APPENDIX BEST PRACTICES FOR SERVING LGBTQ STUDENTS A Teaching Tolerance Guide TEACHING TOLERANCE APPENDIX A THE LGBTQ LIBRARY Books and Films for You and Your Classroom This list of books and films—with options for Annie’s Plaid Shirt students of all ages and reading levels—offers by Stacy B. Davids a good starting place for educators who need Annie’s mom demands her daughter wear to diversify their curricula and classroom li- a dress to her uncle’s wedding. But Annie is braries. And, because adults need windows miserable and feels weird wearing dresses. and mirrors too, the list includes profession- So she has a better idea. This book will en- al development options that can broaden courage students to consider gender norms your understanding of LGBTQ history and and possibly rethink the boundaries of per- lived experiences. sonal expression. Gay & Lesbian History for Kids: The Cen- tury-Long Struggle for LGBT Rights Note: This is intended as a resource, and by Jerome Pohlen all books were chosen for their reported This interactive book—complete with 21 value in providing diverse perspectives activities for kids—highlights LGBTQ indi- and representation of LGBTQ characters. viduals who shaped world history. But Teaching Tolerance has not read ev- ery book in this catalogue; educators Heather Has Two Mommies should vet any chosen books carefully by Lesléa Newman before using them in the classroom. This updated version of the 1989 book of the same name simply and beautifully illus- trates the diverse range of families young ELEMENTARY SCHOOL readers can have and appreciate. I Am Jazz And Tango Makes Three by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell This book—based on Jazz’s real-life experi- This true story about two penguins, Roy ence—offers a simple, clear window into the and Silo, at the Central Park Zoo who cre- life of a transgender girl who knew her true ated a nontraditional family offers a heart- self from a young age. warming look at the boundless definitions In Our Mothers’ House of family and love. by Patricia Polacco Antonio’s Card/La Tarjeta de Antonio Marmee, Meema and the kids cook dinner by Rigoberto González together, laugh together and dance togeth- This bilingual book written in English and er. But some of the other families don’t Spanish follows Antonio, a boy searching accept them—they say they are different. for the words to express his love for his These two moms teach their children the mother and her partner Leslie (who his true meaning of family. classmates make fun of) on Mother’s Day. FILM/DOCUMENTARY TEACHING TOLERANCE Introducing Teddy: A Gentle Story about book offers the perspective of supportive Gender and Friendship parents seeing their daughter marry the by Jessica Walton woman she loves. After a few days of feeling down, Teddy re- Our Family: A Film About Family veals to Errol that she feels more like a girl Diversity from Not In Our Town and than a boy. Her fear of speaking up is quick- Our Family Coalition ly turned into self-confidence as Errol and This documentary features elementary stu- his friend embrace the newly named Tilly dents’ insights about what makes a family, just the way she is. featuring a diverse range of answers and Jacob’s New Dress identities. An extensive K–5 instruction- by Sarah and Ian Hoffman al guide accompanies the film, providing Jacob loves playing dress-up, when he can ready-to-use materials such as discussion be anything he wants to be. This heart- outlines and lesson plans. warming story speaks to the unique chal- Prince and Knight lenge faced by boys who don’t identify with by Daniel Haack traditional gender roles. In this modern fairy tale, a noble prince and a Mommy, Mama, and Me and brave knight come together to defeat a terri- Daddy, Papa, and Me ble monster and in the process find true love. by Lesléa Newman Red: A Crayon’s Story These books follow toddlers who spend by Michael Hall the day with their two moms and two dads, A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as “red” respectively. suffers an identity crisis. No matter how Morris Micklewhite and the hard he and everyone around him tries to Tangerine Dress make him red, he can’t do it. This book is by Christine Baldacchino about his journey to find the courage to be Morris is a little boy who loves using his true to his inner self. imagination. But most of all, Morris loves Sex Is a Funny Word wearing the tangerine dress in his class- by Cory Silverberg room’s dress-up center. This book can help Less controversial than its title suggests, early readers understand and value peers this comic book for kids includes children whose gender expression may differ from and families of all makeups, orientations cultural norms. and gender identities, providing an es- One of a Kind, Like Me/Único Como Yo sential resource about bodies, gender and by Laurin Mayeno sexuality for young children that will help Tomorrow is the school parade, and Danny caregivers guide difficult conversations. knows exactly what he will be: a princess. Stella Brings the Family And his family is going to help him do it. by Miriam B. Schiffer Written in English and Spanish. Stella’s class is having a Mother’s Day celebra- Our Daughter is Getting Married tion, but what’s a girl with two daddies to do? by Gail Heath In this sweet story, Stella finds a unique solu- From Teaching Tolerance Advisory Board tion that illustrates the true meaning of family. Member Gail Heath, this rhyming picture LGBTQ BEST PRACTICES The Best Man MIDDLE SCHOOL by Richard Peck This story about small-town life, gay mar- A Place in the Middle: riage and everyday heroes follows Archer, a The True Meaning of Aloha boy nearing adolescence and trying to un- This documentary short by Dean Hamer and derstand his male role models and adults Joe Wilson tells the story of a school in Ho- in general. This book features a gay teacher nolulu, Hawaii, that is demonstrating respect who outs himself to combat anti-gay bully- for and inclusion of gender-fluid students. ing in the school. Also suitable for high school. The Family Book Better Nate Than Ever by Todd Parr by Tim Federle This book introduces readers to a diverse This novel follows Nate Foster, who has range of families, encouraging them to em- always dreamed of starring in a Broadway pathize with peers who may have single show. But he lives in Jankburg. So when he parents, same-sex parents, other relatives sees an open casting call, he plans a daring raising them or any number of supposedly overnight escape to New York. This book “nontraditional” homes. contains a subplot about a teenager who is This Day in June questioning his sexual orientation. by Gayle E. Pitman Bullied: A Student, a School and a This book offers young readers a celebra- Case That Made History tory look at the LGBTQ community, invit- This Teaching Tolerance documentary ing them to experience a Pride celebration. chronicles one student’s ordeal at the hands This book includes facts about LGBTQ of anti-gay bullies and offers an inspiring mes- history and culture, as well as discussion sage of hope to those fighting harassment to- guides for parents, caregivers or educators. day. Our film kit includes a viewer’s guide with Who Are You?: The Kid’s Guide to Gender standards-aligned lesson plans and activities. Identity Double Exposure by Brook Pessin-Whedbee by Bridget Birdsall This brightly illustrated children’s book This novel follows 15-year-old Alyx, who provides a straightforward introduction to was born intersex and, at first, raised as a gender identity for early readers, and it in- boy and bullied. When she gets to start her cludes a guide for adults to help them field life over in Milwaukee, she finds her place questions and facilitate conversation. on the girls’ varsity basketball team, only to Worm Loves Worm then face a rival who tries to subvert Alyx’s by J.J. Austrian happiness, and her identity. When a worm meets a special worm and Drama they fall in love, they decide to get married. by Raina Telgemeier But their friends want to know: Who will This graphic novel focuses on Callie and the wear the dress? And who will wear the tux? dramatic (in more ways than one) produc- The answer is: It doesn’t matter. Because tion of a middle school play. The book also worm loves worm. happens to feature openly gay characters, worked seamlessly into the plot without their identity being a crisis point. TEACHING TOLERANCE From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun intersex teens. Readers explore the com- by Jacqueline Woodson plexities of gender identity and growing up Melanin Sun is close to his mom. But when through Krissy, who is dealing with her an- she tells him she’s gay—and that her girlfriend drogen insensitivity syndrome diagnosis. is white—he becomes angry and scared. What Also suitable for high school. will his friends think? Can his mom’s girl- Not Your Sidekick friend truly be family? This novel explores by C.B. Lee the intersections of family, race and sexuality Perfect for students looking for a fun, extracur- through a compelling young man’s voice. ricular read, this book tells the story of Jessica Gracefully Grayson Tran—a queer, Asian-American protagonist. Jes- by Ami Polonsky sica was born to superhero parents, but has no This book offers the beautifully written powers herself.