San Diego School District Adds 2,000 LGBTQ+ Books for Elementary Students

(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

In California, kids just got loaded up with reading material.

On Monday, parents of kiddos in the San Diego Unified School District received an email.

The superintendent let them know of new resources coming into the system.

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Per the message, nonprofit Gender Nation would be donating 2,000 “age-appropriate LGBTQ+ inclusive” books.

As reported by The Daily Wire, the missive explained that, in an effort to “empower students through inclusive stories,” the district would “now have access to more literature specifically geared towards LGBTQ+ students.”

Gender Nation’s website describes its goals:

We help communities empower and validate children with LGBTQ+ storytelling.

Libraries are sanctuaries, but they often don’t have the resources they need to serve all children equally. We started Gender Nation to help provide school libraries with LGBTQ+ affirming literature. Our supporters make this possible by helping to curate, purchase, and distribute books at no cost to those we serve.

The site allows visitors to “Donate a Book,” of which it lists 16.

Here are a few, accompanied by excerpts from the site:

George
Age range: 8-12
When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. … When her teacher announces their school play will be Charlotte’s Web, George really wants to play Charlotte – and comes up with a plan so not only can she get the part, but everyone can be who she is, once and for all.

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag
Age range: 5-8
In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today’s world.

Sparkle Boy
Age range: 5-8
Casey loves to play with his blocks, puzzles, and dump truck, but he also loves things that sparkle, shimmer, and glitter. When his older sister, Jessie, shows off her new shimmery skirt, Casey wants to wear a shimmery skirt too. The adults in Casey’s life embrace his interests, but Jessie isn’t so sure. … Then, when older boys at the library tease Casey for wearing “girl” things, Jessie realizes that Casey has the right to be himself and wear whatever he wants.

The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived
Age range: 5-6
Knights, dragons, and princesses are the things all good fairy tales are made of, but what happens when the tale has an LGBTQ ending?

I Am Jazz
Age range: 4-8
From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl’s brain in a boy’s body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn’t feel like herself in boys’ clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way.

It Feels Good To Be Yourself
Age range: 4-8
Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between. This sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others.

Neither
Age range: 4-8
In the Land of This and That, there are only two kinds: blue bunnies and yellow birds. But one day a funny green egg hatches, and a little creature that’s not quite a bird and not quite a bunny pops out. It’s neither!

One of a Kind, Like Me
Age range: 4-8
Tomorrow is the school parade, and Danny knows exactly what he will be: a princess. Mommy supports him 100%, and they race to the thrift store to find his costume. It’s almost closing time – will Danny find the costume of his dreams in time?

And Tango Makes Three
Age range: 2-5
The heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family.

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In the email, SDUSD’s Youth Advocacy department resource teacher Mick Rabin confirmed the addition’s vitality:

“It’s important for kids to…see their stories often and routinely throughout the school year.”

San Diego’s certainly not alone in its desire to offer gender-oriented instruction to youngsters.

As I reported in March, a legislator in New York is sponsoring a bill to adopt the standards of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.

A few points of Senate Bill S2484A:

  • Teach 5-year-olds about gender identity
  • Teach children as young as 11 about “vaginal, oral, and anal sex”
  • Teach children as young as 11 about “queer, two-spirit, asexual, pansexual,” and other identities
  • Teach preteens about the use of external and internal condoms

As noted by the Wire, there’s no word on whether San Diego’s new books will be an official part of school curriculum.

Either way, education has rapidly changed.

Until relatively recently, sexuality would have never been uttered to an elementary school class, and identity wasn’t a part of the American discourse.

But that was then, and this is now.

And Gender Nation is fulfilling its mission, to be sure.

-ALEX

 

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