An Evening with the Author of "Forest City Yester-Queer"
LGBTQ+ Pride 2026
Tuesday, June 30
6:00pm - 7:30pm
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2026-06-30 18:00:00
2026-06-30 19:30:00
America/Chicago
An Evening with the Author of "Forest City Yester-Queer"
Join us for a sneak peek of a LGBTQ+ book making its history in Rockford!
Main Library - Local History Room
Main Library
Local History RoomJoin us for a sneak peek of a LGBTQ+ book making its history in Rockford!
Hear Andrew Mertzenich speak about what inspired him to write a Rockford history LGBTQ+ book, his favorite historical queer Rockfordians, and how our town has experienced LGBTQ+ issues over decades.
Book Description:
Amongst the rolling plains of northern Illinois, nestled in the winding turns of the Rock River Valley, lies the mid-size, rust belt city of Rockford. Beneath the streets and buildings dotting its industrial skyline lies a hidden history that is yet to be told. Forest City Yester-Queer tells these stories. The stories of Rockford's founding, its industrious adolescence, economic decline, and rebirth are well-documented through the last 150 years. However, this work now sheds light on the more "invisible" stories of the LGBTQIA+ history of the area. These stories are not well-documented, and after careful research, thorough deep-dive into notable people and events, and interviewing of the people who lived it, Mertzenich now presents a detailed account of the people and places that made the rainbow rise in Rockford. From stories of a local transgender soldier in the civil war all the way to a first-hand account of Rockford's First Official Pride Parade, Mertzenich brings a nuanced account of local history. Join him on a journey through time that paints a picture of the Forest City's most colorful citizens and locales.
TAGS: | Diversity Equity and Inclusion | Culture | Book Discussion |
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About the library
The 66,000 sq.ft. Main Library opened in spring of 2024 and serves as the Rockford Public Library's main downtown facility. The newly constructed space boasts a 1st floor Children's Area complete with a dedicated computer lab, three program rooms, play structure with slide, and baby garden, a Maker Lab with access to 3D printers and scanners and small board computers, podcasting room, green screen video room, a large Young Adult Zone with gaming center, adult computer lab, local history room, and several meeting and study rooms accommodating groups of 2-8 people. Additional features include a large interactive screen, two roof-top terraces, one of which is available for rent as part of our large event space on the third floor, underground parking, and drive-thru book drop holds pickup!
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