I’ve got an essay today up on Huffington Post—my first on the site, which is very exciting. (It’s posted on the Gay Voices page, which I suppose makes me an honorary Gay Voice, which I rather like.) It’s about Fox News’ recent attack on the family of a transgender child. I hope you’ll read it and let me—and HuffPo readers—know what you think!
Thanks,
Sarah
I’m so excited to share this book with you.
Operation Marriage tells the story of a spunky eight-year-old San Franciscan, Alex, whose best friend shuns Alex because she has lesbian parents. Set during the lead-up to California’s Proposition 8, the ballot measure that ultimately banned same-sex marriage, the story shows the impact that the struggle for marriage equality has on children—not just those from gay families, but on all children who witness the fight.
Based on a true story, Operation Marriage offers us universal themes— trust, perseverance, standing up to adversity—but its approach to the particular social challenge of marriage inequality is something I haven’t ever seen in a children’s book. There is power in viewing a problem from a child’s perspective, and much that we grown-ups can learn from looking at the world through Alex’s eyes.
Alex’s parents got married in the slim window that our state allowed them to; others since have not been so lucky. And because I know you’re wondering, ultimately Alex’s best friend comes around in support of Alex’s family. But it happens in a way that makes me cry every single time I read it. Yet no matter how lovely I think this book is, aided by Lea Lyon’s gentle, realistic illustrations, what I really hope is that someday this book will be become part of dusty history, a quaint reminder of how narrow minded our state—our country—used to be.
The super awesome publisher of Operation Marriage, Reach and Teach—you should check out their other titles, too—is offering an autographed, hardcover copy of the book to one of my readers. Leave a comment below (and be sure to give me a way to get in touch with you by leaving your email address or friending me on facebook) for a chance to win. The winner will be announced Tuesday, the day the book is officially launched.
The national launch of Operation Marriage is next Wednesday, November 2. Local supporters can join the author, illustrator, and publishers at the launch party at Kepler’s in Menlo Park.
Wherever you are, please read and share this important book!
It’s been not-quite-five months since I started my series on anti-bullying work at Sam’s school, and in that brief time I’ve felt more despair, inspiration, relief, exhaustion, and companionship than in the previous not-quite-five years at the school. When I began writing, I really had no idea where things would go, and was just about ready to give up and pull Sam out of school. Just a few months later, I feel very differently.
At the end of last year, the administration promised to change the way they’d been dealing with school bullying, and made big plans—the first of which was hiring a new school counselor. I’m thrilled to report that the new counselor has experience implementing anti-bullying programs and policies at other schools. She is engaged, thoughtful, accessible, and communicative. Before school started, she gave the teachers an anti-bullying workshop, and is now planning parent education. She has asked the administration to adopt a truly zero-tolerance policy. She is teaching the kids what to do when they experience, participate in, or witness bullying. She is also going to bring Restorative Justice to the school—an alternative approach to discipline that teaches how to repair, rather than punish, harm that has been done to a person.
The school has brought in Gender Spectrum to educate all teachers about gender diversity and acceptance. They are school is talking to Keshet, the Jewish LGBT organization, about bringing faith-based anti-discrimination study resources into classrooms.
In short, the administration has either begun, or agreed to consider, nearly all of the things they committed to last year, and has done so fairly speedily. Watching their actions, I am cautiously optimistic that things are moving in the right direction.
Before writing this post, I read back over all ten installments of the series, reliving the despair, fatigue, and inspiration I’d experienced at the time. What stood out most to me about what we went through was how absolutely not alone we were. We had the support, encouragement, and ideas of the group of parents at school—without which we never would have gotten where we did. Our friends helped us realize we were not alone, gave us the energy for the fight, and lent us the strength to do the work. Their support totally changed the game, and made all the difference in our success.
And I was so very buoyed by the cheering, resonance, and thoughtful input of my readers. Without your words, I would have been dispirited before I’d been able to start. I was also reminded that if Ian had not been my partner through this, I never would have taken the work on (well, maybe I would have, but with far less grace and far more bad language than with him by my side). And most of all, if I didn’t have the incredible kiddo that I do—who represents both the need and the inspiration for this work—I simply would not be here at all.
Thank you, to all of you.
Now that things are on the right track with Sam’s school, I’m able to turn my attention to the book I’ve been trying to write for years, so my presence on this blog is going to be more sporadic for a while. While I won’t be writing quite as often, I am thinking of all of you and wishing you well on your journeys.
All the best,
Sarah Hoffman
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