1. Alex Boswell
12/5/2012
Category: Appreciation of Human Diversity
LGBTQ Visibility in the English Classroom
Below is a summary of a novel, Annie On My Mind, that I read for Foundations Seminar in my first
semester at SUNY New Paltz as an undergraduate. The summary was part of a group presentation in which
each group member read a different book. Then, we collectively decided on a common theme among the
stories, with the goal of being able to teach the materials together. Each group gave a presentation on how
they could collectively teach their texts and handed out the summaries of the texts that each group member
read. Annie on My Mind was the only book that was presented in my Foundations Seminar class that
included a lesbian character. I am using this piece as a way of reflecting my commitment to embrace diversity. I
expect to create, to the best of my ability, a classroom culture that is safe and inclusive for all kinds of learners
who may have various identities and experiences.
Annie On My Mind struck me as an important novel because it has a young lesbian protagonist, as
opposed to many young adult novels in which LGBTQ characters fill secondary roles or are missing entirely.
The novel is also written from the perspective of the lesbian protagonist. I think it's important for students to be
exposed to various voices. In this way, they can both discover relatable voices, and extract understanding for
diverse experiences and cultural backgrounds.
When I presented this book to my classmates, I received both positive and negative responses. Some
of my classmates believed that books with LGBTQ characters should not be included in the Secondary English
classroom. One of my classmates explained to me that she thought being LGBTQ was a private matter that
should only be talked about within families, and not in a school setting. Even though Annie On My Mind does
not include any erotic scenes or push any particular kind of politics, simply acknowledging lesbian identity
seemed to be problematic for some.
In addition, the book posed some difficulties when working with my group members. They were also
assigned books that had to do with relationships, but the relationships were all heterosexual. My group
members were quick to start talking about stereotypical gender roles for men and women in relationships;
however, due to Annie On My Mind being a part of the group project, we found ways to work through the
language we used, and to focus on how a common theme between our texts was how relationship dynamics
take place in all kinds of ways. This inevitably led to more complex and interesting discussion that stepped
outside of the realm of stereotypical heteronormative gender roles and stayed relevant to all kinds of people.
The responses from some of my classmates and the process of working with my group members
contributed to my understanding of the need for inclusiveness, such as LGBTQ visibility and understanding
within schools and communities, not for a political agenda, but for the acknowledgment of diverse human
beings. It also helped me to recognize the importance of patience and understanding when working with
people who might not be as informed or might just have a completely different point of view on issues
pertaining to diversity in the classroom. Appreciation for human diversity has the potential to help students to
feel like they are visible and worthwhile. This can also help students to be advocates for one another and for
people within their communities.
As an educator, I would like to include rich literary texts that can aid in developing strong readers,
critical thinkers, and writers. I believe that many texts, when available and appropriate for the learning
objectives, can also aid in providing students with relatable voices, as well as an understanding that helps to
develop visibility for diversity, in order to be more informed learners and confident contributors to society.

2. Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden
Publication Date: 1982, 2007
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Annie and Liza are two bright, imaginative, and creative young women. They are seniors in high
school; however, Liza goes to a private Christian school, while Annie attends an inner­city school. They meet
in a museum and from there they commence a wonderful friendship that celebrates their individuality. Both of
the girls are incredibly studious, but each has something that they are passionate about and excel in. Liza is
passionate about architecture, while Annie is a talented singer. Liza and Annie’s friendship serves as an
example of what a healthy relationship can look like because they find joy in being exactly who they are, yet
grow together. With time, their friendship naturally falls into a deeper kind of love. When Liza is asked to
house­sit for two of her teachers that share an apartment, she realizes that her teachers are not just housemates
but a lesbian couple. This gives Liza and Annie the opportunity to be in a safe space where they can be
comfortable and unapologetic of their feelings for each other, until another teacher checks up on Liza at the
house and realizes that Liza and Annie are in a romantic relationship.
The private Christian school that Liza attends feels compromised by having a lesbian student who also
happens to be president of the senior class. The school worries that in their financial crisis, having a lesbian
student wouldn’t look good in their campaign for funding. Liza's academic endeavors and achievements are put
on the line when she is unjustly suspended from school. She also deals with the challenge of being honest with
her family and coming out to them as a lesbian, as well as coming out to her peers. Many of Liza’s friends
react to her coming out negatively. They ignore her or tell her that there are therapists who can cure her. Liza
responds to one of her peers by saying, "It's not a problem. It's not negative. Don't you know that it's love
you're talking about? You're talking about how I feel about another human being and how she feels about me,
not about some kind of disease you have to save us from." The two lesbian teachers also have their jobs put in
jeopardy because the school discovers their relationship and blames the teachers for indirectly encouraging
Liza and Annie's relationship.
A significant aspect of Annie On My Mind is that, unlike so many other stories about LGBTQ
couples, the relationship between Annie and Liza does not seem taboo or deviant, and it is written from Liza's
point of view. This is a coming of age story that displays two people finding themselves, developing a healthy
and loving relationship, and finding out how to create community for themselves, despite the prejudices of
others. The reader is placed inside of the relationship and then perceives the outside world's misunderstanding
of who Liza and Annie are. Despite the pressure that society puts on Annie and Liza, they develop into two
strong individuals who demonstrate the importance of taking ownership of one's relationships in a healthy
manner that respects individuality, self­worth, and being truthful to one’s self as well as others.
Annie On My Mind is a great read for ages twelve and up. In a classroom setting, this novel would be
effective with other books that have to do with relationships. The book can be read with novels such as
Breathing Under Water or Dreamland because they deal with different aspects of relationships. One basic
theme can be extracted from all of these books: the importance of feeling confident in creating healthy
relationships that include a respect for individuality and personal value. Even if someone didn’t identify as
LGBTQ, they could still have a personal interest in this book because it is a story that anyone could relate to in
the reality of their own identity, community, or relationships. In reading Annie On My Mind, teachers can
introduce literary elements such as character development and point of view. However, ultimately, students will
be given the opportunity to think critically about issues such as relationships, identity, cultural concerns, healthy
communities, personal values, and how literature can affect various audiences.