We've all read children's books, right? When I was little and
learning to read at school I delved in to books such as Biff, Chip
& Kipper, but now, looking back, I feel that the LGBT community
is somewhat neglected within this genre.
It is usually the case that books for children 12 years and
under portray the parents of characters as heterosexual and often
show the standard "nuclear family" ideal. The children presented
within the books are often assumed to be straight and they conform
to their gender stereotypes - when growing up, I read the Famous
Five series and the only exception I can think of is tomboy George,
who seemed to blur the gender line substantially as her behaviour
was often associated with maleness. I believe that children's books
do little to help children learn about equality, diversity and
acceptance of these differences. Surely we should be represented
somewhere?
Although there are a few young children's books available which
represent LGBT people, they aren't readily accessible in most
schools; parents usually have to look online or go to a bookstore
if they want this kind of book.
I believe that if children were to learn, at a young age, about
LGBT people it would allow them to make their own opinions about
such issues when growing up. I also believe that it would be
valuable for children to learn about us in an way that presents
LGBT people as "the norm", not as a sideline to other action
happening in the story, but as the main story. Not only that, but I
think it would assist children in learning that it's ok to be
different - whether you have two mums or two dads, it's not a bad
thing - you don't have to conform to stereotypes.
If LGBT characters were presented in books for young children I
think that it would significantly help children with their choices
about acceptance and understanding - it might even help tackle the
issue of bullying in schools. One of the reasons why people bully
or think negatively about an issue is because they don't understand
it; the presence of LGBT-based children's books in the school
curriculum for young children would give them a chance to
understand and accept homosexuality.
Being part of the LGBT community is a wonderful thing, and I
think it's only right that young children should be made aware of
this. For children being brought up by a mummy and daddy, who do
not know anyone who is LGBT, it would offer an insight to an aspect
of human diversity they have yet to encounter, while for children
who are already feeling their difference and the children of L, G,
B or T parents, it would offer them a space within a picture-book
to feel comfortable and create a sense of where they belong.
After all, if I'd had access to LGBT-based books when I was
younger I'm sure it would've saved me a lot of turmoil growing up
and it would've helped when trying to identify who I was.
Here is a short list of young children's books that represent
the LGBT characters:
Not Ready Yet by Tamsin Walker
Mommy, Mama and Me by Leslea Newman
Daddy, Papa and Me by Leslea Newman
Who's Family by Robert Skutch
Find out more about books for young children here: www.outforourchildren.org.uk/childrens-books/
