Color with Pride! The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Welcoming Schools project has long been the leading source of LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive professional development training and resources for elementary school educators, and this joyful coloring book adds to the useful items it provides.
With 28 black-and-white colorable pages, the book offers affirming images (Pride flags, rainbows, etc.) and messages like “United Against Hate,” “Y’all means all,” “Black Trans Lives Matter,” “Uniquely Me,” “Equality Without Exception,” and more. There’s a page of pronouns, and one spelling out “EQUALITY” in both letters and ASL hands.
The images are all inspired by the art installation GAZE, a collaboration between HRC and Hopscotch, which uses rainbow LEDs to illuminate words and images of Pride and acceptance that are etched into a maze of acrylic panels. A full-color center spread in the book shows one view of the installation.
A note at the beginning of the book, however, assures users that there are no rules here, and urges them to “Color inside and outside the lines on these pages and decide what colors and designs bring you joy.” Whether in classrooms or at home, users should love doing just that.
The book may be purchased online at the HRC site via the button above (I make no commission on sales of it), but is also being disseminated directly to schools that are engaged with Welcoming Schools, and will be available at select Pride booths during the summer of 2024.
