This post is both my announcement that I'll be joining the challenge to read books by and about gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered people (and how convenient that I failed so miserably in 2009--I can recycle my old reading list! Though I'm hoping to add enough to reach 12 books) and my answer to the January mini-challenge question.The Question: Why is this particular challenge important to you?
Answer #1: Why must this be the challenge that dare not speak its name?
Yes, I just answered a question with a question. But, truly, I can't think of a better way to put it. I don't understand the shame in naming the challenge and I want to do my part to put it out there that sexual orientation shouldn't have to be a hush-hush secret. So I'm here to shout out the name of the challenge.
The gay! And lesbian! And bisexual! And transgendered! And others who don't fit themselves into any of those categories! challenge.
Answer #2: Because of teens like Robby, whose post about why this challenge is important to him just about broke my heart. For kids who are in the process of figuring themselves out and/or coming out, books with positive gay characters (and the occasional ornery one) are crucial. In some cases, life-or-death crucial.
Answer #3: Because of my many friends who have found love with people who are the same gender as they are.
Answer #4: And because of my friends who haven't.
Answer #5: Because I'm raising two delightful boys and I want them to know I don't give a rat's hiney whether they or their friends are gay or straight, as long as they'll keep bringing their friends to dinner. Having these books strewn around the house along with all the other books I read sends a message to them about who we are as a family. We're fairly mainstream in a lot of ways, but we're standing on the side of love, and we're not embarrassed to say so.
I love this post <3
ReplyDeleteI give this post two thumbs up. <3
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Good luck with the challenge!
ReplyDeleteI see one of the books on your previous list is From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun, a book I would be reading right now except the library sent it back. The fact that I was sick and could not get in to pick it up did not impress them. :-)
ReplyDeleteBut I digress. I recently read and loved two other books by Jacqueline Woodson and think this one looks very interesting
Wonderful post! If enough of us keep shouting, maybe one day we'll change the world!
ReplyDeleteFantastic post! Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteWow that a wonderful way to explain it. I shook my head at the name of the challenge too personally, no offense intended to the creator. I signed up for a GLBTQ challenge last year and didn't even read one book for it. I didn't mean to ignore it I just read almost all review books and didn't get around to it. I'd sign up for this one but I'm really limiting my challenges this year to ones I think I can complete by reading review books.
ReplyDeleteoh Ali, that 's beautiful: We're standing on the side of love and we're not embarrassed to say so. YES!
ReplyDeleteI love this post. It really is all about love. I don't have kids but when I do, I'll be the same. I don't care who they or their friends love as long as they are LOVING and not HATING. And I love Robby...his post was amazing.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
Excellent post. We're definitely going to have to keep shouting!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE what you said about sending your boys a message through the books you have strewn around the house. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your supportive comments. They mean the world to me.
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