Non-profit Pride and Less Prejudice, which has donated over 7,500 LGBTQ-inclusive picture books to elementary school classrooms in the U.S. and Canada since its founding in 2019, is holding a virtual auction through this weekend so they can send 800 more. Check out some of the amazing offerings!
The auction features items and experiences donated by celebrities including actor Jennifer Beals, comedian Hannah Gadsby, musical duo Tegan & Sara, actor Nicole Maines, comedian Cameron Esposito, tennis legend Billie Jean King, singer Melissa Etheridge, singer Mary Lambert, singer Rufus Wainwright, author Desmond Is Amazing, musical duo A Great Big World, actor Leslie Jordan, actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, actor Billy Porter, actor Chris Colfer, drag queen Shangela, actor Lea DeLaria, drag queen Brooke Lynn Hytes, actor Elvira (Cassandra Peterson), author ALOK, drag queen Latrice Royale, comedian Hannah Hart, actor Emily Hampshire, actor Kat Barrell, actor Carson Kressley, and actor Natasha Negovanlis. There are also signed books and/or virtual visits from authors like Sarah Prager, Rob Sanders, and Vanessa and JR Ford, whose LGBTQ-inclusive books you may know, plus apparel, accessories, pet products, home decor, food, and more. You can simply make a monetary donation, too, if you prefer.
PLP is hoping to raise $10,000, which will enable them to send 800 LGBTQ-inclusive books to elementary schools across the U.S. and Canada. PLP sends its books only to teachers who request them. It has already distributed books to 3,750 classrooms in 49 U.S. states and 7 Canadian provinces, and also offers Teaching Guides for those books.
Click here to browse the full list of items, bid, and see full details.
PLP’s virtual auction coincides with Banned Books Week, a time to raise awareness about the freedom to read and to recommit to working against censorship. I’ve written recently myself about some of the awful acts of censorship going on in the U.S. and what we can do about them, and about the LGBTQ-inclusive picture books that are currently being targeted.
“In this last year, we have seen countless attacks on LGBTQ+ youth, including the horrendous Don’t Say Gay or Trans law that passed in Florida,” said PLP founder Lisa Forman. “Sending LGBTQ-inclusive books to teachers who want to foster inclusive classrooms is more important than ever, as it shows LGBTQ+ youth that they are not alone.”