Barbara Marie Minney in Perrysburg

Indie bookstore, Gathering Volumes, just hosted poet and (transgender) activist, Barbara Marie Minney in Perrysburg

To celebrate Trans Day of Visibility, Minney read from her poetry book – A Woman in Progress (2024). Her reading depicted emotional and physical transformations especially in the scene of womanhood and queer experiences. Her language is empowering and personally touched me because of the emotional depths. Especially today, where transgender rights and healthcare, even more so for our youth, are at risk. Minney talked about these issues, along with her own, and fights as a “quiet” activist. Quiet activism, similar to militant literacy, stands as a small yet powerful voice against local to national challenges. Her voice was strong in this local bookstore and brought us together, as a community, in such disheartening times. She was not shy to bring up the anti-LGBT+ bills being introduced across state legislatures, such as Ohio’s, and we should not be shy, neither. No matter where you stand on LGBT+ matters or activism practices – her poetry is a perspective worth so much time and rewards readers with love and energy.