GLSEN Albuquerque Launches Rainbow Library Project
+GLSEN Albuquerque is a chapter of GLSEN, a national organization fighting for every student’s right to a safe, supportive education.
GLSEN Albuquerque is a grassroots initiative, working locally in our community to ensure safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Our chapter supports students and educators locally, organizes around LGBTQ+-affirming public policy, plans teacher trainings, and hosts events for students, educators, parents, and allies. Chapters like ours play an important role in bringing GLSEN’s programs and visions to right where we live, work, and learn. While some chapters have full-time or part-time staff, most are entirely volunteer-based. We're always looking for new volunteers to help us ensure safe schools for all students.
With funding from the New Mexico Department of School and Adolescent Health, GLSEN Albuquerque is currently working with community partners to create TQA Pride, A Virtual Trans Queer Ally Youth and Educator Summit for June 9th. In addition, we have launched a Rainbow Library Project. The Project is an initiative that sends LGBTQ+ affirming K-12 text sets to school and community libraries across the state for free.
According to the 2019 GLSEN New Mexico School Climate survey, less than half of New Mexico students say they have access to LGBTQ+-related library resources at school. And just 28% of New Mexico students say they were taught positive representations of LGBTQ+ people, history, or events at school. A collection of texts that positively represent LGBTQ+ characters and historical figures is critical for any school to be an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students and those with LGBTQ+ family members.
In fall 2021, GLSEN will send LGBTQ+ affirming text sets to 60 schools and libraries across New Mexico - for free.
Any full-time staff member at a New Mexico K-12 school or public library was welcome to request a Rainbow Library. All types of K-12 schools were eligible: district, magnet, charter, and independent. At this point we have over 60 libraries on the list and are giving precedence to only adding rural schools.
As Librarian Samantha Warren was told by a student:
“I like being able to see myself in a character in a book. A lot of time during school, I feel a little bit isolated and there’s not a lot of things that I can relate to, but I feel I can when reading these types of books.”
GLSEN Albuquerque is a grassroots initiative, working locally in our community to ensure safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Our chapter supports students and educators locally, organizes around LGBTQ+-affirming public policy, plans teacher trainings, and hosts events for students, educators, parents, and allies. Chapters like ours play an important role in bringing GLSEN’s programs and visions to right where we live, work, and learn. While some chapters have full-time or part-time staff, most are entirely volunteer-based. We're always looking for new volunteers to help us ensure safe schools for all students.
With funding from the New Mexico Department of School and Adolescent Health, GLSEN Albuquerque is currently working with community partners to create TQA Pride, A Virtual Trans Queer Ally Youth and Educator Summit for June 9th. In addition, we have launched a Rainbow Library Project. The Project is an initiative that sends LGBTQ+ affirming K-12 text sets to school and community libraries across the state for free.
According to the 2019 GLSEN New Mexico School Climate survey, less than half of New Mexico students say they have access to LGBTQ+-related library resources at school. And just 28% of New Mexico students say they were taught positive representations of LGBTQ+ people, history, or events at school. A collection of texts that positively represent LGBTQ+ characters and historical figures is critical for any school to be an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students and those with LGBTQ+ family members.
In fall 2021, GLSEN will send LGBTQ+ affirming text sets to 60 schools and libraries across New Mexico - for free.
Any full-time staff member at a New Mexico K-12 school or public library was welcome to request a Rainbow Library. All types of K-12 schools were eligible: district, magnet, charter, and independent. At this point we have over 60 libraries on the list and are giving precedence to only adding rural schools.
As Librarian Samantha Warren was told by a student:
“I like being able to see myself in a character in a book. A lot of time during school, I feel a little bit isolated and there’s not a lot of things that I can relate to, but I feel I can when reading these types of books.”