Today we’d like to introduce you to J, Jordan, Soleil.
Hi J, Jordan, Soleil, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Carabiner Collections began with a shared frustration. In 2023, the three of us kept running into the same problem: queer and trans books were disappearing from shelves across Texas, and in many rural areas, they had never been there to begin with. We wanted to create something that could move, adapt, and show up for people who needed affirming stories.
So we started small. A few books donated directly by the authors. A folding table. A tent that barely survived the wind. Some rickety book carts. We popped up at parks, sidewalks, and community events, offering free LGBTQIA+ books to anyone who wanted them. The response was immediate and emotional. People told us they hadn’t seen queer books in years, or ever.
It quickly became apparent this needed to grow. We incorporated as a nonprofit, renovated a trailer into a bookmobile, and began building a curated collection of queer literature across genres and identities. Today, we bring our bookmobile full of books, storytimes, drag readings, and author events to communities that have little access to them. What started as a small act of resistance has become a joyful, mobile library serving many.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a queer‑led organization in a politically hostile region, we’ve faced everything from venue rejections to whispered warnings. We’ve had events canceled, partnerships denied, and moments where we wondered if we’d be able to keep going.
Logistically, the early days were chaotic. We were storing books in our homes, hauling them around on broken carts, and trying to build a nonprofit on nights and weekends while juggling PhD programs and full‑time jobs.
But the community has shown up for us in ways that make every challenge worth it. Kids who see themselves in a book for the first time. Parents who cry because they finally found a safe space for their family. Rural teens who whisper “thank you” like it’s a secret. Those moments have shaped us into a more intentional, resilient organization.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Carabiner Collections is a mobile LGBTQIA+ community library: part bookmobile, part pop‑up cultural space, part joyful rebellion.
We specialize in bringing queer and trans literature to rural and underserved areas, places where affirming stories are often hardest to find. Our model is intentionally mobile: we show up at festivals, community centers, parks, sidewalks, and anywhere else people gather. Our programming is free, because access shouldn’t depend on income or geography.
Our biggest event is the Pride Book Fair, our annual celebration of queer literature and performance. It brings together authors, drag artists, vendors, community groups, and families for a day centered entirely on queer joy.
What sets us apart is our philosophy. We’re not just resisting censorship, we’re building spaces where queer stories are celebrated unapologetically. We’re proud of the visibility we’re creating for queer literature in places where it’s often erased.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What we love most:
Bryan–College Station is full of people who care deeply about community. There’s a quiet but powerful network of organizers, artists, educators, and families who show up for one another in ways that don’t always make headlines. We’ve found so much generosity here. People who donate, volunteer, or simply stop by our events to say, “I’m glad you’re here.”
What we like least:
Access to queer‑affirming spaces is still limited. The political climate can make visibility feel risky, and that fear shapes daily life for a lot of LGBTQIA+ people in rural Texas. We’re working to change that, one event and one book at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carabinercollections.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carabinercollections/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Carabiner-Collections-61553405473218/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carabiner-collections-undefined-3a8176374/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe9ZdiLvjA6wdGPniTJ4jNQ
