After a controversial book promoting homosexuality to children was discovered by a Tennerton Elementry student, two additional LGBT children’s books have been found in the Upshur County Public Library. In Our Mothers’ House and Julian is a Mermaid are both books that focus on LGBT issues. In Our Mother’s House specifically attempts to normalize homosexual relationships to children, while Julian is a Mermaid introduces young readers to cross-dressing and potentially inspires gender dysphoria.
Last week, two parents were reviewing the selection of books that their child brought home from the Upshur County Public Library. They were surprised to discover that one of the books was about a lesbian couple and includes a passage attempting to demean anyone who opposes homosexuality. In Our Mothers’ House was published in 2009 and authored by Patricia Polacco. The book portrays two lesbian mothers (who adopted three children) and berates critics of same-sex relationships. The book uses blatant innuendo to attack followers of Christianity, portraying such believers as being bigoted and afraid of “what [they] cannot understand.”
The description for In Our Mothers’ House reads:
Marmee, Meema, and the kids are just like any other family on the block. In their beautiful house, they cook dinner together, they laugh together, and they dance together. But some of the other families don’t accept them. They say they are different. How can a family have two moms and no dad? But Marmee and Meema’s house is full of love. And they teach their children that different doesn’t mean wrong. And no matter how many moms or dads they have, they are everything a family is meant to be.
One of the more direct passages in the book states:
At the end of the day, when everyone was cleaning up and getting ready to sit in our backyard and just talk, Meema looked up to see Mrs. Lockner coming down the street. The Lockners had been invited but hadn’t come. She planted her feet squarely in front of our mothers.
“I don’t appreciate what you two are!” she snarled at Meema and Marmee.
Will and Millie came running up. I froze where I was. Mrs. Lockner wheeled and stalked off.
“What’s the matter with her Momma, what’s the matter with her?” Millie kept saying.
All of the neighbors closed in on us.
“She’s full of fear, sweetie. She’s afraid of what she cannot understand: she doesn’t understand us,” Meema quietly said.
“There seems to be no love in her heart, either,” whispered Marmee.
The neighbors agreed—the Mardicians, the Polos, the Yamagakis, the Kiernans, the Goldsteins, the Abdullas, everybody—and one by one they hugged our mothers.
Julian is a Mermaid was published in 2018 and authored by Jessica Love. The book description reads:
In an exuberant picture book, a glimpse of costumed mermaids leaves one boy flooded with wonder and ready to dazzle the world.
While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself?
The book then illustrates the boy, Julian, removing his clothes, putting on lipstick and a pearl necklace.
In an interview with PinkNews, Love expressed that she wrote the book over the course of five years, “after realizing that there was a limited number of books about queergender kids.”
“I have a friend who is trans, but he didn’t transition until much much later in life,” Love told PinkNews. “He was in his 50s when he finally was able to live like a man, and that was the result of some pushback when he was younger.”
Love expressed that her friend who identifies as transgender inspired Julian is a Mermaid.
“Talking to him and thinking about his journey got me curious about what kind of literature there is out there for kids who might be asking themselves these questions, and I started reading blogs of families who had children who were questioning their gender,” Love expressed.
Additionally, Love stated that the theme was inspired by “watching RuPaul’s Drag Race and thinking a lot about costumes and what a profound thing playing dress-up actually is, and how to tell a story in which that particular magic is quietly celebrated.”
Love also admitted to PinkNews that she wrote the book as “propaganda” directed at children. She justifies her use of “propaganda” due to “trans-rights” being attacked by President Donald Trump “since he came into power in 2017.” Specifically, she takes issue with President Trump requiring government agencies to treat people based on their “biological sex.”
“It feels pretty bleak here right now,” Love said, “and I don’t know the extent to which art can be effective propaganda or change anybody’s mind. I made the book in the spirit of a little comfort station by the side of the road, for people who are walking that incredibly difficult and demanding road. A little place to rest your heart for a minute in a parallel, gentler universe.”
Love stated that she wants ‘transgender’ children to embrace their desired gender identity and know that “you’re loved. You’re beautiful. You are loved.”
Upshur County Public Library Director Paul Norko was unavailable for public comment.