Photo by gerdaindcD.C. Public Schools will release its summer reading list for students Friday, and some local librarians have alleged that gay titles under early consideration were removed.
D.C. Public Library spokesman George Williams said that books with gay themes were included in the initial round of discussions on the reading lists, which are scaled for pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade.
“They were scrutinized along with many other books on the list,” Williams said. He noted that books may not be included because they are outdated, or are not available in large enough quantities.
The reading lists are created with input from DCPS and the D.C. Public Library. Williams said there was a meeting last week to address the inclusion of all titles under consideration, including LGBT-themed books, and that “there will be a balanced book list.”
The preliminary lists posted on the D.C. Public Schools Web site do feature some books with LGBT themes — including Tanuja Desai Hidier’s Born Confused and Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. The D.C. Public Library also offers its own LGBT teen reading list.
