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 groupsare 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