Cynthia Parkhill

“Why share LGBTQAI+ literature with all children? Because, we argue, it's an issue of basic human rights - rights that all of us deserve. We no longer hesitate to share books about other forms of diversity: race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, language, women's issues, and more. Why are we still hesitant to share books about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and nontraditional family structures with all children?”
― Christina Dorr, LGBTQAI+ Books for Children and Teens: Providing a Window for All

“We look for ourselves in the pages. So to take books off the shelves that contain, for example, LQBTQIA+ characters and lives is extremely damaging, especially for queer teens on the brink of becoming who they are meant to be. It’s essentially saying: ‘This way of living isn’t palatable to us. We don’t accept it. Don’t do it.’ And what could be more painful and distressing than that?”
― Amie Jones

“Did you know that some people think that just putting books with queer characters into schools will make kids queer? If being a boy or a girl is so built into us at birth — if it’s not something we learn from everyone around us — then what are a few books going to do to change that? I don’t think you can make anyone into anything unless the pieces were there to start with.”
― Jess Callans, Ollie In Between

“Gender is probably just another thing I just don't get. Like what faces to make and when, or whether someone is really interested when I tell them about mantis shrimp and their smashers.”
― Jess Callans, Ollie In Between