Through persistence, strategy, and an unshakable belief in the power of libraries as civic institutions, Gittings helped transform how libraries talked about being gay—and, in doing so, reshaped how generations of people understood themselves.

The parallel is impossible to ignore. In 1933, fascists burned books to eliminate queer knowledge. In 2026, activists still fight to keep LGBTQ+ materials on library shelves. The tactics have evolved, but the goal remains the same: erasure. The response must remain the same, too: determined, unapologetic preservation.

The lesson is stark; preservation is never a one-time victory. It is an ongoing act of resistance.