The American Library Association has created a new award to recognizing outstanding gay and lesbian literature written for young people. The Association, which annually presents the prestigious and influential Caldecott and Newbery medals for best children's literature and illustration, will begin awarding the Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award as part of its annual Youth Media Awards, in January 2011.
The ALA awards for books directed at children and youth are watched closely by educators and librarians and often influence which books are used as part of a teacher's curriculum.
In announcing the new award category, the association said the Stonewall prize honors "English-language works for children and teens of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered experience." Stonewall awards have been awarded for adult literature for nearly four decades.
Ironically books with gay and lesbian themes top the national associations list of books most criticized and threatened with removal by parents and educators.
"Ours is a very inclusive profession and we represent a wide variety of viewpoints," said association president Roberta Stevens. "Millions of children in this country are being raised by gay or lesbian parents. There are young people who are gay and sometimes they feel very alone. This is a real opportunity for youth who may be feeling alone to read about others like themselves."
