Please join us on Sunday June 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at the Bureau of General Services-Queer Division book store located at 208 West 13th St NY, NY. – Room 210. We are celebrating the book release of Authentic Selves, a collection of stories by Trans and Nonbinary People and their families from across the country.

You will meet authors Josef Burwell, Tamira Burns, Chris Mohn and Jozeppi Angelo Morelli who will discuss their passion for the book and share excerpts from their stories. Our special guest will be Peggy Gillespie Co-Director of Family Diversity Projects and the extraordinary human who interviewed all the authors in the book.

Book signing will follow.

Copies of Authentic Selves will be available for purchase at the event. We strongly encourage you to reserve a copy in advance so that we can be sure to have enough on hand. Please email us at contact@bgsqd.com with “Reserve Authentic Selves”  in the subject line.

Thank you for supporting the Bureau by purchasing books from us!

This event will take place in person at the Bureau of General Services—Queer Division, on the second floor (room 210) of The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., NYC, 10011.

Registration is not required. Seating is first come, first served.

Suggested donation $10 to benefit the Bureau’s work.

All are welcome to attend, with or without donation.

We will pass a bag for donations at the start of the event, but we can also take credit card donations at the register or on Venmo @bgsqd.

Josef Burwell is a transgender man, Physician Associate, and humanitarian. He currently facilitates a peer support group for trans masculine individuals, and works professionally providing medical care for First American people in Alaska.

Rev. Tamira Burns is a visible and vocal member of the LGBTQI+ community. She has been a human rights and social Justice advocate-activist for over 3 decades, working to affect compassionate policy changes at the local and state level for women, children and the LGBTQI+ community.

Chris Mohn (she/her) is a retired middle school educator, a mom, and a human committed to justice for all. I am honored to be a member of Joey’s chosen family, witnessing and supporting (as I could) his journey to become his authentic self – a proud, confident man, and now a passionate activist for the Trans community.

Peggy Gillespie is the Co-Founder/Director of Family Diversity Projects. She is the Editor-in- Chief of all of Family Diversity Project’s exhibits and books including Authentic Selves, Love Makes a Family: Portraits of LGBT People and their Families. https://www.familydiversityprojects.org 

Jozeppi Angelo Morelli is a retired law enforcement officer and 911 WTC First Responder. He is an author, gender educator, activist and public speaker. He is also currently co-producing A Two Spirit Artist Show opening Oct 9,2023 in the East Village at La Sala De Pepe, a gallery and cultural center.