The poet Maya Angelou once wrote: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." One fellow in Ohio, meanwhile, is a bit chagrined that a local school board is heeding that advice:
Jason Tharp, 45, said wrote "It's Okay to Be a Unicorn!," to promote inclusion among children, and he was prepared to read it to students at an elementary school north of Columbus, Ohio on April 6.
The day before the scheduled reading, Tharp said he received a call from the principal of Buckeye Valley Local School District's saying higher-ups did not approve of the book and believed it could have a "gay agenda."
"I just said, did somebody think I made a gay book? And he's like, 'Yeah,' and I'm like, 'Because why? Rainbows and unicorns?'" Tharp told USA TODAY, adding that the principal confirmed that as the reasoning.
I mean...
Look, I'm not really in favor of using the term "gay" as an insult, for a number of reasons. So that's not how I'm using it here. But...yes, "rainbows and unicorns" are pretty gay. No need to play dumb about it.
And yes, it's true that Mr. Tharp's book "promote[s] inclusion," of a kind. What kind, exactly? Well, as one review put it:
Jason Tharp's It's Okay to be a Unicorn is a delightful picture book about a creative and kind unicorn, Cornelius J. Sparklesteed, hiding his identity in a town of horses with irrational beliefs about unicorns. The town, Hoofington, bans unicorns, but is otherwise warm and welcoming. Cornelius makes fabulous hats for the town's citizens and, as a result, is asked by the mayor to perform in the town's holiday festival Hoofapalooza. The catch: the mayor requests Cornelius make "the most UN-UNICORNY hat" he can. Along with preparing for his own act, Cornelius inspires many of his friends to create even more fantastic art, songs, and even baked goods.
Delightfully gay rainbows and sparkles decorate the brightly colored pages building a unicorny world that just doesn't know it yet.
Just in case it was not clear:
I found this book absolutely wonderful! It's a thinly veiled parable that rejects homophobia, embraces fabulousness, and shows a great coming out outcome!
Yeah I'm not sure "thinly veiled" is how I'd describe it. "Transparent" might be a better qualifier.
I gotta say I'd have a lot more respect for this guy if he wasn't acting all shocked about all this. At least be honest about what's going on here!
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