Facing pressure from concerned parents, Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia has announced that it will remove copies of a graphic novel containing explicit sexual scenes.
The book in question, “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” was created by California cartoonist Maia Kobabe. It sparked controversy in Virginia and several other states after parents complained about the book’s graphic depiction of adolescent sexual acts.
“The pictorial depictions in this book ran counter to what is appropriate in school,” Ziegler said. “I read every book that is submitted for my review in its entirety. I am not generally in favor of removing books from the library.”
“It’s shocking that images, and even some words, that federal law prohibits TV stations to share with adults are the same images being shared with Virginia students with no accountability,” said Victoria Coley, vice president of communications at IWV.
Meanwhile, the neighboring Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) announced in November 2021 that it would restore “Gender Queer” to its libraries, two months after the school district agreed to remove the book alongside “Lawn Boy,” a young adult novel by Jonathan Evison, following complaints about sexually explicit content.
A semi-autobiography of its non-binary author, “Gender Queer” contains illustrations of sexual acts, masturbation, and sex toys. “Lawn Boy” involves an adult man reflecting on sexual encounters he had with another boy when they were in the fourth grade. Both books were winners of the American Library Association’s Alex Awards, which are given every year to 10 “books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults ages 12 through 18.”
FCPS officials said in a statement that the decision to reinstate the books reaffirmed the district’s “ongoing commitment to provide diverse reading materials that reflect our student population, allowing every child an opportunity to see themselves reflected in literary characters.”
“Both reviews concluded that the books were valuable in their potential to reach marginalized youth who may struggle to find relatable literary characters that reflect their personal journeys,” the statement reads.
Stacy Langton, a parent in the Fairfax County school system, said that when she read out sexually explicit excerpts from “Gender Queer” and “Lawn Boy” at the public comment session of a school board meeting, the board chair cut her off, ironically reminding her that “there were children in the audience.”
