- Daddy's Roommate
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Daddy's Roommate 
Author(s) Michael Willhoite Publisher Alyson Books Publication date 1991 Pages 30 ISBN 1555831184 OCLC Number 26563465 Daddy's Roommate is a children's book written by Michael Willhoite and published by Alyson Books in 1991 (ISBN 1555831184). The book, about a young boy whose divorced father now lives with his gay partner, deals with the controversial subject of homosexual parents.
Daddy's Roommate was one of the first children's books to portray homosexuality in a positive light; the two men in the book do the same things heterosexual couples do: Take care of the house, argue, and spend time with their boy. Consequently, the book has become one of the most challenged books in recent years with the American Library Association listing it at number 2 in their list of the 100 most challenged books from 1990-1999.[1]
Daddy's Roommate became a point of discussion in the 2008 US Presidential Election when it was alleged that, in 1995, Sarah Palin, then a councilwoman in Wasilla, Alaska, complained that the book did not belong in the public library.[2]
Stand-up comedian Bill Hicks mocked the book in his final 1993 Late Show with David Letterman appearance.[3] He also referenced Heather Has Two Mommies.
See also
- Heather Has Two Mommies, by Lesléa Newman, portrays a lesbian couple in a similar positive light
- Homosexuality in children's literature
References
- ^ "The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–1999". ALA. http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999/index.cfm. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
- ^ "Author Of Book Palin Targeted Lashes Back: She's My Mortal Enemy". Huffingtonpost.com. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/13/author-of-book-palin-targ_n_126236.html. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
- ^ "Bill Hicks Banned Letterman Act Part 3". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-3seRyUmTg. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
External links
Categories:- 1991 books
- Children's books with LGBT themes
- Children's picture books
- Children's picture book stubs
- LGBT stubs
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