UK primary school kids to get books that introduce gay relationships
March 12, 2007 by andymerrett · 1 Comment
Gay.com UK & Ireland reports that some British primary schools will be launching a selection of books which introduce gay relationships:
The most important thing these books do is reflect reality for young children,’ said Elizabeth Atkinson, director of the No Outsiders project that is being run by Sunderland and Exeter universities and the Institute of Education (IoE) in London.
‘My background is in children’s literature and I know how powerful it is in shaping social values and emotional development. What books do not say is as important as what they do.’
Atkinson argued that the absence of gay relationships in children’s books amounted to ’silencing a social message’. She’s far from alone in believing that this gay whitewash fuels playground ignorance and can lead to bullying and isolation for children who’re gay or perceived to be.
