Launched in 2019 by GLSEN, a national organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion in K–12 schools, the Rainbow Library has sent book sets to 1,700 locations across the United States. And interest has skyrocketed, with the program fielding 1,000 requests since September alone.

For freshman Ro Mize, having the Rainbow Library makes them feel more accepted and represented within PHS. ‘I like being able to see myself in a character in a book. A lot of the time during school, I feel a little bit isolated and there’s not a lot of things that I can relate to, but I feel like I can when reading these types of books.

“The Rainbow Library Project donated over 7, 500 books to schools all across the country… It was so worth the wait. The books are fantastic. Inclusivity and representation – the gift of this library really does that.”