Founded in 1998 in collaboration with the Massachusetts Safe Schools Program, The Shared Heart is a series of portraits and handwritten narratives created to amplify authentic, affirming stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young people in high schools, colleges, workplaces, and places of worship nationwide. The initiative includes a traveling photographic exhibition, a secondary school curriculum, and a nonprofit organization. The project is designed to foster the development of safe, healthy, and equitable learning environments. The Shared Heart is published by William Morrow and HarperCollins. The book received several awards including:
The International Reading Association: Notable Books for a Global Society
The American Library Association: Stonewall, Non-Fiction Book Award
The American Library Association: Best Books for Young Adults
The New York Public Library: Books for Teens
The Bank Street College of Education: Best Children's Books
In Praise of The Shared Heart
“The Shared Heart is a celebration of young people facing the challenges of growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and living empowered lives. Through this book, we began to know these extraordinary young adults as human beings rather than stereotypes or statistics. They teach us to be true to who we are no matter what. Their portraits and stories are deeply inspiring. They express the longing that all of us share, deep in our hearts, for self-expression and unconditional love.”
-Elton John“Share this heartfelt book with the young people in your life. It will speak to them, straight or gay, of families, friends and love.”
-Judy Blume
“I have been in politics for a long time, making and listening to arguments. And I have been gay for even longer. I have never seen a case against homophobia put with greater intellectual and emotional force than by the young people in this eloquent, passionate, wonderful book.”
-Congressman Barney Frank“The Shared Heart is profound in its simplicity and directness. These young people are an inspiration to all of us, no matter what our individual sexuality. They celebrate diversity and the strength of the human spirit. For every story there is a face, a picture of a strong young person, making the world a better place for all of us. This book will save lives.”
-Emily Saliers The Indigo Girls
“Truth starts in the heart and the young heart is the most vulnerable. And that is why these courageous stories are so inspiring.”
- Duane Michals
