Navah Wolfe, editor at Simon & Schuster:
As an editor, I'm looking for great books w/ great, relatable characters, both straight & gay, so kids can see themselves in books. http://twitter.com/#!/navahw/status/113344695492550656
I also think it's really important for straight kids to read abt LGBTQ protagonists too. Books open our eyes & promote tolerance.
http://twitter.com/#!/navahw/status/113345292925014018I've worked on many books with GLBTQ protagonists, and I'd welcome working on more.
http://twitter.com/#!/navahw/status/113346609189896192Linsday Ribar, agent at Greenburger Literary Agency:
As an agent: actively seeking YA with gay/bi/queer content.
http://twitter.com/#!/LindsayRibar/status/113343516607905792Kate ?McKean, agent at Morhaim Literary Agency:
I definitely say #YesGayYA. Queriers: send it on! (After 9/15)
http://twitter.com/#!/kate_mckean/status/113351283586498560Brian Farry, editor at Flux:
Flux averages at least one title with LGBT characters per catalog (6-8 titles total per catalog).
http://twitter.com/#!/EyeOnFlux/status/113345644609019905Melissa Frain, editor at Tor:
I made an offer on a YA just today with a gay protagonist.
http://twitter.com/#!/frain/status/113341661546950656Sarah ?LaPolla, editor at Curtis Brown, Ltd:
When would sexual orientation ever "not work?" Does a character's straightness ever get in the way of plot?
http://twitter.com/#!/sarahlapolla/status/113344862304206848Real life teens are forced to "act straight" all the time just to survive HS. We shouldn't closet the fictional ones too.
http://twitter.com/#!/sarahlapolla/status/113343253138518016Amy Boggs, agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency:
If you don't know, I'm open to/looking for chars who are LGBTQ.
http://twitter.com/#!/notjustanyboggs/status/113341545591214080Jennifer Laughran, agent at Andrea Brown Literary agency:
For the record: I LOVE THE GAYS, in life and in books.
http://twitter.com/#!/literaticat/status/113381731071041536Lauren ?MacLeod, agent at Strothman Literary Agency:
As a YA agent, this article shocks me! I'd never suggest "straightening" a character & I don't know a colleague who would.
http://twitter.com/#!/BostonBookGirl/status/113416531727237120Sara Megibow, agent at Nelson Literary Agency:
I just updated my pubmarketplace site to reflect #yesGayYA:
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/SaraMegibow/
http://twitter.com/#!/SaraMegibow/status/113658818008858625In response to the recent industry question about LGBT characters in YA books, YES - I am actively looking for LGBT authors, characters, themes, etc.
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/SaraMegibow/Eddie Schneider, agent at JABberwocky Literary Agency:
Added non-discrimination statement here: http://bit.ly/n1VDy9
yesgayYA
http://twitter.com/#!/eddieschneider/status/113681485122375680
Since it still needs (and may always need) to be spelled out, please note I will happily consider queries by persons, or featuring protagonists, of any race, color, creed, religion, national citizenship/origin, gender or sexual orientation, disability, age, or physical appearance. Further, I will not attempt to editorially limit the presence of characters in any of the above in order to sell a project, and will support any client who feels discriminated against by a publisher or editor because of such status, in the hopefully unlikely event that this might occur.
http://awfulagent.com/agents#NDC