Adding LGBTQ inclusive books into your school classroom

 Backstory

When I was seven, I watched television with my mom all the time. It was a ritual that seemed spiritual. It helped me understand the world through her perspective as she would comment on characters and plot lines. 'My So-Called Life' starring Claire Danes featured the first gay person I ever remembered. Wilson Cruz played Rickie Vasques, the best friend. I knew I connected to his character, but at seven years old I didn't quite understand how. Nonetheless, I paid careful attention to what my mom thought about him. Was she bothered that he wore earrings? Did she think his voice was annoying? Did she see him as a human deserving of love? All of this swirled in my head as I watched videos of Rickie like the one below- (boy's got some dance moves!) Media's portrayals of LGBTQ characters played an important part in shaping how I understood the LGBTQ community as a young gay boy. Never did I read about a gay character until my thirties when I read the young adult best selling book 'Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda' by Becky Albertalli (which was later turned into the movie 'Love, Simon'). As I read through the book, I couldn't help but wonder, how much easier would my life had been if I had a book like this as a younger person.

(The clip above is from 'My So-Called Life' where Rickie Vasquez was one of the first gay characters I saw on television. His dancing moves are fierce.)

Now, there are hundreds of books, television shows, films, and more that include LGBTQ characters. These resources, though, are not always accessible to children who could benefit from seeing representation. Organizations like Lambda Literary have created the Lambda Book Report, an influential review periodical that has helped define LGBTQ literature, and is also associated with Lambda Literary Awards which distinguishes exceptional LGBTQ literature, including a Children's/Young Adult Award category (Lambda, 2020). Books like these can normalize the LGBTQ community and prevent bullying, harassment, and discrimination in educational environments towards LGBTQ students and faculty. In an educational study, 87.8% of teachers reported that picture storybooks are effective tools for character education (Turan & Ulutas, 2016, p. 170). Yet, 86.8% of teachers report lacking funds to obtain desired books (Turan & Ulutas, 2016, p. 172). Over 94% of teachers spend their own money on books and other supplies for their classroom libraries (Malito, 2018). Teachers that I personally know have told me that they choose the books that go into their classroom's library, but in conservative communities, they fear that their administrators would censor LGBTQ inclusive books. Books in school libraries are chosen by school librarians. To choose which books go in the school's library, The American Library Association utilizes general criteria that includes "relevance to community needs" and "suitability of subject for intended audiences", as well as content criteria, including "representation of diverse points of view" and "representation of important movements, genres, or trends", and more (American Library Association, 2018)

Why is censoring LGBTQ inclusive literature wrong?

The movement towards inclusivity of LGBTQ students and faculty in educational environments is centered around equality. Children and Young Adult LGBTQ literature deserve equal consideration and inclusion towards classroom and school libraries. When children learn about different kinds of families or the accomplishments of LGBTQ leaders, compassion is nurtured. Just as children learn about the civil rights movements from books about Martin Luther King, Jr.  or Rosa Parks, children can learn about the accomplishments of Harvey Milk or the movement of Stonewall Inn. Equality and LGBTQ representation in children and young adult books will then inspire compassion and inclusivity. Check out some of the beautiful images of LGBTQ inclusive storybooks below!

(Image source: The Advocate).

Helping LGBTQ students and faculty achieve their personal potential

As mentioned in previous posts, LGBTQ students are at higher risk of losing their psychological and basic needs in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, not giving them the chance for self-actualization, or reaching their full potential. (Remember, homeless youth populations are startlingly LGBTQ identifying). According to the Center on Positive Behavioral Intervention & Support, there are different tiers in preventing unwanted behaviors (such as bullying, harassment, and discrimination)– with tier 1 being a broad approach, and tier 3 being an intensive, individualized course of action (Center on Positive Behavioral Intervention & Support, n.d.). Including LGBTQ inclusive literature in classroom and school libraries is a tier 1 response, and can prevent more intensive responses in the future. Bullying, discrimination, and harassment risk the safety and security of LGBTQ students and faculty, reinforcing the call for equality, inclusivity, and compassion.

What to do:

A world where administrators censor inclusive literature is not a world I envision in the future. This is the reality of the present, though. Here are some things parents, teachers, and students can do to promote equality in the local classroom. This is your assignment:

    •Ask your teacher if there are any LGBTQ inclusive books in their classroom library. Not in there? Buy them for your teacher! Here's a great resource for finding great LGBTQ children and young adult books: READ BRIGHTLY

     •Tell your school's librarian you're interested in LGBTQ children and young adult books. According to the American Library Association, general criteria for choosing books includes requests by library patrons (American Library Association, 2018).

     •Read LGBTQ children and young adult book reviews and get involved in the community! Start at BookSirens as a good launching spot!

     •Send your local administrators and school board members an email to let them know that you support equality and inclusive LGBTQ literature! Heck, speak at a school board meeting if you can! Education Week reports that many educators self-censor for the fear that their administrators would not support controversial books (Stoltzfus, 2016). When you start the conversation about including LGBTQ books in educational settings, you're setting a tone that LGBTQ lives are not controversial– a tone of equality, inclusivity, and compassion on behalf of your community!

As always, share your stories!

How did a LGBTQ character portrayed in the media help you learn about the LGBTQ community?

What are your thoughts about LGBTQ inclusive literature in educational settings as a source for character education and bullying prevention? 

Comment below!

References:

The Advocate. (n.d.). 21 LGBTQ picture books every kid should read. The Advocate. https://www.advocate.com/books/2016/1/29/21-lgbt-picture-books-every-kid-should-read.

American Library Association. (January 2018). Selection Criteria. http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit/criteria

Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. (2021). Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports. https://www.pbis.org

Elena C. [Username]. (2010, April 29). My So-Called Life- Ricky & Delia Dancing. [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/QmZIL8hkhZE

Lambda Literary. (June 1, 2020). 2020 winners. https://www.lambdaliterary.org/awards/2020-winners

Malito, A. (September 4, 2018). These teachers are spending their own money to help improve their classes. Market Watch. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/teachers-spend-hundred-sometimes-thousands-of-dollars-of-their-own-money-on-students-2018-07-24

Stolzfus, K. (October 3, 2016). How can teachers and librarians navigate censorship in the classroom? Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/how-can-teachers-and-librarians-navigate-censorship-in-the-classroom/2016/10

Turan, F. & Ulutas, I. (2016). Using storybooks as character education tools. Journal of Eudcation and Practice. 7(15),169-176. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1103139.pdf