Article content
After hearing a man shout homophobic slurs outside her school, a London sixth-grader decided to take matters into her own hands – one book at a time.
Kyla Johnston-Potter, 12, recalls students lined up at their school buses being “really scared” when a man started yelling while holding up “huge” signs with transphobic messages. It was an ugly experience, but would become a valuable lesson when she started Project Rainbow, which collects inclusive books to educate students.
Article content
“It’s important for the little kids to understand not to use (homophobic) terms,” said Johnston-Potter, a student at London’s Pearson school for the arts. “I don’t want them to turn out like the guy that’s screaming (outside the school).”
Started as a Grade 6 class project, Project Rainbow is a website to collect books for kids and to provide resources for families and teachers. Johnston-Potter does “virtual busking” and instead of people tossing coins in a hat, they can buy a book from the website’s wish list.
Each book that gets purchased is delivered to Johnston-Potter for her school’s library.
So far, Johnston-Potter said she has collected 45 books. There are 30 more to go on her website’s list, and she would like to double that.
Before launching the website, Johnston-Potter had already planned to start a safe space club for Pearson students. The school’s principal, Patti Baker, called Project Rainbow an opportunity for Johnston-Potter to put her vision into practice.
“We’re very proud of her,” Baker said.
As for the school’s role in preparing students against homophobic and transphobic attacks, Baker said there will always be hurtful comments from people.
Article content
“We proudly fly our Pride flag all year, and we do want to be sure to make children feel that they have a safe place to come to school,” she said.
Johnston-Potter’s parents said they’re overjoyed she thinks and cares about a community that’s vulnerable to bigotry.
“I think it’s a really cool way for her to express her passion,” dad Brett Potter said. “We’re really amazed by what she’s done and really, really proud of her. It’s really important for us to support her in that.”
Johnston-Potter said she hopes her website continues to thrive. “I want to show kids that different is not bad. Different, not weird.”
To check out Project Rainbow, click here.
Recommended from Editorial
Share this article in your social network
