Author Tyler Gillespie Virtual Event

The LGBTQ Resource Center of the Gulfport Public Library in Gulfport, Florida is presenting author Tyler Gillespie who will read from his new book “The Thing About Florida: Exploring a Misunderstood State” on April 22nd at 7P ET via Zoom. Kristen Arnett, author of Mostly Dead Things stated, “Ripe with history, packed with fascinating information about the interior of the state, The Thing about Florida is a personal look at a profoundly misunderstood place. A necessary read.” In “The Thing about Florida” published by the University of Florida Press, Gillespie faces his Florida denial & takes readers on an exuberant search for the state behind the caricatures, cutting through the media storm with curiosity & humor. His journey leads him to eclectic & unconventional Floridians who have been misrepresented in news stories. He interviews storm chasers, Civil War re-enactors, cattle ranchers, drag queens, python hunters & pet smugglers. His conversations delve into serious issues such as addiction, Florida’s racist past & care options for the state’s LGBTQ senior citizens. With perspective & empathy derived from his background as a gay man raised Southern Baptist, Gillespie shows how important it is to understand the diversity & complexity of Florida today. Tyler Gillespie, a fifth-generation Floridian, is a poet & award-winning journalist. He has written for GQ, the Guardian, the Nation, VICE & Salon. He is the author of Florida Man: Poems & co-editor of The Awkward Phase: The Uplifting Tales of Those Weird Kids You Went to School With. The LGBTQ Resource Center of the Gulfport Public Library is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The event is free but you must register.

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