March 25: ‘Understanding Gender in Today’s World: Information, Misinformation and Disinformation’
SUNDERLAND — Genny Beemyn, director of the Stonewall Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, will present a program titled “Understanding Gender in Today’s World: Information, Misinformation and Disinformation” at the Sunderland Public Library on Wednesday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m.
The free talk aims to “dispel much of the misinformation and disinformation surrounding gender today” by breaking down basic gender terminology, examples of mistreatment that transgender individuals face, and Beemyn’s experience counseling college students and others grappling with their gender identities and the responses they have witnessed, according to a statement from the library.
“There is a tremendous amount of misinformation and disinformation out there about trans and nonbinary people from the White House on down,” Beemyn noted in a statement. “I hope to dispel some of these myths and outright lies, and help people to see that, far from a threat to society, trans and nonbinary people are oftentimes victimized by society.”
The Sunderland Public Library and the Sunderland Human Rights Task Force are hosting the talk, which is sponsored by the Deerfield Inclusion Group, Hatfield Equity Alliance and the First Congregational Church of Sunderland.
“Many of our patrons did not grow up with the notions of nonbinary gender, gender fluidity or transgender identity, and they might not understand how gender identity is something totally different from sexual identity,” Katherine Umstot, director of the Sunderland Public Library, said in the announcement.
She added that the program is for anyone who is feeling confused about pronouns, gender expression or gender dysphoria and its relevance today.
“Our library is here to host a forum where people can get their questions answered in a safe, nonjudgmental, supportive environment,” Umstot said. “As a public library, we are here to address the important issues of our day, and this is certainly one of them.”
Reproductive justice activists to speak on new book
LEVERETT — Reproductive justice activists and scholars Marlene Gerber Fried and Loretta Ross will discuss and answer questions about their new book, “Abortion and Reproductive Justice: An Essential Guide for Resistance,” at the Mount Toby Friends Meetinghouse, 194 Long Plain Road, on Sunday, March 29, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Ross is co-founder of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective and is an associate professor at Smith College. Gerber Fried is a professor emerita of philosophy at Hampshire College who co-founded the National Network of Abortion Funds.
According to a statement from the Reproductive Justice Task Force of Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution (FCCPR), the organization hosting the event alongside the Feminist Generation Amherst, the book analyzes “how abortion and bodily autonomy are under threat, fueled not only by patriarchy and overt white supremacy, but by racial and anti-immigrant hatred and support for traditional gender roles and identities.”
“This is a multigenerational and coalition movement-building event,” said Susan Triolo, who helped organize the free event. “The ‘Essential Guide for Resistance’ covers the span from the early years when abortion became legal through the 50 years when women generally had access to abortion and contraception, up to the present when the 2022 overturning of Roe unleashed a wave of urgent threats. People of all generations have a stake in this struggle.”
Light refreshments will be served.
April 4: Local author coming to Field Memorial Library
CONWAY — Author Peter Rosnick of Conway will stop by the Field Memorial Library’s Children’s Reading Room on Saturday, April 4, at 11 a.m to read the story of “JoJo and Bea, the Bolivian Bunny.”
Visitors will hear about main character JoJo’s quest to find Bea’s lost tail, and rescuing it from the force of an oncoming train, waterfall, fox den and eagle’s talons.
Mobile health vehicle coming to Whately Town Offices
WHATELY — Starting on Monday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents can visit a mobile health vehicle from the Community Health Center of Franklin County at the Whately Town Offices. The service will be offered on the first Monday of each month.
According to a post on the Whately Police Department’s Facebook page, physicals, dental care, vaccines and other services will be available. A Community Health Center employee will also be able to share information about the center and its services, and help visitors become new patients and determine their insurance eligibility and coverage options.
April 18: Spring Book Sale
CONWAY — The Field Memorial Library is accepting donations for the Friends’ Spring Book Sale on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
According to Linda McDaniel, co-president of the Friends group, the library has collected books about gardening, climate change and sustainability, and seeks children’s books, books about local history and “recent books of all genres,” along with puzzles in good condition. Donations can be dropped off at the library during its open hours (Mondays from 3 to 6 p.m., Wednesdays from 2 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
At the book sale, visitors can buy hardcover books for $2, paperbacks for $1 and children’s books for 50 cents. Proceeds will benefit the library’s educational and cultural programs.