Empowering Children Through Pride Ink Poets: A Journey of Imagination and Expression
- Gina Vallance
- Dec 10, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 4
Every time I see kids’ imaginations spark to life, whether it be my little cousins or my friends’ kids and grandkids, I’m reminded why I created Pride Ink Poets: Expressive Writing, Crafts, and PopRock for children with LGBTQ+ parents and LGBTQ+ Youth.
As the middle-grade author of the empowering MG novel, Amberly and the Secret of the Fairy Warriors and WhimziePop Empowerment Scripts: A SEL, Expressive Screenwriting and Art Adventure, I have always had a passion for empowering children through fantasy fiction and expressive writing. I now know that this passion stems from a constant desire I had as a teenager to empower myself and build up my own self-esteem and confidence due to the stress of being closeted. Being gay in the 90s was difficult as a young person, and what got me through it was creative writing, screenwriting, journaling, and music. This is why I created Pride Ink Poets for kids with LGBTQ+ Parents and LGBTQ+ Youth!
The Inspiration Behind Pride Ink Poets
Pride Ink Poets was inspired by my short story "The Elfin Pride Ink Poets," featuring Rowan and Willow Inkwhisper, twin elves from a rainbow family with two moms. They use magic quills to write on their glowing scrolls to combat fear and bullies by transforming their feelings into powerful stories and pop songs for kids with similar families.
Through Pride Ink Poets, I combine everything I love: storytelling, emotional growth, creativity, magical characters, and music that lifts kids up. I believe that every child has a spark inside them waiting to shine!
The New Album: Brave Like a Dragon
My new album titled "Brave Like a Dragon," featuring twelve empowering pop-rock tracks, is currently streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes. It is based on the magical rainbow families Rowan and Willow witnessed in visions and dreams and characters they’ve seen in their magical forest!
My concept to blend music with short stories using artificial intelligence wasn’t to disregard live human singers and musicians but to attract them while empowering kids in rainbow families at the same time!
The Vision for Live Performances
My goal is to one day have live singers and musicians record their own version of this album by connecting with up-and-coming artists from programs like Queer Vibes at the San Francisco LGBTQ Center and other indie artists.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve believed in the healing power of stories, writing, and music. As a child, writing helped me navigate emotions I didn’t yet have words for. Creativity became my safe place — my way of making sense of the world.
The Need for Creative Outlets
Later, in my experience as an arts facilitator in a courthouse children’s waiting room and as a preschool teacher, I began to see how many children crave that same outlet: a space to express themselves freely, honestly, and magically. For kids in rainbow families, that need is even deeper.
Too often, LGBTQ+ families look for books, songs, and characters that reflect their lives — only to find empty shelves. Many say things like, “I’ve never seen a family like mine in a story,” or “I wish there was a character with two dads like me.” It breaks my heart. Not to mention the amount of bullying that children with gay and trans parents still endure in this country. It is my deep desire to empower children in rainbow families, especially during this tumultuous political climate the LGBTQ+ community is facing.
Advocacy and Support for Rainbow Families
As an activist, my aim is to support rainbow families. My heart is with those in Italy who are currently facing hardships due to Italy's right-wing government, which has started to restrict the listing of same-sex parents on birth certificates and impose bans on in vitro fertilization. The complete prohibition on same-sex couples having children in the country is infuriating. I will always stand as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community because I don't want the same situation to unfold in the US as we navigate today's political climate.
Despite the negative news that is unfortunately part of our lives, I am so grateful for my wife, who reminds me that art — in all its forms — is powerful, healing, and meant to be shared. I’m lucky to have an amazing wife whose creativity inspires me every single day. Her artistic talent, her eye for beauty, and her ability to see magic in the world fuel my own imagination.
The Impact of Bullying and Isolation
After learning about our dear friend’s children, who faced bullying due to having two moms during their childhood, I felt an even stronger desire to establish Pride Ink Poets. This platform would serve as a space for expressive writing, crafts, and empowering pop rock music that celebrates rainbow families in vibrant, joyful colors.
Now that our friend has grandchildren, I surprised her with a song I created for them using AI assistance called "Avi's the Best!" It's inspired by her granddaughter's nickname for her, derived from the Portuguese word "Avó," meaning grandma. Check out the song here! I'm sure your kids will love it if they enjoy pop dance music!
The Power of Stories and Music
Pride Ink Poets short stories turned pop songs are based on fairy warriors, mermaids, biker-grandma rock stars, dragon friends, magical LGBTQ moms and dads, and brave, bright kids who find strength in who they are. Expressive writing prompts will be included in my short stories because I want kids to not only read and listen to songs about courage — I want them to practice it and write about their feelings, their fears, their victories, and discover their inner world. They will realize how powerful they really are.
When I first used AI to help transform my short stories, they weren't just jingles — they were anthems. Pop rock empowerment songs that kids could dance to, sing to, and claim as their own. Songs that say:
“You belong.”
“You are strong.”
“You’re allowed to be proud.”
“Your family is beautiful and real.”
The Importance of Representation
I created Pride Ink Poets because kids deserve tools that help them feel confident. Stories, crafts, expressive writing, and music can change the way a child sees themselves. Representation matters. Creativity heals. Laughter, glitter, and rainbow crowns matter more than people realize.
But most of all? I'll keep creating stories, songs, writing prompts, workshops, and worlds — because I believe in these kids, their families, and the magic that happens when a child finally sees themselves reflected in the pages of a book… and in the beat of a song.
Keep shining!
Gina Vallance
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