Valerie Stadick, Minot

As a local business that has openly loved, respected, admired and supported the gay community in Minot I also proudly fly a rainbow flag in my window.

The LGBTQ+ community has been a kind, supportive and loving part of why I remain committed to Minot and to the diverse voices that are a reflection of a progressive and welcoming community.

I was born down the street from my bookstore at Trinity Hospital and moved back to North Dakota 30 years ago last month. In my years in Minot, and my years of owning my bookstore, I have always treated my customers fairly, continually donate a larger portion of my sales to local non-profits and literacy efforts and always, always, always, treat people fairly and as I wish to be treated.

My first week in business a customer very sternly pointed out the fact that I had what we called then a “Lesbian/Gay” section. I do believe that we had four books in that section – they abruptly stomped out of the store. I removed that section from the store–concerned that this conservative red state would never be prepared to accept any LGBTQ+ community members as less than human and be quick to even label them as ‘perverted’ and ‘deviant’ as our recent legislature has confirmed to do so.

17 years later and still in business we proudly hang a rainbow flag in our window and our front displays, for Gay Pride month, and our display consists of dozens of LGBTQ+ books which embrace OUR own gay community. We want people to know that men can fall in love with other men, that there are other people in the world that don’t feel right in their bodies and that same sex parenthood–the ability to love and nurture a child into adulthood is possible–regardless of the parents’ sexuality.

After sending out my Gay Pride month newsletter I received an anonymous letter and an email stating that they will no longer shop at our store because they felt we were ‘grooming’ children to be gay – as well as disagreeing with our support of the “violent” gay community. I also received many more comments supporting us as being brave in this ND political climate to show our inclusivity of all.

I don’t think of it as brave and I darn well know it isn’t grooming. I do know, however, that the suicide rate among gay/lesbian youth is four times higher than their youth peers, which is due to how they are mistreated or stigmatized in our society. I also know that one moment in a youth’s life where they can go and hopefully feel understood and accepted–whether it be a bookstore or a book – can change a life. And hopefully save it.

The loss of a customer that refuses to understand this and accept this is definitely worth the price to pay for this changed life–and perhaps even for the one life we may save for opening our doors to them.