LGBTQ+ kids, those with LGBTQ+ parents, and allies, in grades K through 5, are invited to a free, virtual program tomorrow to “meet new friends, discover LGBTQ+ books, enjoy activities and special guests, and discuss gender and identity issues in a safe space.” The monthly program, hosted by a library in Pennsylvania, is open to children anywhere!
William Jeanes Memorial Library in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, is hosting its “Free to Be” program on the last Wednesday of every month, via Zoom.
The next meeting will be tomorrow, Wednesday, September 28th, 2022, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Gricoski said:
This month, we’ll journey hundreds of years back in time to discover the Kanaka people’s (native Hawaiians’) approach to gender diversity, which has always recognized and honored THREE genders, and we’ll learn the story of Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, aka Kumu (teacher) Hina, a transgender native Hawaiian teacher and cultural icon who brings to life this long-held embrace of the Kanaka “third” gender, mahu.
The library plans to read Ho’onani: Hula Warrior, about one of Kumu Hina’s students, and to show the short film Kapaemahu that the book relates to. The library says, “This is a child-centered program, but we encourage kids to invite their loving and supportive adult/s to join the program with them.”
Library Assistant Maura Gricoski told me: “While we don’t love everything about virtual programming, in this case, we are thankful to have a platform that allows children to participate regardless of geography, and even more importantly, it allows them to leave their camera off if they wish, and to leave the Zoom at any time if they feel uncomfortable. The meetings are hosted on our Library’s secure and private Zoom account with extra measures taken to prevent trolls and the like.”
You must register in advance.
Pennsylvania has the third highest number of book bans or attempted bans of any U.S. state between July 2021 and June 2022, according to data from PEN America, and these books include LGBTQ-inclusive titles. Ho’onani: Hula Warrior was banned pending investigation by a school in Texas, reports PEN America (though I think it’s a perfectly appropriate book for elementary school children). It’s great to see that libraries are still working to connect kids who need them with such books (and films and discussions), and that the folks at William Jeanes are opening their program beyond their own geographic community.