Gloria Goes to Gay Pride

by Lesléa Newman, Russell Crocker (Illustrator)

Gloria and her two mothers join a parade celebrating Gay Pride Day.

Genres: LGBT, Queer, Banned Books, Childrens, Fiction, Picture Books

35 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1991

About the author

Lesléa Newman (born 1955, Brooklyn, NY) is the author of over 50 books including Heather Has Two Mommies, A Letter To Harvey Milk, Writing From The Heart, In Every Laugh a Tear, The Femme Mystique, Still Life with Buddy, Fat Chance and Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.

Reviews

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how much input Leslea Newman has into the illustrations of her book, but I’m imagining a lot because each of her books has really great butch ladies. Sometimes it’s your classic butch/femme couple, sometimes a femme/femme, but sometimes, as in Gloria Goes to Gay Pride, you get that lovely butch/butch couple. I’m not saying that’s why I like it so much. But that’s part of it. I like it so much because it’s really what I want from a gay children’s book. It’s not just a story about how some families are gay and that’s ok, and it’s not a story where gayness is inconsequential. It’s a story about a gay family and the things they do that are unique to gay families and why those things are so wonderful and can bring so much joy.

[Chanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gloria Goes to Gay Pride is about a girl who has two moms that she adores. Throughout the story she talks about all of the wonderful things that they do as a family. Every year, Gloria and her mommies participate in the Gay Pride Parade. Gloria is excited, because she gets to make a sign to hold in the parade that says “I Love My Mommies.” While at the parade, Gloria sees people with signs who don’t like her mommies and wants to know why. Her mommies tell her that some people don’t understand them and that everyone has the right to love.

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprised this isn't a more popular classic! It's a little dated, but the story is very sweet and still relevant.

[Elizabeth]

I got this book largely based on this review about the illustrations, so I was bummed that it's all black-and-white illustrations.

I do really like that it starts with our protagonist child Gloria celebrating various holidays, including (matter-of-factly) Chanukah. I mean, not suprising since I've read some of her other book like Here Is the World: A Year of Jewish Holidays but still, I don't think even almost 30 years after this book's publications there are many picturebooks with queer Jewish representation.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that Leslea Newman has been writing LGBTQ books for so many years. I discovered this title on a recent list. Even if the illustrations seem very dated, the story of a day of Pride was fun.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a little sappy for me. I am sure it was because of the time frame in which it was produced, but it at least tells the reader what about a pride parade and what to expect.

[Ricky · Rating 3 out of 5]

also cute illustrations!