In Defiance of Hate: Our Response to Trump’s Election and Policies
A Letter from the Publisher, Connor Wolfe
Dear Readers,
Today, the United States has elected Donald Trump as president, marking the beginning of an administration already signaling policies that threaten the rights, freedoms, and dignity of countless individuals—especially those within the LGBTQIA+ community. Among his stated intentions are regressive and harmful actions, such as limiting the recognition of gender diversity and banning the use of chosen pronouns in schools and federal institutions.
Let us be clear: This is not just a political issue; this is a human rights issue.
As a Queer/Trans-owned business, Wayfarer Books cannot and will not remain silent in the face of policies that seek to erase the existence of trans and nonbinary people. These measures are an affront to human decency and a dangerous step backward for our society.
We unequivocally condemn these policies and the ideology they represent. We refuse to stand by while members of our community are targeted, dehumanized, and silenced.
Wayfarer Books was founded on principles of inclusivity, justice, and the belief that every person deserves the right to live authentically. These principles are not just values we hold—they are the foundation of our work, our mission, and our lives.
To Our Community:
We stand with trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people in their fight for recognition, respect, and safety.
We reject Trump’s agenda and any attempts to undermine the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
We remain a safe space for marginalized voices and will continue to amplify those voices through our publications, partnerships, and platform.
To Our Allies:
This is a pivotal moment in history, and your support matters more than ever. Now is the time to act:
Speak out against these harmful policies.
Advocate for trans rights in your communities and workplaces.
Educate yourself and others about the realities and needs of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Support organizations that protect and uplift marginalized communities.
The challenges ahead are great, but we refuse to be silenced. We refuse to yield to hate, division, or fear. This is not the first time our community has faced adversity, and it will not be the last time we rise together to overcome it.
To our trans and nonbinary readers, authors, creators, and allies: You are not alone. You are seen, valued, and loved. Wayfarer Books will continue to fight for a world where you can exist freely and authentically.
In the face of oppression, we choose resistance. In the face of hate, we choose love. In the face of injustice, we choose solidarity.
Together, we will rise. Together, we will fight. Together, we will create a world rooted in compassion, inclusion, and justice.
With unwavering solidarity,
Mx. Connor L. Wolfe
(They/them) Founder, Wayfarer Books / Editor-in-Chief Wayfarer Magazine
From 2002 to 2022, Connor Wolfe (they/them) authored fourteen titles under the pen name L.M. Browning. Their work earned numerous accolades, including six Pushcart Prize nominations, the Gold Nautilus Medal for Poetry in 2010, multiple Foreword Review Book Awards, and the Nautilus Silver Medal for Poetry in 2022. Wolfe’s innovative approach to independent publishing led to two terms on the Board of Directors for the Independent Book Publisher’s Association, a TEDx talk at Yale University, and studies at Harvard University through grant programs.
After delivering a TEDx Talk in 2018 about their experiences with successive trauma, Wolfe was invited to participate in broader mental health discussions at state and national levels. There, they became an advocate for normalizing mental illness by sharing personal stories, a practice known as Radical Authenticity. Wolfe holds a degree in Abnormal Psychology, with a focus on the intersection of mental illness and creativity. Driven by their passion for art, Wolfe also pursued a minor in Photojournalism at Harvard, studying under Samantha Appleton, the former Official White House Photographer for President Obama and the First Family.
In early 2024, Wolfe worked as Volunteer Staff in the Collections Department of the Museum of Anthropology at Ghost Ranch with a team preparing sacred objects for repatriation under the newly updated Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. They are wintering along the Rio Puerco on Cerro Pedernal.