Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Turpin, Jordan Gignac, And Soleil Gignac.
Hi Jenna Turpin, Jordan Gignac, and Soleil Gignac, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Carabiner Collections began as a dream in June 2023 when three friends saw a gap in access to LGBTQIA+ literature, especially in rural areas of Texas. We started with just a handful of books, a pop-up tent, and a deep commitment to community. We set up wherever would have us, offering free queer books and affirming resources to anyone who needed them. As interest grew, so did our collection and our impact. In November 2023, we officially incorporated as a nonprofit. Today, we’re proud to operate a bookmobile that we renovated ourselves and collaborate with community resources across the state. We even host many of our own events throughout the year, inviting authors from all over the country to share with our community. Through it all, we’ve remained rooted in joy, accessibility, and the belief that everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a journey full of growth, learning, and love. As a queer-led organization based in Central Texas, we’ve faced a lot of the same barriers our community does: limited funding, political hostility, and burnout from constantly fighting for our existence. In the beginning, we didn’t have much, just a few dozen books donated by the authors toted around on broken carts. We’ve been turned away from venues, denied partnerships because of our content, and struggled to store and transport our growing library. We can’t partner directly with schools, which limits how we reach LGBTQIA+ youth. We work on nights and weekends to make this happen. The response from our community has made every challenge worth it. Seeing kids light up when they find a book that reflects who they are, or watching families connect over queer stories, that stuff keeps us going. Every roadblock has helped us build something more intentional and more resilient.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Carabiner Collections is a mobile LGBTQIA+ community library based in Central Texas. We specialize in increasing access to queer and trans books in rural and underserved areas, places where affirming stories are often hardest to find. Our mobile model allows us to meet people where they are: at festivals, in community centers, at parks, and on sidewalks. We offer pop-up libraries, storytimes, drag readings, author talks, and more. All for free! What we’re becoming best known for is the Pride Book Fair, our first annual flagship event that brings together LGBTQIA+ authors, drag performers, community groups, and families to celebrate queer literature. The very first Pride Book Fair will be on June 28th. We’re most proud of how we’ve built trust in our community. We’ve gone from carts of donated books to a trailer full of curated intersectional titles from queer authors across genres and identities. We’ve hosted programming in areas where LGBTQIA+ stories are being banned and have been met with overwhelming gratitude and support. What sets us apart is our commitment to joy and access. We’re not just resisting censorship; we’re celebrating our stories loudly, colorfully, and publicly.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, Jenna was deeply curious. A quiet observer who loved books, animals, and being outside. They were drawn to nature and storytelling early on.
Jordan has always been the rebel. Bold, outspoken, and unafraid to challenge the status quo, she brought fire to every room she entered. When something makes her angry, she sets out to fix it. Hearing about book banning made her angry.
Soleil is the creative. She grew up as the child of an artist and quickly became one herself. Endlessly imaginative and expressive, she brings beauty and vision into everything she touches, from art to community-building. She is our design genius.
Jordan and Soleil met in high school—friends turned lovers—and as of June 1st, are now each other’s wives. Jenna met the pair in 2022 in Bryan, Texas, when Jordan and Jenna started their PhDs. The three quickly bonded over shared values and mutual admiration, developing a deep love and respect for one another, ultimately led them to co-found Carabiner Collections together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carabinercollections.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carabinercollections/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553405473218&%3Bsk=about
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe9ZdiLvjA6wdGPniTJ4jNQ
Image Credits
The first image is by Beth Symons, the others are by Soleil Gignac. The images under the tent with the book carts are from when we first started.
