Maybe it’s the hint of real spring in the air, but I’ve had music in my head lately, so I thought it would be a good time to recap some of the great music that now exists for and about LGBTQ parents, LGBTQ kids, and different types of families in general.
First, for free online listening, check out the videos for these LGBTQ Songs for Kids that I’ve compiled, which include some songs from the albums below, as well as many other singles from even more artists.
Some of my favorite overall albums are:
- Grammy winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer’s Dancin’ In The Kitchen: Songs For All Families
. The common thread in this toe-tapping collection by two-time Grammy Award-winning duo Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer is what makes a family and a home. The pair give us songs (almost all from a child’s perspective) about families with same-sex, different-sex, adoptive, divorced, and biracial parents, as well as ones defying gender stereotypes. (Full review.)
- Chana Rothman’s Rainbow Train
. Some songs here are overtly about gender identity and expression, while others are more generally about empowerment, being oneself, and being comfortable in one’s body. It’s a great mix of tracks you’ll just want to dance to along with ones that will spark further discussion about gender and social justice. (Full review.)
- Grammy-nominated Alistair Moock’s All Kinds of You and Me. Folk artist and Grammy nominee Moock’s album is broad, covering concepts like family, gender, ethnicity, inclusion, and social justice. He was inspired by Marlo Thomas’ classic 1972 album, Free to Be … You and Me
, and updates the sound and the topics to better resonate with kids (and their parents) today.
- Linda Perry and Sara Gilbert’s Deer Sounds
.
Grammy nominee Linda Perry and actor Sara Gilbert, who welcomed a son in 2015, have also collaborated here. It isn’t specifically about LGBTQ families or even diversity, but brings an open and inclusive sensibility that includes lines like, “I know I’m different, but I’m not the only one…. As I grow up, I’m going to tell the world, that I can be a boy or a girl.” (Full review.)
- The Super Secret Seashell Cave
, from the team that produced Dottie’s Magic Pockets, the first live-action DVD for kids with lesbian and gay parents and their friends. Seashell brings back the fun-loving cast, including lesbian-mom Dottie and her puppet friends, to take children on a musical adventure in search of the eponymous cave. Along the way, they meet new friends, including a squeaky squirrel, a beetle with two moms, and a monkey adopted by a baboon. (Also check out the sing-along book for the song “Who’s in Your Family?
“)
Have I missed any? Are there any songs on other albums that you adapt to fit your family? Share your lyrics in the comments!
(I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.)
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