The ChangeMakers, a group of Youth Leaders at The Alliance for LGBTQ Youth in Miami, have published this book in response to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay/LGBTQ” law. The title plays off The Courage to Be Free, the title of a book by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) that launched the same day. Written as an educational tool for children and lawmakers alike, it tells the story of a zebra who goes on a journey of self discovery. Along the way, they meet different characters who teach them lessons about self-reliance and community, ultimately giving them the courage to be truly free to be themselves.
Coco the zebra doesn’t like going to school, where others are mean to them. The worst is Mule, who would ask, “Why are you so weird?” Coco knows they are different, but wonders “What’s wrong with me?” They run away to the woods, where a flower-patterned giraffe assures Coco that they “love you for you.” The new friend teaches Coco a breathing trick to help be calm. This is enough to allow a few colored stripes to appear on Coco’s fur.
Despite the urging of several donkeys to hide the stripes with mud, Coco insists they don’t want to fit in. A friendly elephant helps rinse off the mud, revealing that another colored stripe has appeared. The pattern continues, as some animals bother Coco while others help them with affirmations, a message to shine in the darkness, and a unique hairstyle that suits them. This gives Coco the confidence to return to school, with all their stripes now brightly colored, and to tell Mule that they’ve found “The courage to stand out and be … truly free.” Mule runs away.
Finding courage is rarely as easy as it appears in this book—and it shouldn’t be solely incumbent upon victims of bullying to find the courage to stand up; bullies must also be helped to learn and offer apology and restitution—but the tips that Coco takes to heart may indeed offer some comfort to those LGBTQ children in Florida and elsewhere who are facing bullying from peers and/or their government.
The book may be downloaded free (click the button above), or purchased at Amazon, where proceeds will go to The Alliance for LGBTQ Youth.
