tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611875170009784219.post132099121024847594..comments2024-03-15T12:42:11.939-04:00Comments on Noblemania: ANOTHER problem with mentioning sexual orientation in an elementary assemblyMarc Tyler Noblemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732005290440645718noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611875170009784219.post-45467918899968126692018-03-12T09:06:09.808-04:002018-03-12T09:06:09.808-04:00Bellevue - thanks for this kind and helpful commen...Bellevue - thanks for this kind and helpful comment!Marc Tyler Noblemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10732005290440645718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611875170009784219.post-44939216117278220032018-03-11T23:02:36.345-04:002018-03-11T23:02:36.345-04:00Hi Marc and readers,
Each time you receive push b...Hi Marc and readers, <br />Each time you receive push back in an assembly or school session about telling the story of your book and using language to describe sexual orientation, I would urge you to report the issue at the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom office's website for reporting censorship and challenges: http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport (Hoping you already have, but just in case.) Their office provides free consultations on these matters as well, so anyone reading about this should reach out if you have similar issues in your schools. <br /><br />Thanks for your open and honest storytelling!<br />Bellevue reader-teacher-librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517493929844019360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611875170009784219.post-52014945295971876282018-03-01T03:38:48.100-05:002018-03-01T03:38:48.100-05:00So great to hear from you, Joe. Your comment adds ...So great to hear from you, Joe. Your comment adds so much to this story. Thank you.<br /><br />I apologize that my "full disclosure" comment was unclear: I was not referring specifically to your orientation but broadly to the fact that some people are gay. We want to openly discuss it but worry that the reactions of an ignorant few could have a negative impact.Marc Tyler Noblemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10732005290440645718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611875170009784219.post-32385377456643111962018-02-28T18:24:02.038-05:002018-02-28T18:24:02.038-05:00Just a quick footnote, I in no way fear full discl...Just a quick footnote, I in no way fear full disclosure. I came out at 15 and have never looked back. Joeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16994109842366531059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611875170009784219.post-63446767861489697252018-02-28T17:47:19.427-05:002018-02-28T17:47:19.427-05:00I am Matt (Joe) in the blog above. I really apprec...I am Matt (Joe) in the blog above. I really appreciate Marc taking the time to talk with me before leaving our school last Friday. I was emotional and very concerned, and even a little surprised at the negative reaction of some of the students. Yes we do not live in an area with a large LGBTQ community, but there is a sizable one. But it’s the pool of families headed by same sex parents with school age children that is miniscule. As far as we are aware we are the only such family at our school. I was surprised because, naively, I had thought that living in a liberal area of a liberal state would mean episodes like this were unlikely to happen. My daughters were very hurt by the reaction in the presentation, and later one of them experienced two other homophobic episodes that same day. It’s hard for any parent to watch their children process episodes like this. For the most part since we have been at the school, less than a year now, all has been wonderful. We did have an episode earlier in the year where a good friend at school repeated some negativity her parents had said. Yes I am happy that Marc talks about the authors gay son and his daughter. I absolutely agree that it is a positive in the long run. But I hate that my daughters are part of the learning curb for their classmates and the school and I cringe and wince every time I think of the little lgbtq children sitting on the carpet who anonymously and silently suffered the negativity and ugliness of some of their classmates. We are lucky that the staff knew about us and quickly decided to,check in with out girls, we are lucky that we have such a receptive and caring leadership and staff at our children’s school. We are lucky that we live in state that has laws to protect us. But I was surprised to learn that there has been no professional training in this particular area. We have been reassured that this will change. We love our school and our new community and we are determined to help them move forward to meet all their students needs. As I told some of the staff at the school, when I was in elementary school there was no safe place there or at home to be open and myself. I hope we can do better for this generation of little lgbtq children and for families like ours. We did enjoy Black Panther, it in itself being unique, we are a racially varied family, discussing it helped us process the day. Again, thank you Marc for your inclusivity and your empathy. Our best to you!<br />Joseph, Chris, Gabriela, and AthenaJoeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16994109842366531059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611875170009784219.post-9597079691346290352018-02-27T19:38:46.698-05:002018-02-27T19:38:46.698-05:00Great way to handle it! My daughter was introduced...Great way to handle it! My daughter was introduced to 2 moms at the bus stop when she started kindergarten. She was confused about it and asked why the girl called both women mom. I simply said all families are different, some kids have parents in different homes, some kids have just one parent, some kids are raised by grandparents, or an aunt or uncle, or have 2 moms or 2 dads, etc. In any situation, as long as they are loved than that’s what makes a family. I’m glad that girl was able to get some reassurance from a superhero super author to let her know that it’s ok! Hey, if just one child will take pause before saying something disrespectful in the future, I call that success.KirstenAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16891977101495750331noreply@blogger.com