GLBTQ YA resources for building a collection and supporting teens

by Amanda MacGregor

Check out these articles and websites for great suggestions on books to add to your collections and how to support GLBTQ youth.

“LGTBQ and You: How to Support Your Students” by Lauren Barack at School Library Journal. From the article:

“With 82 percent of LGBTQ students reporting verbal harassment, among other forms of bullying, according to the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) 2011 School Climate Report, finding a space to feel safe may be particularly crucial for these students. So is finding materials in which LGBTQ students can see themselves—resources that reflect the stories of their lives and the themes that mirror their own questions and concerns. School librarians provide support through their very presence as well as through the services they can provide.”

I’m Here. I’m Queer. What the Hell do I read? From the blog, “I think [the blog] is for teens (queer or not), for librarians, for teachers, for booksellers, for people with teens in their lives and for anyone interested in YA books with GLBTQ characters and themes. What books are already out there? What’s new? Your answers are here.”

The Lesbrary.

Bisexual Books tumblr.

Queer Book Club tumblr.

Trans titles for young adults. Book list with brief annotations. (From Young Adult Library Services. By Talya Sokoll.)

Serving Trans Teens. Suggestions for ways libraries can reach out and serve trans teens beyond just stocking books. (From Young Adult Library Services. By Talya Sokoll.)

Rainbow Reads: GLBTQIA Books for Teens: A reader’s guide to books across the spectrum. This is an amazing resource. This extremely thorough website lists books by many categories, including: lesbian contemporary fiction; lesbian secondary characters; anthologies; cross-dressing; asexual teen fiction; trans fantasy, scifi, and historical fiction; and so much. It looks like the site is in the process of being redone and updated. The site breaks the books down by age group, too. There’s a glossary of terms, important dates to know, and tips for how to build a good GLBTQIA collection.

Queer YA: Fiction for LGBTQ Teens is another great site. Excellent, thorough book reviews. Can search by genre, pub date, author, and a super duper character search that features terms like genderqueer, surprise queer character, unreliable narrator, and more. The site is on an indefinite hiatus, but there’s a lot of great stuff already on here.

Stonewall Book Awards. List of winners and honors from 1971 to 2014.

Gay YA: LGBTQIA characters in YA fiction & LGBTQIA YA Authors. Book reviews, forums, guest blog posts, reading lists broken down by various themes, online resources, teen voices, and more.

More Than Just Magic. Go to “recommended reading” and click on YA lit, which will bring you to a spreadsheet with tons of information.

Malinda Lo’s blog index to LGBT YA posts

41 Transgender-friendly Books for Young Kids at Bitch magazine. This list includes main or secondary characters who identify as transgender, genderqueer characters, characters who express gender ambiguity, or deal with gender in a nontraditional way.

It’s a few years old, but I absolutely love this great It Gets Better video done by children’s authors and illustrators.

Rainbow Books. GLBTQ Books for Children and Teens.

LGBT YA Reviews

F Yeah, Queer Teen Lit tumblr. “Finding queer teen books can be difficult; this blog aims to make it less so.”

DiversifYA. “In your YA, diversifying your stories.” Click on DiversiThemes and then QUILTBAG

Diversity in YA

LGBTQ resources: BEYOND BOOKS

On these sites, you will find resources for teens, parents, people who work with/care about teens, and more.

The Trevor Project—A 24-hour toll free confidential hotline for gay and questioning youth. 844-4-U-TREVOR

The It Gets Better Project—Suicide prevention video project and website to give hope to LGBTQ teens that high school and its bullies will not last forever, that it DOES get better.

GLSEN—Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network

HRC—Human Rights Campaign

Stopbullying.gov

GSA Network

GLBT Near Me. The GLBT National Help Center has this awesome site where you just plug in your zip code and can find a variety of resources near you. Their national youth talkline is toll-free 1-800-246-PRIDE (1-800-246-7743)

The Nine Line For Homeless/Runaway Teens
1-800-999-9999

Advocates for Youth. Extensive links for resources for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth. Organizations, websites, videos.

The American Civil Liberties Union has a section on LGBT Youth & Schools Resources and Links.

Know of a great resource I missed? Leave it in the comments or come tell me on Twitter @CiteSomething.

Filed under: GLBTQ, GLBTQ Fiction, GLBTQ Support