Queer Book Club

Kick off Pride month with community building activities and an opportunity to meet the author, Jonny Garza Villa! Jonny will be joining us for discussion and questions.

Sunday June 9 | 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Casa Orgullo (300 S. 2nd St. McAllen, TX 78501)

Please kindly read the book before our meeting. Book sponsorship available! All are welcome

About the author:

Jonny Garza Villa (they/them/theirs) is a product of the Great State of Texas, born and raised near and along the Gulf Coast and currently lives in San Antonio. They are a Sagittarius sun, Capricorn everything else, a former very bad baseball player, and a former pretty good drag queen.

When not writing, Jonny enjoys reading, playing Dungeons and Dragons (bard main) and Super Smash Bros. (Inkling main), cooking, listening to Selena, caring for their many cacti children, and rewatching their favorite seasons of Dimension20.

About the book:

Ander & Santi Were Here. The Santos Vista neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, is all Ander Martínez has ever known. The smell of pan dulce. The mixture of Spanish and English filling the streets. And, especially their job at their family's taquería. It's the place that has inspired Ander as a muralist, and, as they get ready to leave for art school, it's all of these things that give them hesitancy. That give them the thought, are they ready to leave it all behind? To keep Ander from becoming complacent during their gap year, their family "fires" them so they can transition from restaurant life to focusing on their murals and prepare for college. That is, until they meet Santiago López Alvarado, the hot new waiter. Falling for each other becomes as natural as breathing. Through Santi's eyes, Ander starts to understand who they are and want to be as an artist, and Ander becomes Santi's first steps toward making Santos Vista and the United States feel like home. Until ICE agents come for Santi, and Ander realizes how fragile that sense of home is. How love can only hold on so long when the whole world is against them. And when, eventually, the world starts to win.

Why Queer Book Clubs are important in TX:

Queer book clubs are vital for our LGBTQIA+ community in Texas, especially in today's political climate marked by heightened legislative actions targeting LGBTQ rights and identities. These clubs provide safe spaces for individuals to express themselves, share experiences, and find solidarity with their neighbors.   Our Queer Book Club, based in McAllen, TX, aims to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment by celebrating queer voices and stories, countering the often negative narratives propagated by restrictive policies. In an environment where LGBTQ individuals may feel increasingly marginalized, our meetings offer crucial support networks, promoting mental well-being and resilience through community and connection.  Book Club Sponsorship - Casa Orgullo, TFA RGV Prism, and South Texas Equality Project book club.