OpenBooks logo with waving rainbow flag and grey text that says Open Books
Books propped up on a table and coming out of a box with the Open Books logo on it.

About Us

Mission

Open Books brings LGBTQ+ affirming stories to school libraries, so every child can feel like they belong.

Vision

Open Books imagines a day when schools are full of stories that make every student feel seen. Until that day, we will champion access to diverse and affirming literature, to communicate that the LGBTQ+ experience is real and all children are valued.

Our Model

Books are a simple, powerful tool for changing lives. We harness the power of books with our three-pronged approach:

District Down

Open Books magnifies impact by partnering with school districts. This allows us to place our books in all elementary school libraries in the district, ensuring the books have a shelf life of 8 to 10 years.

Early Stage Intervention

Open Books currently focuses on elementary students through their school libraries to help set the foundation for self-acceptance. Educators concur that by the time children reach middle school, they already experience isolation and a lack of representation.

Public School Libraries

Open Books focuses on public school libraries–which often struggle with funding–so all children have an organic opportunity to find diverse books. When children feel safe, they learn better.

Learn more about OpenBooks

Our History

2017

FOUNDING

Our organization begins work as the 501(c)(3) Gender Nation.

2019

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

We secure endorsements from the country’s top LGBTQ+ and civil rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign and Equality California.

2022

BLANKETING THE BAY AREA

We deliver book sets to 234 libraries across 9 school districts in the Bay Area of California. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond comes to our delivery event, showing the support of the California Department of Education for diversifying school libraries.

2023

HELPING HEAL

Open Books is privileged to provide books to Academy School District 20’s libraries in Colorado Springs, CO, as a response to the devastating Club Q hate crime shooting at an LGBTQ+ club in that community.

2018

FIRST DISTRICT DELIVERY

Glendale Unified School District in California is the first school district to approve and receive LGBTQ+ affirming books for all 23 elementary school libraries, impacting 13,005 students that year.

2021

LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

We donate book sets to all 469 libraries in the country’s second largest school district– making LGBTQ+ affirming literature available to 286,000+ students every year.

2022

NEW NAME, SAME MISSION

We officially change our name from Gender Nation to Open Books to better reflect our work and purpose. Open Books, Open Hearts, Open Minds.

2024

THE WORK CONTINUES

To date, Open Books has donated to more than 1200 elementary school libraries, making LGBTQ+ affirming books available daily to almost a million students.

2017

FOUNDING

Our organization begins work as the 501(c)(3) Gender Nation.

2018

FIRST DISTRICT DELIVERY

Glendale Unified School District in California is the first school district to approve and receive LGBTQ+ affirming books for all 23 elementary school libraries, impacting 13,005 students that year.

2019

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

We secure endorsements from the country’s top LGBTQ+ and civil rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign and Equality California.

2021

LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

We donate book sets to all 469 libraries in the country’s second largest school district– making LGBTQ+ affirming literature available to 286,000+ students every year.

2022

BLANKETING THE BAY AREA

We deliver book sets to 234 libraries across 9 school districts in the Bay Area of California. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond comes to our delivery event, showing the support of the California Department of Education for diversifying school libraries.

2022

NEW NAME, SAME MISSION

We officially change our name from Gender Nation to Open Books to better reflect our work and purpose. Open Books, Open Hearts, Open Minds.

2023

HELPING HEAL

Open Books is privileged to provide books to Academy School District 20’s libraries in Colorado Springs, CO, as a response to the devastating Club Q hate crime shooting at an LGBTQ+ club in that community.

2024

THE WORK CONTINUES

To date, Open Books has donated to more than 1200 elementary school libraries, making LGBTQ+ affirming books available daily to almost a million students.

Our Team

Morgan Walsh

Keiko Feldman

Jaskaran Kaur

Matt Walsh

Jennifer Grant

Jon Brockett

Jeremy Tardo

Our Partners