Utah school pulls picture book about lesbian parents from shelves

in: http://www.latimes.com/

A picture book aimed at pre-reading children has raised the ire of two dozen parents of students at a Utah elementary school who say that its subject matter is decidely adult: the story of a lesbian couple raising children.

The book, “In Our Mother’s House” by Patricia Polacco, was removed from the library shelves at Windridge Elementary School near Salt Lake City after parents raised objections about the suitability of the book’s social message.

The book is now kept behind the librarian’s counter and can only be checked out once a student presents a permission slip from a parent, said district spokesman Chris Williams.

The brouhaha started in January, when the mother of a kindergarten student became upset after her child checked out the book and brought it home. The mother and her husband alerted elementary school officials, Williams said.

“She didn’t think it was appropriate for her child or any other child in the elementary school,” Williams told the Los Angeles Times.

School district officials decided to make the book accessible only to older children, but the mother objected to that compromise. “She wasn’t happy with that decision,” Williams said. “She came back to the district with a petition signed by 25 parents to remove the book.

A seven-member committee determined that the book didn’t align with district curriculum standards. The committee, composed of teachers, administrators and parents, voted to place the book in a special check-out area.

Williams said the book – the cover shows two women holding three children of different ethnicities – was originally purchased in part because a student who attended Windridge elementary has two mothers and librarians wanted to foster inclusion.

According to a website for the book, Polacco’s book encourages people to try to understand people who aren’t like them.

"Marmee, Meema, and the kids are just like any other family on the block. In their beautiful house, they cook dinner together, they laugh together, and they dance together. But some of the other families don’t accept them. They say they are different. How can a family have two moms and no dad?" a description of the book states. " But Marmee and Meema’s house is full of love. And they teach their children that different doesn’t mean wrong. And no matter how many moms or dads they have, they are everything a family is meant to be."

Rights activists blasted the decision to remove the book from library shelves.

“Parents have and should take seriously the importance of speaking to their children about their families, their history and their deeply held personal values. But as a community, we have a responsibility to hold open a space for children to accurately understand families, history and personal values as they actually exist in our diverse community," Brandie Balken, executive director of Equality Utah, told the Salt Lake Tribune.

Years ago, parents complained about violence in a 1971 book titled "Grendel," by John Gardner. John Steinbeck’s "Of Mice and Men," along with J. K. Rowling’s "Harry Potter" series and Stephanie Meyer’s "Twilight" series, have also brought parental backlash. But none of those books were never removed from shelves, Williams said.

“Parents do have opportunity approach the school and meet with officials and say ‘I have objection to this book’ and that’s what this parent did,” he said.

http://www.latimes.com/

15 GLBT Romances That Rocked My World

in: http://www.loveromancepassion.com/

GLBT romances are becoming more and more popular. I love reading them! They fall into as many categories as the m/f romances (Contemporary, Regency, Paranormal, etc.) so there is something for everyone. Below is the list (in alphabetical order) of my favorites.

1. Bad Boyfriend - K. A. Mitchell - After Quinn Maloney is dumped by his closeted boyfriend of ten years, he decides to approach a twink in a club and ask him to accompany him to the christening of his ex-boyfriend’s baby. Eli Wright turns out to be much more than just a date. Mitchell is a solid writer whose books always contain such great characters.
2. Dance with Me - Heidi Cullinan - Ex semi-pro football player Ed Maurer and dance instructor Laurie Parker have conflict over the separate classes they are teaching at the community center. In a bargain, Ed agrees to be the assistant in Laurie’s ballroom dancing class. Ed’s neck injury and Laurie’s pressure from friends and family to perform on stage once again cause problems in their relationship.
3. Death of a Pirate King - Josh Lanyon - I couldn’t make a list of GLBT romances without including Josh Lanyon. Death of a Pirate King is the fourth book of his Adrien English series. Adrien and his closeted-ex Jake have been broken up for two years, but are thrown back together when Adrien sits next to a man at a dinner party who dies while at the table
4. Fair Game - Josh Lanyon - In this one Lanyon also writes about estranged lovers and an investigation. Elliot Mills, a former FBI agent but now a professor, is asked by a student’s parents to investigate the disappearance of their son. Elliot’s ex, Lance Tucker, is the FBI agent assigned to the case.
5. Frat Boy and Toppy - Anne Tenino - He always thought that he was straight, but Brad is slowly realizing that he is indeed gay and is extremely attracted to Sebastian, the teaching assistant for his history class.  This one had me laughing out loud because of Brad’s thoughts as he processes his real sexual orientation, his coming out to his family and friends, and his clumsy attempts to get Sebastian’s attention.
6. Handle with Care - Josephine Myles - This one has a one has a diabetic hero who is on home dialysis and is waiting for a kidney and pancreas transplant. He finds himself attracted to the purple-haired skateboarder who delivers his regular orders of DVD porn.
7. Moving in Rhythm - Dev Bentham - Mark Apostolos is cripplingly shy and cannot find the words when he is speaking to strangers. In fact, he tends to avoid people whenever possible. (He even teaches online courses.) When he accompanies his pregnant sister-in-law to dance class, the handsome instructor, Seth Miller, makes Mark want to overcome his shyness.
8. Muscling Through - J. L. Merrow - This is a funny and sweet book about a man, Al Fletcher, with a low IQ who falls in love with a Cambridge art professor, Lawrence Morton. I like that the story is told through the eyes of Al.
9. Pricks and Pragmatism - J. L. Merrow - Luke Corbin is an English student who like many students doesn’t have a lot of money. He trades sexual favors with rich men in order to keep a roof over his head. When Luke’s latest throws him out for another man, Luke’s friend gets him a place to stay at Russell’s house. Russell is not rich and he is a total nerd. He is also saving himself for someone special.
10. Regularly Scheduled Life  - K. A. Mitchell - I reviewed this one here.
11. Retreat From Love - Samantha Kane - This one, a part of the Brothers in Arms series, is a ménage a trois story of Frederick Thorne, Duke of Ashland, and his love for wounded soldier Brett Haversham. Freddy finds out that Brett is in love with Anne Goode who was Freddy’s first love. Since Brett resists Freddy’s attempts at seduction, Freddy decides to push Brett and Anne together.
12. Scrap Metal - Harper Fox - Since the death of his brother and mother, Nichol has come home to help his grandfather on the sheep farm. They are close to losing it because of debts. One night Nichol catches a man, Cam, breaking into his barn. Everything starts to change. The amazing thing about this story is that the cold, wet, sheep farm and surrounding area become a third person in the story.
13. Stolen Summer - S. A. Meade - Evan Harrison and Colin Williams’s relationship turns from best friends to lovers right before Evan goes off to Pakistan on a journalism assignment. There he is taken hostage. Once he is freed he has trouble dealing with what he went through, and it threatens his and Colin’s relationship.
14. Strawberries for Dessert - Marie Sexton - This was the first GLBT romance that I read. Accountant Jonathan agrees to a blind date with globe-trotting twink Cole Fenton. After a disastrous first date, they try again and eventually decide to enter into a casual relationship and get together whenever Cole is in town.
15. The Only Gold - Tamara Allen - In late 19th century New York Jonah Woolner is angry and disappointed to be passed over for promotion by newcomer Reid Hylliard. Jonah is sure that Reid’s methods will cause problems for the bank, and Reid’s attempts to be friends with Jonah don’t work.

Do you have a favorite GLBT book?

Photo Credits: Nephelim (www.nerobizzarro.com)

http://www.loveromancepassion.com/

Bibliotecas escolares vão ter livros sobre homossexualidade

in: http://www.ionline.pt/conteudo/94255-bibliotecas-escolares-vao-ter-livros-homossexualidade

Esta é a primeira vez que a comunidade LGBT é visada num plano de igualdade do governo

A Rede de Bibliotecas Escolares vai ter, a partir de 2011, livros relacionados com a homossexualidade para "reforçar o esclarecimento dos jovens" sobre a comunidade LGBT (Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais, Transexuais) e sobre o tipo de discriminação que sentem.

Esta é a primeira vez que a comunidade LGBT é visada num plano de igualdade do governo. "Em 2007 começamos a estabelecer parcerias com a comunidade LGBT e esta é a primeira vez que um plano tem medidas dedicadas à temática", diz ao i a secretária de Estado Elza Pais. Outra das novidades do IV Plano Nacional para a Igualdade (PNI) é a possibilidade que foi aberta a todos as pessoas desta comunidade de receberem um financiamento público para realizarem projectos de cooperação e investigação sobre o tema igualdade e cidadania.

Desde a aprovação do Tratado de Lisboa que a CIG (Comissão para a Cidadania e Igualdade de Género) passou a integrar a área de orientação sexual e identidade de género. Duas das organizações que representam a comunidade LGBT passaram também a integrar o Conselho Consultivo da CIG e foi ainda promovido "o primeiro estudo de iniciativa pública". As conclusões desse estudo estão agora previstas no PNI.

Elza Pais reforçou a necessidade de sensibilizar "a população em geral para a não discriminação" e para capacitar "as organizações da sociedade civil que representem pessoas LGBT". Recorde-se que desde 31 de Maio que o casamento civil entre pessoas do mesmo sexo é permitido por lei e foram discutidas e aprovadas pela Assembleia da República duas iniciativas legislativas que procuram regular o procedimento de mudança sexo no registo civil por parte das pessoas transgénero, transexuais e intersexuais.

http://www.ionline.pt/conteudo/94255-bibliotecas-escolares-vao-ter-livros-homossexualidade