op-ed
Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD.
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November 11, 2004

In the children's story Cinderella, two adults act on their heterosexual attraction to one another, kiss and get married. It's one of many stories with such plots told to pre-schoolers and kindergartners across America.

To date, no one claims the stories seduce children into heterosexual behavior. The idea Cinderella would sexualize children seems so foolish. But when a fairy godfather in the book "Am I Blue?" helps a boy figure out whether he ever wants to go that far with a girl, foolishness becomes a relative state of mind.

Protheroe's class read "Am I Blue?," a short, fictional story by Bruce Coville that explores a boy's confusion with his sexual identity and the gay fairy godfather who helps him realize he is not alone. The story, "In the Time I Get," by Chris Crutcher, is about a teenager who befriends a man dying of AIDS and must face his bigotry. The material has been used off and on for the past five years but never was formally challenged in the district.

Seven parents filed complaints last month, saying Protheroe and the district failed to notify them about the stories, which they consider unsuitable for middle-school students. They say the stories promote gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender themes and use bigoted or racist slang.
[Solon board OKs gay material - Iowa City Press-Citizen - 11-11-04]