Some of us are more familiar with Pride Month--and more comfortable talking about it--than others, so we put together some helpful tips for having conversations with kids about what it means to be LGBTQ+* during June and beyond.  

Read Up 

Dive into the historical significance of the Pride Movement and Stonewall Rebellion in June 1969, and learn about the meaning of the Pride flag. For a kid-friendly history to read and talk about together, check out Stonewall: a Building, a History by Rob Sanders, with illustrations by Jamey Christoph. Check out recommended fiction featuring LGBTQ+ characters, or memoirs written by LGBTQ+ writers. Curious about how to use they/them pronouns? There’s a graphic novel guide for you! Browse the reading lists below for more titles that may interest your family.    

Listen to (and Learn from) Queer Voices

There are also excellent resources online to help parents and caregivers explore Pride and LGBTQ+ identity openly and honestly with kids. Our favorite is the Queer Kids Stuff Youtube series from LGBTQ+ activist Lindsay Amer, the self-described “Queer Mr. Rogers.” We love how this series (with multiple seasons of episodes!) explores topics like gender identity and how to be a good ally.  

Celebrate! 

Portland Pride Waterfront Festival is happening in July this year!   Featuring the Pride Parade, live performances on multiple stages, plus lots of activities, food, and community spaces.

For this year's Trans Day of Visibility, Q Center hosted an art contest for young trans artists to design their 2023 mascot!  Vote for your favorite piece by June 1!

Support LGBTQ+ Youth

Youth who identify as LGBTQ+ benefit from a supportive network of family, friends, and peers. Check out We <3 LGBTQ+ Kids and Teens! for some organizations and resources that can help provide that support.

This article is part of our “Talking with kids” series, as featured in our monthly family newsletter. Reach out to us at learning@multcolib.org if you need more support or have questions. We’re here for you!

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*LGBTQ+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning. The + is meant to include all gender identities and sexual orientations not covered by the other letters. Read What Does LGBTQ+ Mean? for more information.