Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Have We Got History Resources
"Where are all the books about Koreans?" one junior high school student of Korean ancestry asked me one day. "Why don't Koreans write any books?"
They do, Daisy. They write lots of books. It's just that your librarian might not have read about them, or your English and Social Studies teachers have not requested them.
Imagine if Daisy asked for books on Korean lesbians. That one might be a bit harder. I can hear it now: "My parents said that lesbians don't exist in Korea--that's an American thing. What about me?"
Well, all of these books DO exist. And LGBTQ people existed in ALL periods of history, on all continents:
PEOPLE WITH A HISTORY: An Online Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans* History
Queer History Links (collected and maintained by Richard Norton)
These two mighty megasites provide books and websites that should not be overlooked, or unknown. In the next post, I will have a collection of links just dealing with LGBTQ cultures from around the world.
They do, Daisy. They write lots of books. It's just that your librarian might not have read about them, or your English and Social Studies teachers have not requested them.
Imagine if Daisy asked for books on Korean lesbians. That one might be a bit harder. I can hear it now: "My parents said that lesbians don't exist in Korea--that's an American thing. What about me?"
Well, all of these books DO exist. And LGBTQ people existed in ALL periods of history, on all continents:
PEOPLE WITH A HISTORY: An Online Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans* History
Queer History Links (collected and maintained by Richard Norton)
These two mighty megasites provide books and websites that should not be overlooked, or unknown. In the next post, I will have a collection of links just dealing with LGBTQ cultures from around the world.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Looking Forward to 2007
We have a lot to look forward to in 2007, as well as a lot to fight for. January 2007 has just begun, but the headlines scream, "PAY ATTENTION, PEOPLE!"
Apparently, we ARE paying attention:
LGBTQ Community More Active Web Users Than Straight Community
LGBTQ News from the US:
Massachusetts Lawmakers Approve Proposed Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage
BUT...NY Governor Spitzer Committed to Legalizing Same Sex Marriage
Former Top General Calls for Repeal of Gay Military Ban ... as well as former Defense Secretary
And Tango Makes Three Gets Banned from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Meanwhile, Around the World:
Archbishop of Canterbury Anticipates Breakup of Church
Switzerland Recognizes First Gay Civil Union
Czech Civil Partnerships Gain Popularity
(Although this seems like progress, many European nations that have approved civil unions or domestic partnerships do not allow LGBT couples to adopt children.)
Current events and attitudes of the general population toward the LGBTQ community have an effect on how many books dealing with LGBTQ subjects are published per year. 2006 was a bumper year for LGBTQ fiction and non-fiction; we seriously look forward to 2007.
Apparently, we ARE paying attention:
LGBTQ Community More Active Web Users Than Straight Community
LGBTQ News from the US:
Massachusetts Lawmakers Approve Proposed Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage
BUT...NY Governor Spitzer Committed to Legalizing Same Sex Marriage
Former Top General Calls for Repeal of Gay Military Ban ... as well as former Defense Secretary
And Tango Makes Three Gets Banned from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Meanwhile, Around the World:
Archbishop of Canterbury Anticipates Breakup of Church
Switzerland Recognizes First Gay Civil Union
Czech Civil Partnerships Gain Popularity
(Although this seems like progress, many European nations that have approved civil unions or domestic partnerships do not allow LGBT couples to adopt children.)
Current events and attitudes of the general population toward the LGBTQ community have an effect on how many books dealing with LGBTQ subjects are published per year. 2006 was a bumper year for LGBTQ fiction and non-fiction; we seriously look forward to 2007.
