2017 Arlington Reads Together Kickoff Event features Nicole Maines of “Becoming Nicole”

The organizers of Arlington Reads Together are excited to announce that Nicole Maines, subject of this year’s community read “Becoming Nicole,” is speaking at Arlington Town Hall on Saturday March 4 at 1:00 p.m. Nicole’s appearance in Arlington is made possible by the Library Board of Trustees, Vision 2020 Diversity Task Group, the Friends of Robbins Library, and the Friends of Fox Library.

Ms. Maines, a trans activist, was featured in Glamour Magazine’s 2014 “Hometown Heroes: 50 Phenomenal Women of the Year Who Are Making a Difference,” she was named one the 14 Most Fearless Teens Of 2014 for standing up against injustice, and most recently was featured in the HBO documentary “The Trans List.”

The Arlington Reads Together committee selected “Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family” by Amy Ellis Nutt in November. “Becoming Nicole,” published in 2015, is the story of a rural American family who are middle-class and politically conservative. When Ms. Maines was a small child, she started telling her family and community who she was.“Becoming Nicole” tells their story: a mother trying to ensure her family’s safety, a father struggling to understand and accept, a twin brother who is a champion of his sister, and Nicole at the center, a young girl fighting for her place in the world. Author Amy Ellis Nutt places the family’s journey in the social, legal and medical context that surrounds them.

“We are ecstatic to bring Ms. Maines to Arlington. Nicole’s activism shows us how important it is to fight for what’s right, and the importance of dignity in being able to use the bathroom of your gender,” says Maura Deedy, Assistant Director of Libraries and Arlington Reads Together coordinator. “We hope that Ms. Maines appearance and the related programming later in the month will raise the visibility of the area trans community, especially for young trans and gender non-conforming people who experience higher rates of suicide and homelessness than cisgender youth.”

In January of 2014 the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Ms. Maines’ rights had been violated under the state's Human Rights Act, marking a historic and landmark victory for transgender rights in the U.S. It was the first time a state’s highest court ruled that it is unlawful to deny transgender students access to the bathroom of the gender with which they identify.

This event kicks off a full month of Arlington Reads Together events and discussion groups. Check robbinslibrary.orgfor a full calendar.

Arlington Reads Together started in 2002 as a way of bringing the community together through literature. The goal is to address issues, understand differences and create connections through the shared experience of one book chosen by a committee consisting of librarians and community volunteers. Co-sponsored by the Vision 2020 Diversity Task Group, the Arlington Reads Together program is now in its 14th year.

This event is part of Arlington for All (#arl4all), a project by the Arlington Human Rights Commission highlighting diversity in our town and celebrating how embracing our different physical, cultural, and religious histories make us more interesting and stronger as a community. This town-wide campaign includes a number of organizations, schools, arts groups, faith communities, and individuals. For more information, see https://twitter.com/arl4all.

Questions can be directed to Maura Deedy at mdeedy@minlib.net or 781-316-3202.