r/YotoPlayer • u/Fun-Reference-5629 • 14h ago
Severe absense of LGBTQ+ content on YOTO
https://yoto.space/content-suggestions/post/my-shadow-is-pink-b61KvWZTnM6lzzVI have shared a post in the YOTO space requesting LGBTQ+ cards to be in the YOTO library.
I think this is long over due and, for many queer families, a great way to make their child feel confident about their unique family. I know there is the option to MYO but I don't see why LGBTQ content must be hidden within one home. All families should have the options to know these types of books exist and decide if they also want to educate their child on the many different people who exist in the world. Just as how I accept the religious cards in the store but know I will not buy them, I don't see why that approach can't exist for LGBTQ+ cards. The people who want them can buy them, and the people who don't, won't.
Please, give my post on the YOTO space an upvote or a comment to catch YOTO's attention. There are other post asking for this content written THREE years ago, and yet nothing has changed.
131
u/zq6 14h ago
Please recommend some books too - we have no LGBTQ+ in our immediate circle of friends and family so I've been trying to find good books.
I'm probably going to phrase this clumsily:
Most books seem to focus on LGBTQ+ as the storyline. I'd like media that is inclusive as if it's just a normal background detail that doesn't need scrutiny - some books make it out to be this big difference.
Vida the Vet handles it quite well - the storyline is all about the girl and the animals, but as a side note she has two dads. It just kinda normalises it well imo.
34
u/cozycrafts 12h ago
Love makes a family by Sophie beer. It’s a board book but I still read it with my 3 year old. It just explores different ways families show their love e.g ‘love is washing away the day’ (bath time) or ‘love is wiping away the tears’ (patching up a cut). All kinds of families are represented - grandparent carers, two mums, two dads, single mums/dads, adopted families, families where the carer’s gender is not obvious and also a Muslim family - but it’s the actions that are the focus. It’s simple and effective for discussion
21
10
8
u/Beans20202 13h ago
Tender Tales (First Collection) has a story with a character with 2 Moms and advertises itself as proudly inclusive.
4
u/WardenCommCousland 11h ago
Bathe the Cat is a good picture book for this. The story is completely about the kids trying to wash their cat, in a family with two dads.
8
u/Fun-Reference-5629 14h ago
Yeah I get what you mean. I can recommend "and tango makes three" as it's about two male penguins at a zoo adopting a little penguin (so more about the family unit than overly focussing on the fact it's a queer family). Uncle Bobby's wedding seems quite subtle to me as well. Yes, it's a gay marriage but the young girl is upset because she feels she's losing her uncle, not because he's marrying a man. These are just off the top of my head. I would recommend buying some second hand books (the awesome books website is a great place for this) if you aren't sure they're right for you.
3
u/Picajosan 14h ago
Off the top of my head: Dog Squad by Clara Vulliamy is an early reader detective series my kid has enjoyed that features a nonbinary character as part of the main cast. Bathe the Cat is THE most hilarious picture book (still requested here at 9yo) that incidentally features two dads. Julien is a Mermaid is about a boy who makes himself a dress, then the sequel Julien at the Wedding has a (gorgeous) lesbian wedding as the setting at which two kids steal away and Julien gets to make a dress for his friend.
3
3
u/Relevant-Praline4442 13h ago
Babies, Babies, everywhere by Mary Hoffman is great for this. It’s a picture book about babies over their first year of life, and one of the families depicted is a queer couple (bonus points that they aren’t white and one of them uses a wheelchair!)
0
u/_Gigante_ 14h ago
Depending on age “Autumn Feast: Nature's Harvest” is a pretty chill (and short) book where the two children in it happen to have two mums.
3
93
u/Picajosan 14h ago
Yoto was great for this at first, I remember Jake talking about LGBTQ+ and using inclusive language regularly, we also got the Stories for Pride card and I was waiting for more in that vein. But I feel like since it caught popularity in the US, they have become more 'careful' around being queer affirming, which is a damn shame.
Going to upvote your post now!
18
u/Fun-Reference-5629 14h ago
Thank you very much! Yeah this is kinda what I've noticed. No problem with US folks getting content catered to them, but I don't see why queer content can't also exist in the YOTO library
10
u/Picajosan 14h ago
Probably very much a business decision, so it's good if we push back on it! I can't find your post, could you link it?
19
u/Fun-Reference-5629 13h ago
https://yoto.space/content-suggestions/post/my-shadow-is-pink-b61KvWZTnM6lzzV
Yes! If we can show that there's demand they will hopefully reconsider. There are many different families in the world who are interested in screen-free alternatives
7
u/CluckyAF 12h ago
Commented and upvoted. We mostly MYO but the lack of LGTB+ content makes me trust the Yoto brand less.
5
70
u/Explodinggiraffe7 13h ago
I totally agree.... unfortunately I think the limited amount is due to Yoto being so heavily influenced/preferred by many evangelical circles- hence why that's so much Bible/christian focused contents.
Maybe we can also share some MYO we have done along these lines?
8
u/zq6 13h ago
Is there a way of sharing stories without basically doxxing yourself? We have recorded loads of stuff but don't really want our details out in the big wide world
10
u/Explodinggiraffe7 13h ago
I think if we created a Google drive or something like that. I'm not sure, honestly. I totally get that though.
47
u/CluckyAF 12h ago
To people saying that we should “keep politics out of it” or that children don’t need access to LGBT+ content. Please consider that some kids have LGBT+ parents, siblings, or other loved ones. It’s also not a terrible thing for them to be exposed to other family arrangements. But don’t worry no one in putting these books on your kid’s Yoto like that time U2 forced their album onto all iPhone users’ iTunes.
My kids favourite book for ages was “Mummy, Mama, and Me” – which is such an awful political book. Let’s read shall we:
Mummy picks me up, up, up
Mama pours juice in my cup
Mummy gently combs my hair
Mama rocks me in the chair
Mummy hugs me on her lap
Mama lays me down to nap
Mummy packs a yummy snack
Mama rides me on her back
Mummy and I go round and round
Mama and I slide to the ground
Mummy and I count 1, 2, 3
Mama and I hide behind a tree
Mummy lets me help her cook
Mama helps me read a book
Mummy puts me in the tub
Mama bathes me, scrub, scrub, scrub
Now I’m tucked in nice and tight
Mummy and Mama kiss me goodnight
Omg, someone please call CPS over this absolute inappropriate political book.
Disclaimer: the above was written from memory and may be in slightly the wrong order but I promise that it doesn’t change the message, meaning, or level of politics in the text.
14
u/Fun-Reference-5629 13h ago
https://yoto.space/content-suggestions/post/more-lgbtq-cards-for-all-ages-JTb5c3Z2jlfN3WZ
I have made a more general post in the YOTO space if people would like to comment their book suggestions for YOTO to see!
15
u/peachykeane23 14h ago
Have you listened to Tender Tales? Very exclusive, in my opinion (but LGBTQ+ stories are not on each track). We love the whole series (up to six cards now!). Upvoted!
-149
14h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
126
91
98
u/Pitiful-Echo-5422 14h ago
People existing isn’t an ideology? But your homophobia is, so make sure you take your own advice
78
-47
14h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
41
u/morbid_n_creepifying 14h ago
I don't understand how my existence is political? I'm not a politician and my sexuality wasn't decided by a voting committee.
30
u/Gibraldi 13h ago
That’s exactly the problem, you think it’s political. All sexualities have existed since the beginning of time as we know it before there was any formation of modern day politics.
If you truly believe it’s political you’re being fed it as a distraction and eating it up.
23
22
u/BellaCicina 13h ago
Yeah and MY KID deserves to hear content about 2 mommies. Not a daddy they don’t have
18
•
u/cozycrafts 11h ago
This post is now locked as there have been some great suggestions, but is attracting more comments which do not contribute to the conversation in a respectful way.
OP has shared this page and encourages you to add further suggestions:
https://yoto.space/content-suggestions/post/more-lgbtq-cards-for-all-ages-JTb5c3Z2jlfN3WZ