The Athenæum of Philadelphia is hosting an event on January 17 featuring a panel of authors who focus on amplifying marginalized voices, with a strong emphasis on LGBTQ+ issues and queer representation in literature.

The panel includes:

• Annie Liontas – A genderqueer author presenting their memoir, Sex with a Brain Injury: On Concussion and Recovery, which explores personal experiences with identity, trauma, and healing. Liontas’s work highlights queerness, resilience, and disability justice and has been featured on NPR’s Fresh Air.
• Emma Copley Eisenberg – Author of The Third Rainbow Girl, a Lambda Literary Award-nominated book. Eisenberg’s writing addresses complex social issues and often features queer themes and community-focused narratives.
• Hasanthika Sirisena – Writer of Dark Tourist, an essay collection that was shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award, reflecting their exploration of queer identities and diverse experiences.
• Piyali Bhattacharya – Editor of Good Girls Marry Doctors, an anthology focusing on identity, rebellion, and cultural expectations.

The event will explore how these authors use their work to challenge societal norms and tell LGBTQ+ stories that are often overlooked or resisted. Through personal narratives and community-driven storytelling, the panel emphasizes gender nonconformity, intersectionality, and advocacy for queer visibility in literature.