Nutt. This presentation will include a Skype conversation with members of the Maines family, the subjects of the book. Amy Ellis Nutt is a Pulitzer Prize-winning health and science writer for The Washington Post. The evening will end with a Q & A session, and a book signing by the author.

This program is made possible through a grant from New Hampshire Humanities.

FMI: Mary Cronin 603-323-8510

Book discussions of Becoming Nicole:

Bridgton Public Library, 1 Church Street, Bridgton, ME 04009

• Wednesday, September 25, 3:00 p.m.
• FMI, Amy Stone, 207-647-2472

Effingham Public Library, 30 Town House Road, Effingham, NH 03882

• Wednesday, September 25, 6:00 p.m.
• FMI Crystal Hoyt, 603-539-1537

Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, 227 Main St, Lovell, ME 04051

• Thursday, September 26, 6:30 p.m.
• FMI Shelby Monroe, 207-935-3177

North Conway Public Library, 2719 Main Street, North Conway, NH 03860

• Thursday, October 3, 10:30 a.m.
• FMI Andrea Masters, 603-356-2961

Moultonborough Public Library, 4 Holland St, Moultonborough, NH 03254

• Tuesday, October 8, 10:30 a.m.
• FMI Nancy McCue, 603-476-8895

Jackson Public Library, 52 Main Street, Jackson, NH 03846

• Tuesday, October 8, 4:30 p.m.
• FMI, Lichen Rancourt, 603-383-9731

Bartlett Public Library, Main Street, Bartlett, NH 03812

• Tuesday, October 8, 7:00 p.m.
• FMI, Kathy Van Deursen, 603-374-2755

Fryeburg Public Library, 515 Main St, Fryeburg, ME 04037

• Wednesday, October 9, 10:00 a.m.
• FMI Jennifer Spofford, 207-935-2731

White Birch Books, 2568 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860

• Thursday, October 10, 7:00 p.m.
• FMI Laura Cummings, 603-356-3200

Conway Public Library, 15 Greenwood Ave, Conway, NH 03818

• Monday, October 21, 10:15 a.m.
• FMI David Smolen, 603-447-5552

Cook Memorial Library, 93 Main Street, Tamworth, NH 03886

• Monday, October 21, 5:30 p.m.
• FMI Mary Cronin 603-323-8510

Madison Library, 1895 Village Road, Madison, NH 03849

• Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 p.m.
• FMI Sloane Jarell, 603-367-8545

Freedom Public Library, 38 Old Portland Road, Freedom, NH 03836

• Monday, October 28, 10:30 a.m.
• FMI Elizabeth Rhymer, 603-539-5176