An LGBT+ educational group is hoping that people will donate resources to primary schools in the Isle of Man.

Pop'N’Olly is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality educational resource used by children, parents, carers and teachers across the UK and beyond.

The platform was created by Olly Pike, who hopes that the various videos and books available to be used in primary schools will help to teach about equality, diversity and acceptance. Mr Pike said: ’Most of [the books] are LGBT+ but they also focus on other elements as well.

’We have a storybook about disability, [and] a story about just accepting difference basically, and these books are designed for primary school children as a way of combating homo, bi, and transphobia before it can begin to form.

’We know that homophobia and LGBT+ prejudice are learned behaviours, and they can be learned really early unfortunately.

’Children are like little sponges, they soak up everything they see - so Pop’N’Olly’s mission is about usualising LGBT+ people and diversity as young as possible, because children aren’t born prejudiced.’

The company’s ’Kenny Lives’ campaign aims to send a copy of their book ’Kenny lives with Erica and Martina’ to every one of the approximately 23,000 primary schools in the UK and Channel Islands.

The book is inspired by the 1981 book ’Jenny lives with Eric and Martin’ by the Danish author Susanne Bösche, a black-and-white picture book which was banned in the UK upon its release.

The intense backlash against it largely contributed to the passage of Section 28 - the British law which prohibited the ’promotion of homosexuality’ by local authorities.

The English author explained: ’The original book was unfairly vilified [and] so it really didn’t get to do what it was meant to do, which is really sad, [and] that’s why I wanted to kind of extend its message.’

The books can be donated directly to any school via their website where people can have a copy (or copies) sent on their behalf.

In September, the company is launching its first non-fiction book entitled ’What does LGBT+ mean?’.

Olly said: ’To celebrate this, and because I think this book is ridiculously important, as part of the Kenny Lives campaign, every time someone donates a Kenny Lives book, we’re now automatically going to include this book as well.

’So they get two books instead of one. Just because we think this book is so, so important.’

According to their website, 4,504 books have been donated to schools so far. In Jersey, every primary school has received a copy of the book, however in the Isle of Man, no school has.

Mr Pike explained that in Jersey, the books were donated ’thanks to Channel Island Pride, and also a private sponsor over there.

’Together they paid for me to go over and for copies of all of my books which I had at the time to go into every single primary school there. I would love to come over [and do the same in the Isle of Man].’

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