LGBTQ+ Cinderellas
Cinderella, as told by the Grimm Brothers and Charles Perrault, leave no room for LGBTQ+ characters.However, authors today are challenging this narrative by putting together compelling tales that encompass the story to expose children to the LGBTQ+ communities. Shown here are The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen, Jen Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker, and Malinda Lo's Ash.
These retellings are crucial in the development of fairy tales. By giving young, LGBTQ people a place in this genre of literature, we can only expect the continuation of the tale and perhaps, even, the invention of a new tale.After all, who doesn't want a happily ever after?
Further Reading:
- “These 11 Queer Retellings Beautifully Breathe New Life Into Beloved Fairy Tales.” The Mary Sue, 26 Feb. 2021, https://www.themarysue.com/these-11-queer-retellings-beautifully-breathe-new-life-into-beloved-fairy-tales/.
- Holub, Christian. “‘The Magic Fish’ Author Trung Le Nguyen Discusses the Heroism of Fairy Tales: ‘It’s a Fantasy of Growth.’” EW.Com, https://ew.com/books/the-magic-fish-trung-le-nguyen-interview/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.
Wang, Jen. “Watery Fairy Tales.” The New York Times, 5 Nov. 2020. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/books/review/the-little-mermaid-jerry-pinkney-the-magic-fish-trung-le-nguyen.html.