ReadProudListenProud.com Relaunches with Jazz Jennings as Author Ambassador
Listening Library, Penguin Young Readers and Random House Children’s Books are celebrating Pride Month with a newly redesigned ReadProudListenProud.com, an online resource for LGBTQ literature recommendations designed to spark discussion in the classroom and at home and to encourage understanding through storytelling, celebrating everyone for who they are.
Teen transgender rights advocate Jazz Jennings has been named the second Read Proud Listen Proud Author Ambassador. Jennings follows STONEWALL author Ann Bausum and narrator Tim Federle, who kicked off the awareness initiative last year. Jennings is a role model for fellow LGBTQ teens, speaking out for equality and acceptance via her groundbreaking TV series, I Am Jazz (the second season premieres on TLC June 8), TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation, picture book I AM JAZZ, and memoir BEING JAZZ: MY LIFE AS A (TRANSGENDER) TEEN (on sale June 7). Time named Jennings one of the most influential teens of 2014 and 2015, and I Am Jazz was recently recognized alongside I Am Caitas Outstanding Reality Program at the 2016 GLAAD Media Awards.
The redesigned site includes new features like an interview with Jazz in the recording studio, additional reading and listening recommendations (now including LGBTQ titles from Random House Children’s Books), and plenty of new content and resources from authors like Donna Gephardt, Jazz Jennings, Justin Sayre and C. Alexander London. Buzz surrounding the site is continuing to grow, particularly from the YA blogger and library communities.
In anticipation and celebration of the relaunch and Pride Month, the Listening Library team gave out 800 rainbow sunglasses and sponsored a rainbow tote beach read giveaway at BookCon (round two coming up at ALA Annual in Orlando), and with the help of TLC, will distribute hundreds more sunglasses at the DC & NYC Pride Parades this month.
Please help spread the word by sharing the site URL using #readproudlistenproud!