Yes, I think the principles are important. Silence is not so great when you are using it to ignore or exclude.īut that’s all macro, ‘big picture’ stuff. People all over the political spectrum often ask me, “Why can’t you just stay silent on these issues? Just don’t include LGBTQ material and everybody will be happy.” This assumes that silence is the natural neutral position. I will do whatever I can to understand and accurately include you in my stories, in my world. Your life experience may not be like mine, but it is no less valid and no less real. It’s important that I, as a mainstream author, say, “I see you. They actively lobby to see characters like themselves in my books. I know this because my non-heteronormative readers tell me so. You didn’t do a terrible job!” I thought: Yes! Not doing a terrible job was my goal!Īs important as it is to offer authentic voices and empower authors and role models from within LGBTQ community, it’s is also important that LGBTQ kids see themselves reflected and valued in the larger world of mass media, including my books. As one of my genderqueer readers told me recently, “Hey, thanks for Alex. I can only accept the Stonewall Award in the sense that I accept a call to action – firstly, to do more myself to read and promote books by LGBTQ authors.īut also, it’s a call to do better in my own writing.

The Stonewall committee’s work is a critical part of that effort. I think, to support young LGBTQ readers, the most important thing publishing can do is to publish and promote more stories by LGBTQ authors, authentic experiences by authentic voices. These are all fair and valid questions, which I have been asking myself a lot. So, what is an old cis straight white male doing up here? Where did I get the nerve to write Alex Fierro, a transgender, gender fluid child of Loki in The Hammer of Thor, and why should I get cookies for that? As I told the Stonewall Award Committee, this is an honor both humbling and unexpected. If you would like to read my acceptance speech, it is below: Magnus Chase 2: The Hammer of Thor, won the children’s book award for “exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience” because of the character of Alex Fierro. I had such a great time meeting young folks, librarians and other award-winning and honor-winning authors! I was honored to attend the Stonewall Award ceremony today at the American Library Association meeting in Chicago.

The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan