
GLSEN's Rainbow Library
The Rainbow Library is a GLSEN program that centers intersectional literacy and learning. The program includes diverse book lists for grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, lesson plans, resources for inclusive literary learning, and more. Starting as a local project by a GLSEN Chapter, the initiative has since moved into a national program that has reached over 6 million students nationwide and spans across 32 states.
At GLSEN, we believe representation matters deeply. Fewer than 1 in 5 students report ever being taught positive representations of LGBTQ+ people, history, or events in school. Programs like the Rainbow Library help fill those gaps—giving young learners both mirrors to see their own experiences and windows into the lives of others, fostering belonging, empathy, and possibility.
Explore more about the Rainbow Library below and share with a peer to help us Rise Up and ensure all students feel seen and heard in schools today.
ABOUT THE RAINBOW LIBRARY:
According to GLSEN’s 2021 National School Climate Survey, 68% of LGBTQ+ students reported hearing anti-LGBTQ+ remarks often or frequently at school. Less than half of students said they had access to LGBTQ+ inclusive resources at their school library and less than 1 in 5 students said that they were taught an LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum.
Incorporating these texts into your classroom or school library can help turn the course for LGBTQ+ young people. Reading LGBTQ+ affirming texts, and leading conversations with students about these texts can dismantle harmful stereotypes among all students, and among LGBTQ+ youth, prompt deeper self-understanding, affirm their self-worth, and reinforce that they are valued community members. This program can also improve the academic performance of LGBTQ+ readers because they will see themselves in literature, history, and more, and spark them to engage more deeply with these subjects.
LGBTQ+ affirming books, and especially, lessons that are strengthened with LGBTQ+ content, have positive impacts for LGBTQ+ students. According to GLSEN’s 2021 National School Climate Survey, LGBTQ+ students at schools with LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum (which include LGBTQ+ inclusive books) are less likely to feel unsafe because of their sexual orientation and gender expression, have higher self-esteem and lower levels of depression, and have higher GPAs.
Book Placement and Labeling: We encourage you to showcase these books for readers. Our long-term recommendation, however, is to incorporate these books into your classroom or school library’s existing book collection, under the same organizational system that applies to other texts. We recommend against adding any additional sticker to the exterior of the book marking it as an LGBTQ+ affirming text. This is because it may not be safe for many young readers to display to others (such as peers or family members) that they are reading an LGBTQ+ affirming book. If you have a digital catalog for your books, we do encourage you to add a keyword tag for these books in your online system (“LGBTQ+ affirming” can be the tag), so readers can easily find them when searching.