Teenager Delivers Books on LGBT Themes

Brava to San Francisco Bay Area teenager Amelia Roskin-Frazee, who at age 15 is the organizer of the Make It Safe Project; she donates and delivers boxes of carefully chosen fiction and nonfiction books on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) themes to schools and youth homeless shelters. Amelia remembers when she herself could not find such information in her school library and, as quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle (8/25/12), says “When there are no books with LGBT characters, it gives LGBT (and questioning) kids the message that it’s not normal, that nobody else is like them, that something is wrong with them. And that’s a really dangerous thing.” The Chronicle article goes on to point out that “nonfiction books are also crucial for basic sex education as well as advice on how to come out in a positive way.” I am sure that it took courage for Amelia to embark on this important work, and I truly admire her for it.