In some posts, you will see this marking [*]. It appears when a text is labeled as “the first” or “second” of its kind.

To be “the first” connotes a Western value not afforded to the “second,” or the “third.” When a text is marked as “the first,” the intention is to highlight context.

What does that mean?

Here is one example. Feminist Queer Armenian-American women led the way in publishing Queer Armenian nonfiction. The first Queer Armenian memoir was written in the early 1990s by Arlene Voski Avakian, who identifies as a Lesbian. Sixteen year later, the “second” Queer Armenian memoir was published by Nancy Agabian, who identifies as Bisexual. In the meantime, the “first” memoir by a Gay Armenian-American man wasn’t published until 2020.

This is the intention of labeling a text “first” or “second,” to demonstrate patterns of understanding the literature of the Queer Armenian Diaspora.

Also, there is a particular challenge in putting together this type of library, in which the authors live across the world. It is very possible that a book, essay, short story, or memoir exists that could be the “first” or “second” or “third” of its kind but isn’t yet part of this library. In the event we find, or someone lets us know, we will feature that publication here and update all posts accordingly.