by Laura Matanah
Two thousand eight has been a year of profound change economically, technologically, and politically. In the midst of it all, Rainbow Rumpus has continued to bring forth the voices of youth in LGBT-headed families.
Rainbow Rumpus is still the most prolific publisher of English-language LGBT family fiction worldwide. Both in the United States, where youth with same-sex parents live in 96 percent of counties, and worldwide, isolation is frequently an issue. Our site is one of the first that youth come across when they search for other families like theirs. Deciding when and how to come out is another issue youth in our families are constantly dealing with, no matter where they live.
Here’s advice from our “Ask a Kid” section sent by a child from Texas to a child in Minnesota struggling about how “out” to be in middle school:
I have two gay moms and I was sooooo scared that all people would do is make fun of me when really I was being a little over dramatic. When I really told some of my friends they didn’t really care and my teacher knows and thinks that is sooooooo wonderful for two people that love each other not to care what other people think. . . . Hope this helped!!! GOOD LUCK
Our bulletin boards and the literature we create provide both affirmation and ways for youth to get involved—by sharing their thoughts, their writing, or their artwork or by having a voice in the political process.
Posters featuring youth from LGBT-headed homes and information about Rainbow Rumpus were distributed to a pilot group of children’s libraries this November. Our Young Adult team has been transforming our Facebook page, bringing in lots of great youth energy. Our volunteer pool continues to spread both nationally and internationally, with folks joining us from Oklahoma, Delaware, and Liberia. We also spent time with youth in La Crosse, Wisconsin; Mankato, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, Minnesota; and the Duluth, Minnesota/Superior, Wisconsin, areas this year, much to our delight.
To keep up with our growth we have been developing communication, financial, and planning systems. A new server and computer network has enabled us to back up all of the work our geographically dispersed volunteers create on a weekly basis, and store it off-site to be backed up in case of emergency. This year we developed a privacy policy and began the process of trademarking our name and logo. We have been pleased to welcome many skilled new board members this year and look forward to beginning a strategic planning process in 2009.
Our site itself will soon become easier to read and navigate, thanks to the implementation of a new content management system designed by a volunteer. Our readers, volunteers, and donors are the heart of Rainbow Rumpus. Thank you for your participation. If you haven’t yet made a gift to support this community, please consider making one today.
Thank you for your involvement with Rainbow Rumpus. All the best for 2009 to you and your family.
Finishing 2008 with a Rumpus
