The National Center for Civil and Human Rights’ LGBTQ+ Program presents invites guests to grab a cup of coffee and settle down to talk about topics relating to history and social justice. Cup of Truth offers an intimate chat with authors, experts, and speakers where anyone in the community is welcome to come listen and learn. This month we’re excited to be in partnership with Charis Books and More, the South’s oldest independent feminist bookstore, and an LGBTQ gathering space in metro Atlanta for more than 50 years.
Enjoy some coffee on Charis’ front porch before venturing inside to engage with authors Vanessa Ford and Rebecca Kling for a conversation inspired by their co-authored book, The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools Where Transgender and Non-Binary Students Thrive, and The National Day of Silence.
The Day of (NO) Silence is an annual day of action organized by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) to spread awareness about the effects of bullying and harassment of LGBTQ students in schools. On this day, students across the US take a vow of silence to illustrate the silencing effect when LGBTQ students are bullied
Attendees can pre-order copies of The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools Where Transgender and Non-Binary Students Thrive, as well as the authors’ other books, Calvin and 2 Trans 2 Furious from Charis to pick up at the event!
Vanessa Ford (she/her) is an award-winning educator and author. Her children’s book, Calvin, won the 2022 Lambda Literary Award for Best Children’s Book, and she co-authored The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools where Transgender and Nonbinary Students Thrive. Ford was a classroom teacher for 14 years in DC Public Schools and her advocacy has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Newsweek and NPR. She was a founding member of The Human Rights Campaign’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council and sat for 2 years on the board of the National Center for Transgender Equality. She lives with her husband and two children, one of whom is trans, near Boston. Learn more about Vanessa’s work at www.jrandvanessaford.com
Rebecca Kling (she/her) is an award-winning author, educator, organizer, storyteller, and advocate for social change. Kling is the co-founder and principal of Better World Collaborative, a social impact consulting firm working to combat the recent flood of anti-trans rhetoric and legislation. She co-authored The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools where Transgender and Nonbinary Students Thrive, and previously served as the community storytelling advocate and director of education programming at the National Center for Transgender Rights, as well as on the leadership team of Harbor Camps, a sleepaway summer camp for trans and non-binary youth. In 2024, Rebecca’s work was included in 2 Trans 2 Furious: An extremely serious journal of Transgender Street Racing Studies, which won a Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Anthology. Rebecca lives in Chicago with her girlfriend and three cats. Learn about Rebecca’s work at www.rebeccakling.com and www.bwcollab.com.
In-person event guidelines:
If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or to request specific accessibility accommodations including ASL interpretation, please contact [email protected] or call the store at 404-524-0304.
By attending our event you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to [email protected] immediately.
