My favourite book as a very small child was called Molly's Hair. It was about a little girl who hated being ginger, and her journey towards gaining a bit of self-confidence, extremely relatable content for this shy wee ginger smout.

The message of the book stuck with me throughout my childhood, and it still makes me smile thinking about it now. 

We underestimate the impact literature can have upon children, but both seeing their own experiences and the experiences of others represented can have a profound impact on their sense of self and their ability to empathise with others. 

When I heard there were books coming out in both Gaelic and Scots that featured LGBTQ+ families, I was over the moon.

For these books to be translated into two of Scotland's minoritised languages is extremely exciting, as it gives families a fun and impactful addition to storytime which helps not only with the acquisition of language, but the introduction of the beautiful diversity of loving families. 

Sadly, I’ve yet to see coverage of the books which doesn’t have a comments section full of the kind of bigotry that many LGBTQ+ families experience on a daily basis. 

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The hate mostly focused on a desire to keep LGBTQ+ topics away from children for fear it will either poison their minds, or force them to become part of the LGBTQ+ community, quite a strong reaction elicited by a kid's book which, by their own admission, they haven't even read. 

LGBTQ+ parents don't get the luxury of avoiding difficult conversations with their children, they must prepare them for a world in which they will inevitably encounter prejudice and judgement purely because their family unit exists outwith the arbitrary boundaries of bigots. 

I think it’s important to acknowledge at this point that within the book, there are two mums in one family and two dads in another, that's it. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that gay people exist, and within the context of the book they perform the same function any other parent might. For balance, no such fear mongering could be found under children’s books featuring heterosexual parents as part of the story, and I checked a LOT.

I spoke to Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, who translated the Gaelic edition of the books, who said: “In minoritised linguistic communities, things like equality, diversity and inclusion can happen at a slower pace. Historically, there has been a certain amount of rub against LGBT inclusion in the Gaelic community. People of colour and LGBT people live in Gaelic-speaking communities and it’s important to recognise this. 

"In addition to same-sex parents within the book, there is also ethnic diversity, which was also really important for us to include. We hope this book might inspire everyone, particularly LGBT writers and Gaelic writers of colour to write about their lived experience. 

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"We also want to make it clear that there is a safe space for more trans and genderqueer writers to tell their stories. The book has already been well received by parents and teachers alike. There is a real need and desire for authentic narratives, and it is only through making these topics visible that we can create a more interesting and diverse literary canon. For children who have same sex parents, or indeed who may go on to be LGBTQ themselves, I wanted them to have a touchstone where they can look back and see that lives like theirs were present in the books they read. I want it to be a book that will stay with people throughout their lives.”

Having this kind of realistic representation in books and media serves a variety of purposes: it can present the perfect opportunity to introduce the diversity of families in a manner appropriate to a child's age and stage, and it provides space for children to see their own situation reflected in their stories. The narratives we are exposed to as a child can shape the way we view and engage with the world, and can facilitate conversations that might otherwise be tricky to approach for children and families alike.

The translator for Guid Mornin!, and Guid Nicht!, Matthew Mackie, said: “The books – originally written in Spanish – had already been published in 48 languages all over the world. By teaming up with the tremendously talented Marcas Mac an Tuairneir for the Scottish Gaelic edition alongside the Scots language edition, Tippermuir Books is responsible for publishing the 49th and 50th translations – a significant milestone and a real achievement for all involved.

"Guid Mornin! and Guid Nicht! add some much needed diversity to the range of Scots language books for bairns in terms of representation. The books are playful stories, beautifully illustrated by Elīna Braslina, with families that happen to have same-sex parents – and rascal pets! It is vital that our Scots language books for bairns reflect the rich diversity of modern Scotland.”

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At a time where certain countries are denying or removing rights from the LGBTQ+ community, and hate crimes against the community have never been more prevalent, now more than ever we need to ensure we instil within our children not just an awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, but a celebration of LGBTQ+ people and families. 

Hate doesn’t come naturally to children, they must be taught prejudice and bigotry, and it is an active choice not to create an inclusive and diverse environment within which they can learn and grow. 

If you explain to a child some families have a mummy and a daddy, some might have two mummies or two daddies, some have one parent, or are raised by their grandparents or other caregivers, and there are an infinite number of combinations which can result in a happy, healthy and safe environment within which to raise a child, they probably won’t think twice about it. 

Banning or condemning books featuring LGBTQ+ parents might prevent you from talking about these topics with your child, but it will not preclude your child from being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, or learning about the diversity of families from other sources. All it does is ensure you are not viewed by your child as a safe person with whom they can discuss these topics, both in a wider societal context, and as it might relate to them personally.

LGBTQ+ representation shouldn't be something making headlines or causing controversy, it should be something to celebrate: more families represented, more people included, more children growing up knowing they can love and be loved, just as they are. 

LGBTQ+ people live, work, parent and love exactly like everyone else. The only difference is the world within which they do each of these things makes it infinitely more difficult for them to simply exist. Children don't become part of the LGBTQ+ community by seeing other people exist or reading about them in books, they learn that should they turn out to be LGBTQ+, despite all the bigotry, prejudice, personal, professional and legal battles that they will face in this world, there is a life available to them: a happy, safe, beautiful life, full of love and family.

Lennie Pennie is a poet and Scots language activist