Photo Credit: Ace Schwarz Literature featuring LGBTQ+ characters has been around since ancient times and spans a wide variety of cultures... So why is it still a taboo subject for some school libraries? It isn't that it isn't available... there are plenty of LGBTQ+ titles out there across all grade levels! It isn't for lack of quality; many of the titles that are out there have won awards. There is no easy answer as to why LGBTQ+ lit is not as prevalent as it should be within our school libraries; however as school librarians, we have a duty to ensure that ALL of our students are represented in our collections. As we all know, good literature should function as a mirror to allow students to see themselves represented in stories. When we provide literature with LGBTQ+ themes, characters, and plots, we normalize the child with two dads, the girl who is exploring her crush on another female classmate, and the boy who knows he was born into the wrong body. These children need to see themselves represented in literature. Books also serve as a window to see into the lives of others... the cisgender, heterosexual children (and teachers!!) around them need to see those children represented in their reading as well. It is critical that we understand the issues and problems that our LGBTQ+ students handle on a daily basis. We know that reading builds empathy; what better way to do so than include a variety of LGBTQ+ literature in the library? But which books are right for your patrons and their needs? After all, five out of the ALA's top eleven most frequently banned and challenged books from 2018 made the list primarily due to LGBTQ+ content. Recently I helped an amazing colleague, Ace Schwarz (they/them), with a project they had in mind. They post frequently on Instagram, and they recently had the idea to post elementary, middle, and high school book lists for their followers. The goal was to post several books per day for elementary, middle and high school. This worthy project was eye opening for both of us; we quickly discovered that many books featuring LGBTQ+ characters or plots were not actually written by authors who identify as LGBTQ+. A little background research proved that this is the generally the case for a variety of reasons; however, if the books we are handing to our students are to be authentic, they need to be written in the author's #ownvoices, a hashtag started by author Corinne Duyvis. (For more on this topic and why it is important, check out this article!). Without further ado, I present to you the hard work put together by my colleague. Major props to them... this list represents many, many, MANY hours of work and research! This project contains:
If you aren't sure where to begin with understanding LGBTQ+ Issues, or what all those letters even mean, here is another great resource that Ace created - the ABCs of LGBTQ+! For further reading on the topic, please check out GLSEN's national reports on many aspects of school safety and student life. Reports I would recommend specifically would include:
Finally, please check out this amazing set of resources from the American Association of School Libraries on Defending Intellectual Freedom: LGBTQ+ Materials in School Libraries. These resources are perfect for defending your book choices to community stakeholders who may show resistance. Research has shown how much representation matters. We need to make sure that our LGBTQ+ students feel safe and visible. I challenge you to take a good look at your collection and the books it contains. What message are your books sending to your students? How can you better support them? Are you an ally to the LGBTQ+ community or a silent bystander?
I don't often get on my soapbox; however, when it comes to the safety, health, and well-being of my students, I am very passionate about protecting those who are our most vulnerable... and I will ALWAYS defend my students' right to read! Please feel free to comment below; I am always looking for feedback... especially additional titles that you would recommend that a school librarian should purchase for their collection!
0 Comments
|
About the AuthorHi! Welcome to my blog! My name is Christine Hurley. This is my 17th year of teaching - I've taught Kindergarten, 4th grade, elementary media, and now I am in my 6th year of teaching middle school media! Archives
September 2020
Categories
All
|