My Students

Have you every read a book and thought, I completely identify with this character! Unfortunately, many of my students have not. Students in the LGBT community struggle to find characters and stories that connect to their lives because so much LGBT fiction is hidden from view or labeled as "taboo."

My students attend a small charter school where our mission is to "prepare and inspire all students to enter and succeed in college." Most of our students will be the first in their families to attend college, and it is so inspiring to see their dedication and commitment to this goal.

But despite their effort, our students come to us with severe skill deficits that are difficult to tackle in four years. Every class is now dedicated to helping kids build the skills and, more importantly, the enthusiasm for reading. But, there is an important minority that cannot find books on any bookshelf that will relate to their lives and their experiences. For these students I've created an LGBT library that has had enjoyed great popularity. Students come to me at all hours to look for books, but we are quickly running out!

My Project

Our school doesn't have the resources for a library, so teachers have taken it upon themselves to set up classroom libraries based on our content and our interests. I mentor the gay-straight alliance, and although our school is quite small, there are over 15 members, many of whom are struggling with the complex issues of family, religion, and identity that are unique to the LGBT community. The students in this club are dedicated to educating themselves and the community about issues related to bullying, hate speech, and current events in the LGBT community, but they need support. LGBT books are hard to find and sometimes even harder to buy for students who are closeted. The LGBT library in my classroom is a safe space for students who are interested in reading about issues that relate to them.

This year I had an 11th grade student tell me that the book she borrowed from my library was the first book she'd ever read outside of class.

Now she is one of my most dedicated library patrons and is already on her 4th book! All students want to read books about characters they can identify with, and my LGBT students should share that same privilege.