Post by Ayla on Apr 7, 2016 14:40:50 GMT 8
www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/06/jeff-kinney-authors-protesting-north-carolina-anti-lgbt-law-hb2-daniel-handler-patrick-ness
Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney, Lemony Snicket creator Daniel Handler and The Fault in Our Stars writer John Green are among the 269 children’s authors who have put their name to an open letter calling for the immediate repeal of a “hateful piece of legislation” in North Carolina.
As rights groups and companies including PayPal, Google and Bank of America denounce North Carolina’s HB2 law, which requires bathrooms and locker rooms in public schools, government agencies and public college campuses to be used only by people based on the biological sex listed on their birth certificate, hundreds of writers came together to tell their North Carolina readers that “we cannot and will not support a state government that promotes discrimination”.
Put together by the authors Phil Bildner, C Alexander London, Meg Medina and RJ Palacio, the letter includes among its signatories some of children’s literature’s biggest names, including Patrick Ness, Veronica Roth, Meg Cabot and Cassandra Clare.
“[We] are disappointed and angered by the reprehensible legislation that Governor [Pat] McCrory signed into law, eliminating anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. This law undermines our core values of mutual respect and dignity for all. We want to tell all of you, our readers, in no uncertain terms, that you are wonderful just as you are,” say the writers to their readers. “Now more than ever, we stand with you. With all of you. We will continue to stand with you, to stand for you, and to speak out on your behalf against laws and lawmakers that would deprive you of your rights.”
Ness, a two-time winner of the Carnegie medal, told the Guardian that “the main truth of the best YA [writing] is ‘you’re not alone’… It’s lots of other wonderful, challenging things, too, but the way it works to expand the world is a kind of moral magic to me. Which is the exact opposite of what the North Carolina law does. The letter, primarily, is a chance to remind any young LGBT person in North Carolina that, even if the government is trying to shrink your world, there are a hell of a lot of people who are going to keep working against that.”
The signatories, who also include Newbery medallist Matt de la Peña and National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson, say that they will “have to consider” participating in conferences and festivals in North Carolina while the law is in place.
However, the writers add that they will continue to visit schools and libraries. “We will spread kindness and inspire compassion and hope, as we believe books, in their best moments, always have and always will. Like so many others, we call for the immediate repeal of this hateful piece of legislation. As even the youngest among you recognise, a law that promotes, enables, or encourages discrimination of any kind is wrong.”
Palacio, who originally came up with the idea for the letter, told School Library Journal in the US: “I generally avoid talking about politics publicly, but this legislation isn’t about politics. It’s about human rights. If one person’s human rights are violated, every human’s rights are violated.”
Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney, Lemony Snicket creator Daniel Handler and The Fault in Our Stars writer John Green are among the 269 children’s authors who have put their name to an open letter calling for the immediate repeal of a “hateful piece of legislation” in North Carolina.
As rights groups and companies including PayPal, Google and Bank of America denounce North Carolina’s HB2 law, which requires bathrooms and locker rooms in public schools, government agencies and public college campuses to be used only by people based on the biological sex listed on their birth certificate, hundreds of writers came together to tell their North Carolina readers that “we cannot and will not support a state government that promotes discrimination”.
Put together by the authors Phil Bildner, C Alexander London, Meg Medina and RJ Palacio, the letter includes among its signatories some of children’s literature’s biggest names, including Patrick Ness, Veronica Roth, Meg Cabot and Cassandra Clare.
“[We] are disappointed and angered by the reprehensible legislation that Governor [Pat] McCrory signed into law, eliminating anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. This law undermines our core values of mutual respect and dignity for all. We want to tell all of you, our readers, in no uncertain terms, that you are wonderful just as you are,” say the writers to their readers. “Now more than ever, we stand with you. With all of you. We will continue to stand with you, to stand for you, and to speak out on your behalf against laws and lawmakers that would deprive you of your rights.”
Ness, a two-time winner of the Carnegie medal, told the Guardian that “the main truth of the best YA [writing] is ‘you’re not alone’… It’s lots of other wonderful, challenging things, too, but the way it works to expand the world is a kind of moral magic to me. Which is the exact opposite of what the North Carolina law does. The letter, primarily, is a chance to remind any young LGBT person in North Carolina that, even if the government is trying to shrink your world, there are a hell of a lot of people who are going to keep working against that.”
The signatories, who also include Newbery medallist Matt de la Peña and National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson, say that they will “have to consider” participating in conferences and festivals in North Carolina while the law is in place.
However, the writers add that they will continue to visit schools and libraries. “We will spread kindness and inspire compassion and hope, as we believe books, in their best moments, always have and always will. Like so many others, we call for the immediate repeal of this hateful piece of legislation. As even the youngest among you recognise, a law that promotes, enables, or encourages discrimination of any kind is wrong.”
Palacio, who originally came up with the idea for the letter, told School Library Journal in the US: “I generally avoid talking about politics publicly, but this legislation isn’t about politics. It’s about human rights. If one person’s human rights are violated, every human’s rights are violated.”