‘Will & Grace’ creator donates gay ‘Marlon Bundo’ book to every school in Indiana

Will & Grace creator Max Mutchnick has announced he’s donating copies of John Oliver’s gay Marlon Bundo book to elementary schools in Indiana, Mike Pence’s home state. 

Last month, Last Week Tonight host John Oliver released an LGBT parody of Mike Pence’s children’s book Marlon Bundo’s Day in the Life of the Vice President, which was written by Pence’s daughter Charlotte, illustrated by his wife Karen and tells the story of their family pet rabbit inside the White House.

Oliver’s A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo gay parody topped Amazon’s best-seller list just two days after its release and Will & Grace showrunner Max Mutchnick announced this week that he will be donating copies of the children’s book to every elementary school in Indiana in protest against Mike Pence and his anti-LGBT views. 

Mutchnick, who co-created Will & Grace with David Kohan, announced the news in an Instagram post on Friday (March 30) in which he revealed why he had bought 1,121 copies of the children’s book. 

He wrote: “I was blown away by the new John Oliver children’s book, A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo. With Easter upon us, I wanted to not only support the brilliance of John Oliver, but also celebrate the Gayest Bunny of Them All: The Easter Bunny.

“So I decided to buy a copy of Oliver’s Bundo (Written by Jill Twiss) for every public grammar school in Indiana. All 1,121 of them.”

He continued: “Here’s why: Mike Pence has had an enormous platform in Indiana, and as it relates to gay people, he’s used it to spread a message of intolerance. By donating these books, I hope to counter those efforts and provide positive role models and a story of inclusion for children in Pence’s home state.

“If this book can help one boy or girl in Indiana love and accept who they are, I know both Marlon Bundos would be proud – even though one of them is on the downlow.” 

 

I was blown away by the new John Oliver children’s book, “A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo.” With Easter upon us, I wanted to not only support the brilliance of John Oliver, but also celebrate the Gayest Bunny of Them All: The Easter Bunny. So I decided to buy a copy of Oliver’s “Bundo” (written by Jill Twiss) for every public grammar school in Indiana. All 1,121 of them. Here’s why: Mike Pence has had an enormous platform in Indiana, and as it relates to gay people, he’s used it to spread a message of intolerance. By donating these books, I hope to counter those efforts and provide positive role models and a story of inclusion for children in Pence’s home state. If this book can help one boy or girl in Indiana love and accept who they are, I know both Marlon Bundos would be proud—even though one of them is on the downlow.

A post shared by Max Mutchnick (@maxmutchnick) on Mar 30, 2018 at 2:12pm PDT

According to NewNowNext, each book will be accompanied by a signed letter from Mutchnick reading: “I would like to donate this copy of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo to your library. After hearing about the book, I brought it home and read it to my twin daughters. It’s a poignant story about how love and community can rise above intolerance.

“My grammar school library was something I always remembered as a safe haven. Books will allow children to dream and hope, but you know that already. Thanks to libraries and librarians like you, storytelling not only became my passion – it also became my profession. I hope your students enjoy this book as much as my family and I did.” 

All proceeds from sales of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo benefit LGBT charities The Trevor Project and AIDS United.