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Would You Write a Gay Book for Kids?
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Would you write a gay children’s storybook? Aside from it being a breakthrough in Philippine children’s book industry, you can win Php35,000 cash.
From artist-blogger friend, Palma Tayona:
we have a short-story writing competition for children and there’s still a month left to submit entries. i read through some of those who write you and it can easily be seen that some of them do have a good grasp of story telling. they have what is called the gift of gab. i just wonder though if they can actually translate this gift of writing about themselves to writing for others, specifically children.
now why am i telling you, someone who advances the cause of gay people, about this? contemporary literature is moved these days by liberal thoughts and ideas. many current issues and relevant topics are slowly being written about today in stories that children can absorb and help them relate towards the bigger and real world, the same kind of topics that were only spoken of in whispers a few decades ago. for example, i was reading through a children’s book written by Augie Rivera entitled “ANG LIHIM NI LEA”. it is about a very sensitive topic – incest. it is highly relevant and about time that someone wrote about it for the specific audience – our children – that must guard itself against. the book is well-crafted, beautifull illustrated and very well written. you can see it online here.
i have seen and read so many good stories written for children and yet i still have to see something about being different and being okay with it. i just wonder, how an excellent gay writer would write a story for children.
Interested to join the contest? Mechanics here.
(Palma is also inviting you to a children’s book launching at Serendra on March 8, 2009.)
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wow… this is interesting…
magman at Feb 19, 09 at 3:28 pm
This is a great opportunity! Some would say na “masama” for kids to learn about homosexuality but I believe that it is good to teach them at an early age to be “true to yourself” especially if that means one is gay… and i feel like it is also good to teach the kids that being gay is NORMAL so they don’t grow up as bigots.
I remember Batibot used to have this short story where the hero is a small shy boy who like playing with dolls. Th emoral of the story is that it is ok to be different as long as it makes you happy. ganda di ba?
Oliver at Feb 19, 09 at 10:18 pm
The Books is expensive. Wow… very interest…
JOHN PAULO at Feb 19, 09 at 11:20 pm
Let’s join!
Cris at Feb 19, 09 at 11:22 pm
thanks miggs!
palma tayona at Feb 20, 09 at 12:12 am
i already submitted my story… wish me luck miggs…
arni ramirez at Feb 20, 09 at 5:33 am
bright ideas for bright people. let’s support!
rodier at Feb 20, 09 at 6:13 am
o shoot. today’s the deadline na pala.
now if I can cook up a 1800-word story before 5pm…
Paulie at Feb 20, 09 at 11:25 am
No, I wont. Leave the children alone. They have parents to teach and instruct them of sensitive issues when they reach the right age. Let the children be children.
Courage Philippines at Feb 20, 09 at 12:06 pm
@Paulie MARCH 20 po ang deadline, not FEB 20
migs at Feb 20, 09 at 12:11 pm
ay shoot oo nga (duh. mawindang ba?). HAHAHAHA! oh well good news. hehe. will start drafting one na nga. thanks!
Paulie at Feb 20, 09 at 1:59 pm
Hoy Courage Philippines!!! Wag ka nga d2!!!
“any man who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” – Mga ganyang statement ang binibitaw mo sa blog mo tapos tumitingin ka d2!
IPOKRITA! Tse!
PH Care 5.5 at Feb 20, 09 at 9:18 pm
Why not? A lot of Children’s books have already tackled homosexuality and other sensitive issues anyway. Besides, better learn about sensitive topics through (well-written) books than through other means. Parents can supplement what the children learned through the book.
mwahaha at Feb 20, 09 at 11:03 pm
At PH Care 5.5
Thank you for visiting our blog. I appreciate it.
If you find me here, it is to give an alternative view and not for anything else. I would appreciate if you would just stick with the topic and try to dialogue cordially. No abusive language please. That is not fair.
At mwahaha:
Can you give me a list of children’s books that tackle homosexuality to substantiate your claim? So far I haven’t encountered one. I might as well take a look at it first before I comment.
You know you cannot learn algebra and trigonometry without first learning basic mathematics. The same with children. A child’s mind is very impressionable and limited. It cannot comprehend things as complicated as homosexuality. And only the parents of the children know the best age for them to appreciate and understanding such matters. I hope you get my point.
To all future repliers, please respond in a cordial manner. I suppose we are all educated here and although we may not share the same points of views, there is something we can derive out of it.
Thanks.
Courage Philippines at Feb 21, 09 at 10:18 am
oh I forgot to mention pH care 5.5, the statement that you mentioned above is not my statement. It is the statement of Jesus Christ in the Gospel and please if you cannot accept such statements, respect the Lord for He is God.
Courage Philippines at Feb 21, 09 at 10:19 am
Well, for starters, there is “Annie on My Mind,” by Nancy Garden. It’s written in 1982, and while I haven’t personally read the book, it’s considered to be a landmark piece of literature in America. Recently, Julie Ann Peters has been writing Young Adult books with edgy themes. “Luna,” a finalist in the National Book Awards for Children’s Literature, is the story of a 15-year-old girl who has a transsexual brother. Her “Between Mom and Jo” meanwhile tackles the divorce of a lesbian couple and how their son is affected by the break-up. I could go on and go, but the point the material is already there.
The thing is, Courage Philippines, we cannot deny the fact that this happens in everyday life. Why not write about it if the children would find out elsewhere anyway? Writers are doing a great injustice if they do not deal with this issue through the writing of literature. Besides, even before they can read these books, they’ve already been exposed to these topics through television, among others. Of course, a writer of gay children’s literature would have to answer a very important question–why would kids have to know about these things? That is the challenge to the writers.
mwahaha at Feb 21, 09 at 2:04 pm
Medyo mahirap isulat ang isang libro na pangbata kung ang tema ay homosekswalidad. Mas maganda pa siguro kung tungkol sa pagtanggap sa pagkatao or acceptance on a more general term.
tsinitoboy at Feb 21, 09 at 4:58 pm
I should add, however, that I am not sure if there are any children’s books in the country that tackle homosexuality–although I am familiar of short stories of children and young adults written by Filipino writers that deal with gay characters. But this reflects more on the industry rather than the issue.
mwahaha at Feb 21, 09 at 6:25 pm
wala lang
pacer150 at Feb 22, 09 at 5:29 am
At mwahaha
Thanks for the list of books you provided. I must admit I still have to do some research on the said literature coz this thing is very new to me. Nevertheless, I might as well give my personal opinion on the matter.
I still have reservations on this matter. Why do we want our kids to be aware of homosexuality at a very young age? Shouldn’t we focus instead on books that teach Christian values and good manners?
I hope that it is not to make them embrace the “alternative lifestyle”. As I see it from my personal point of view, I don’t see any compelling reason to do so.
However, as these kids become teens, maybe little by little the reality of homosexuality can be shown to them, but still it must be done in the most prudent manner so that these teens might not eventually develop discrimination against gays.
You know this is such a delicate and complicated matter. I think I’ll just leave this thing to competent authorities.
Courage Philippines at Feb 22, 09 at 4:22 pm
I already submitted my entry last friday… it’s a children’s lit, yes, but it has lots of hints on homosexuality…but very clean and child friendly. and i know people like us can relate to it… i am proud that i was able to capture it all in less than 1800 words… i just hope they will consider it and not treat my story as taboo for children…
arni ramirez at Feb 23, 09 at 12:35 am
“You know you cannot learn algebra and trigonometry without first learning basic mathematics. The same with children. A child’s mind is very impressionable and limited. It cannot comprehend things as complicated as homosexuality. And only the parents of the children know the best age for them to appreciate and understanding such matters. I hope you get my point.” – Courage Philippines
meaning to say that you think people like us are made up of complicated things? are we mutant to your eyes? when you are in your family reunion and your kid met his distant uncle and your kid will ask you why is he wearing a lipstick, would you tell your kid “Honey, let us talk about it when you grow up.”? The horrors of being peachy, yes.
so, my point is that, children see gay people everyday: on the streets, on TV, everywhere. so when do you think is the best time for children to be taught when almost everyone disses, teases, and puts gays to public shame and the worst part is that sometimes, children witness these acts of humiliation? if you have children, for sure you do not want them to loathe the likes of us.
maybe writing a story for children that tackles about homosexuality is not really a good idea; maybe it should be written for the likes of you.
magman at Feb 23, 09 at 1:02 am
“I hope that it is not to make them embrace the “alternative lifestyle”” – Courage Philippines
We are not an alternative lifestyle.And we certainly are not a religion to be embraced on.
magman at Feb 23, 09 at 1:05 am
@ magman
You know, homosexuality is way too complicated for a kid to comprehend. If a child is bright and inquisitive, he or she would naturally ask questions, and if that child asks you for example why this or that man looks “different”, I bet you’ll be caught unprepared to give an answer that can satisfy the child’s curiosity.
The term “alternative lifestyle” is a euphemism that commonly applies to the “gay lifestyle”. That one is surely know.
Courage Philippines at Feb 23, 09 at 9:39 pm
“You know, homosexuality is way too complicated for a kid to comprehend. If a child is bright and inquisitive, he or she would naturally ask questions, and if that child asks you for example why this or that man looks “different”, I bet you’ll be caught unprepared to give an answer that can satisfy the child’s curiosity.” – Courage Philippines
- Why is it complicated? What do you know about homosexuality if (maybe) you are not one? And please, do not ask me what I will answer to the kid because I know what I will answer. I asked you first.
magman at Feb 25, 09 at 12:35 am
I think Courage Philippines think homosexuality is too complicated for kids because he’s only looking at it through one angle. Courage Philippines, do yourself a favor and one of the books I mentioned. I suggest you read “Between Mom and Jo,” which is available in National Bookstore outlets. That’ll show that a children’s book about homosexuality need not be complicated or can be essential.
mwahaha at Feb 25, 09 at 9:21 am
Inay ko po! Nose Bleed pala mga comments sa topic na to… hay… Wish ko lang kasing bright ko rin sila.
Isaribi at Mar 5, 09 at 4:37 pm
Courage philippines, gay people nowadays should be inclusive in the society. We are also children of god. Children should be taught about it so that they can learn respect to gay people and not just tease them. Minsan kaya mali ang tinuturo ng mga tao like nakakahiya maging bkla, mapupunta sa hell. Etc. Wag kng mamakeelam d2 kng ayaw m ng dvelopment sa gay people. Wla kng n2tulong kontra k ng kntra. Akala m kng cnong moralista… Ngmamarun0ng pa. Kaya nga courage ang username m kc ang tapang2 m d2. Tsk3.
Jdel at Apr 11, 09 at 10:29 pm