By Jenna Birdwell, Staff Reporter
In Majesty Allex’s story of “The Red Raccoon,” the title character goes on a journey of self-discovery about their identity. The story starts with a red panda who begins to question themself: “What if I want to be a raccoon and not a panda?”
Even though “The Red Raccoon” is not a published children’s book, Allex said the significance of creating the character is to counteract the lack of representation of queer characters in the literature they read growing up.
“You may feel uncomfortable being in your own skin because you don’t see the other different ways that your gender identity was expressed,” said Allex, the community advocate for the Queer Culture & Resource Center (QCRC).
To close out Queer History Month, the QCRC hosted the intimate event, “Queer Tales and Magic Markers”. Vanya Hollis, a high school teacher librarian, spoke at the event and invited toros to “heal their inner child” and write a story they wished was available for them to read when they were a child or young adult.
Before attendees started creating their stories, Hollis described the history of book bans which involves the prohibition of specific books from being accessed. They worry censorship in libraries is “detrimental” to young learners.
“Frankly, a lot of young people don’t feel accepted in their home environment,” said Hollis. “So when they go to school or the public library, being able to see themselves reflected, that gives them sort of the sense of hope and that they can feel resilient to get through childhood and adolescence.”
The American Library Association (ALA) releases a report every year outlining the most challenged books in the U.S. In 2023, the ALA reported that 70 percent of those books faced challenges over their LGBTQ content.
In September 2023, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that prohibited public libraries and schools from removing books off the shelves. Even though Hollis hasn’t personally had issues in their library because of the bill, they still worry their students won’t have access to books in the future.
Freshman child development student Osiris Brindis made sure her book touched on LGBTQ issues, as well as themes related Latinx culture and disability.
“[My brother] was born with epilepsy and many people don’t understand what it’s like to be a family that has a special needs child,” Brindis said. “Many people tend to interpret or stereotype us the Latino community, a lot with being hard working people – which we are – but mostly, ‘it’s all about work, work, work,’ and nothing about family.”
Brindis was among the workshop attendees who were shocked to learn that some of their favorite childhood books were included on the ALA’s list.
“It’s so highly disrespectful to the [LGBTQ] community because you’re just taking away their voices, taking away their ideas and taking away their visions,” said Osiris Brindis, a freshman majoring in child development.
