Definition of Sexuality:
Sexuality is much more than body parts and sex (though it includes these things, too). Sexuality includes our gender identity (the core sense that we are female or male). It includes gender role (the idea of how we should behave because we are a female or male). Sexuality includes our sexual orientation (heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual). Sexuality includes how we feel about our bodies. We call that “body image,” and poor body image can have a profound effect on our ability to have healthy relationships. A person with poor body image may not think they deserve a good partner, and so they may be willing to settle for someone who will not respect them or who may even abuse them. It includes our sexual experiences, thoughts, ideas, and fantasies. Sexuality includes the way in which the media, family, friends, religion, age, life goals, and our self-esteem shape our sexual selves. It includes how we experience intimacy, touch, love, compassion, joy, and sorrow. As found on Sexuality Resource Center for Parents (http://www.srcp.org/for_all_parents/definition.html).
Additional Resources
Sexuality Resource Center for Parents
http://www.srcp.org/index.html
See Beautiful
http://www.seebeautiful.com/index.html
International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission
https://iglhrc.org/content/keep-momentum-change-contribute-iglhrc
A Mighty Girl
http://www.amightygirl.com/
Sexuality is much more than body parts and sex (though it includes these things, too). Sexuality includes our gender identity (the core sense that we are female or male). It includes gender role (the idea of how we should behave because we are a female or male). Sexuality includes our sexual orientation (heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual). Sexuality includes how we feel about our bodies. We call that “body image,” and poor body image can have a profound effect on our ability to have healthy relationships. A person with poor body image may not think they deserve a good partner, and so they may be willing to settle for someone who will not respect them or who may even abuse them. It includes our sexual experiences, thoughts, ideas, and fantasies. Sexuality includes the way in which the media, family, friends, religion, age, life goals, and our self-esteem shape our sexual selves. It includes how we experience intimacy, touch, love, compassion, joy, and sorrow. As found on Sexuality Resource Center for Parents (http://www.srcp.org/for_all_parents/definition.html).
Additional Resources
Sexuality Resource Center for Parents
http://www.srcp.org/index.html
See Beautiful
http://www.seebeautiful.com/index.html
International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission
https://iglhrc.org/content/keep-momentum-change-contribute-iglhrc
A Mighty Girl
http://www.amightygirl.com/
Children's Literature
1. A Name on the Quilt: A Story of Remembrance by Jeannine Atkins. Illus. by Tad Hills (1999).
Lauren’s family gathers to make a quilt panel in memory of Uncle Ron. An afterword introduces the NAMES Project and includes photographs of several AIDS Memorial Quilt panels.
2. Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen (2008).
Chloe, a young guinea pig, fears she will lose her favorite uncle when he marries, but instead discovers that she will gain an Uncle Jamie.
3. A B C: A Family Alphabet Book by Bobby Combs. Illus. by Desiree Keane and Brian Rappa (2001).
Children learn their ABC’s in this book featuring multicultural gay and lesbian parented families.
4. 1 2 3: A Family Counting Book by Bobbie Combs. Illus. by Danamarie Hosler. (2001).
Children learn to count from one to twenty in this book featuring multicultural gay and lesbian parented families.
5. King & King by Linda De Haan. Illus. by Stern Nijland (2001).
The queen is ready to retire, and she wants her son to marry and take over. He does, but this royal wedding is not what she envisioned.
6. Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola (1979).
Life is not easy for a boy who prefers dancing to sports. A companion video, Oliver Button Is a Star, features the author and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus.
7. Asha’s Mums by Rosamund Elwin and Michele Paulse. Illus. by Dawn Lee (1990).
Asha explains to her class that she really does have two mothers.
8.The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein. Illus. by Henry Cole (2002).
Elmer is derided by his father and schoolmates for not being like the other male ducklings until he proves that a “sissy” can be a real hero.
9. Molly's Family by Nancy Garden. Illus. by Sharon Wooding (2004).
With support and encouragement from her teacher and parents, a kindergartener feels proud to display the picture she drew of herself and her two moms at Open School Night.
10. Antonio's Card/La Tarjeta de Antonio by Rigoberto González. Illus. by Cecilia Concepción Álvarez (2005).
Antonio is teased at school because of the unconventional appearance of his Mami’s partner, but Leslie’s love shows him that he has nothing to be ashamed of. (in English and Spanish)
11. Best Best Colors: Los Mejores Colores by Eric Hoffman. Illus. by Celeste Henriquez (1999).
When his two mothers get a rainbow flag, a young boy realizes that all colors are beautiful, especially together. A bilingual English-Spanish story.
12. Mini Mia and Her Darling Uncle by Pija Linderbaum (2007).
Mia is not pleased that her adored uncle has someone else in his life, but one day, when Uncle Tommy is sick, she discovers that Fergus has some good points after all.
13. Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers. Illus. by Marla Frazee (2001).
Delightful illustrations show babies in all kinds of loving families, including multicultural and same sex.
14. Felicia’s Favorite Story by Leslea Newman. Illus. by Adriana Romo (2002).
A girl loves to hear about how her two mothers adopted her from Guatemala.
15. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman. Illus. by Diane Souza (2000).
Tenth anniversary edition of the groundbreaking story about a three-year-old who discovers that there are all kinds of families.
16. Saturday is Pattyday by Leslea Newman. Illus. by Annette Hegel (1993).
Patty reassures preschooler Frankie that she will always be his mom, even though she and his other mom have split up.
17. Too Far Away to Touch by Leslea Newman. Illus. by Catherine Stock (1995).
Zoe’s Uncle Leonard is dying of AIDS, and he and his partner comfort her in this picture book for older kids.
18. The White Swan Express by Jean Davies Okimoto and Elaine M. Aoki. Illus. by Meilo So. (2002).
Heartwarming story of four couples, including a lesbian couple, who travel to China to adopt baby girls.
19. It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr (2001).
A colorful picture book that enumerates many ways of being different. While same-sex parented families aren’t mentioned, this book can be used to introduce the topic with young listeners.
20. Tiger Flowers by Patricia Quinlan. Illus. by Janet Wilson (1994).
Uncle Michael is dying of AIDS and comes to live with his young nephew’s family in this poignant story about remembering loved ones.
21. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. Illus. by Henry Cole (2005).
Inspired by actual events at New York City’s Central Park Zoo, two male penguins become parents to a hatchling named Tango. (also available in Spanish)
22. Seeds by George Shannon. Illus. by Steve Bjorkman (1994).
A young boy befriends the single male artist next door, and together they share a love of gardening. While the artist may or may not be gay, it’s possible to read that into the story.
23. My Two Uncles by Judith Vigna (1995).
When Elly is sad that Grampy cannot accept her uncle’s lover, her father explains what “gay” means.
24. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite (1990).
Nick enjoys spending time with his father and his father’s new partner. He serves as best man at their wedding in the sequel, Daddy’s Wedding.1990 Lambda Literary Award.
25. William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow. Illus. by William Pène du Bois (1972).
William wants a doll, but to no avail. His grandmother finally convinces his father that having a doll will help William learn how to be a good father. Fiction
Lauren’s family gathers to make a quilt panel in memory of Uncle Ron. An afterword introduces the NAMES Project and includes photographs of several AIDS Memorial Quilt panels.
2. Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen (2008).
Chloe, a young guinea pig, fears she will lose her favorite uncle when he marries, but instead discovers that she will gain an Uncle Jamie.
3. A B C: A Family Alphabet Book by Bobby Combs. Illus. by Desiree Keane and Brian Rappa (2001).
Children learn their ABC’s in this book featuring multicultural gay and lesbian parented families.
4. 1 2 3: A Family Counting Book by Bobbie Combs. Illus. by Danamarie Hosler. (2001).
Children learn to count from one to twenty in this book featuring multicultural gay and lesbian parented families.
5. King & King by Linda De Haan. Illus. by Stern Nijland (2001).
The queen is ready to retire, and she wants her son to marry and take over. He does, but this royal wedding is not what she envisioned.
6. Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola (1979).
Life is not easy for a boy who prefers dancing to sports. A companion video, Oliver Button Is a Star, features the author and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus.
7. Asha’s Mums by Rosamund Elwin and Michele Paulse. Illus. by Dawn Lee (1990).
Asha explains to her class that she really does have two mothers.
8.The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein. Illus. by Henry Cole (2002).
Elmer is derided by his father and schoolmates for not being like the other male ducklings until he proves that a “sissy” can be a real hero.
9. Molly's Family by Nancy Garden. Illus. by Sharon Wooding (2004).
With support and encouragement from her teacher and parents, a kindergartener feels proud to display the picture she drew of herself and her two moms at Open School Night.
10. Antonio's Card/La Tarjeta de Antonio by Rigoberto González. Illus. by Cecilia Concepción Álvarez (2005).
Antonio is teased at school because of the unconventional appearance of his Mami’s partner, but Leslie’s love shows him that he has nothing to be ashamed of. (in English and Spanish)
11. Best Best Colors: Los Mejores Colores by Eric Hoffman. Illus. by Celeste Henriquez (1999).
When his two mothers get a rainbow flag, a young boy realizes that all colors are beautiful, especially together. A bilingual English-Spanish story.
12. Mini Mia and Her Darling Uncle by Pija Linderbaum (2007).
Mia is not pleased that her adored uncle has someone else in his life, but one day, when Uncle Tommy is sick, she discovers that Fergus has some good points after all.
13. Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers. Illus. by Marla Frazee (2001).
Delightful illustrations show babies in all kinds of loving families, including multicultural and same sex.
14. Felicia’s Favorite Story by Leslea Newman. Illus. by Adriana Romo (2002).
A girl loves to hear about how her two mothers adopted her from Guatemala.
15. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman. Illus. by Diane Souza (2000).
Tenth anniversary edition of the groundbreaking story about a three-year-old who discovers that there are all kinds of families.
16. Saturday is Pattyday by Leslea Newman. Illus. by Annette Hegel (1993).
Patty reassures preschooler Frankie that she will always be his mom, even though she and his other mom have split up.
17. Too Far Away to Touch by Leslea Newman. Illus. by Catherine Stock (1995).
Zoe’s Uncle Leonard is dying of AIDS, and he and his partner comfort her in this picture book for older kids.
18. The White Swan Express by Jean Davies Okimoto and Elaine M. Aoki. Illus. by Meilo So. (2002).
Heartwarming story of four couples, including a lesbian couple, who travel to China to adopt baby girls.
19. It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr (2001).
A colorful picture book that enumerates many ways of being different. While same-sex parented families aren’t mentioned, this book can be used to introduce the topic with young listeners.
20. Tiger Flowers by Patricia Quinlan. Illus. by Janet Wilson (1994).
Uncle Michael is dying of AIDS and comes to live with his young nephew’s family in this poignant story about remembering loved ones.
21. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. Illus. by Henry Cole (2005).
Inspired by actual events at New York City’s Central Park Zoo, two male penguins become parents to a hatchling named Tango. (also available in Spanish)
22. Seeds by George Shannon. Illus. by Steve Bjorkman (1994).
A young boy befriends the single male artist next door, and together they share a love of gardening. While the artist may or may not be gay, it’s possible to read that into the story.
23. My Two Uncles by Judith Vigna (1995).
When Elly is sad that Grampy cannot accept her uncle’s lover, her father explains what “gay” means.
24. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite (1990).
Nick enjoys spending time with his father and his father’s new partner. He serves as best man at their wedding in the sequel, Daddy’s Wedding.1990 Lambda Literary Award.
25. William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow. Illus. by William Pène du Bois (1972).
William wants a doll, but to no avail. His grandmother finally convinces his father that having a doll will help William learn how to be a good father. Fiction