Drop Everything And Read discussion

These days, LGBT content has been added by authors into books read by children. One such example is The House of Hades by Rick Riordan. Is this good or bad? Should children be exposed to such things early or not?

Yes, I think they should.

Any explanation to substantiate it?

Well, LGBT is real, and children should know about it. Some of these children will be LGBT themselves, and they should have somebody to relate to, so they can know they're not alone and that being LGBT is perfectly fine. Also, I think that if children read about good LGBT people when they're young, they'll be less likely to be homophobic/transphobic when they're older.

Well, that is a valid explanation, but that doesn't work with my friends. I don't want to talk ill about them, but sometimes hey can be very prejudicial. They simply don't understand, and when they read these (they don't read at all), they will abhor both the character, as well as other LGBT people.

But if they'd been introduced to LGBT books from a younger age, they would be more inclined to accept LGBT.

You're absolutely right, but my classmates are the type who like to contradict that. They were introduced to it at a young age, but they only make fun of it. But I don't think there are too many of this type, so I say it's safe to add this in books.

No offense, your classmates are weird. -_-

Well, I've got to admit it.

I agree with what Analeese said. Also, there are kids being raised by GLBT people.

That is a valid point as well.

I don't really see why it's a big deal to begin with, there are plenty of straight romances in children's books. There are parents, a mommy and a daddy, there are siblings, there are crushes etc. I just don't see why it's a huge deal if a child in a book has two mommies, like do people think their child will go "oh this book I read had two mommies in it so now I will be gay"? I mean... we all have whatever sexuality we have, the only thing that would happen is that kids who struggle with their sexuality and identity will have an easier time understanding that there is nothing wrong with them, and that they can live their lives as anyone else. oh the horror..

Honestly I dont believe in being LGBT myself (I am a christian) but I do want LGBT to have there rights because they have the same rights as anyone else. I agree with the girl above me- Is it even going to be such a big deal? I think they have there rights and even thought I dont like the idea of LGBT I will support them no matter what happens. I think they could be in books. If they think they should be allowed to carry on there LGBT lives they should see them selves as normal (they seem normal to me I have a friend who is LGBT) and press on this matter more.

As a bisexual teenager living in an unaccepting home, I love to get away from the negativity of my family and read LGBT books that I can relate to. It's important for the LGBT youth to be able to read books they enjoy and that they can identify with. If someone doesn't like history novels, then they don't have to read them, just like people who aren't accepting of the LGBT community don't have to read LGBT novels. Those struggling to figure out who they are might need a well-written novel to help them figure out what's going on in their head and heart. So I do believe LGBT material should be included in children's books. Even if the child is straight, it's good for them to know that there are people out there that are a little different than them. Parents can choose whether or not they want their child to be exposed to those types of novels. So, why not have LGBT included in children's books?

I don't hold anything against the LGBT community but I have to ask the question, what good does it do? In most cases, parents buy their children books so probably they would read it first. Even if children get books from others most parents would be curious to know what their children will read about. So that means if a children reads a book with LGBT content, it probably means that he/she has parents who have no problem against the community so the child would be brought up in such an atmosphere. So kids with bigoted parents will reflect their ideas(probably) and the books will not do much difference. So the books aren't causing any good but just act as indicators of the upbringing of the child. Now if you're an author, would you bother risking doing such a thing which could adversely affect the sales and will not bring a great change in the mindsets of children. I am just making a generalisation and agree individual circumstances may vary

Abin Thomas Alex wrote: "I don't hold anything against the LGBT community but I have to ask the question, what good does it do? In most cases, parents buy their children books so probably they would read it first. Even if ..."

Not necessarily. Even if the parents are fine with it, there are still opinions from peers. And it would also make it easier to accept the LGBT community. Moreover, it would make people from the LGBT community happy since they have characters to relate to. It would really make a lot of difference.

Billy wrote: "All I can say is that if anyone tried to give an LGBT oriented book to my child, they'd have a lot more to worry about than whether to dress pink or blue or what pronoun to use."

The question is not about LGBT oriented books but about books with LGBT characters in it. It could even be a romantic novel about a girl in pursuit of a boy using the help of a gay friend.

Kids are likely going to encounter issues like these in daily life so I think it's important that it sometimes be included in books, whether it's the center of the book or just included it shows them that it's normal, and yes most parents will read what their child reads first to make sure it's appropriate but I also know that many parents do not do this so It gives them a chance to choose what they read and also become more accepting of society as a whole. Now in terms of the content, I feel a book centered around This in a romantic way would only be appropriate for older kids and adults such as I feel the way about romance novels in general. I think if it's a part of society, even a part that people don't agree with (I'm not one of them I promise lol) then it still needs to sometimes be included so they can "witness" it in the pages of a book. Look there's always going to be book censorship and there is a reason that banned Books week exists and I don't think adding in LGBT characters or relationships will adversely impact the authors sales and honestly if the publishing house thought it would they would either have the author eliminate it or reject it...

Billy wrote: "A Williams Institute study shows that roughly 4% of Americans are LGBT. In contrast, over 13% of Americans are Evangelical Christians who [...] would be highly offended by such book."

Even if those numbers were accurate, which they are not, it still wouldn't be a valid argument.
It's like saying "4% of Americans are black, while 13% are racist, so you shouldn't include black characters in your books because they offend more people than they represent."

If the character is LBGT because that's simply the way they are or their sexual orientation has a major plot purpose, I would be perfectly ok as long as the hot & steamy scenes are appropiate for the book's targeted age group.

YA books could have a scene that isn't explicit, just put a warning on the blurb if it's more on the erotica side or there are child characters involved. You do run the risk of fewer sales (especially if the book is aimed at younger crowds) if you include such scenes so they better have a big impact in the plot.

What I do find to be annoying is to have the "token" minority character just for the sake of having a token character. This isn't just for LBGT characters. I get pissed off when they have a stereotypical strong female lead character just for the sake of it or a minority character just for the sake of it. As a female from a minority ethnic background, having token characters just for the sake of it is annoying.

An interesting question.

First of all, much depends on what age level. Sexual content of any kind is inappropriate in books for small children.

Having said that, normalizing something like little Johnny having two mothers or living with his mother and his step-dad, Sally, would teach tollerance in a subtle way.

Nancy makes a good point about token characters. If you're going to do it, make them the main character's parents, assuming the main character is a child.

Any author making this choice is going to run into homophobic prejudice. That's just reality. I've seen readers in reader groups say they DNF'd a book because it normalized homosexuality. Yet there are many who will applaud the progressive stance.

An author who wanted to make the world a better place by introducing tollerance early would have to either take a stance knowing they would lose some sales, or use a separate pen name for these stories.

D20 wrote: "An interesting question.

First of all, much depends on what age level. Sexual content of any kind is inappropriate in books for small children.

Having said that, normalizing something like little..."

I was strolling through the comments and agree with everyone who accepts LGBTQ+ content in books... But I agree the most with D20... It's all about acceptance at a young age or when your older in life...

I think it should be in children's books. Kids need to learn that everybody is different. The reason why people in later in life make wrong decisions is because they never been taught what is right or wrong. Kids learn more than adults. They should show respect to their classmates too.

Some Random wrote: "I don't hold anything against the LGBT community but I have to ask the question, what good does it do? In most cases, parents buy their children books so probably they would read it first. Even if ..."

I have to ask the question, what do they read in school or the library? Parents are not involved there.

Hallie wrote: "Well, that is a valid explanation, but that doesn't work with my friends. I don't want to talk ill about them, but sometimes hey can be very prejudicial. They simply don't understand, and when they..."

Some friends you've got. You need make them realise that what they think not right and show how proud we are that we live in a beautiful and diversed world. Diversity makes it more special.

Hallie wrote: "You're absolutely right, but my classmates are the type who like to contradict that. They were introduced to it at a young age, but they only make fun of it. But I don't think there are too many of..."

Your classmates need to grow up and be more mature. I mean they just cannot think like that. I welcome more books to add LGBT. That's how safe it will be.

Talk about it.

Anny wrote: "I don't really see why it's a big deal to begin with, there are plenty of straight romances in children's books. There are parents, a mommy and a daddy, there are siblings, there are crushes etc. I..."

True!

I have many friends who are either gay, lesbian, bi or transsexual.

I think kids should know what LGBT is.romnce is not new to childrens books.so why not this type.I dont see the harm.

Thanuja wrote: "I think kids should know what LGBT is.romnce is not new to childrens books.so why not this type.I dont see the harm."

We have Cinderella don't we? and how about beauty and the beast or aladdin?

Rumell wrote:"We have Cinderella don't we? and how about beauty and the beast or aladdin?"

True

If you was aladdin for a day what 3 wishes would you have?

Please stay on topic.

Personally I think that LGBT is fine in books if it suits the age bracket. Nowadays they are more accepted even though there is still discrimination, if more main characters in books or even just side relationships were LGBT it would mean that people are more aware that just because you feel a certain way, not everyone does.
Also they are humans, with emotions and therefore it shouldn't really be a question if they should be included in books or not just because their emotions are different from the status quo. I would gladly read a book no matter if it had a LGBT character or not and I wouldn't think twice about it. :)

I think that LGBTQ+ content in all books is good. It makes the book better when everyone has a character that they can connect to. If you are going to protest people loving one another then just don't read these books, but you cannot prohibit other people from reading them. I read many amazing books with LGBTQ+ content in the past year. The best were: It's Not Like It's A Secret by Misa Surigusa, Aristotle And Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sanez, and And Then There Were Four by Nancy Werlin.