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How Do LGBTQ Novels Affect Young Adult Literature?

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The LGBTQ community has not always been widely accepted. In fact, on December 10, 1924 The Society for Human Rights was “founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago.” Further, on June 26, 2015, “the US supreme court ruled that the US constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry in all 50 US states.” Furthermore, LGBTQ novels primarily feature a protagonist who undergoes the process of telling others about their homosexuality, or a character that is living within the LGBTQ community. Also, LGBTQ novels teach readers that they should accept other’s sexual identities, even if their identity differs from our own. The LGBT theme is suited for young adult literature, because readers can use literature based upon this topic to navigate their …show more content…

Although Melissa and his parents see him as a girl, within his mind he is male. As a child he speaks of endless night praying to wake up as a boy, but to no avail. One night Melissa and J kiss, but Melissa is taken aback by kiss J. He explains that he was asleep during their kiss, but Melissa does not believe this and kicks him out of her bed. After that night Melissa sends an e-male to J saying that she would like to put their friendship on hold for the time being. Melissa explains that she feels violated by what J did in her bed that night, and that if J were a boy it would be considered rape. Over the following days, J skips school and embarks on his transformation forma girl to boy. J makes a bind that flattens his chest, giving him the appearance of a boy. After J meets a garlanded blue at Starbucks downtown she invites J back to her house. However, J is frightened that Blue will discover his breasts when they make out. to avoid making out with Blue, J lies, and says that he cannot make out with Blue because of recent relationship. J’s parents tell him they are understanding and tells J that he can be anything he would like to be. Although J realizes that they are actually referring to jobs and education attainment after his father says “you’ll always be my baby girl.” This inability for his parents to understand J as a transexual individual results in J packing his bags and running away to begin surgeries to transform him into a

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Each author has written about their experience growing up with prejudice in their style. Both essays are concerned with what society thinks of them. Boylan is concerned with what society will think when they find out she is transgender. Ever since she was a child, she has wanted to join the girls but was always left out. She wants

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June 26, 2015 marks a milestone for a long-sought victory for equal rights movement for genders as the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote that the Constitution guarantees a right to Same-Sex Marriage (nytimes.com). In addition to the celebration of the LBGT community over the Supreme Court’s decision on June 26, gay people are continuing to win over the society’s oppositions arises from over the decades toward legalize Same-Sex-Marriage. In the short story “My Amendment” from George Saunders’ In Persuasion Nation, the author uses his satirical writing style to represents his ideas and opinions on today controversial issue in the world: marriage equality. In this satirical writing piece, Saunders creates a character names Ken Bryon, who considers

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167 Words | 1 Pages

In the second week of September, Brian Burke came to our school to talk about acceptance of who you really are. The presentation was largely based around his son’s involvement in the LGBTQ community, and how you should not be ashamed of who you are. He correlated it to our unit “relating to others” by speaking about how when we accept others we become better ourselves. We should not turn away people based off of sexual orientation, culture, and general differences, but rather welcome them. No matter who you are you can have a normal life that even includes athletic activities.

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1389 Words | 6 Pages

While the novel challenges some stereotypes about LGBTQ+ individuals, it perpetuates others simultaneously. In this context, Sheng Kuan Chung's article "Media Literacy Art Education: Deconstructing Lesbian and Gay Stereotypes in the Media" provides a useful framework for investigating the portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in the media and showcases the importance of critically examining media images that convey stereotypical messages. Overall, "Too Bright to See" can serve as a valuable source of education for readers, particularly those who may be less familiar with issues related to gender identity and the experiences of LGBTQ+ children to adults. While it is important to remain critical of any harmful stereotypes that may be present within the text, the novel's exploration of themes such as self-discovery and acceptance can help promote greater societal understanding and

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656 Words | 3 Pages

A brochure for “Reminder Day” expressed that homosexuals were often not treated as equals and that the Federal, state and local governments have shown bias towards these individuals. Although some religions would perceive homosexuality as a sin, the individuals are still human and should be given the same opportunities as the rest of the population. In the past, the Declaration of Independence promised natural rights for all men, but some rights were not realized for minority groups. Over time, parts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were revoked and amended so that in today’s world, all “men”, including women and minority groups, all have the same rights.

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697 Words | 3 Pages

For the longest time, I couldn’t explain or even understand the importance of representation, it was something that I unconsciously wanted. Growing up I felt this disconnect, like there was this wall between me and everyone else and I didn’t understand why until I hit my teens and understood that I was gay. I was raised Lutheran, so accepting my orientation wasn’t easy for me and it made me angry.

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789 Words | 4 Pages

Everyone has an opinion, and everyone has the right to voice their opinions. The right to express opinions is a blessing that Americans have fought tirelessly for over the course of many years. However, society is changing and so are our rights. Feelings are being hurt, things are becoming “politically incorrect”, and restrictions are being enforced.

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Twenty-one is the number of transgender teens that were murdered as of 2015. (Jennings, 141). These are people who were trying to be themselves and trying to live their lives to the fullest. Forty percent have been assaulted in some type of way by others. (Jennings, 203).

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‘ "I thank God," wrote a 68-year-old lesbian, "I have lived long enough to see my kind emerge from the shadows and join the human race." ‘ (Time Magazine). This excerpt from an issue of Time Magazine honoring Harvey Milk included this snippet from a letter written by a member of the LGBT+ community. Milk’s perseverance provided him with the key to success when running for the Board of Supervisors, but it also gave hope to LGBT+ members across the nation that they would no longer have to be afraid of who they

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1260 Words | 6 Pages

The Catholic Church, the government, and other entities that distort natural, human desires are the cause of same-sex attractions in the novel. Through the character development of Theodore, Lewis identifies the influencing factors of homosexuality, characteristics that result from sexual suppression, and internal conflicts that individuals who express homosexual desires confront. Lewis reprimands societal institutions that misrepresent primitive drives to manipulate citizens into a vulnerable position. By identifying homosexuality as a consequence of authoritative entities enforcing sexual suppression, Lewis illustrates the irony of eighteenth century Europe; institutions are indirectly encouraging the behaviors that they are trying to

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666 Words | 3 Pages

In this day and age, the LGTBQ+ community is expanding rapidly. Therefore, the community has included the plus sign at the end to represent those who are questioning, pan-gendered, intersexed, transsexual, or two-spirited and the many new ways people are self-identifying. Each generation is becoming more exposed to more information and are capable to choose from openly out members of the LGBTQ+ community as role models. For younger generations, it may become easier to recognize and acknowledge one’s sexual orientation or gender identity than those apart of Generation X and the Baby Boomers. However, even in this more open-minded society, homophobia is still living, breathing, and thriving.

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388 Words | 2 Pages

Not only is the media coverage in conflict with O’Flaherty’s personal interests, it also shines an unnecessary spotlight on other members of the LGBT community that would prefer not to be defined by their sexuality. True equality for the LGBT community will not be achieved until they are able to go about their lives the same way heterosexual people can. Calling attention to their sexuality, in a positive manner or not, prevents a normal livelihood for the nine million Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or gay. The best way to support this community would be to give them the same treatment that we would anyone else, without bias or judgement based on their sexual

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513 Words | 3 Pages

They may feel even more isolated and alone without access to these resources. When members of the LGBT+ community see themselves represented in literature, it may give the sense that they are not alone in their own experiences. As the author of I Am Jazz, Jessica Herthel, said, "I Am Jazz was written as much for my kids as it was for transgender kids. For trans kids, it was an opportunity to see themselves finally reflected in and validated by, a book." (Herthel).

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235 Words | 1 Pages

Just like the movie’s title, Pride, the entire movie tells the story of homosexual people coming out of their shells to embrace and be proud of their real identities and their achievements. The article written by Mary Bernstein argues that “identity” has been causally interpreted that its meaning has been obsured. Bernstein discusses identity from three different aspects: identity for empowerment, identity as a goal, and identity as strategy. The movie supports the use of identity as a goal and empowerment as described in Bernstein’s analysis as an effective movement tactic since ultimately the gay pride movement achieved success.

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902 Words | 4 Pages

In 2015, the Obergefell v. Hodges case ended the “state bans on same-sex marriage”, therefore legalizing same-sex marriage (Important Supreme Court Cases). Now, “same-sex couples can now receive the benefits...of marriage that were largely exclusive to heterosexual couples” (Koch). The ruling has led to the modern fight for gay civil rights. Exposure to the LGBTQ+ community, the southern “Bathroom Bills”, and other fights for transgender rights, and the press for more LGBTQ+ representation in the media has erupted from this case. Both rulings had very big impacts on their respective communities.

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