For many LGBTQ parents, back-to-school time brings worries about whether our children will be harassed or stigmatized because of their families. After seeing my son through college, I can say that the worries never fully disappear, but there are things we can do to lessen them and prepare our children for whatever they may encounter.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision saying that parents have the right to opt out their children before LGBTQ-inclusive books are read in public school classrooms is awful for many reasons. I want to focus here, though, on one that may feel amorphous but that should be at the heart of our response: its attack on queer joy.
“Today’s ruling threatens the very essence of public education,” said U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in a dissent after the court decided today that parents have the right to opt out their children before LGBTQ-inclusive books are read in public school classrooms.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case on April 22 about whether parents have the right to opt out their children before LGBTQ-inclusive books are read in public school classrooms. It’s about more than just books, however, as newly filed amicus briefs show.
The federal administration is drastically reducing and trying to shut down the Department of Education, a move that should concern us LGBTQ parents along with all others. Let’s look at what the repercussions could be and what we can do.
LGBTQ-inclusive content for kids, including performances, books, curricula, and more, has come under ever-increasing attack, bolstered in recent months by the federal government—but people are speaking out and fighting back.
PBS has removed a series of videos about LGBTQ history from its website for educators, under pressure from recent presidential executive orders—but the videos, aimed at middle and high school students, have found a new home.
Ten courses in a Defense Department online training program for the 30,000 professionals working with children and youth in military families are now inaccessible and under review, including “Creating Gender Safe Spaces,” “Creating Culturally Responsive Programs,” “Supporting Language Diversity,” and more.
Today is Spirit Day, GLAAD’s annual event to show support for LGBTQ youth and speak out against bullying—both personal bullying and the sweeping bullying of anti-LGBTQ laws and rhetoric.
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!
