The City Council and Department of Education have launched a five-borough book drive for schools to heighten awareness and understanding in students about LGBT (lesbian,gay, bisexual and transgender) issues.

A message from Christine Quinn's office says: "Access to these books can help prevent bullying, depression and other negative outcomes in students, many of whom come from non-traditional families and/or may be confused about their own thoughts and feelings. It can also help children develop empathy by increasing their understanding about how people around the world are both similar to and different from themselves."

A Chancellor's Regulation, updated in 2011, addresses the issue of bullying but some groups are concerned that the regulation doesn't go far enough as incidents of bullying continue.

Here's a list of requested books that may help spread the word:

Elementary schools:

And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
King and King by Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland

Older Kids:

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd
Izzy Willy Nilly by Cynthia Voigt
Funny Boy by Shyam Selvadurai
Blue Boy by Rakesh Satyal
Annie on my mind by Nancy Garden
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Ash, Huntress by Malinda Lo
God loves hair by Vivek Shraya
The God Box by Alex Sanchez
The Sistahood on the Mic by E-fierce (aka Elisha Miranda)

See the Bank Street Bookstore's website for a list of participating schools and how you can donate books online.

Or you may drop off books at select bookstores and other locations listed below. The deadline for online and in person donations is August 15, 2012.

Bronx

Bronx Community Pride Center
975 Kelly Street, Suite 202, Bronx, NY 10459
Telephone: 718-292-4368

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Community Pride Center
310 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Telephone: 347-889-7719

Manhattan

Bluestockings Bookstore
172 Allen Street
New York, NY 10002
Telephone: (212) 777-6028
www.bluestockings.org

Housingworks Bookstore
126 Crosby Street
New York, NY 10012
Telephone: 212-334-3324
http://housingworks.org/locations/detail/bookstore-cafe

Printed Matter
195 Tenth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
Telephone: 212 925 0325
http://www.printedmatter.org/

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
208 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10011
Telephone: 212-620-7310

Word Up Books
4157 Broadway @ 176th Street
http://wordupbooks.wordpress.com/

Queens

Council Member Danny Dromm
37-32 75th Street
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Telephone: 718-803-6373

Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer
47-01 Queens Boulevard, Suite 205
Sunnyside, NY 11104
Telephone: 718-383-9566

Staten Island

The Staten Island Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Center
25 Victory Boulevard, 3rd Floor
Staten Island, NY 10301
Telephone: 718-808-1360