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I recently had the pleasure of talking to a member of our LGBTQ+ Christian community who has a very unique story. I’m grateful for their permission to share an abridged version of our conversation with you here on this blog, just in time for Intersex Awareness Day this Saturday. I hope you benefit as much as I did from our conversation… Thanks for sharing your story with me. Please introduce yourself to our readers. I’m 83 years old, and I live in Ontario. I was raised Baptis

On the first Wednesday of the month, we publish blog posts written by members of our Generous Space Community. This piece was written by an anonymous member of the community. We share this difficult story to continue to emphasize the need to put an end to conversion therapy (sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts – SOGICE). For more information, see our Pastors Stopping the Harm campaign page. ————– I cannot imagine how anyone not a victim of conversion thera

On the first Wednesday of the month, we publish blog posts written by members of our Generous Space Community. This creative writing piece was written by Archie Zhang, who (until a recent move to Montreal) was a member of our St. Catharines Generous Space Group. ***content warning: brief reference to rape and drugs*** When they ask you a question, you should know the answer. It’s a simple question. Just tell them what they want to hear. Tell you what you want to hear. What d

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Happy Families Tanita S. Davis Teenage twins Ysabel and Justin are both given a chance to tell their stories as they process and come to terms with their father’s coming out as a trans-woman. Not only is this a rare depiction of queer parenthood in youth/YA fiction, it is sensitive written with a wide range of readers in mind. In addition to tackling a unique theme, it does so with an African-American family at the forefront of the narrativ

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] None of the Above I.W. Gregorio None of the Above is a wonderful novel written about a teenager who discovers she’s intersex in her final year of high school, and the fallout that comes with being unwillingly outed to her school. Throughout the story, the reader gets a glimpse into Krissy’s processing of what this means for her gender and her identity, but also gives space for a few other intersex experiences as well. Gregorio is not only a

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Juliet Takes a Breath Gabby Rivera Juliet is one of my all-time favourite queer characters in fiction. After coming out to her Puerto Rican family, Juliet embarks on adventure away from her home in the Bronx to intern with her favourite lesbian and feminist author, Harlowe Brisbane, in Portland. Juliet comes face-to-face with the humanity of her mentor, the challenges of long-distance communication, and the intersections between gender, sex

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] What Makes a Baby Written by Cory Silverberg Illustrated by Fiona Smyth 36 Pages A kid-friendly educational resource that describes the basic biology of reproduction while also being inclusive of diverse family structures and stories. The book’s illustrations are bright and charming, drawing readers of every age into the narrative. What Makes a Baby has proven to be a super helpful aid when having this necessary conversation with children.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Beautiful Music for Ugly Children Kirsten Cronn-Mills Gabe is a trans man in his last year of High School who finds a place on a Community Radio show to live out his true identity, or “play his B-side” as the teenage boy he is on the inside. The story has a tendency to focus on the extremes of the trans experience, but aside from that, the character of Gabe feels like a real teenager who is easy to fall in love with. Music fans might especi

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] It’s Okay To Be Different Written and illustrated by Todd Parr 32 Pages With few words and bold colours, this author/illustrator masterfully and playfully celebrates difference and diveristy. From the sensitive (“It’s okay to be adopted”, accompanied with an illustration of a puppy in her pouch) to the silly (“It’s okay to eat macaroni and cheese in the bathtub”), every reader is affirmed. A heart-warming and fun read. Parr’s signature styl

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] My Princess Boy Written by Cheryl Kilodavis Illustrated by Suzanne DeSimone 36 Pages Dyson is a princess boy:  he loves pink, sparkly things, dressing up and doing all things “girl.” Thankfully he has a family that loves him unconditionally, helps him feel confident in his decisions, and teaches him to believe in himself. Of course this does not mean Dyson has an easy life, and that is why author Cheryl Kilodavis decided to write this book.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Worm Loves Worm Written by J.J Austrian Illustrated by Mike Curato 32 Pages As with many love stories, this one leads to marriage. Since they are worms and their gender is unclear, all their friends want to know is, who will wear the wedding dress? In the end they each wear parts of each other’s outfits, and teach everyone that relationships are about love, not what you wear. This beautifully illustrated story will have readers wanted to tu

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Oliver Button is a Sissy Written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola 48 Pages Why didn’t Oliver just do what other boys did? Instead Oliver prefers playing with paper dolls, spending time in the attic putting on costumes, singing and dancing, and playing make-believe. The result:  Oliver gets teased and bullied. Even his father doesn’t understand his choices and thinks he should do more “boy things.” Oliver Button Is a Sissy is a classic and h

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] I Am Jazz Written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings Illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas Jazz describes herself as having a girl’s brain in a boy’s body. Her favourite colour is pink, she loves dressing like a mermaid, and is not interested in typical boy activities. Her parents soon discovered that Jazz was born transgender. This is not easy to navigate growing up, but this is who Jazz is. This book is her story. This is an important book

Two articles by New Direction staff members were published in the February edition of the Christian Educators Journal.  We wanted to reprint the articles here for those who haven’t had an opportunity to review the journal. The first article can be found here.  The second, by Wendy Gritter, raises some of the unique realities our gender non-conforming youth may experience in school. What role ought teachers and the school community play when a student expresses significant gen