RAINBOW RUMPUS

Kids and teens with same-sex parents live in 96% of U.S. counties. Sadly, these young people find very few images of their lives and families reflected in books and media, which can lead to a tremendous sense of isolation. For example, there are only 40 picture books in print with any mention of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)-headed families. This lack of media also deprives LGBT parents of the critical resources they need to support and protect their kids in an often hostile world.

Your gift is critical to help Rainbow Rumpus change this reality. Rainbow Rumpus and our new sister site for teens, Rainbow Riot, are the world’s only online literary magazines for youth with LGBT parents. Our stories and articles help to end the isolation these young people experience.

Kids, teens, parents, and teachers go searching for stories about LGBT-headed families every day.

Thanks to your support, in the past year Rainbow Rumpus has empowered hundreds of young readers by:

• Publishing 19 stories and comics about LGBT-headed families, more than all other English language publishers combined.
• Enabling 22 kids and teens to share their stories about growing up in LGBT-headed families with other youth from across the country, six more than we worked with last year.
• Beginning to lead workshops for parents and teachers that help them empower youth and create welcoming classroom climates.
• Adding three new titles to our innovative printable-picture book series and expanding marketing of the series. Average monthly downloads have risen by 33% over the past year.

Reading about families like theirs makes a tremendous difference for kids and teens. Rainbow Rumpus titles are often the first LGBT family fiction books most families are able to get, and our site has been the first place they’ve read about other kids with shared experiences.

“Living in the Bible Belt, it is terribly difficult to find books for our children. Borders Bookstore won't carry them. Your books give us a chance to show them that others share the same lifestyle. Our kids love your site.”

Your gifts are what enable us to create our safe, welcoming, and empowering community for kids and teens from around the country. Our pages bring together high profile young adults like Zach Wahls, who became famous when he spoke out in favor of same-sex marriage in Iowa and talked about his experiences growing up with two moms, and with young kids like Mikaela, who has traveled with her moms all over North America. Kids and teens love reading profiles of each other, as well as the professionally written fiction and comics we publish. The importance of this work can be seen in a teen’s words:

“I am absolutely thrilled to be receiving your email about Rainbow Riot! I think that your online magazine is marvelous, and I'd be honored to contribute as much as I possibly can!” Kayla, a teen recently contacted by one of our Riot staff writers.

Rainbow Rumpus is a lean organization. One staff person, a part-time fiction editor, and over thirty volunteers make our publication and outreach possible. There are few places you can give so little with so large an impact. $100 creates a new piece of LGBT-family fiction and makes you one of our major donors. With kids and teens unable to access stories like the ones we publish anywhere else, your support is vital to ensure these young people thrive.

To meet the demand for our stories, we need to raise $5,500 by year end. As a Rainbow Rumpus donor, you join award-winning authors Marion Dane Bauer, Nancy Garden, Gregory Maguire, and Jacqueline Woodson in supporting our work. With your gift, we can ensure that every kid and teen with LGBT parents gets to read stories about families like theirs and be part of a safe, welcoming, and empowering community. On behalf of the kids and teens we serve, thank you for your generosity.

P.S. An easy way to help create community for youth in LGBT-headed homes is by becoming a sustaining monthly donor. Just click on the “Donate Now” button above.