Here at San Mateo County Libraries, all are welcome; we support our county’s genderfluid, nonbinary, transgender and genderqueer youth in addition to all cisgender kids. We strive for a sense of caring and community at all of our locations. This means all kids are included in our events and their stories are represented in our collections.
In 2015, a young transgender girl's community in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, rallied behind her after a national anti-LGBTQ hate group bullied her based on her identity. Allies in the community hosted a public reading of I Am Jazz! by transgender advocate Jazz Jennings. Every year since, communities across the country join the Human Rights Campaign’s Welcoming Schools program for its annual National Day of Reading: A Celebration of Stories Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Youth (formerly Jazz & Friends). In 2021, the President of the United States officially proclaimed March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility.
In our libraries, we celebrate gender inclusivity in numerous ways. Some of our February storytimes will take part in the National Day of Reading. Several of our locations use our button makers to create pronoun pins for kids and teens in our Power Up Afternoons. And all of our libraries offer a collection of print and online materials that include stories and information about and by gender diverse youth. You'll find some great titles for everything from picture books to parenting reads in this list:
We all deserve to see ourselves in a library, here is a great place to start. This list includes picture, middle grade, young adult, and parenting books about LGBTQ+ youth. Read and share with family and friends.
There are also many local groups that can provide support to both youth and adults alike:
- Adolescent Counseling Services – Outlet Program
- San Mateo County Pride Center – Programs for Youth, Families, and Adults
- Edgewood Center for Children and Families
For parents and caregivers who are interested in what experts have to say about gender identity/exploration in youth:
Add a comment to: All Are Welcome – Youth Gender Identity at the Library