Ithaca College alum founds online LGBTQ+ book shop
An Ithaca College alum has launched a crowdfunding campaign to curate stories through an LGBTQ+ online bookshop and forum platform, partly inspired by his professors at the college.
Dylan Lyons launched a campaign Aug. 30 on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter for The Lavender Rhino, an online LGBTQ+ book store and discussion space named after the symbol of gay resistance created by Boston artists Daniel Thaxton and Bernie Toale in the 1970s.
“It's a scary time to be queer,” Lyons wrote on the Kickstarter campaign page. “As state legislatures and right-wing pundits ramp up their attacks on the LGBTQ+ community − and on queer youth, trans people, and Black queer people in particular − I believe it is more important than ever for people to read intersectional queer stories, to educate themselves about LGBTQ+ identities and lived experiences, and to gather in solidarity and community with their queer friends and loved ones.”
The campaign and its goals
Lyons, who graduated from Ithaca College’s Roy H. Park School of Communications in 2014, hopes to meet his $10,000 Kickstarter goal by Sept. 26, when the campaign ends.
The funds raised, combined with Lyons’ own personal investment, will be used to cover startup costs, such as inventory, web development, and legal and marketing costs.
“I want everyone, regardless of age or identity, to feel the sense of love and community I experienced at (Ithaca College). In a way, I hope to emulate that with the Lavender Rhino,” Lyons said in an email. “The Kickstarter campaign garnered early momentum, reaching a quarter of its goal within the first three days.”
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As of Sept. 8, 69 backers have pledged a combined total of over $5,000 to the project, breaching the halfway mark of the campaign's $10,000 fundraising goal, with 18 days left to reach it.
"I supported the Lavender Rhino’s Kickstarter because it’s so important to amplify LGBTQ+ voices always, but especially now with the laws changing all the time," said Yaniza Doré, a graduate of Ithaca College's Psychology program. "I always felt accepted at Ithaca and knowing that my friends and I will have a safe space to enjoy queer authors and stories feels like a breath of fresh air!"
Funders of the campaign will receive rewards based on their donation tier, ranging from branded bookmarks and t-shirts to book recommendations and a 20% discount on books from the store, with a full list of pledge rewards available on the campaign page.
Lyons said that the project aims to bring the LGBTQ+ reader community together by providing a curated and categorized list of purchasable books, and an online discussion space “where they can discuss the books they’re reading in a safe space for queer book lovers.”
“There are no concrete plans for a physical location yet, but we would likely start in New York City,” Lyons said. “I am very open to considering partnerships and collaborations with the Tompkins County Library or any community groups in Ithaca — our goal is to get queer books in front of as many interested folks as possible, and I know Ithaca is a place with proudly progressive values, particularly in regard to LGBTQ+ rights and empowerment.”
Inspired for inclusion
Lyons noted that Dr. James Rada and Professor Anthony Adornato (who has since moved to Syracuse University) were the professors who had the greatest impact on him in his tenure at Ithaca College, teaching him the foundations of skills he’s using to promote the online book shop effort.
“My time in the journalism program at the Park School, and as News Director of ICTV, laid the foundation for my future pursuits,” he said. “I not only learned valuable writing and communication skills that seamlessly transferred beyond the news industry, but I also gained a knack for leadership and the confidence to pursue my life and career goals. I wouldn't be where I am today without that foundation.”
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This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Ithaca College alum starts online LGBTQ+ book shop The Lavender Rhino
