Nonprofit Pride and Less Prejudice has donated over 16,000 LGBTQ-inclusive picture books to elementary classrooms since 2019—and if their 2024 virtual auction meets its goal, they will be able to send 1,600 more. The auction runs today through Sunday (September 26 to 29), so check out some of the amazing celebrity items you can bid on!
This year’s auction features items and experiences donated by a diverse group of celebrities, like a signed and personalized book from singer Janelle Monáe; a signed and personalized photo from recent Tony Award winner Daniel Radcliffe; a pair of tickets to the holiday show of drag queens Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme, including a photo opportunity; a virtual meet and greet with actress Nicole Maines; and signed vinyl from rapper Big Freedia.
Other items and experiences have been donated by chef Ina Garten, interior designer Bobby Berk, author Alice Oseman, tennis legend Billie Jean King, author Chris Colfer, singer Jason Mraz, actress Elvira, influencer Cody Rigsby, singer Lance Bass, actress Kristin Chenoweth, drag queen Latrice Royale, indie supergroup boygenius, actress Lily Tomlin and writer Jane Wagner, activist Mercury Stardust, musician Sara Bareilles, actor Alan Cumming, comedian Hannah Gadsby, comedian Cameron Esposito, actress Kat Barrell, comedian Margaret Cho, author Casey McQuiston, actress Miss Benny, singer Rufus Wainwright, actress Lisa Ann Walter, actress Jess Darrow, playwright Shaina Taub, and actor Maulik Pancholy.
Since its launch in 2019, the organization has raised more than $250,000 and donated over 16,000 books to more than 5,000 Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms in all 50 states. It also offers Teaching Guides for those books.
Through the auction, PLP is hoping to raise $20,000 to fund the donation of 1,600 more LGBTQ-inclusive books to elementary schools across the U.S. PLP sends its books only to teachers who request them.
Click here to browse the full list of items, bid, and see full details. Bidding starts today, September 26, 2024, and runs through September 29, 2024.
PLP’s virtual auction coincides with Banned Books Week, a time to raise awareness about the freedom to read and recommit to working against censorship, as I discussed in my post earlier this week. As PLP founder Lisa Forman said in a statement, too, “In 2023, the American Library Association saw a 65 percent increase in the number of titles targeted for censorship compared to 2022, with a focus on books by and about LGBTQ+ people and people of color. Pride and Less Prejudice is committed to ensuring that students have access to LGBTQ-inclusive books at school and in their libraries to see themselves and their families represented.”
I hope you will consider helping them do so!