Families of all backgrounds gathered to celebrate the launch of a first-of-its-kind book from author Jerome Pohlen, Gay & Lesbian History for Kids: The Century Long Struggle for LGBT Rights, recently at Open Books in the West Loop.
Pohlen's (Chicago Review Press senior editor, author of "Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities and Thought Experiments"—a 2013 VOYA Nonfiction Honor List Selection, engineer and former elementary school science teacher) book is geared for kids ages nine and up and is one of about 60 For Kids series of books titles produced by Chicago Review Press.
The book chronicles important moments in LGBT history, including local stories such as Henry Gerber's founding of the Society for Human Rights and couple Mercedes Santos and Theresa Volpe's experience dealing with uncooperative hospital personnel in 2011 as well as stories of people and events beginning in the ancient worlds of Greece and China to the present day.
Twenty-one activities and a resource section with information about other books to read, movies to see and places to visit (including Chicago's Gerber/Hart Library & Archives and The Legacy Walk on Halsted Street) are also included in the book.
The event featured a presentation by Pohlen and a design a flag activity for the kids.
Pohlen's presentation included important moments in LGBT history prior to the Stonewall Riot and the people who spearheaded them. He spoke about Radclyffe Hall and "The Well of Loneliness," the Lavender Scare, the formation of the Mattachine Society, the ensuing federal investigation and court battles surrounding the publication of the LGBT magazine One, Frank Kameny's various activist activities and the formation of the Daughters of Bilitis by Barbara Gittings.
"I wrote this book because I believe that children today need an understanding of how the LGBTQ rights movement started, how it grew into today's activism, that it didn't just pop up a few years ago with the push for marriage equality," said Pohlen. "I believe that all children, not just LGBTQ youth, can draw life lessons from the struggles of early queer pioneers, lessons about honesty, hard work, determination and bravery in the face of incredible odds."
Chicago Review Press, Open Books and Windy City Times co-hosted the afternoon event.
The book is available wherever books are sold. For more information, visit www.chicagoreviewpress.com/gay& .
