• The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a nationally recognized LGBTQ activist group, runs a “Rainbow Library” program that introduces 5-year-old students to books about gender identity and sexual orientation .
• According to a request form for the 2022-2023 school year, Rainbow Libraries are providing K-12 schools and libraries with “sets of LGBTQ+-affirming K-12 textbooks,” reaching 5,800 schools and libraries in 31 states. is installed in
• “Especially in areas where LGBTQ+ support for young people is not as high, such as rural areas, including more conservative areas, when teachers and librarians develop Rainbow Libraries in those areas, students are encouraged to work with Rainbow Library Program Managers. Michael Ruddy said in a 2021 video unearthed by the Daily Caller News Foundation: “Right? Because they see the adult as someone they can trust. Therefore, we have prepared this guidance to help Rainbow Her Library users acquire the language and tools they need to best support their students. “

The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a nationally recognized LGBTQ activist group, uses its “Rainbow Library” program to teach children about “them/them” pronouns and to promote gender identity and gender identity. Disseminate books on sexual orientation into the classroom. According to a video unearthed by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

GLSEN’s “rainbow libraryAccording to a request for the 2022-2023 school year, programs offering “LGBTQ+ affirming K-12 text sets” have been installed in 5,800 schools and libraries in 31 states. shape. This initiative provides books and resources about transgender and sexual orientation to children as young as 5. according to Join the GLSEN 2021 recorded online workshop on this effort. (Related: America’s Largest Teachers’ Union Releases LGBTQ Toolkit Detailing How to Deal with ‘Ze/Zim’ Pronouns and ‘Prejudice’)

“Rainbow Libraries is sending LGBTQ+ affirming books to schools and libraries free of charge, along with additional GLSEN resources,” Rainbow Libraries program manager Michael Ruddy said at the 2021 workshop. “There are four different grade levels in the books we ship: kindergarten through 2nd grade, 3rd through 5th grade, 6th through 8th grade, and 9th through 12th grade. The focus is on books centered around the voices of the people of the world and books that are sensitive to the voices of BIPOC. [black, indigenous, people of color] LGBTQ+ people. “

The effort aims to meet the “existing need for LGBTQ+ affirmative books among young readers” and connect students to “existing local and national LGBTQ support” such as pride centers and clinics. said the workshop. Each book offered through the Rainbow Library program includes a link to GLSEN’s website. This website includes resources for state LGBTQ “affirmation” centers.

The Rainbow Library box contains excerpts from GLSEN’s Safe Spaces book, including a document detailing what to do if a student comes out. It was shown in the workshop thatof excerpt The law requires educators to keep the conversation “confidential” if a student tells them they are gay or transgender, and whether the child is being supported by an adult (perhaps referring to their parents). I am instructing you to decide.

“Especially in areas where LGBTQ+ support for young people is not as high, such as rural areas, including more conservative areas, students are starting to come out to teachers and librarians when they roll out Rainbow Libraries in those areas.” Ruddy said in the video. “Right? Because they see the adult as someone they can trust. We have prepared this guidance so that you can obtain

An elementary school teacher from Maryland who implemented the Rainbow Library program in her classroom said after reading the class:peanuts go for goldIn “A Story About Nonbinary Guinea Pigs Using They/Them Pronouns”, students asked why pigs use “they/them” instead of “he/she” and asked gender-independent pronouns The workshop revealed that it led to classroom discussions about . A Missouri middle school librarian told GLSEN that students had requested specific LGBTQ books since implementing the program, including some asking for books about “young lesbian girls.” reported.

According to the 2021 workshop, examples of books included in the Rainbow Library include:When Aidan Became a Brother“A Picture Book About a Girl Who Decides She’s Transgender”i am jazza children’s book about a boy who discovered he was transgender at the age of two, and “All Boys A Blueis a memoir about the experiences of a queer black boy growing up, with graphic sexual encounters.

During a forum on the Rainbow Library Program, a workshop revealed that a teacher encouraged other educators to incorporate GLSEN resources into their lessons, even if they were not part of a district-approved curriculum Became.

“It’s easy to put it in without making it a special class about LGBTQ history, and there’s a lot of LGBTQ history that parallels history,” the teacher told other educators. “The government has Mr. [Pete] Buttigieg is now a married, openly gay man with a family. He can incorporate it into history classes and government classes. “

During the workshop, the teacher advised colleagues considering implementing the Rainbow Library Program to “be aware” of the community and school atmosphere before implementing LGBTQ classes. found.

“By putting a bookcase in my room with books about gay students and gay youth, and having my own library in my classroom. Bookmans, these days I go to a lot of used bookstores where I spend a lot of money and buy these books and put them out there for the kids to pick up.It’s not hard and you can do it. You might want to say, but you can do it discreetly without drawing too much attention to yourself,” the teacher said during the workshop. “I recommend you try. If you get hit, you get hit. Apologize and move on.”

GLSEN has come under fire for its decade-long partnership with Target, recently after it was revealed the retailer was selling LGBTQ pride merchandise, including “tuck-friendly” swimwear. Target has donated at least $2.1 million to the charity.

GLSEN did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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