My Rainbow By DeShanna Neal and Trinity Neal
A dedicated mom puts love into action as she creates the perfect rainbow-colored wig for her transgender daughter, based on the real-life experience of mother-daughter advocate duo Trinity and DeShanna Neal.
THEMES:
LGBTQ+, Trans, Race, Identity, Coming of age
Warm morning sunlight and love fill the Neal home. And on one quiet day, playtime leads to an important realization: Trinity wants long hair like her dolls. She needs it to express who she truly is.
So her family decides to take a trip to the beauty supply store, but none of the wigs is the perfect fit. Determined, Mom leaves with bundles of hair in hand, ready to craft a wig as colorful and vibrant as her daughter is.
Publication Date: October 20th, 2020
Audiobook? Yes
Age Range: 4+
Read Time: 16 minutes (at 300 WPM)
ISBN-13: 9781984814609
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DeShanna Neal is a queer, mother of 4 and graduate of Wilmington University of a MS in Applied Family Science. Since sharing their story of raising a transgender child, they have been a public figure for families of LGBTQ children in Wilmington, Delaware for several years. They battled Delaware Medicaid for pediatric transgender services after their own transgender child was denied and after an eight months fight, they won. Changing policy for all transgender and non-binary youth in the state.
They are the co-organizer and creator of New Castle County's first ever LGBTQ Youth Pride Festival, as well as, Delaware's first Drag Queen Story Hour. They have also co-authored a children's picture book, My Rainbow, with their daughter Trinity Neal. Now, they have created their new non-profit for Delaware's often ignored LGBTQ communities to ensure they too have a place at the table.
DeShanna Neal speaking to HRC's volunteers about their fears for their daughter's safety being a transgender child.(March 2017, Human Rights Campaign)
DeShanna Neal shares about the intersections of raising a beautiful, black, transgender child with autism and the importance of giving space to children, to really hear them. (February 2021, Simply Good Form)
IN THE NEWS
These kids' authors are telling the stories of trans youth. Book bans won't stop them (NPR)