A heartwarming search is underway for two lesbian grandmothers whose chance conversation with a pantomime dame at Blackpool Pride sparked a new children's book. The women, whose names remain unknown, attended a reading by the popular performer Mama G in 2021 and asked a simple but powerful question: were there any children's books featuring lesbian grandmothers? When Mama G admitted she couldn't think of a single one, the women expressed their disappointment, saying it was "so hard to find yourself represented in books". That moment became the catalyst for The Proudest Bird in the World, a picture book that puts two older queer women "front and centre for a change."
Mama G, whose real name is Robert Pearce, has been a tireless advocate for diversity in family storytelling for nearly two decades. Yet she describes that conversation as a "wake-up call". "These two women are facing an uphill battle when it comes to representation because they're a minority within a minority," she said. "Lesbian visibility is considerably less than gay male visibility in just the media in general. The visibility of older LGBT people is greatly reduced from the visibility of LGBT-coded children or young adults."
The Hunt for the Mystery Grandmothers
Despite weeks of appeals on social media, radio, and newspapers, the identities of the two women remain a mystery. Mama G has compared the campaign to a missing person search, hoping to find the pair so she can dedicate the book to them. The women are described as approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall with short hair. One has "salt and pepper loose curls," and both were possibly wearing jeans and stripy tops when they met Mama G in 2021 at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.
"I don't have their names, I don't even know if they were from Blackpool – they could have been visiting," Mama G said. The search has gained traction online, with many sharing the story in hopes of reuniting the author with the inspirational duo who changed the course of a children's book.
Why Representation Matters in Children's Literature
A 2022 US study found that despite a significant increase in LGBTQ+ related books for children since 2000, those characters are rarely the central protagonists. Some groups, such as bisexual people, were found to be "completely absent." This lack of diverse representation can leave children and families feeling invisible. Mama G noted that publishers initially told her they "weren't comfortable" taking on her first book, Oh Yes I Am!, about a boy who lives in a world of pantomime.
The Proudest Bird in the World tells the story of Gilbert, an ordinary white bird who longs to express who they truly are. Gilbert stumbles upon a Pride parade and discovers that true colours do not have to live on the outside. The main characters are two lesbian grandparents who educate Gilbert and their granddaughter on what the colours of the rainbow flag mean to them. This narrative places older queer women at the heart of the story, a rarity in children's publishing.
Key Themes in the Book
- Self-expression and finding the courage to be yourself
- Intergenerational bonds between grandparents and grandchildren
- LGBTQ+ visibility for older adults and same-sex couples
- The meaning of Pride and the rainbow flag's history
Mama G, who is performing at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer, hopes the book will help fill a gap in the market. "There is a lack of diversity in children's books, despite the efforts of a number of authors and smaller publishers," she said. By placing two older queer women front and centre, the book challenges the underrepresentation of lesbian and older LGBTQ+ characters in media.
FAQ: The Search for the Lesbian Grandmothers
Who are the two women being searched for?
The women are two lesbian grandmothers who attended a reading by Mama G at Blackpool Pride in 2021. They asked if there were any children's books featuring lesbian grandmothers, sparking the idea for The Proudest Bird in the World. They are described as about 5 feet 6 inches tall with short hair, one with salt-and-pepper curls, possibly wearing jeans and stripy tops. Their names and current location are unknown.
Why is Mama G trying to find them?
Mama G wants to dedicate The Proudest Bird in the World to the two women who inspired the story. She launched a social media campaign to track them down, comparing it to a missing person search, because their conversation was a pivotal moment that led to the creation of the book. The book is set to be published on July 1st.
What is the book about?
The Proudest Bird in the World follows Gilbert, a white bird who discovers a Pride parade and learns about self-expression. The central characters are two lesbian grandparents who teach their granddaughter and Gilbert about the meaning of the rainbow flag. The book aims to provide positive representation for older LGBTQ+ individuals and same-sex couples in children's literature.
