The LGBTQIA2+ and Allies Social!

The circle of attendees sang Jane Yolen "Happy Birthday" to start off the LGBTQIA2+ and Allies Social
(pictured, from left: Jane Yolen, Bruce Coville, and Heidi Stemple)

With special guests Jane Yolen, Heidi Stemple, Bruce Coville, Arthur A. Levine, and Lawrence Schimel, our discussion shared resources, inspiration, book recommendations, words of advice, and a supportive community.

Resources to explore:

Pride and Less Prejudice

We Need Diverse Books

Behind the Book

Lambda Literary writers in schools program

Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center summer week program

Highlights LGBTQ+ Scholarship

Writing Barn programming

Queer Kid Lit Creators - if you identify as part of the LGBTQIA2+ community, and you illustrate, translate, and/or write children's books you're welcome to join -- just email leewind (at) roadrunner (dot) com

Inspiration:

Make sure your publisher submits your book for the big awards (and not just the Queer-focused awards.) There's a lot more success for stories where Queerness is part of the story winning multiple awards. Like Sacha Lamb winning the 2023 Michael L. Printz Honor Award, the Stonewall Book Award, and the Sydney Taylor Medal for When the Angels Left the Old Country, which the publisher (Levine Querido) describes as "queer immigrant fairytale."

Let's support each other -- and not just when Queer books get challenged or banned -- when our books get released.

Think of your story going out there to someone who wants to read it. Someone who needs it.

It was a warm and safe space -- thanks to all who attended!