LGBT YA
Lit
Importance
17% of all hate crimes are against LGBT people
33% of LGBT people attempt suicide
(Flores 116)
LGBT Topics and Novels -- Why?
LGBT-themed texts helps in promoting tolerance and acceptance, which students will need to contribute to a democratic society and the diversity they will encounter (Flores 117)
Starting young and including LGBT-themed texts throughout schooling helps students achieve a strong social identity and take pride in their culture and families (Flores 118)
1
Themselves and Their Stories Represented
The curriculum and novels chosen should represent the diversity of the students. Books could be supplemented to to fit specific classes (Flores 115).
2
LGBT Pride
Month
This is a convienent time for all educators to support meaningful lessons and activities that are inclusive of LGBT themes and topics (Flores 116).
3
By incoorporating LGBT achievments, history, and novels into the curriculum, this will help in preventing suicide and bullying as LGBT people are being acknowledged, empowered, and normalized (Flores 116).
Aid in Stopping Bullying and Preventing Suicide
Discussing LGBT issues and using LGBT-themed YA novels in the classroom can be risky business. "[H]eterosexism and homophobia are institutionally supported forms of oppression," which is why the subject is so risky for educators; however, diving into these issues has the "potential to dismantle such oppression, and this makes it worth doing" (Clark 31).
It is key to remember that if you plan on implementing these topics and novels into the classroom, you should stick to them because teaching about LGBT topics is fair and right. By including this material, it reduces the invisibility of LGBT students, their family, and the community (Flores 115). Also, when people are continuously exposed to LGBT-themed literature and media, it helps "alleviate negative attitudes," which will help in preventing future bullying and harrassment. Students will be able to accurately talk about cultures and identify stereotypes and prejudices in the future, instead of being quick to judge and inappropriate (Flores 117-118). So, not only do LGBT YA novels serve as a way for teens and children to escape and enjoy themselves, but they also serve as informational and educational supplemental sources (Bittner 358).
"As educators, we want all of our young people to be equally able to articulate and be reflective about their social navigation as queer youth. We know that for them to effectively navigate socially, they must be exposed to literature that represents their lives and enables them to be participatory learners in the classroom as well as expressive citizens in society. As Molly V. Blackburn and J.F. Buckley state, teachers 'need to discuss the awkward, the different, and the new so that all students get the opportunities to learn about the range of gender and sexual identities that constitutes everyone's world'" (Logan 30).
LGBT-themed novels that deal with phsyical and emotional intimacy help students understand sexuality and sex more, which is important because sex ed. tends to be insufficient in many areas of the US, especially with LGBT intimacy (Bittner 358)
Students can to explore sexual information and ideology without the intrusion of an adult, so this interaction is much less intimidating for the students (Bittner 360)
Queer literature more often than not includes various types of diversity as it shows the intersections with religion, ethnicity, ancestry, disabilities, and SES (Logan 32)
Students are able to see a great deal of intersecontions happening between sexuality, identity, and literature (Logan 39)
Inclusion LGBT in YA Lit could help combat hate crimes and suicide
Being part of a democratic society
Giving students a sense of pride in their social identities
Incorporates many diversities
Exploring sexual information and ideologies
Selecting, representing, and opening content for a wide range of students with various backgrounds; establishing sensitive, respectful, and helpful relationships with students and families; resourcefully using student's out-of-school experiences (Logan 32)
Educators must challenge the unwritten curriculum that normalizes homophobic patterns. It is imperative to support healthy development, address anti-gay biases that often result in absenteeism, dropouts, and suicide. Including this literature shows that LGBT students are in fact worth mentioning (Logan 39)
Mason points out specifically how YA literature that features lesbian athletes fills a void that media tries to hide (often depicting women athletes as straight) (Mason 54). In general, LGBT YA literature shows that anyone can be anything no matter how they idenitify.
Why you should use LGBT-themed novels in the classroom:
Works towards college and career readiness
School is where sexual and gender identities are developing
More inclusive and accurate depictions of who someone can be
Keep in Mind:
Insufficient sexual education in the United States