Our Human Library Book of the Month is a series of portraits of our books from around the world. The portraits are created to offer our readers a chance to understand the diversity and variety on our bookshelves. It also provides unique insights into the motivations and values of the thousands of volunteers that are published each year.

Interior designer by day, sex worker by night

Nitin is not ashamed of who he is, or how he lives. He wants to talk to his readers at the Human Library about his amazing life as an interior designer at day and a sex worker at night. He hopes that by sharing his experiences, he can help change attitudes among readers.

Meet our Human Library Book of the Month for March 2019. 22-year-old Nitin has already been published three times since he joined the Human Library book depot in Mumbai in the fall of 2018.

His topic on the bookshelf is “Sexworker” or “Escorting life” as he prefers to call it. He enjoys to share with his readers, how he combines a daytime job as an interior designer with a night time job as a gay escort.

Thought something was wrong

“I get a lot of different questions,” he says.

They range from: Who are your friends? What are your goals for the future? How do you date? To: How do you make sure that your clients are safe? And how do you get in contact and meet with them?

“I grew up dyslexic in a normal Indian school system in Dharavi. I did not grow up rich. I thought something was wrong with me, until I was out of school,” Nitin says.

But nothing was wrong with Nitin, and instead of giving up his hopes he started working hard to get to where he is today.

One thing is being gay

In September 2018, gays in India celebrated after the country’s Supreme Court decriminalized homosexuality. Though this was an important breakthrough for homosexuals in the country, it doesn’t mean that homosexuals are free.

“I don’t think that something is wrong with me. Escorting should not be a taboo,” he says.

“I really am happy to have been selected as a book, because I feel that my challenge is to help change that taboo.”

Sharing makes Nitin stronger

In Nitin’s opinion the Human Library plays a significant role.

“It’s the only platform, where people are asked not to judge. That is so important,” he says.

One day in the Human Library he shared his personal story that also includes his chapter on sexual abuse, from when he was a child.

“A girl in the group of readers started crying and told us that she had also been abused as a child. It was such a touching moment, we cried, and my heart beat really fast. She spoke up about her experiences. Whatever happened was not right, and she could walk away with confidence, knowing that it was not right, and that it has happened to other people, too. Nothing will change if we don’t speak up. That is why the Human Library is so important. I am proud to be part of it.”

Follow the work of the Human Library in Mumbai here for an opportunity to borrow Nitin and many more.

The post Book of the Month: Sex Worker appeared first on The Human Library Organization.

The software giant is turning towards a more analog format, when it comes to working with diversity and inclusion.
It started in 2018 with an invitation to present the Human Library at Microsoft’s annual flagship diversity event known as the “Confluence” in Hyderabad.

The more than 100 readers that took part in the “Reading Hall” were quite enthusiastic about their outcomes and so this year, the Human Library has been invited to expand our collaboration with Microsoft in India.

More events across India

This means that in connection with the 2019 Confluence week activities, the Human Library will deliver events at Microsoft locations across India. The entire week from April 8-12 will offer opportunities for Microsoft staff to become readers of the Human Library.

Events are scheduled to take place in the cities of Bangalore, Mumbai, Gurgaon and bringing the week to an end with more than 200 readers expected at the Confluence main event in Hyderabad on the 12th of April.

Local book depots to supply the content

The many events and the content we are publishing will be delivered from our book depots in the same cities. The Human Library has book depots in operation in twelve of the largest cities in India.

At the Human Library we are honored to be working with Microsoft on the important mission of building inclusive workplaces and enabling people and organizations to better reap the many advantages of our diversity.

The post More analog readings for Microsoft staff appeared first on The Human Library Organization.

VICE report from the Human Library

The international news site VICE visited the Human Library in Hyderabad, India. Through the VICE reporter, the viewer is invited to a taste of what it feels like being a reader at the Human Library. You also get a look behind the scenes, as the video presents some of our amazing books, from our book depot and you meet the driven volunteers behind the Human Library Hyderabad. More uniquely, the reporter is courageous to let himself be published as a book, and goes on to describe his experience – both as a reader and as a book.

“This is a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated, and hopefully answered by the books.”

As stated above, by the founder of the Human Library Hyderabad, Harshad Fad, our goal is always to have the difficult – and real – conversations, between the readers and the books. The Human Library Hyderabad has worked since its establishment a year ago and has already influenced more than 5000 readers! Furthermore, it has made an impact on its surrounding society, inspiring the formation of more Human Libraries and human books – and most recently, delivering content to Microsofts Confluence Conference in April 2018.

Watch the VICE video below, and be inspired by the driven and motivated people that are dedicated to building a safe space where you can challenge the stigma and stereotypes – through something as simple as open and honest conversations.

WATCH THE VICE VIDEO HERE

The post VICE visited the Human Library appeared first on The Human Library Organization.