From: Nancegar at aol.com <Nancegar>
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2004 11:29:10 EDT

Even though this month's discussion is still young, it's been wonderful to see so many fine recent and almost-recent GLBT books mentioned -- and therefore read -- by so many thoughtful people! What a difference from even five years ago when there were fewer new titles and greater reluctance to read, shelve, and discuss them. It helps, I think, that more and more straight people see being GLBT as being or becoming a nonissue -- and in many places, straight kids are in the forefront of that attitude!

But censorship attempts continue -- yes, KING & KING has been under fire as Helen Shall mentioned -- and some GLBT kids are still beaten up by their peers and rejected by their parents. As long as misunderstanding, ignorance, prejudice, and bigotry exist, they'll be part of GLBT literature for kids, I think, and should be, for they are part of the stories of many GLBT kids' lives--just as prejudice and bigotry are part of the stories of many minority kids' lives. But it is indeed wonderful that GLBT kids -- well, GLB kids, anyway -- are also increasingly being shown as living normal lives in much of the literature. That's a wonderful development! -- as is this discussion.

Nancy Garden
______________________________________ Please visit my website: www.nancygarden.com Budding Writers #12 is up!
Received on Thu 10 Jun 2004 10:29:10 AM CDT