The Importance of Addressing the Parents in This Book is Gay

     I truly believe that Juno Dawson's This Book is Gay deserves a place on every library's shelves. With a brilliant incorporation and balance of humor, emotion, factual information, and personal stories, Dawson's book acts as a crucial guide for young readers to gain a better understanding of themselves, and those around them. As we discussed in class, this book provides a voice for those who are consistently underrepresented in literature, and it serves as a means of providing the vocabulary necessary for those unsure of how to put a name to their feelings and identities.

    While I was consistently considering this book as a piece of literature for a younger audience when reading the first half, the second half made me realize the importance of this book as a guide for parents, too. In the chapter, "Build a Bridge," Dawson shares her advice for parents and guardians supporting their children who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. She states, "being a parent of an LGBT* child is challenging, but only in the way that being a parent is challenging. In the NICEST POSSIBLE WAY, this isn't about you" (Dawson 60). She continues on to point out that, "if you're worried ABOUT WHAT THE NEIGHBORS WILL SAY, then there's really not a lot I can do to help you with that, other than tell you to get over it" (Dawson 60). Within these lines, Dawson directly calls out the stigma that older generations continuously associate with being a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She highlights the fact that often, when children come out to their families, their parents tend to make the moment about themselves, fearing how their child will be perceived, or how difficult their lives might become. Their gut reactions are driven by their own prejudiced fears and insecurities, as they refuse to change their perspectives and appreciate their children for who they truly are. Dawson begins the chapter with the blunt humor quoted above, easing parents in to the discussion about gender and sexuality, and softening the space for conversation and understanding to occur. She closes the chapter out with poignant advice, stating, "your child's identity isn't your 'fault'...your child's identity is a part of them that has always been there. They haven't even changed; it's just that now you're seeing the whole picture" (Dawson 60). Dawson's insights are powerful, providing parents with a different perspective from which they can view their child's identity. This chapter may also be very useful in providing stepping stones for parents who want to support their children, but aren't quite sure how to.

    This chapter struck me as significant, also, because of the countless conversations that our class has had about a parent's place within the process of banning a book. Parents are the most common group to challenge books for content that they do not approve of, and it was interesting to read a book that includes a chapter addressing this group directly. I am not sure exactly what the answer is, however, these ideas made me question whether this chapter would be enough to stop a parent from submitting a ban on this book, or if it could truly act as a means of prompting a book challenger to reconsider their decision.

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