Author/Educator couple aims to protect kids, discourage bullying with new LGBT picture book series.
TORONTO, July 31, 2014 /CNW/ - School board educator j wallace and award-winning author S. Bear Bergman have teamed up with Canadian artists and writers to publish a series of six picture books featuring LGBT kids and families. The books will feature positive, celebratory storylines.
"It's tempting to think of this as a 'gay issue'." says wallace, whose day job is with the Toronto District School Board's Gender-Based Violence Prevention team. "But statistics show that 80% of homophobic or gender-policing bullying is directed toward straight kids. If we can lessen the hostility and stigma around being lesbian, gay, bi or transgender, we can give all children a safer school experience."
Bergman says the available books are lacking in two important ways. "They're not at all diverse in terms of race, family style, or gender. Worse, so many of them focus on bullying and harassment of kids or families seen as 'different.' That's not the message we want to give our four-year-old right before bed. We want him to see families like his and our friends solving mysteries, having adventures, and being well and happy."
Flamingo Rampant is gearing up to publish a set of six books. They will include: powerful girls and women as main characters, the first picture book featuring non-white gay parents since 1990, the first two-spirit picture book ever published, a Pride ABC book charmingly titled M is for Mustache about a single lesbian mom and her daughter getting ready for the parade, and more.
Bergman is a well-regarded author who lectures at universities all over the world and performs across North America. His most recent book is the Lambda Literary Finalist and Quill & Quire 2013 Author's Pick Top 10 Blood, Marriage, Wine & Glitter (Arsenal Pulp Press). Wallace, in addition to his work with the TDSB, is a recognized expert on transgender and gender-independent kids in schools and recreation. He has worked with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, Girl Guides, Planned Parenthood, and many of Ontario's other school boards.
To get your year's subscription of books at the special pre-order price (and to make sure this historic series gets published), visit kck.st/1jYSEdl (ends 11 August).
SOURCE: Flamingo Rampant
S. Bear Bergman
Flamingo Rampant
[email protected]
flamingorampant.com
647.802.3623
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