Did you know that October is LGBT History Month? High school teacher Rodney Wilson, the first openly gay K-12 teacher in Missouri, started this annual observance in 1994. Why October? It’s a month schools are in session, the first national march for gay and lesbian rights was held in October 1979, and National Coming Out Day has been held on October 11 since 1988. (Source: https://lgbthistorymonth.com/ ) Celebrate this significant month by displaying or featuring books about LGBT history. Not sure where to start? Read on for suggestions!
Make sure you check out the Rainbow Book List and the Stonewall Book Awards for many great book selections for kids. Both of these programs seek to recognize high quality books that have significant LGBTQ+ content, so they are great resources for developing your collection of LGBT titles, including but not limited to LGBT history titles.
For more LGBT history titles and biographies, consider the following:
- Billie Jean!: How Tennis Star Billie Jean King Changed Women’s Sports by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. Putnam. 2019.
- Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Josh Cochran. Enchanted Lion. 2020.
- I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas. Dial. 2014.
- The Meaning of Pride by Rosiee Thor, illustrated by Sam Kirk. Versify. 2022.
- Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Steven Salerno. Random. 2018.
- Sewing the Rainbow: The Story of Gilbert Baker and the Rainbow Flag by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown. Magination. 2018.
- Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman by Sharice Davids and Nancy K. Mays, illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. Harper. 2021.
- Stitch by Stitch: Cleve Jones and the AIDS Memorial Quilt by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Jamey Christoph. Magination. 2021.
- Stonewall: A Building, An Uprising, A Revolution by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Jamey Christoph. Random. 2019.
- ‘Twas the Night Before Pride by Joanna McClintick, illustrated by Juana Medina. Candlewick. 2022.
- Two Grooms on a Cake: The Story of America’s First Gay Wedding by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Robbie Cathro. little bee. 2021.
- When You Look Out the Window: How Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin Built a Community by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Christopher Lyles. Magination. 2017.
What would you add to this list?
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