PERRIS, Calif. — California’s leaders are cautioning schools statewide against book bans as the American Library Association tallied more than 1,200 demands to censor library books and resources last year. That’s a record high largely aimed at stories by or about people of color and the LGBTQ+ communities.

Instead of dad, Devon Taylor is called "uncle" by D, a 12-year-old Spectrum News is identifying by first initial for privacy concerns. He’s one of four nieces and nephews Taylor and his partner, Jean Carlo Tavares, care for.

This arrangement came about suddenly because Taylor says the kids were in unsafe conditions. They’re all coming up on their second Father’s Day together — a holiday with new significance.

As school districts bicker about LGBTQ+ issues, D’s take is straightforward.

“I just think it’s disrespectful when people say stuff about gay people. I’m just like, well, my uncle and his partner are gay, so then like that’s disrespectful,” said D.

When the kids first moved in, Taylor quit his job so he could devote his full attention to parental duties. Somehow — with the kids' help — he also wrote a book titled “Icurus Finds His Power.” The work of fiction parallels their collective story; it’s about finding your chosen family. They all went to Florida to share and promote this accomplishment where some strict book bans — often targeting LGBTQ+ authors and topics — are enacted.

This experience empowered Taylor to start on the second novel.

“We’re fighting for our rights constantly and everything that we do can be scrutinized in ways that are clearly unfair,” said Taylor.

Despite what he’s been through, D maintains a cheery outlook.

“How does it feel to have, like, almost two, well, two dads technically, or two guardians that are males?” asked Taylor.

“I think it’s fine. I think I actually like that because if I’m in trouble I got two big like bodyguards. It’s like two bodyguards in the house,” said D.