Gay Titles Back on Summer Reading List

By Julie Bolcer

The Washington, D.C., public school district restored nine LGBT-themed titles to its summer reading list for students after initially publishing a reading list that omitted the books, reports the School Library Journal .

Local librarians and LGBT advocates objected when titles such as And Tango Makes Three and The Geography Club failed to appear on the initial list -- which was actually marked "final" -- that was posted to the district's summer reading website before the school year ended on June 15.

The school district maintains that the LGBT titles were among those set to be reviewed on June 18, and that the initial list was just intended to give students and parents a framework to make preparations. The final list, including the LGBT titles, was released for Web and print distribution on June 26.

Some librarians, however, told the School Library Journal that it seemed suspicious the school district would announce its final selections for summer reading after the school year officially ended.

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Name: James
Date posted: 7/6/2009 9:01:00 AM
Hometown: Wakefield

Comment:
Did you hear that Adam & Steve... God is not your Creator!!!!!!!!! I have it on XXXXX of XXXXX LA's Word! Funny thing I just checked out the Geography Club from the library. This is a great book. I only wish it was available when I was 16 ... of course back then you couldn't find any reference to aything enlightening on the subject ... I know, I made my covert attempts to find anything about gayness.
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Name: torqueflite
Date posted: 7/5/2009 9:40:00 PM
Hometown: Colorado

Comment:
I love vacant mantras like, "God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve." Such bankrupt incantations are the hallmark of today's conservatives (ever wonder why they read The Advocate)? God made everybody and everything, conservatives will say in the next breath, instantly contradicting themselves. Of course, the religious bugaboos are invoked in order to shift the discourse away from civil rights to so-called natural law. And of course under our rule of secular law, such mumbo-jumbo is entirely irrelevant.
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Name: Adrianus
Date posted: 7/4/2009 3:54:00 PM
Hometown: Northridge, CA

Comment:
This is what I meant. Educate children so when they grow up they are not becoming haters and discriminating any body that has diferrences. Good job.
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Name: Dan W
Date posted: 7/4/2009 12:37:00 PM
Hometown: Tarrytown

Comment:
XXXXX (below) you are truly ignorant. you might as well get used to us...........we are not going anywhere and things are changing. Come out already. Life is to short to hate yourself.
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Name: XXXXX
Date posted: 7/4/2009 12:23:00 PM
Hometown: XXXX, LA

Comment:
God made Adam and Eve and not Adam and Steve. Don't be ignorant. Fear God, nor man. This is one reason why STDs and HIV are spreading like crazy. Get a whole of yourself. That's good this book of gay penguins are not in the library. Don't confuse children.
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Name: Lauren
Date posted: 7/4/2009 1:30:00 AM
Hometown: NJ

Comment:
Two gay penguins who adopt a kid. That sounds so cute.
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Name: Carol
Date posted: 7/3/2009 7:48:00 PM
Hometown: MO

Comment:
Only people with an upside down value system would object to this book. It's time that they turn themselves right side up!
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Name: Mario
Date posted: 7/3/2009 6:24:00 PM
Hometown: Portland

Comment:
Why would you restrict an adorable childrens story about two Gay male penguins who adopt and care for a baby penguin? Its one of the cutest books ever and it teaches children about love and caring.

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