The Rainbow Room

Domestic Partnerships in Washington State

2007-04-23T14:19:00.000-07:00

Washington State legalizes domestic partnerships.

Oregon should be next.

Monday's News

2007-04-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

Teacher's Job on the Line for Expressing Tolerance Toward Gay Students

English teacher and faculty advisor of a student newspaper distributed to Indiana junior high and high school students published a student-written column that expressed tolerance for gays as so:

'I can only imagine how hard it would be to come out as homosexual in today's society,'' she wrote. ''I think it is so wrong to look down on those people, or to make fun of them, just because they have a different sexuality than you. There is nothing wrong with them or their brain; they're just different than you.''

Somehow, this small quote has raised hell in the Indiana school district, and this English teacher is at risk of losing her job for publishing a student's small plea for acceptance and understanding.

In the News

2007-04-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

A Bentonville, Arkansas man demands $20,000 for the "pain and suffering" of his 14 and 16 year old sons after they read a book on lesbian sex from the public library.

Meanwhile...

In Fresno, a trans student runs for prom king.

"It's not like the stereotype where the king has to be a jock and he's there with the cheerleaders anymore," said Reyes, a senior. "We live in a generation now where dudes are chicks and chicks are dudes." (Quote from article)

Congratulations New Hampshire!

2007-04-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

Governor of New Hampshire OKs Civil Unions

"I believe it is a matter of conscience, fairness and preventing discrimination," Lynch told The Associated Press.

New Hampshire would become the fourth state to adopt civil unions, following Connecticut, Vermont and New Jersey. Massachusetts established gay marriage.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

2007-04-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

International Study Shows Widespread Dislike for Gay Neighbors
Are we too loud?

Click Here to Read the Published Study

On a Personal Note

2007-04-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I've gone and done it...I submitted a book proposal to the Collection Management and Development Section (CMDS) of ACLTS (Association for Library Collections and Technical Services), a section of American Libraries Association, and it passed muster. I will be writing a collection development manual / selection tool for public and academic librarians who must select LGBTIQ materials for their collection. The manual will be part of a series called "Sudden Selectors", which will orient librarians with specialized subjects and where/how to select appropriate materials for their collection/user population within those subjects.

Today's News

2007-04-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest on anti-discrimination and same sex unions across the United States:

Two Oregon Gay Rights Bills Head to Vote in the House
One of the bills proposes that same sex couples can form "legally recognized partnerships".

Iowa Pastors Call for Passage of Gay Civil Rights Law
More than a dozen church leaders support gay civil rights...unfortunately, Iowa Democrats and Republicans may not be in agreement.

Gay Bishop Urges Approval of Civil Unions in New Hampshire
Compare Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson's arguments in favor of civil unions to those of Diane Murphy Quinlan, Roman Catholic chancellor of the Diocese of Manchester. Who wins?
In any case, New Hampshire is nearly surrounded: same sex unions are legal in Massachussets, Vermont, and Quebec, and all New England states have passed comprehensive antidiscrimination legislation. Time to get with the program.

Banning The Chocolate War

2007-04-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

Maryland School District Removes The Chocolate War from Curriculum Over Gay References

I read Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War twice, and watched the movie three times. This classic YA novel does not stick out in my mind as a hotbed of homophobia. It is a story about a kid who decides not to sell chocolates to raise money for his Catholic school, and what happens to him because of his decision.

NEW: Journal of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth

2007-04-09T15:09:00.000-07:00

The Journal of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth is a brand new scholarly journal published by Haworth Press. It is a quarterly publication, with its first issue to be out this summer. According to its Associate Editor Kristopher Wells:

"The Journal of LGBT Youth is committed to advancing knowledge about, support of, and quality of life for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Publishing scholarly articles, practicioner-based essays, policy analyses, and narratives from young people, this peer-reviewed journal envelopes an array of queer youth contexts, including: formal and non-formal education; the family; peer culture; the media, arts, and entertainment industry; religious institutions and youth organizations; health care; and the workplace."

Book reviews will also be a large component of the publication.
For submission guidelines, or any other questions related to this journal, please contact Kristopher Wells at kris.wells@ualberta.ca.

Disney Has a Change of Heart

2007-04-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

Disney Company Opens Fairy Tale Wedding Service to Gay Commitment Ceremonies

Out Of Pity?

2007-04-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

Teen LGBTQ Activists Gain Support From Straight Allies
Straight teens will be the only ones to knock sense into Iowa legislators who say "There are no gay kids in Iowa."

Meanwhile...New Hampshire Parents Riot Against Lesbian Kiss
Parents protest against high school newspaper article about high school sex.
Faculty advisor of the student newspaper supports her writers, even though it might mean her job.

In the News

2007-03-30T17:09:00.000-07:00

Gay Kids Three Times As Likely to Be Bullied
Stats have not changed much from 10 years ago...in fact, it seems to be worse.

Will Michigan's Anti-Bullying Law Pass?
Not with protections for LGBTQ kids, according to religious and social conservatives.

Catholic Theologian Condemned for Pro-Gay Writings
In spite of this, Jesuit institution Marquette University is backing theologian and professor Daniel Maguire for his views.

Ricky Martin Supportive of Gays
"Life is too short to live closed up, guarding what you say," he says...

Uganda Lesbian Applies for Asylum in US
Sad to say, though, what happened to this lady also happens in the US.

What Makes a Mother?

2007-03-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

Lesbian Asks Court to Ban Gay Adoption
Sarah Wheeler separates from her partner and can't handle joint custody of her biological child.
In fact, she isn't even sure that she is a lesbian anymore.

To the child, does it matter who is his/her biological mother, and who is the mother he/she feels closest to?

What Would Jesus Do?

2007-03-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

US Supreme Court Reconsiders Free Speech for Students

Just because one teacher is offended by a student's joke, does that make it OK to suspend him or her?

What type of "opinions", "jokes", "pranks", or "statements" uttered by high school students merit disciplinary action, counseling, or just a good laugh? Will monitoring and disciplining student commentary encourage a society that limits, rather than encourages, free speech?

The Happiest Place On Earth?

2007-03-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

No gay or lesbian commitment ceremonies in the Magic Kingdom.
As neither Disney World in Florida, nor Disney Land in California, has the power to grant marriage licenses, who are they to define what constitutes "Happily Ever After"?

Even Sir Elton John, who made millions of dollars for Disney with his movie music, would not be able to marry his partner in Disney Land's Rose Court Garden.

Even David Tutera, the wedding planner who works for Disney World designing other peoples' wedding fantasies, had to travel all the way to Vermont for his ceremony.

Considering the number of LGBTQ folks who spend millions every year on trips to Disney theme parks, Disney movies, and the Disney Store, isn't their money good enough for a fantasy wedding?

Fighting Fire with Fire

2007-03-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

Evangelical Leader States that Homosexuality is Biological
In the same breath, however, he states that homosexuality is still a sin.
Reverend R. Albert Mohler, Jr., the president of the leading Southern Baptist seminary, states that prenatal treatment to reverse sexual orientation would be "biblically justified".

For the record...courtesy of the King James Bible (2000 version):

How does genetic diversity occur if man was made in God's image, and all descendants of man come from Adam and Eve?

Will the reversing of sexual orientation become the new circumcision?

Hmm...Moses didn't curse the men who sleep with men here...

In any case...here is the Human Rights Campaign's bibliography on LGBTQ folks and religion.

In the News This Week

2007-03-10T19:47:00.000-08:00

No More Gay Straight Alliances for Utah
No kidding. Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. gave Utah schools the right to reject student clubs that threaten the "moral well-being" of students.

Sodomy Remains Illegal In Utah (Although US Supreme Court ruled that states cannot make laws regulating private sexual conduct)

Iowa Anti-Bullying Law Goes Into Effect
Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed anti-bullying legislation that provides specific protections for gay and lesbian students. Go Iowa!

Jenna Bush Writes YA Book About HIV-Positive Single Mom
Based on her work for UNICEF. Go Jenna!

Newt Gingrich Had Affair During Clinton Scandal
He who throws stones better not live in a glass house. Newt Gingrich admits to having an extramarital affair during the Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal. Go, Newt, supporter of heterosexual marriage and family values.

Secular Government May Win Over the Vatican
Romans are rallying for civil unions, in spite of Pope Benedict XVI. Viva Italia, e viva amore!

Bill To Repeal Military Ban of Open Gays and Lesbians Reintroduced in Congress
One would think that, if the US desperately needs recruits and competent military, they would give LGBTQ soldiers the right to serve openly and proudly. When surveyed, a lot of soldiers don't care if their fellow soldiers are gay, straight, or otherwise--they are tired, and need all the help they can get in Iraq.

"Don't Ask Don't Tell" Military Policy Challenged by Twelve Servicemen

"In a statement before the hearing began the discharged servicemembers said in a statement that "we have come to the First Circuit with unmovable confidence in our nation’s promise of ‘liberty and justice for all.’ We believe the freedoms we defended as United States military personnel are alive and well in our country. We know our nation can do better than this law."

"Each of the servicemembers served during the current war on terror." (365.gay.com)

And...New Hampshire might be the next state to allow civil unions or gay marriage...

Stopping Homophobia Before It Starts

2007-03-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

It's easy for someone to say, "I'm just one person. I can't change the way people think, or the way the world works. Homophobia will always exist, and kids will always bully each other."

If a person chooses to say this about bullying and homophobia, it is passive consent to allow such activity and mindsets to continue. For every person working in government, religious office, the education system, or downtown Main Street pouring coffee, this passive consent is approval of discrimination against the LGBTQ community that still takes place, every day, in the United States of America.

Waterville, Maine could be considered a part of mainstream America. Although New England states have detailed anti-discrimination legislation to protect the LGBTQ community, children and teens still suffer at the hands of unenlightened peers, parents, and teachers. To this day, LGBTQ kids are 2 to 5 times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual kids. And even in this time of anti-discrimination legislation, middle and high school students report hearing the words "faggot", "queer", "lezzie", and/or "dyke" used by their peers at least three to five times per day.

Hardy Girls Healthy Women, a non-profit organization in Waterville, Maine dedicated to the health and well-being of girls and women, has decided to address the issue of homophobia in a big way. According to their website, "We believe that it is not the girls, but rather the culture in which they live that is in need of repair." This belief powered their support of an engaging play written and produced by Carolyn Gage called "Ugly Ducklings".

According to Jessica Morgan, Outreach Coordinator for Hardy Girls Healthy Women, "'Ugly Ducklings' is the first play of its type, written by Carolyn [Gage] to further develop the canon of lesbian theater while also addressing the compulsory heterosexuality that pushes so many young people into uncomfortable spaces in which they might not fit."

"Ugly Ducklings" focuses on two teenage girls who fall in love at a girl's summer camp, and the repercussions and harassment that they endure from their peers and camp counselors. One girl morphs into a bullying homophobe to cover herself, while the other girl is forced to leave the camp. Gage captured the gritty reality of girl-on-girl bullying, as well as the spectrum of emotions--love, frustration, helplessness, and hopefulness--that teenagers can experience in the course of one day.

A documentary about the production of the play (also called "Ugly Ducklings") is available for review as part of a community action kit. The documentary reveals that most of the girls who performed in the play had experienced some form of homophobia firsthand, and believed wholly in the mission of their performance. Their performance was a true act of courage, as the majority of the girls identified as lesbian or bisexual, and were not all completely out to their families and peers. Their stories, as well as interviews with Carolyn Gage and others involved in the production of the play, can also be heard.

The most engaging part of the documentary was the young actresses' explanation of the acronym "LGBTQ", as well as their own definitions of "lesbian", "gay", "bisexual", "transgender", and "questioning", and how they related to those terms. A middle school or high school girl might appreciate hearing that it's OK if she's not sure about her sexual orientation, or that it's OK if she likes girls. A girl from a small town might appreciate knowing that there are other kids out there who are just like her. On the flip side, a straight girl might watch the bullies and swear that she will never act like those losers. The most important thing is that both the play and the documentary provide a forum to discuss homophobia and acceptance of others.

Slowly "Ugly Ducklings" is making its way around the country. It was first performed at Colby College for an HGHW summer program, to initiate dialogue about sexual orientation, the coming out process, peer pressure, and self-acceptance. In 2003, the play had been performed by Venus Theater in Washington, D.C., and made its way to Stage Q of Madison, Wisconsin in 2006. In 2007, readings of "Ugly Ducklings" will take place at the University of West Virginia nd the University of Maine in Machias. We hope that this play will come to a high school, local theater, or summer camp near you! For a community action kit, contact Jessica Morgan, Outreach Coordinator of Hardy Girls, Healthy Women, at jessica@hghw.org.

Have We Got History Resources

2007-01-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

"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.

Looking Forward to 2007

2007-01-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

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.

Striking Out

2006-11-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

Phil Bildner, well-known for his baseball stories, has put a new spin on the been there, done that "girl wants to play baseball" plot. In Playing the Field, the popular high school senior Darcy Miller will do anything to get on the baseball team...even if it means pretending that she's a lesbian.

It's a long story, and a stretch of the imagination. Darcy's boyfriend Brandon tells his father (who incidentally happens to be the high school principal) that Darcy is a lesbian in order to get her on the team. Brandon's dad is a bit squeamish when it comes to discussing sexual orientation, but in his way, he is a gay-friendly man. He allowed Darcy's friend Josh to build a Gay Straight Alliance at the school, and he also believes that lesbians, at no cost, should be denied playing men's sports. At the same time, Brandon's dad feels that he must pay off Darcy in some way so she will not reveal his affair with her mother to the entire student body.

Don't expect Darcy to learn what it's like to be a lesbian in this book. The student population teases her more for her mother's affair with the principal than her feigned lesbianism. No girls approach her with puppy dog eyes, and her presence at Gay Straight Alliance meetings is looked upon with scorn. On his father's orders, Brandon is forced to attend a Gay Straight Alliance meeting as well. Out of the blue, he distributes well-researched pamphlets to the group with statistics on hate crimes, teen suicides, etc...would the modern day straight captain of a high school sports team do such a thing?

If anything, Bildner plays up gay stereotypes in this book to get cheap laughs from his audience. He paints Darcy's gay friend Josh as a hysterical, obsessive drama queen, a tyrannical president of the Gay Straight Alliance who has the biggest crush on hopelessly heterosexual Brandon.

It is difficult to imagine a seventeen year old girl madly in love with boys and popularity to accept the proposition of pretending to be a lesbian in order to play sports. It is also insulting to all of the real high school lesbians who actually do want to play on high school sports traditionally reserved for boys, and are never given this opportunity by their high school principal. I would be extremely curious to hear the Milennial Generation's reactions to Playing the Field. Straight kids might laugh at this book, but at whose expense?

Summer Lovin'...Tell Me More, Tell Me More...

2006-11-05T13:54:00.000-08:00

Sloan, Brian. Tale of Two Summers. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: 2006. 244 p. 15 and up.

Two best friends--one straight, the other gay--spend their first summer in different parts of the state. They decide to keep in touch through a blog, sharing their learning experiences and adventures in attraction, romance, and sex. Although the boys do not see eye to eye on all subjects, their blog reflects that they are protective and supportive of each other in a funny, touching way that many teenage boys in real life might have a tough time to express.

Although the boys spend their fifteenth summers quite differently, their experiences have much in common. Chuck, the straight guy, is ironically "the drama fag". He spends his fifteenth summer at theater camp at UMD, where he is completely wrapped up in rehearsals and new friendships with his fellow drama freaks. Gay Hal, on the other hand, would rather watch movies with fart jokes than musicals. He is stuck in their hometown of Wheaton, Maryland, where he takes driver's ed. Both boys have a mission--to find "summer love"--and their foibles nearly mirror each other's. Both lose their heads over exotic, foreign students, both make similar mistakes in attempting to forge a relationship and physical intimacy. The boys' entries make it quite clear that there is no difference between straight and gay kids when it comes to love and sex.

It is extremely touching to read Chuck's clumsy attempts to understand Hal's attraction for other guys. Chuck means no offense when he asks Hal why he doesn't go after "certified homos" and why gay guys like asses so much. He also wonders if Hal ever had been attracted to him. Hal often gives sharp, defensive responses to Chuck's questions, but no love is lost over them. In theater camp, Chuck notes that his room-mate Charles (aka "Chaz") is gay, and thinks that Hal might like him because he is a good looking certified homo. Chuck even goes so far as to attempt to match-make the two. Angrily, Hal asks Chuck, "If a girl has two eyes and two tits, does that mean she's automatically for you?" Chuck gets it. These probably are the questions and comments that boys would have for each other, complete with all of the snarky cynicism, rank-outs, and "self inflicted moping" that would accompany them. It is also testament to the high comfort level that the boys share with one another.

The writing flows so well that only the most tech-savvy Millenial might flinch at the author's idea for the boys to share a blog to record their summmer exploits. Although a lot of kids do have blogs, they do not use one blog for two way communication. They either use email, IM, text messaging, Skype, or a combination of all four. Email is normally the mode of communication that two friends would use to share long, detailed, private messages. In spite of this misunderstanding of teen communication, Tale of Two Summers will be a classic for years to come.

A Queer Book Indeed

2006-11-03T18:43:00.000-08:00

There aren't many works of fiction out there about intersexed and transgender teens. At the same time, no librarian has published any research findings on the information seeking behaviors and user needs/desires of intersexed and transgender teens. Are they looking for books about kids like them, and if so, what would make such a book attractive to them?

A recent visit to three public libraries with large LGBT collections revealed that, in their YA sections, non-fiction books about sexuality barely touch upon the intersexed or transgendered. In the adult non-fiction section, books about transgendered people, transsexuals, sex changes, and the intersexed are in a section of the library that many people would shy away from: the 616s. According to the Dewey Decimal system, 616 is the call number assigned to medical practice, diseases of different systems in the body, and medical operations. 616.4 deals with hormones and the endocrine system, 616.5 deals with dermatology, skin disease and lupus, and 616.6 deals with human genitalia and their related disorders. Books about intersexed people, transgendered people, and the transitioning/sex change process are clumsily catalogued among books about urinary tract infections, the urinary system, and prostate cancer.

How would a kid feel to be sent to those shelves to look for a book about hirself? What feelings would an adult have while browsing through the same section? Would they experience the same feelings that gays and lesbians did decades ago, when books about homosexuality were catalogued with those that dealt with mental illness? After reading, they might feel more frightened than they had before visiting the library. They might even feel disgusted, ashamed, and more isolated than before. This is why it is so important to encourage research on the perception of library resources and services for and by the transgendered, transsexual, and intersexed. Librarians and teachers need to know how to reach this population as well as any other.

Lisa Lees devotes herself to re-educating young adults about gender, sexual orientation, and gender variance. She has created some great resources on her website, including an archive of
"coming out" letters written by transgender and intersexed people. Her writing reflects deep passion for her subject, as well as great knowledge, but it does not translate well in her fiction.

I was first extremely puzzled by the cover art of A Queer Circle of Friends. The amateurish, quasi-anime characters colored in bright pastels--with the title in glowing pink bubble letters--did not seem like it would appeal to teenagers. I showed ten different people this book, and they all commented that the cover would attract little girls between four and seven years old. I don't think the "My Pretty Pony" crowd is quite ready for this story.

Then again, most teenagers would not be ready for this story. In the first chapter, one of the main characters comes home and angrily spews a tirade against the binary gender system. Would the average intersexed teenager--or any teenager--even understand what that meant? Lees assumes that all LGBTQI kids attend queer youth support groups and have an academic understanding of their issues. It is too much information, too soon, without the benefit of backstory or any kind of character description.

Characters. There were a lot of characters in A Queer Circle of Friends, but in the attempt to represent different types of gender variance, Lees made it hard for a reader to focus on an actual plot. Having so many characters in the story also made it difficult to see them as multidimensional people. Lees' own sketches of the characters did not help me to visualize or understand the characters much better, as many of her drawings looked the same.

Writers of fiction face a double challenge when writing for and about special populations. Of course the writers must know their subject, but they also must know what will entice a person to read their book, and what will keep their readers engaged. A novel should be published not only for its subject matter, but also for its literary quality. Even the title and cover of the book should attract the right sort of audience who would get the story. For all of those reasons, I am not sure that Lisa Lees' novel A Queer Circle of Friends would willingly be read by teens or adults.

Manny Poppins

2006-10-30T11:04:00.000-08:00

Burch, Christian. The Manny Files: A Novel. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers: 2006. 296 p. Ages 8 and up.

A manny, if you didn't know, is a male nanny. After going through a slew of female nannies, third grader Keats jumps for joy when the manny is hired to look after him and his three sisters in the delightful novel The Manny Files by Christian Burch.

In a brilliant, affluent Manhattan family, surrounded by three sisters with many talents and eccentricities, Keats feels uninteresting, and often overlooked. He is the shortest kid in his class, invisible behind a classmate's red poofy hair, and eclipsed by his oldest sister's previous accomplishments. When the mischievous, playful manny arrives, Keats goes from invisible to interesting.

The manny nurtures Keats' interests in design, fashion, and writing. He also helps Keats gain a great deal of self-confidence and teaches him how to make friends and understand bullies. It is extremely difficult not to love the manny, but bratty oldest sister Lulu holds grudges against him, and notes all of her dislikes in a binder called "The Manny Files", which she wants to present to the parents in order to get him fired.

The story is told in Keats' voice. He is an introspective, eloquent little boy, and though he is quite well read, Burch does not make him omniscient. Many facts of life and pop culture references are over the boy's head. Here is a cute example:

"The manny told Lulu to wear lots of feathers and sequins like Liberace. India [one of Keats' sisters] told me that Liberace is a fancy French cheese that is served with red wine. I guess you wear feathers and sequins when you eat it. I'm going to order it the next time I'm at a fancy restaurant."

An older, more sopshisticated reader might pick up on the fact that the manny is a gay man from the moment he walks in the door, and also might suspect that Keats might turn out gay, but the words to describe gay people, whether positive or negative, are never uttered in this book. The manny is accepted as he is, without comment or question. He is a creative, responsible, wise caretaker of children, and nothing bad happens under his watch. In fact, Keats' classmates envy him for his manny and the manny's ability to make Keats' family a happy one that always seems to have fun. Lulu, a junior high school student on the verge of sexual radar, does not even note it in "The Manny Files", and the childrens' parents never hint or question. In fact, there seems to be a sound barrier between Keats and the adult world when it comes to potentially disturbing topics, whether it is the health of a beloved grandmother, or the manny going out alone with the childrens' Uncle Max. Keats' older sister India, though not always accurate in her descriptions, is the one "allowed" to hear adult discussions. It is Lulu, surprisingly enough, who breaks this barrier as she becomes a young woman and begins to date boys. Keats begins to see his oldest sister in a new way, begins to get a tiny grasp on attraction, and observes a touching moment when the manny and Lulu are actually able to have a mature conversation about boys. Lulu sheepishly admits that the manny has given her better boy advice than Amanda, her favorite high school babysitter hired to watch them while the manny was on vacation, and this leads to her giving up the Manny Files.

Keats compares the manny to Mary Poppins, but the manny is even better. He doesn't need to fly or transport the kids to fantasyland to provide a neverending source of magic. The book is filled with vivid descriptions of all the activities and treats that the manny invents for the family, from dinners under dining room tents to opera performances with Keats' ailing grandmother. The manny is a welcome addition to the pantheon of gentle, positive characters who inspire and teach without preaching.

Recovering from a Rough Trip

2006-10-30T10:28:00.000-08:00

Reisz, Kristopher. Tripping to Somewhere. New York: Simon Pulse: 2006. 368 p.; recommended for ages 16+.

Kristopher Reisz has dubbed himself an "Urban Fantasy Writer". Tripping to Somewhere is his first novel, a dark debut featuring a lesbian main character and the girl who might just love her. Previously, Reisz had a short piece published in "Cthulu Sex Magazine", which reveals his fascination for the strange and frightening. Lesbianism may be frightening and otherworldly to teens, and those in the midst of the "coming out" process can tell you it's often a hell of a trip. Although Reisz is not gay, he was born and raised in a small Alabama town, where it is very difficult to be a gay or lesbian teen. Even many straight kids stuck in the religious, conservative atmosphere yearn to get out and go far, far, away. Reisz escaped through reading and writing, unlike the characters of his first novel.

In Tripping to Somewhere, two girls, Gilly and Sam, attempt to escape from their mundane lives in Birmingham, Alabama and join "The Witches Carnival", a mysterious band of flamboyant, Goth-like characters. Gilly and Sam travel from Alabama to England with over $50,000 (skimmed from drug arrests by Gilly's policeman father), fake passports, and some pretty foul but accurate teen language.

This is the first YA book I have read where the teen characters have cell phones and ATM accounts. I doubt that it actually is the first YA book to involve such things, but it made the characters grounded in a 21st century reality, as opposed to a timeless reality. McDonalds was everywhere, as was the teen clothing store "Hot Topic" and other brand names.

What grabbed me most about this story wasn't the characters. Gilly Stahl is a young lesbian, still not out to her parents, who has been shunned and teased by most of her classmates. Samantha Grace, who identifies as straight, stood up for Gilly when the religious kids started bugging her. This led to the girls' "friendship with benefits", as Sam calls it. It is a painful friendship for Gilly, as she really loves Sam in all ways, and does not want to share her with the next "boyfriend". At the Witches Carnival, Gilly falls in love with Maggie, an immortal temptress. Gilly follows the carnival in the hope that Maggie will notice her, while Sam follows Gilly, and seeks escape from a stepdad with a fondness for teen porn. The journey is studded with drinking, drugs, sex, described with no guilt or introspection, as if this is just part of teen life, or desired teen life. Both girls have to make a major decision in this story--join the Witches Carnival forever, or return to mundane life and face the consequences of prison and separation.

What grabbed me most about the book was the adventure itself, and how the girls got from place to place. What I will remember forever is the detailed description of how to forge a modern passport and fool the airlines with it. I wonder how many teens would actually attempt that.

Honestly, I was shocked by Tripping to Somewhere. The same crowd who reads Francesca Lia Block will probably enjoy Reisz's book, although it is much grittier than Block's work. Sam and Gilly lost their innocence a long time ago, and are believable as troubled girls. On the other hand, I seriously doubt that a "C" student from Birmingham, Alabama public schools would know who Christopher Marlowe was, or that they would be literate enough to understand his work. Public schools these days barely brush over Shakespeare...would they even have time or inclination for Dr. Faustus? Even worse was the author's interpretation of the Faustus tale, as expressed by the two girls. Faust was not looking for an escape from boredom...he was looking for the meaning of life, and the source of all knowledge. It was an extremely clumsy attempt on Reisz's part to link this story to a literary classic, although it might inspire teens to actually look for a copy of Dr. Faustus and attempt to read it.

So, as I try to think like a teen as I read this book, and not like an English teacher or an old fogy, the YA crowd engrossed in fantasy, horror, and crime novels just might ride with Tripping to Somewhere.

National Coming Out Day

2006-10-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

Did you know that October 11th is National Coming Out Day, and it has been since 1987?

Did your school or local library do anything to recognize or celebrate National Coming Out Day?

The Human Rights Commission provides an excellent history of National Coming Out Day.

In celebration of the holiday, check out some of these bibliographies of fiction and non-fiction for and about LGBTQ children and teens. Many coming out resources are listed here!

ALA's Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Roundtable Bibliography for Gay Teens (used in the "Gay Teens in the 21st Century: Access to the Future" Preconference)

Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission Sexual Orientation (section of "Celebrating Human Rights with Children and Teens: An Annotated Bibliography")

Evanston Public Library Bibliography (Illinois)

Fresno Public Library Bibliography

Seattle Public Schools' GLBTQ Advisory Committee's Reading List for Children, Teens, and Professionals

Many public libraries have booklists of LGBTQ YA literature. Visit the young adult pages of their websites, or contact their reference librarians for a copy. If that fails, your local LGBTQ community center or LGBTQ support group will be happy to help.

On National Coming Out Day, libraries remain wide open, and schools are in session. Get the facts, or make a connection. We are not alone, nor shall we be silenced or shamed.

A Mysterious Coming Out Story

2006-10-08T16:33:00.000-07:00

Curtis Sittenfeld's novel Prep does little justice to "coming of age" stories or the genre of bildungsroman. The focus of the the tale rests on narrator Lee Fiora, an "unlovable, self-conscious" girl from South Bend, Indiana who learns what it takes to be popular at a posh New England prep school. Although Lee does not paint a sympathetic figure, she brings us back to our adolescence, and the blunders we all had made on the path to define ourselves and our values.

Unbeknownst to herself, Lee reveals a great deal about how her mind works through dialogue and interactions with her room-mates, fellow students, her love interests, and her parents. Rarely do we encounter Lee behaving true to herself. Only twice does Lee respond honestly and naturally to her feelings.

As a freshman, in the beginning of the novel, Lee is fascinated by the beautiful, charismatic Gates Medkowski, the school's first female senior prefect. Not only does Lee reach out to Gates to get to know her and give her tokens of admiration, but Lee also explores her affection for Gates and wonders if she is a lesbian. Later on in the story, Lee shows sincere concern for her troubled room-mate Sin-Jun who had attempted suicide, and keeps her company in the hospital.

Unlike Gates Medkowski, Sin-Jun Kim is not one of the popular girls. A quiet girl from Korea, Sin-Jun is noticed by Lee and room-mates for what surrounds her--boxes of Korean groceries and stinky dried squid, a bicycle (which Lee often borrows), and money in her drawer--rather than for who she is. Lee does not make much of an attempt to get to know Sin-Jun; she does not speak much, and reveals nothing about herself to her room-mates. Unbeknownst to Lee, however, Sin-Jun has a life outside their room. She befriends a girl named Clara O'Hallahan and they live together in their sophomore year. We hear very little about Sin-Jun during Lee's sophomore year until the very end, with a shocking suicide attempt.

Lee never finds out why Sin-Jun attempted suicide, and the reason does not appear anywhere in the novel. We only learn through Lee's narration that Sin-Jun does not want Clara to see her in the hospital, which makes Clara hysterical. Lee chalks it up to Clara's dramatic nature and does her best to ignore it...until she returns to the hospital one morning to bring Sin-Jun some things, and finds Clara and Sin-Jun engaged in loud, bed-rocking...well, let's just say it wasn't just a shock to Lee. Innocent, quiet, studious Sin-Jun!

Sin-Jun's father arrives from Korea to bring her home, at least for a while. During her absence, Sin-Jun writes to Lee that she will no longer have a "love relationship" with Clara anymore. In spite of this, Sin-Jun is allowed to return to the United States, and chooses to stay, as a confident lesbian. Lee and Sin-Jun maintain friendly contact with each other, past graduation and into their adult lives. Although she never says it directly, Lee respects Sin-Jun's courage, and wishes that she had some of it for herself.

How wonderful it would be to see a novel about Sin-Jun's experience, and to read her point of view on prep school, popularity, love, and authenticity. What would she say about her repressed, duplicitous classmates, born and raised in a land rumored to encourage individuality and freedom of spirit? Perhaps a future writer will give Sin-Jun--or a character just like her--a place in literature.

2006-10-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

A Sesame Street definition of marriage.

Is This Young Adult Literature?

2006-09-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Tom Spanbauer's latest book, Now is the Hour, is the twenty-first century parallel to Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Rigby John, the protagonist of Spanbauer's novel, is not much different from Twain's Huck Finn. Both young heroes do not fit neatly within the rigid rules of their societies. Huck is an orphan, and Rigby John might as well be one. Both characters are ridiculed by their peers for their differences, both observe the hypocrisies of religion, family values, and authority figures, and both must navigate through extremely violent worlds to find a peaceful place for themselves.

The most striking resemblance between Huck Finn and Rigby John is in their friendships with misunderstood, potentially dangerous men of color. Anyone who has read Huck Finn's story will always remember his travels with Jim, the runaway slave, and how Huck slowly began to see Jim as a friend and an equal. When Huck tore up the notice for Jim's reward, he decided that he was destined to go to Hell anyway, and that he was Jim's equal. In conservative Pocatello, Idaho, Rigby John encounters "Queer George", a Native American man despised by the white community. Rigby's relationship with George spans from fear to hatred to curiosity to love. While Jim teaches Huck what it means to be human, George takes it one step further. George teaches Rigby John what it means to love, and how to love oneself. Most importantly, George teaches Rigby John to love himself as a gay young man...something that Rigby John attempted to dodge and deny his entire life. In embracing George and his true self, Rigby John finds his peace.

Now is the Hour is a true coming out and coming of age story. Like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, it belongs on the young adult shelf as well as the adult fiction section. Unfortunately, Now is the Hour will probably never make it into the young adult librarian's hands, and certainly not into the school librarian's office, because the novel is marketed to the adult market. Some reviews of Now is the Hour identify Rigby John as a gay teenager, others leave out this fact completely. Is the reviewer's decision to gloss over Rigby John's identity intended to lure heterosexual readers into reading the book, or to make librarians more likely to select the book for their collections?

Should Now is the Hour find a place in the YA section, it will enjoy the same dubious honor as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as being a frequently banned book. So many communities will be up in arms over one gentle boy's victory over schoolyard bullies, an abusive father, and the sentiments of a racist, homophobic town. This is just the troublesome sort of book that all teenagers should read in high school English class, in the hope that future generations will see all of their classmates as equal Americans.

To request Lambda Literary Foundation's review of Now is the Hour, as well as an interview with Tom Spanbauer, click here.

What Is Young Adult Literature?

2006-09-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

According to Literacy Matters, young adult literature

has developed into its own field for students spanning the ages of 10 to 21. YAL includes literature that has been specifically written for and marketed to young adolescents, as well as "anything young adults are reading of their own free will."

The umbrella term "adolescent literature" describes all of the forms of fiction: short stories, poetry, and literary essays. It also may include a variety of nonfiction forms, such as diaries, journals, biographies, and autobiographies. (www.literacymatters.org)

According to Wikipedia.com, young adult literature

"includes all works which are written for, published for, marketed to, or consumed by young adults, or books with themes that young adults might find interesting. A more strict definition of the term, however, defines young adult literature as that literature which deals with issues of adolescence, coming of age, and maturation into an adult. Occasionally the entire genre is stigmatized as problem novels, those books which focus on a child coping with an issue of concern to society or teens, such as eating disorders, sexuality, or drugs" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_adult_literature)

One would think that the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) or the American Libraries Association (ALA) would provide a definition of young adult literature, but neither organization devoted to the promotion of literacy and reading materials for young adults dares to do so. NCTE defines adolescent literacy, and the types of materials that adolescents should read in order to increase their comprehension skills. Both organizations provide "recommended reading lists" for teachers, librarians, and teens, without offering a definition of the genre.

These definitions of young adult literature are critical to collection development and selection policies for young adult materials, particularly when selecting LGBTQI materials. Many novels about LGBTQI young adults end up in the adult fiction section. These novels may address the coming out process or the first sexual experience of a young LGBTQI person. They may address surviving prostitution, substance abuse, or some form of child abuse. They may address life with same sex parents. These stories are very real for many young adults who want to know if they are normal, or if any other people exist who are like them.

In many parts of the United States, public and school librarians face the challenge of providing appropriate materials for their young readers while satisfying "the needs of the community". How does a well-meaning librarian in a small religious community address the needs of a gay teen, should he be bold enough to approach the Reference Desk?

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), an ALA Task Force, is ambitious in its goal "to advocate, promote, and strengthen service to young adults as part of the continuum of total library services". YALSA

Advocates the young adult's right to free and equal access to materials and services, and assists librarians in handling problems of such access.
Evaluates and promotes materials of interest to adolescents through special services, programs and publications, except for those materials designed specifically for curriculum use.
Identifies research needs related to young adult service and communicates those needs to the library academic community in order to activate research projects.
Stimulates and promotes the development of librarians and other staff working with young adults through formal and continuing education.
Stimulates and promotes the expansion of young adult service among professional associations and agencies at all levels.
Represents the interests of librarians and staff working with young adults to all relevant agencies, governmental or private, and industries that serve young adults as clients or consumers.
Creates and maintains communication links with other units of ALA whose developments affect service to young adults. (http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/aboutyalsab/yalsamission.htm)

An ambitious plan indeed, when libraries, schools, teachers, librarians, parents, and communities are not on the same page when it comes to young adult LGBTQI materials and services.

The Further Adventures of King and King

2006-09-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

Dutch children's book team Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland, creators of the classic King and King picture book, have written a sequel: King and King and Family (Tricycle Press: 2004). While the first King and King picture book continues to cause uproars in schools and public libraries across the United States, King and King and Family is receiving harsh criticism from members of the LGBTQ community as well as religious conservatives.

The King and King stories are fairy tales, told in simple language with whimsical, energetic illustrations. The word "gay" never appears in the stories, and the kings only exchange one kiss on the mouth. The target audience, preschool to second grade, does not see a problem with this arrangement. Some even empathize with the prince in the first story as he unhappily must deal with the lines of princesses who are invited to the castle by his pushy mother. King and King clearly makes the case that, if there isn't a single princess that would tickle a young man's fancy, then it's OK if he chooses a prince. His domineering mother was OK with it, too, and so they have a wedding at the end of the first book.

De Haan and Nijland, two straight women, do not understand the controversy surrounding their books. In the Netherlands, same sex marriage has been legal since 2000, and homosexual activity had been decriminalized in 1811 under the Napoleonic Code. Freedoms and rights of the LGBTQ community in the United States, however, are dictated by state governments and local prejudice, not the federal government.

Schools and public libraries in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and North Carolina that acquired King and King had to put this lovable children's book, along with any other LGBT picture book, in the adults' section, so that parents could veto their young child's selection if they happened to pull it off the shelf. The Illinois Family Institute, in response to King and King, began a mass campaign to save marriage in Illinois. Even in Lexington, Massachusetts, where same sex marriage is legal, parents who do not support same sex relationships did not want their children to read King and King in school. Wouldn't those same children learn about same sex relationships anyway, as their classmates would be likely to have LGBTQ parents?

Believe it or not, LGBTQ parents have their own concerns about King and King and Family. In this story, Kings Lee and Bertie go on their honeymoon to a tropical paradise (with their cat, who had stowed away in their luggage). When they return home, the Kings discover that a runaway princess had stowed away in their luggage, and they decide to adopt her. LGBTQ parents and book reviewers had voiced some concerns about this setup: Why didn't the Kings make any attempt to find the girl's family or return the girl to her rightful family? Why couldn't a more realistic form of adoption had taken place in the story?

Just for the record: same sex couples in the Netherlands cannot adopt children, while some states in the USA allow same sex couples, or even single LGBTQ people, to do so. Adoption, or bearing children, remains a fantasy for many of us. Back to the children's book--it is just that, a children's book and a fairy tale at that. No one questions the reality of women finding much wanted children in peach pits or the bellies of fishes in other fairy tales. The King and King stories, unlike Heather Has Two Mommies or Daddy's Roomate, do not set out to educate children about same sex people, relationships, or families...they simply bring them to life. And if we truly celebrate diversity, then we must make allowances for gentle fantasy as well.

The Full Spectrum

2006-09-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, two young men decided to collect non-fiction stories written by young adults about today's LGBTQI culture and coming out experiences. They created www.queerthology.com to explain the significance of their project and to encourage LGBTQI youth 23 years old or younger to submit their work. With the support of GLSEN (the Gay/Lesbian/Straight Educators Network), these two young men--David Levithan and Billy Merrell--published an anthology called The Full Spectrum : A New Generation of Writing about Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities (New York: Alfred A. Knopf: 2006).

Reading this anthology from beginning to end is like riding an emotional roller coaster. From shame to sass, from fear to audaciousness, the tone of each piece reflects the range of adolescent self-confidence and coming of age rituals. Some of the stories could pass as "straight" teen stories, with themes such as the first date and the first kiss, choosing colleges, and surviving dysfunctional families.

Although the anthology calls itself "The Full Spectrum", it could do with more female voices. Of 40 stories, only twelve were authored by writers who identify as female. Nevertheless, it is a noble effort, one of the first attempts to record authentic voices of LGBTQI youth.

Sesame Street: Family Programming?

2006-08-31T15:47:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of classic elementary school readers from the 1950s (think Dick, Jane, and beyond) comes Rusty is a Homosexual, created by linguist Sean Crist.

Although this page intends to parody the mainstream 1950s all-American boy and his dog, it actually isn't a half bad idea. Imagine incorporating such a story in a text to be read in 3rd grade reading group, or a similar plot line on Sesame Street. Is it possible for Elmo to fall in love with a fireman? How about Grover? Or...perhaps more likely...Ernie or Bert??? And what exactly would the neighborhood think about that? How would they process the information?

Sesame Street fans and critics have suspected Ernie and Bert of being a gay couple for years. The Children's Television Workshop, in spite of its liberal face, takes serious offense to people recreating Ernie and Bert as gay lovers in films, comics, or websites. In 2002, CTW sued a website maker and a Sundance film winner for using Ernie and Bert to portray terrorists, homosexuals, and other incarnations of evil.

The situation grew so unpleasant that the Children's Television Workshop had to issue this press release: "Bert and Ernie, who've been on Sesame Street for [25] years, do not portray a gay couple, and there are no plans for them to do so in the future. They are puppets, not humans. Like all the Muppets created for Sesame Street, they were designed to help educate preschoolers. Bert and Ernie are characters who help demonstrate to children that despite their differences, they can be good friends."

If they sued over copyright infringement, CTW would have made a better case. Shame, shame, shame. If Sesame Street can address issues such as death, pregnancy, deafness, people in wheelchairs, and Israeli and Arab Muppets playing together, one or two gay Muppets can't hurt. Heck, maybe Big Bird wants to be a girl.

Men in Tights, Women in Armor

2006-08-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

Now kids of any age can read Marvel Comics series featuring gay or lesbian superheroes. Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada announced that he will reverse the controversial policy that stamped a "MAX" rating on such comics, which limit their audience to those over 18 years old.

"We've had more gay and lesbian characters than ever before," Quesada said. "In many ways, the old policy over the last few years just sort of faded away...there is no longer any policy."

Are Marvel Comics worthy of a place in the children's/YA section of your library? Steve Raiteri, librarian at the Greene County Public Library in Xenia, Ohio seems to think so. Visit his page of comic book (aka "graphic novel") selection tools and annotated graphic novel bibliographies put together by other librarians.

How many gay and lesbian superheroes are flying around out there? Todd VerBeek keeps a running count of them on Beek's Books, a site devoted to reviews of graphic novels and traditional comics. Links to transgender/transsexual comic book heroes exist here as well.

Califia = California

2006-08-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

The latest news from Advocate.com:

California assembly approves ban on antigay discrimination in schools

In order for the majority of the California assembly to approve of the ban, legislators had to remove the clause which proposed the inclusion of LGBTQ historical and cultural figures in the state history curriculum. I suppose they will have to start at the beginning, as the state of California was named after the mythical "Califia", a black Amazon queen warrior queen who lived on a mythical island west of the Indies, home to gold, free-loving Amazons, and strange beasts. Some historians believe that the story of Califia, published in 1510 by Spanish writer Garcia Ordonez Rodriguez de Montalvo in the book Las Serges des Esplandian, inspired the Spanish to search for gold in the New World.

The California Department of Education maintains a database of recommended reading for K-12. Gertrude Stein and James Baldwin are out, but Walt Whitman and Audre Lorde are in.

L.A. artist Susan Shelton's "Califia"

Find out what other LGBTQ writers are "state approved"--search the California Department of Education's Recommended Literature Search for Reading and Language Arts.

LGBTQ Sports Heroes

2006-08-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

Scenario: The shy, bookish boy has a run-in with the school football team in the locker room. He has done nothing except to exist. Perhaps he had just finished with his gym class, perhaps he had just finished with detention--a lap around the track for every day he cut gym. No matter. The football team does not welcome the boy in their territory, and decide to do something about it.

Scenario: A shy, bookish boy is pressured by his father to join the football team, to make "a real man" out of him. The boy reluctantly obeys, much to the chagrin of the football coach. The coach taunts the shy boy as much as his father would. "You throw like a girl," the coach continues to insist. "There's no hope for you. Drama--now that's your thing." The football team does not welcome this boy in their gang, and attempt to drum him out with the coach's unspoken support.

Scenario: A girl wants to join the school football team. She has a great deal of experience playing street football with the neighborhood kids, and they can attest to her talents. She has a good arm, a great tackle, and nothing gets in her way of the touchdown. The girl hears that they cut someone off the team, and jumps at the chance to wear her school colors. Her mother finds out, calls the football coach, and soon there is a school meeting--the coach, the mother, the school psychologist, and the girl.

Why should a butch girl be made to feel ashamed about playing football? Email The National Girls Football Association for more information! And why should a shy effeminate boy be discouraged from competitive sports by his teammates?

Team members from "The Iron Ladies"

There are gay, lesbian, and transgender sports heroes, all over the world, from many historical eras. And their names should appear in the library and on gymnasium walls for inspiration, and as proof that LGBTQ folks are superlative athletes.

For a crash course in LGBTQ sports heroes, visit Outsports. This site includes news, biographies, and other resources about LGBTQ people in sports around the world.

Did you ever hear about the Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation? According to their homepage, GLAF "is dedicated to the acceptance and visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender men and women in the professional, amateur, and recreational athletics communities. We also promote positive role models and healthy lifestyles for society at large." Email GLAF and find out what resources they have to offer for children and teens! Read more

It is telling that the most inspirational films about LGBTQ athletes come from abroad. Iron Ladies recreates the true story of a Thai volleyball team composed mainly of gay men, transvestites, and transsexuals, led by a lesbian coach, who win match after match, up to the national tournament.

Another film from Thailand based on fact, Beautiful Boxer traces the steep, rocky path of village boy Parinya Charoenphol, who desperately wants to be a girl. To achieve his goal, as well as to provide financial support for his parents, Parinya trains hard to become a kickboxer.

Hit it, Martina!

Do It For Stephen

2006-08-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

(Marguerite) Radclyffe Hall...the real Stephen Gordon?

Radclyffe Hall's The Well of Loneliness, originally published in 1928 and the center of a famous "obscenity trial", may be found in the young adult sections of major public libraries. And why not? Tragic hero/heroine Stephen Gordon faced the same emotional challenges at the beginning of the twentieth century as many young lesbians and transgendered people do today.

The Well of Loneliness is one of the first English novels to have a non-traditionally gendered person as the main character. In fact, the character's parents give her the name "Stephen Gordon", because they can see right away that she is not a typical baby girl. As she grows up, Stephen prefers the company of dogs and horses, hates dresses and long hair, and fights with the boys for respect, as well as the attention of other girls. Stephen often finds girls fickle; they often view her as a curiosity, or leave her for men, but her heart does not die. Instead, she becomes as wealthy and as powerful as she can, in the hope that she can gain a woman's heart and loyalty.

Modern critics of The Well of Loneliness often do not put Stephen Gordon in historical context. They forget that Stephen is from an upper class English family, with servants and property. It is not fair for modern critics to expect Stephen to reject her upper class leanings simply because she rejects the traditional gender role of women of turn of the century English culture. For Stephen, an upper class status provided her with the economic freedom and independence to express her true nature, as well as a safety net called "eccentricity".

During the same time period, working class women and wards of the state who wished to follow in Stephen Gordon's footsteps were institutionalized for mental instability. They were subjected to multiple tortures with the goal of turning them "straight", often destroying any sexual desire within them once and for all. In the United States, quite a few women did decide to live as men in order to earn good wages and have their independence. Some of these women had female companions or wives, and their true identities were often not discovered until their deaths. If Stephen Gordon is not "man" enough for you, check out these books for real gender-bending heroes who lived without a safety net:

Katz, Jonathan N.Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A. New York: Plume (Revised Ed.): 1992.

Miller, Neil. Out of the Past: Gay and Lesbian History from 1869 to the Present. New York: Advocate Books: 2005.

Will Heather's Daughter Have Two Grandmommies?

2006-08-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

Leslea Newman's Heather Has Two Mommies will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary. Narrated from a child's point of view, it is one of the first children's books to focus on a "non-traditional" family headed by a lesbian couple. Newman wrote the book because, to her knowledge, no books existed at the time for children of gay or lesbian parents.

Since its publication, Heather Has Two Mommies has caused uproars in schools and libraries across the United States. The book does not only acknowledge that different types of families exist, but it also reveals that women can love each other, live in committed relationships equivalent to marriage, raise healthy, moral children, and become families as ordinary as any other. Heather, the child narrator, tells the audience details about her mommies and her own life with them in a matter of fact way, without disgust, shock, or resentment. Accompanying illustrations show Heather engaged in everyday family activities with her two mommies. For these reasons, Heather Has Two Mommies will always be a classic of children's literature.

A lot has changed since the publication of Heather Has Two Mommies. Vermont, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York now recognize domestic partnerships or civil unions for lesbian and gay couples. Massachusetts, Leslea Newman's home state, now recognizes same-sex marriages. Same-sex couples, with or without children, are gaining visibility in film and television as positive characters, often with fewer marital issues or emotional conflicts than their heterosexual neighbors.

Unfortunately, many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the United States have yet to experience true tolerance in their communities, or their own families. And no same-sex couple in the United States, even one from Massachusetts, is viewed by the federal government as equal to a heterosexual couple. The younger generation of 18-24 year olds, however, has less resistance to same sex marriage, gays and lesbians in the military, or equal rights for LGBTQ people, than their elders. And this is because writers, filmmakers, artists, educators, librarians, and anyone else with the power of story, have worked hard to create visible, positive, and powerful LGBTQ characters for children and young adults.

Many books for children and young adults about same-sex couples, same-sex parents, or lesbian, gay, or transgender characters of any kind, have appeared on the scene, usurping Heather Has Two Mommies as the old stand-by. Modern readers may even find this pioneering work a bit dated, even boring, with its stilted, politically correct language. Perhaps Newman tried too hard to present an average, everyday family, and squeezed all of the life and laughter out of them. How would Rosie O'Donnell react if someone approached her family and remarked, "You all remind me of the Heather Has Two Mommies family"?

And Newman has written much better stuff than Mommies. Her short story "Right Off the Bat", published in her anthologies Secrets and Best Short Stories by Leslea Newman, is a 12 year old girl's story about life with a lesbian mother. Here Newman is not afraid to present a young narrator with the authentic cynical, resentful, honest voice of an almost-teenager who must face the challenge of having a lesbian mother every day at school. As for picture books, Gloria Goes to Gay Pride, in 35 vividly illustrated pages, proves that LGBT folks are active members of one's community, and that they actually laugh and have fun.