October 29, 2009, New York, NY - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, applauded Scholastic Inc. for the company’s decision to feature an LGBT inclusive book in its spring Scholastic Book Fairs.

Earlier this week, members of the LGBT community alerted GLAAD that Scholastic, was excluding Lauren Myracle’s Luv Ya Bunches from its book fairs across the country. The book features a young girl, Milla, being raised by lesbian parents. “Scholastic is offering Luv Ya Bunches in our Book Clubs. We decided we would not offer this title in Fairs… We review thousands of books each year and only a limited number can be carried in our channels,” was the statement on their Web site. Scholastic added that the company was still reviewing it for possible inclusion in the spring.

GLAAD reached out to executives at Scholastic to ask that the company reconsider its decision. In addition, Change.org, the web-based organizing community, generated over 4,000 signatures on its petition requesting that people make their voices heard.

After discussions with GLAAD and concerns from community members and allies, Scholastic yesterday issued the following statement: “Scholastic does not censor books…we are committed to a review process that considers all books equally regardless of their inclusion of LGBT characters and same sex parents. Having completed our review of Luv Ya Bunches, Scholastic Book Fairs will carry the title in our spring fairs for middle school. Scholastic is proud of our long history of providing books that will appeal to the wide range of interests and reading abilities of children in the many diverse cultures and communities we serve. Luv Ya Bunches is just one example.”

“We applaud Scholastic’s decision to include Luv Ya Bunches in its spring book fairs and appreciate the work already being done by Scholastic to promote the book in its book clubs,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “In communities across this country there are children like the character of Milla, who are being raised by loving and committed gay and lesbian parents. When children read about families like Milla’s, it helps reduce the kinds of intolerance, bullying and harassment that gay youth--and the kids of gay parents--often face on a daily basis.”