Greg Louganis, gay Olympian & children’s rights champion speaks – Los Angeles Blade
By James Finn | DETROIT – I’ve written too many stories lately about LGBTQ-inclusive books disappearing from school and public libraries. PEN America says 2022 is the worst year ever for book banning in the U.S. A politically inspired anti-LGBTQ backlash, largely based on fear and misinformation, isn’t just pulling books off shelves, it’s hurting vulnerable kids.
I’ve written too many columns featuring queer teens telling me how the backlash is destroying their lives. From a gay boy in Texas rejected by his family and faith community, to a trans boy in Florida who fled the state to live in a New York homeless shelter, these stories matter because they give real faces to abstract headlines.
But they sure are hard to write.
Once in a while, I get to tell a happy story, like when I interviewed Jillian Hanlon, who is winning (fingers crossed!) her New York State race to become the nation’s first openly transgender sheriff.
Last week was another one of those happy interviews.
Michael Rady, who leads GLSEN’s Rainbow Library Project, knocked my socks off
I interviewed Michael expecting to talk about how representation is critical to LGBTQ kids. About how much they need books about themselves and positive role models. I got that conversation, but I got so much more.
Michael showed me GLSEN is working hard to empower LGBTQ kids in school, and that they’re seeing much success— in numbers that literally took my breath away.
“What has really filled my heart,” Michael told me, “is how willing many educators and librarians are to step up to the plate, especially in rural and conservative areas. Willing to defend kids.”
Let’s back up. What is GLSEN and what is Rainbow Library?
If you’re like me, you might know that GLSEN (pronounced glisten) helps students set up GSA (Gender/ Sexual Alliance) clubs. GLSEN doesn’t lead the clubs, kids do. GLSEN gets empowering information to them and their teacher advisors. Studies have shown that schools where kids start active GSAs show marked decreases in bullying and abuse, not just for LGBTQ students, for all students.
But that’s a story for another day.
I called Michael last week to talk about GLSEN’s new Rainbow Library, because books literally save lives, and the need for books is greater today than ever. Most of my readers already know conservative activists managed to ban over 1,600 books in 5,000 schools across 32 states in the 2021–2022 school year. 41% of the books explicitly address LGBTQ themes or have LGBTQ characters, and 40% include characters of color.
Not even the most wholesome, positive books are exempt from the bans. As I wrote on Saturday, conservative activists are attacking a library near me, calling Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper “pornography” despite that the award-winning graphic novels contain no nudity and zero descriptions or depictions of sex.
GLSEN’s Rainbow Library is getting books to kids who need them the most
It all started in 2018 when Michael volunteered with GLSEN’s Connecticut chapter to launch the Rainbow Library. His experience as a third-grade teacher, curriculum writer, and Senate education policy staffer gave him the background to see not just a need, but a solution.
“We sent LGBTQ-affirming books to schools in the state because there was so much demand for high-quality affirming resources. Our first send-off had about 120 boxes with 10 books each. From there, the program blossomed, and we had a lot of interest from other states.”
And when Michael said blossomed, he wasn’t kidding. The program soon grew to thousands of locations in dozens of states. Today, Michael directs Rainbow Library as one of GLSEN’s national education programs. In just a second, I’m going to knock your socks off with the numbers Michael stunned me with. But first …
Michael says Rainbow Library helps empower students, teachers, and librarians to fight for the right to read
- We make good info available about student rights. Go to our censorship page to see tips and guidance to educators. [Guys, this is seriously one of the best resource pages I’ve ever seen on this subject.]
- We make lots of legal cases available for Rainbow Library participants, because administrators seem responsive to students’ legal rights and fear of litigation.
- We provide professional development to educators that includes a segment of student and educator rights. We do practice scenarios for adults interacting with other adults.
- We partner with local and regional coalitions that push back against book bans.
- We provide books reviews and award lists for books in our sets. To show they deserve to be on shelves.
- We provide technical support to educators who have had books banned.
Down to business. What sort of books does Rainbow Library send out?
First, some generalities. A group of about 12 members of GLSEN’s education advisory committee plus kids on their national student council drive the book selection. They choose books to reflect genuine ethnic, racial, and LGBTQ diversity. At least one book in each box is either in Spanish or is bilingual Spanish/English.
Getting down to the nitty gritty, each outgoing box features books sets that are age-appropriate for kids in grades K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12.
Want some examples? I asked Michael to name some of his favorites, and here’s a sampling:
Ace of Spades is a mystery/thriller for older teens by the internationally acclaimed Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, who also writes original screenplays for the Disney Channel. Readers love this novel:
I could not put this book down! Sex, lies, and fighting back against racism — this book is a wild ride, with an incredibly powerful message. A heart-racing and twisty thriller that grapples so much more than a simple mystery; ACE OF SPADES explores being both queer and Black …
The Passing Playbook is also aimed at high school readers. The award-winning novel by Isaac Fitzsimons features 15-year-old Spencer Harris, a proud nerd and awesome big brother. He’s also transgender. After transitioning leads to a year of bullying, Spencer gets a fresh start at a liberal private school in Ohio.
He seems to have it all: more accepting classmates, a shot at a starting position on the boy’s soccer team, great new friends, and maybe even something more than friendship with one of his teammates. The problem is, no one knows Spencer is trans — he’s passing. When a coach sees Spencer’s birth certificate, he faces the challenge of his young life.
Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman, selected for K-2 students, is an autobiography by Sharice Davids and Nancy K. Mays. According to Goodreads, the picture book,
tells the triumphant story of one of the first Native American women elected to Congress, and the first LGBTQ congressperson to represent Kansas! When Sharice Davids was young, she never thought she’d be in Congress. And she never thought she’d be one of the first Native American women in Congress. During her campaign, she heard from a lot of doubters. They said she couldn’t win because of how she looked, who she loved, and where she came from.
Beautifully illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, an Ojibwe Woodland artist, this powerful autobiographical picture book teaches readers to use their big voice and that everyone deserves to be seen — and heard!
OK, ready to have your socks knocked off?
Remember those 120 boxes of 10 books Rainbow Library sent to schools in Connecticut three years ago? How many more books would you guess Rainbow Library is sending out now? And where would you guess they’re going?
Michael lives with his partner in Nashville, so when I discussed the challenges of living in a conservative area like western Michigan, where I make my home, he “got it” immediately. He was excited to tell me that educators in Michigan are requesting lots of books. So are educators in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and other conservative states where queer kids need the most help and empowerment.
Is Rainbow Library meeting that demand?
Check this out: This month they’re sending out 1,600 sets of books. That’s 16,000 books going to 1,600 schools, often in conservative areas, because teachers and librarians asked for them. Later in the school year, they’re going to do it again, probably with bigger numbers because popularity and capability keep growing.
When Michael told me that, I had to stop and backtrack, like an audio double take. “Come again? What did you just say?”
Do the math, guys. We’re talking about millions of students. I did NOT expect that, did you?
Many of you reach out to me to ask what you can do to help LGBTQ youth, and I always have some kind of answer, including supporting Rainbow Youth Project, who provide free mental health counseling and other direct services to queer kids in crisis.
Today, let me add GLSEN’s Rainbow Library to that mix.
Whether you’re a teacher, a librarian, a parent, or a student, Rainbow Library is there for you. Want to volunteer at a local chapter? Need resources? Need books? Reach out today!
Right now, as you’re reading this, an LGBTQ kid is very likely picking up a book at school because Rainbow Library made it possible. Maybe for the first time, that young person is seeing themselves reflected in the mirror of literature.
That’s powerful, it’s real, and it’s critically important. Want to learn more? Click.
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James Finn is a columnist for the LA Blade, a former Air Force intelligence analyst, an alumnus of Queer Nation and Act Up NY, and an “agented” but unpublished novelist. Send questions, comments, and story ideas to [email protected]
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The preceding article was previously published by Prism & Pen– Amplifying LGBTQ voices through the art of storytelling and is republished by permission.