The Edmonton Public Library (EPL) is celebrating Pride month by promoting books on sexual orientation and gender identity to children as young as five.
The EPL’s promoted Pride book collection includes 66 stories on things like the various pronoun meanings, same-sex relationships, and gender diversity.
The books include “kids who are learning to use the right pronouns for themselves, dress how they want, and love whoever they love.”
One story depicts a toddler on the cover surrounded by Pride colours, with a description that states, “This sweet, simple story introduces each color of the LGBTQ Pride flag and includes photos of diverse families and children.”
Other books in the collection introduce fictional characters, some of whom are animals, exploring identities beyond the male or female binary, while also addressing same-sex relationships and the use of gender-bender pronouns.
Edmonton Public Schools address Pride students
Additionally, EPL said the Pride month books go beyond the library by working with the Edmonton Public School Board to create a guide of related books that “can be used in the classroom.”
A letter from Darrel Robertson, the superintendent of Edmonton Public Darrel Robertson Schools, addresses Pride week 2024.
“Pride is a time for all of us to come together and show support for 2SLGBTQIA+ staff, students and families,” the letter reads, adding that, if parents have any questions, they can reach out to their child’s school principal.
The Edmonton Public School’s policy on sexual orientation and gender identity, staff are encouraged to allow trans students from accessing any bathroom, locker room, or gender-specific activity that’s “in accordance with their consistently asserted gender identity.”
The policy further states that “To the greatest extent possible, schools should reduce or eliminate the practice of segregating students by gender (with the exception of already established single gender-based alternative programs).”
“In classroom activities or school programs where students are segregated by gender, all students should be given the option to be included in the group that corresponds to their consistently asserted gender identity.”
