Avoiding LGBTQ Stereotypes in YA Fiction, Part 5: Resources
In today's post, the last of my 5-part series on avoiding LGBTQ stereotypes in YA fiction, I'm listing a number of resources you might find helpful for further research. Here are the other posts in this series: Part 1: Major LGBTQ stereotypes Part 2: Gender Part 3: Words to watch out for Part 4: Secondary characters and gay jokes Part 5: Resources
General References
GLAAD Media Reference Guide — This is a guide for mainstream journalists published by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. It includes a glossary of LGBT-related terms and includes summaries of key issues, such as same-sex marriage, hate crimes, and religion.
GLBTQ.com — This is an online encyclopedia exploring countless aspects of LGBT culture and history. This is a great place to start your research; be sure to check out their references at the end of each entry for further reading.
NLJGA Stylebook — This is the style manual issued by the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association to help all journalists report fairly and accurately about LGBT issues. It is a list of terms related to LGBT issues and their connotations.
Bibliographies
Christine Jenkins’ YA bibliography, 1969-2009 — An extensive bibliography of YA LGBT books from the co-author of The Heart Has Its Reasons.
GLBT-RT Resources — A list of bibliographies about a number of LGBTQ issues are available here from the American Library Association's GLBT Round Table.
The Heart Has Its Reasons: Young Adult Literature With Gay/Lesbian/Queer Content, 1969-2004 by Christine Jenkins and Michael Cart — This book contains an extensive bibliography as well as chapters that examine the evolution of queer YA fiction over the decades. Find it at your local library.
Rainbow Project Bibliography — The American Library Association’s Rainbow Project is a growing bibliography of recent children’s and YA books about the LGBTQ experience, dating from 2005 to the present.
Websites
Lambda Literary Foundation — The LLF's website includes features and interviews about queer fiction and nonfiction. You should check out their Lambda Literary Award archives, especially their finalists in the children’s/YA category, for book recommendations.
Queer YA: Fiction for LGBTQ Teens — Librarian Daisy Porter’s book review blog focuses on YA fiction with LGBTQ themes and characters. Very up-to-date.
I’m Here. I’m Queer. What the Hell Do I Read? — Lee Wind's blog provides long lists of LGBTQ YA titles; readers are invited to add their reviews in the comments.
Articles
"On Spies and Purple Socks and Such" by Kathleen T. Horning (Horn Book) — A wonderful essay on finding queer subtext in Harriet the Spy and other children's books.
Thoughts on Publishing in 2008 — From the Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this runs down trends in 2008. Scroll down to read the section on "Coming Out."
What Do LGBTQ Teens Want? (Lambda Literary Foundation) — YA authors, librarians and editors talk about what they think queer teens are looking for.
“Young Adult Books Move Beyond the Coming Out Story, But Still Face Hurdles” by Malinda Lo (AfterEllen.com) — My article from 2009 runs down the trends in representations of lesbians and bisexual girls in YA fiction.
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Are there any resources you'd recommend? Questions? Please leave them in the comments! As always, comments will be moderated, and homophobia is not tolerated on my website.