Giving you opportunities to gather with other members of your congregation to pray, to learn, to share, and to work together to transform your lives, your congregation, and your world into a loving place in which God's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families can thrive.
List prepared with the help of AMAZE, the creators of the Families All Matter Book Project, www.amazeworks
Newman, Leslie, and Carol Thompson, Mommy, Mama, and Me, [Tricycle Press, 2009; 20 pages, ISBN 1582462631].
Rhythmic text and illustrations with universal appeal show a toddler spending the day with its mommies. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight, there's no limit to what a loving family can do together. Shares the loving bond between same-sex parents and their children.
Newman, Leslie, and Carol Thompson, Daddy, Papa, and Me, [Tricycle Press, 2009; 20 pages, ISBN 1582462623].
Rhythmic text and illustrations with universal appeal show a toddler spending the day with its daddies. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight, there's no limit to what a loving family can do together. Share the loving bond between same-sex parents and their children.
Parr, Todd, The Family Book, [Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2010; 32 pages, ISBN 0316738964].
The Family Book celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way. (Ages 3-6)
Skutch, Robert, and Laura Neinhaus, Who’s In a Family?, [Tricycle Press, 1997; 32 pages, ISBN 1883672139].
Family is important, but who's in a family? Why, the people who love you the most! This equal opportunity, open-minded picture book has no preconceptions about what makes a family a family. There's even equal time given to some of children's favorite animal families. With warm and inviting jewel-tone illustrations, this is a great book for that long talk with a little person on your lap. (Ages 3-7)
Kushner, Elisabeth, and Mike Byrne, The Purim Superhero, [Kar-Ben Publishing, 2013; 32 pages, ISBN 0761390626].
Nate loves aliens and he really wants to wear an alien costume for Purim, but his friends are all dressing as superheroes and he wants to fit in. What will he do? With the help of his two dads he makes a surprising decision.
Kilodavis, Cheryl, and Suzanne DeSimone, My Princess Boy, [Aladdin, 2010; 36 pages, ISBN 1442429887].
Dyson loves pink, sparkly things. Sometimes he wears dresses. Sometimes he wears jeans. He likes to wear his princess tiara, even when climbing trees. He's a Princess Boy. Inspired by the author's son, and by her own initial struggles to understand, this is a heart-warming book about unconditional love and one remarkable family. (Ages 4-8)
Ewert, Marcus, Rex Ray, 10,000 Dresses, [Triangle Square, 2008; 32 pages, ISBN 1583228500].
Every night, Bailey dreams about magical dresses: dresses made of crystals and rainbows, dresses made of flowers, dresses made of windows. . . . Unfortunately, when Bailey's awake, no one wants to hear about these beautiful dreams. Quite the contrary. "You're a BOY!" Mother and Father tell Bailey. "You shouldn't be thinking about dresses at all." Then Bailey meets Laurel, an older girl who is touched and inspired by Bailey's imagination and courage. In friendship, the two of them begin making dresses together. And Bailey's dreams come true! (Ages 5-9)
Zolotow, Charlotte, William Pene du Bois, William’s Doll, [Harper & Row, 1985; 32 pages, ISBN 0812441605].
More than anything, William wants a doll. "Don't be a creep," says his brother. "Sissy, sissy," chants the boy next door. Then one day someone really understands William's wish, and makes it easy for others to understand, too. (Ages 4-8)
Brannen, Sarah S., Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, [Putnum Juvenile, 2008; 32 pages, ISBN 0399247122].
Bobby and Jamie are getting married, but Bobby’s niece Chloe is worried that she won’t be his favorite person anymore. Will Uncle Bobby still think she is special? Beautifully told and charmingly illustrated, this simple yet moving story begs to be read time and again. (Preschool and up)
Tonzales, Rigoberto, and Celia Alvarez, Antonio’s Card / La Tarjeta de Antonio, [Children’s Book Press, 2005; Bilingual edition, 32 pages, ISBN 0892392045]
Antonio loves words, because words have the power to express feelings like love, pride, or hurt. Mother's Day is coming soon, and Antonio searches for the words to express his love for his mother and her partner, Leslie. But he's not sure what to do when his classmates make fun of Leslie, an artist, who towers over everyone and wears paint-splattered overalls. As Mother's Day approaches, Antonio must choose whether — or how — to express his connection to both of the special women in his life. (Ages 6 and up)
Polacco, Patricia. In Our Mothers’ House, [Philomel, 2009; 48 pages, ISBN 039925076X].
Marmee, Meema, and the kids are just like any other family on the block. In their beautiful house, they cook dinner together, they laugh together, and they dance together. But some of the other families don’t accept them. They say they are different. How can a family have two moms and no dad? But Marmee and Meema’s house is full of love. And they teach their children that different doesn’t mean wrong. And no matter how many moms or dads they have, they are everything a family is meant to be, living by their own rules, and the strength they gain by the love they feel. (Grades 1 and up)
Lindenbaum, Pija, and Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard, Mini Mia and Her Darling Uncle, [R & S Books, 2007; 40 pages, ISBN 9129667348].
Mini Mia loves her Uncle Tommy. They hang out in coffee bars, go for walks, swim, and do other fun stuff. But one day Fergus appears in her uncle’s kitchen. Mini Mia does not want to share Tommy with his new boyfriend. She thinks Fergus should go back to where he came from in Scotland. But Fergus doesn’t disappear that easily. (Ages 4-8)
Richardson, Justin, and Peter Parnell, And Tango Makes Three, [Simone & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2005; 32 pages, ISBN 0689878451].
This is a true story of two male penguins that become a couple at New York’s Central Park Zoo. After noticing that these penguins were trying to tend to an egg-shaped rock, the zookeeper decided to give them a fertilized egg that needed caring for. (Preschool – 3)
Garden, Nancy, and Sharon Wooding, Molly’s Family, [Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004; 32 pages, ISBN 0374350027].
This is a story about a kindergarten class preparing for an event by drawing pictures of their families. When Molly’s drawing, with two moms is met with a classmate’s response, “you can’t have two moms,” the sensitive and supportive responses from both her parents and teacher help. (Ages 4-8)
Elwin, Rosamund, Michele Paulse, and Dawn Lee, Asha’s Mums, [Three O’Clock Press, 1990; 24 pages, ISBN 0889611432].
When Asha's lesbian mums become an issue for the teacher and the curiosity of classmates, Asha responds that having two mums is not a big deal. They are a family. (Ages 9-12)
de Haan, Linda, and Stern Nijland, King and King, [Tricycle Press, 2003; 32 pages, ISBN 1582460612].
This fairytale is about a queen who wants her son to marry, so she can retire and he can take over the throne. The story follows his fruitless encounters with numerous princesses until finally he feel his heart stir – for another prince. The two princes marry and everyone lives happily ever after. (Ages 5-8)
Newman, Leslea, and Annette Hegel, Saturday Is Pattyday, [New Victoria Publishers, 1993; ISBN 0934678510].
Although Frankie is hurt and confused when his two mommies separate, he is comforted by knowing that Patty will still be a part of his life. (Ages 6 and up)
LaRochelle, David, Absolutely Positively Not, [Scholastic Paperbacks, 2014; 236 pages, ISBN 0439591090].
There is one thing Steven knows for sure: He’s absolutely, positively NOT gay. Steven’s a 16 year old boy with two obsessions: sex and getting his driver’s license. The problem is, Steven’s not thinking about girls when he’s thinking sex. Could he be – don’t say it – gay? Steven sets out to get in touch with his inner he-man with Healthy Heterosexual Strategies such as “Start Hanging Out with the Guys,” and “Begin Intensive Dating.” But are Steven’s tactics going to straighten him out, or leave him all twisted up? Absolutely hilarious. Positively side splitting, positively NOT GAY! By a beloved children’s author, David LaRochelle weaved much of his personal story into this sweet book. (Junior High)
Now available on DVD! Purchase at 25% off through the Human Rights Campaign's Religion and Faith Program
The much anticipated For the Bible Tells Me So: A Study Guide and Advocacy Training Curriculum by Rev. Chris Glaser is now available through HRC's Religion and Faith Program online and free of charge.
Connected by having a son or daughter who is gay, parents across the country discuss their experiences in the documentary Anyone and Everyone. In it, filmmaker Susan Polis Schutz, depicts families from all walks of life. Individuals from such diverse backgrounds as Japanese, Bolivian, and Cherokee, as well as from various religious denominations such as Mormon, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Hindu, and Southern Baptist, share intimate accounts of how their children revealed their sexual orientation and discuss their responses. The parents also talk about struggling with the pain of their sons and daughters dealing with not being accepted by relatives or friends, and being ostracized by religious congregations. The film also depicts meetings of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) where people get support and help.
This touching video contains three conversations about homosexuality and the family—a life and death matter. Introduced by Dr. David Larson, a professor with the Faculty of Religion at Loma Linda University, this resource features interviews with prominent Seventh Day Adventist parents of gay and lesbian children: Dr. Walt and Virginia Cason (physician and daughter of Elder H.M.S. Richards), Dr. George P. Babcock (educator) and Mrs. Carrol Grady (minister's wife).
Chronicling the experiences of a Seventh Day Adventist pastor's family in learning their youngest son is gay, this book is even more timely now than when it was first published ten years ago. This new edition includes an epilogue tracing the author's journey since originally telling her story. As loving Christians seek to understand a controversial topic, this gripping story will “put a face” on the issue.
With a unique blend of up-close and personal stories from some very public individuals, and middle America teens, philanthropist and longtime human rights advocate Mitchell Gold exposes this silent epidemic in Crisis.
"The reality is that Crisis needs to be read by absolutely everyone, not only to recognize what gay people go through in this culture, but to break through the denial of how cruel and insensitive people can be when they are controlled by a belief system that they allow to substitute for the loving human response they would otherwise find automatic." - Dr. Herb Hamsher
The film and accompanying outreach campaign are supported by grants from the Sundance Documentary Film Program and Pennsylvania Public Television Network.
Love Makes a Family is a museum-quality traveling exhibit including photographs and interviews with families that have lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) members. Through first-person accounts and positive images, this exhibit seeks to challenge and change damaging myths and stereotypes about LGBT people and their families. At the most basic level, Love Makes A Family combats homophobia by breaking silence and making the invisible visible. By encouraging people of all ages - beginning in early childhood - to affirm and appreciate diversity, this traveling rental exhibit contributes to the process of dismantling the destructive power of prejudice and intolerance, thereby making the world a safer place for all families.
A guide to understanding bullying in our communities, how to talk about it, and how to prevent it.
This anti-bullying curriculum is an introduction to what bullying is, how it functions, and why we as Christians are called to prevent it from happening in our communities. It was developed by Lutherans Concerned/North America with the help of the staff at the Pacific Violence Prevention Institute, from the pioneering research on bullying by Dan Olweus, and materials created by the United States government.
This curriculum is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to stopping bullying. However, this guide provides a basic understanding of how bullying works and offers suggestions for steps in creating a congregational bullying prevention plan.
Available for free download