W Hotels, a branch of Marriott International Inc., is partnering with them. to form a book club centered around amplifying LGBTQ+ voices. Them. is described as “a next-generation community platform” that documents and shares stories of inspirational individuals across various mediums (pop culture, politics, news) all through the “lens of today’s LGBTQ+ community.”
According to Marriott’s announcement of this book club, W Hotels and them. “hope to bring further attention to queer authors and audiences by shining their collective spotlight on three moving literary titles throughout the summer of 2021.”
Since the global pandemic has complicated the usual celebrations W Hotels partakes in for Pride, Carly Van Sickle of W Hotels (Senior Director, Global Marketing Worldwide) stated that they “wanted to celebrate Pride with anyone, anywhere, who would like to connect through the written word.”
This summer, three different books will be read through the them. and W Hotels Summer Book Club. Members of this book club will have the opportunity to read recent LGBTQ+ novels and nonfiction titles. These works will allow readers to experience how members of the LGBTQ+ community live and thrive in society today.
From June to August, them. will reveal each month’s selection via Instagram. Readers are invited to share their thoughts about each book during each month. Guests can even request a copy of the books to read during their stays at select W Hotels in North America!
The first title for the Summer Book Club is Real Queer America by Samantha Allen. Readers follow a transgender reporter on a road trip as they chronicle “vibrant” LGBTQ+ communities living in conservative towns across the states.
The Editor-in-Chief of them. Whembley Sewell expressed, “We are so proud to be collaborating with W Hotels to put the power of LGBTQ+ storytelling into the hands of people everywhere. Through this book club, we hope readers feel the spirit of Pride all summer long and beyond—no matter where they are.”
For more information on the them. and W Hotels Summer Book Club, click here!
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