• About
  • Join / Donate
  • Contact
Thursday, November 30, 2023
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
The Brief
NB MEDIA CO-OP
Share a story
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
No Result
View All Result
NB MEDIA CO-OP
No Result
View All Result
Home Education

Fredericton high school student collecting books on LGBT themes for school library

by Marie-Christine Allard
May 5, 2011
Reading Time: 2min read
Fredericton high school student collecting books on LGBT themes for school library

Leo Hayes High School student, Chantal Plourde, is collecting books by and about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) people for her school library. Photo by Chantal Plourde.

The NB Media Co-op’s Marie-Christine Allard interviews Chantal Plourde, a high school student at Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton, about her project collecting books by and about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) people.

Marie-Christine Allard: When did you get the idea for your book project?

Chantal Plourde: It started in my World Issues class. I had to do a major project on something that benefits the community. I came up with idea to put LGBT books into high school libraries. My Mom came up with the name – Literature Gives Belonging to Youth (LGBT).

MCA: Why did you think this project was important?

CP: Books are still very important in our lives. Books help people figure themselves out. I think it’s important for teens to read about LGBT issues, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. Because our community isn’t represented very much in libraries, I thought it would help.

MCA: How have people responded to the project?

CP: So far it’s all been positive. A group called Queer Theory Collective in Fredericton has been very supportive. I learned that Fredericton is a lot more supportive than I thought. The librarian [at my school] was very helpful! The librarian decorated everything purple during purple day [a day in support of LGBT teens].

MCA: How did you get the word out?

CP: I started to tell people about it and made an Amazon wish list with over 100 books on it. I also organized a jelly bean jar competition and raised $60. I raised $215 to buy books. I worked with Youth Pride last year. They had raised money that was never used, so they agreed to give money to the project. A lot of people donated $20. I announced it at school and sold tickets at lunch.

bookslgbt
Books gathered for the Literature Gives Belonging to Youth (LGBT). Photo: Chantal Plourde.

MCA: What is next for your project?

CP: I’m hoping to do a benefit concert and coffee house for the last push. After that, I will give the books to the library. I want to keep going with the project and give books to other high schools and middle schools – and then maybe even the public library. Hopefully, I can make it into an organization and have other groups doing the same in their own high schools.

MCA: How can people contribute to the project?

CP: People can contribute by spreading the word about how important LGBT literature is to teens. Sometimes, books are the only things that these teenagers can relate to; when their parents or friends may not understand. I’m also going to a New Brunswick Teachers’ Association conference on May 6th. I will be sharing my project with the teachers. Hopefully, some of the teachers will start their own LGBT Youth Project in their own schools; making the project go province wide. Bringing awareness and supporting LGBT people and their allies is the best thing people can do.

To contact Chantal about the book project, email lgbtyouthproject@gmail.com.

Marie-Christine Allard is a member of the NB Media Co-op.

Tags: Chantal PlourdeLeo HayesLGBTQMarie-Christine Allard
ShareTweetSend

Related Posts

Protesters hold signs which say, "Take back the night."
Education

STATEMENT: Support against changes to Policy 713

September 26, 2023

On behalf of the executive of the University Women’s Centre, we are voicing our full support to the movement against...

A person applies makeup in dramatic lighting.
Canada

COMMENTARY: Trans-exclusionary movement is the new gateway to fascism, racist ideologies

August 11, 2023

Editor’s note: The following text is based on remarks delivered at Fierté Fredericton Pride’s anti-fascism panel discussion on July 16, 2023....

“Clinic 554 is an ode to all of us rebels”: Fredericton Pride Grand Marshal
*Opinion*

“Clinic 554 is an ode to all of us rebels”: Fredericton Pride Grand Marshal

August 22, 2019

Happy Pride! Thank you to the generous Wəlastəkewiyik, Mi’kmaw and Passamaquoddy peoples for sharing their home and native land with...

Pink Lobster LGBTQIA+ Film Festival launches
Culture

Pink Lobster LGBTQIA+ Film Festival launches

January 30, 2017

This month, Fredericton becomes home to a new LGBTQIA+ film festival, the Pink Lobster Film Festival, featuring films from around...

Load More

Recommended

CUPE warns other unions not to trust New Brunswick premier

CUPE warns other unions not to trust New Brunswick premier

1 day ago
Céleste Godin.

SCANDALE LITTÉRAIRE EN ACADIE [commentaire]

3 days ago
A drawing with faces with big teeth and eyes, surrounded by swirls of orange and pink, numbers, and letters.

‘I would like them to wonder’: Drawings of schizophrenia

3 days ago
Chalk River Laboratories.

The ethical dilemma of nuclear power [commentary]

6 days ago

NB Media Co-op

NB Media Co-op

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Join / Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • Calendar
  • Archives

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Join / Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • COVID-19
  • Videos
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Arts & Culture
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Politics
  • Rural

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In