Oy, Gay: LGBT Jewish Children’s Book Writing Contest

Passing along this information from Keshet, the national organization for GLTBQ Jews:

Keshet, a national nonprofit that works for the full inclusion of GLBTQ Jews, just launched a Jewish Children’s Book Writing Contest. While there are many great Jewish books for kids, Jewish children’s books that feature GLBTQ families or characters are extremely rare. The winner of this contest will receive a cash prize and the possibility of being published by an major Jewish publisher. Details about the contest are here.

Do read the additional details—they note, among other things, “We’re not looking for a story about what it’s like to live in a gay Jewish family, but rather a book with one or more members of a GLBT Jewish family as the central character(s) in a great story. We welcome stories that show ethnic diversity as well as diversity of family structure.” Manuscripts are due by April 11, 2011.

And no fair ripping off existing LGBTQ children’s books, e.g., Heather Has Two Matzo or Uncle Bobby’s Bar Mitzvah. (Yes, I’m of Jewish heritage myself. I can make jokes like that.)