When my anthology Am I Blue: Coming Out from the Silence was published in 1995, Publishers Weekly described it as “the first-ever anthology of YA fiction devoted to lesbian and gay themes.” I’m extraordinarily proud that readers still find the title relevant, as shown by its inclusion in resource lists such as this one, titled “Essential Reading on the LGBTQ Journey.”

I’m also conscious, however, that this has been a particularly hard year for many LGBTQ youth; you can read further details about that in this October piece from NBC News. As we look ahead to 2021, may we remain aware of the importance of creating and publishing books that reflect the many diverse identities and experiences that today’s young readers represent.