| Name of Person Filling Out This Form |
Greg Luna
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| E-Mail of Person Filling Out This Form |
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| Phone # of Person Filling Out This Form |
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| Name of Primary Point of Contact, if other than the person filling out this form: |
Eric Cervini
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| Organization Name |
Rainbow Book Bus
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| Organization Address |
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| Proposed Event Address (if offsite from city facilities) |
687-665 Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
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| Is your organization a nonprofit organization, a West Hollywood Neighborhood Watch Association, West Hollywood business or business the serves the West Hollywood community, or a governmental organization? |
No
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| Name of Proposed Co-Sponsorship Event |
Rainbow Book Bus Summer Partnership with the City of West Hollywood
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| Anticipated Attendance |
100
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| Is this event free and open to the public? |
Yes
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| Please explain the purpose of this event and why it is important for the City to co-sponsor this event |
ShopQueer.co has launched the Rainbow Book Bus—a traveling queer book fair raising funds for LGBTQ+ youth centers––in partnership with wayOUT, a fully volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that fundraises for LGBTQ+ youth centers in underserved communities.
As anti-LGBTQ+ book bans sweep the country, ShopQueer.co is launching a loud, proud, and very queer bookmobile. The Rainbow Book Bus will combine the comfort and resources of a
brick-and-mortar bookstore with the excitement and energy of a pop-up book fair. ShopQueer.co and wayOUT plan to embark on a national tour in fall 2023, holding book fairs to raise funds for wayOUT’s network of LGBTQ+ centers, especially in states enacting the harshest book bans like Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, and Florida where anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is impacting our community the most. With 45% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considering suicide in the past year, each dollar raised by the Rainbow Book Bus will help these centers provide life-saving resources to their local queer communities. By partnering with the Rainbow Book Bus, the City of West Hollywood can help show their support of the essential power of literature for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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| How does this event benefit the West Hollywood community and/or the City? |
The goal of the Rainbow Book Bus is to spread queer joy, stories, and community to readers of all ages. Our presence would support local business, offering a street-level engagement that promotes literacy and freedom of speech, while also providing a safe and welcoming mobile bookshop for residents of West Hollywood at their local parks or civic centers. Partnering with the Rainbow Book Bus is also an opportunity for the City of West Hollywood to continue to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Last school year, an unprecedented 2,532 book bans were enacted, affecting 1,648 unique titles and 1,553 authors and artists. Across 32 states, 138 school districts implemented book bans, affecting nearly 4 millions students. Of these unique book titles, 41% (674 books) contain LGBTQ+ themes and/or protagonists. Banning queer books is just one example of the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry that’s sweeping the country, hand in hand with legislation infringing our hard-won rights. Amid this onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry, it’s essential for our community and our allies to do everything in our power to protect and celebrate queer stories. The Rainbow Book Bus is one way that ShopQueer.co is fighting back, and with the City's support we can start the charge right here in West Hollywood.
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| Please list the names of all event participants (panelists, presenters, performers, speakers, lecturers, etc.) for each/all day(s) of the event: |
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| Please provide a summary of examples of a previous event(s) and/or programming produced by your organization that demonstrates the organization’s capability to deliver high-quality events and/or programming similar to the one you are proposing in this application |
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| Has your organization received a City of West Hollywood co-sponsorship before? If so, for what event (name & date of event)? |
Sunday June 11th: Rainbow Book Bus launch party with non-profit wayOUT at Micky's West Hollywood
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| Is this event held on one date, or multiple dates? |
Multiple Dates
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| What does your event request in City support: |
Validated parking at a City Lot (if yes, which City parking lot or parking facility), Fee waivers for ancillary City permits that may be required for the event (e.g., Special event permit, building and safety permit, encroachment permits, etc.)
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| If requesting monetary support, please list an estimated amount: |
$0.00
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| If requesting facility use, please list the name & location of the facility requested: |
Any available city-run parking lot where we may be able to store the bus when not in use
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