‘Gender Queer’ graphic novel may be removed from Southwest Michigan school library

By Ryan Boldry I rboldry@mlive.com

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI — A controversial LGBTQIA graphic novel was at the center of conversation for community members, faculty members, parents, and grandparents at Monday’s Galesburg-Augusta school board meeting.

“Gender Queer,” a 2019 memoir written by Maia Kobabe about their journey coming out as nonbinary, was recently removed from the shelves of Galesburg-Augusta High School. A review committee, which includes the district’s library clerks and members of the district’s reproductive health committee, is now giving the book a closer look. The committee will determine whether the book should return to the library.

Discussion regarding the possible permanent removal of the book brought out people on both sides of the issue at the Monday, April 17, meeting, which was hosted at the high school library.

“I have read it,” said Wendy Somers, Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools superintendent. “And I very much want to assure the public that we are not a board that is interested in banning books.

“In fact, if there is a high school around where LGBTQ students come because of how inclusive it is ... it is this school.”

Somers said the book, which contains graphic sexual imagery, had prompted multiple parents to complain about its place in the library. A decision on whether the book will return to the shelves is expected in May, she said.

“We’re going to do a thorough review and ask critical questions,” Somers said. She stressed the importance of having books in the library that LGBTQIA students can read and feel supported by.

“Again, it is not the content as much as it is that it is a graphic novel,” she said. Somers confirmed that “Gender Queer” is the only book under review by the district.

Resident Ashley Kauffman stressed that the point of a graphic novel is to represent feelings and concepts through images. She said “Gender Queer” serves as a voice and a resource for people who are struggling with identity.

Kauffman said she could think of at least three other books on the library shelves, one with an explicit, straight, rape scene, that should be examined if this book is being examined. But the better route is, if a parent doesn’t want their kid to read a book, the parent should communicate that with their child, she said.

For parent Cory Hinga, the book isn’t a problem because it involves the LGBTQ demographic. His issue is the fact it includes “sexually graphic material in the book, nude drawings ... displaying lewd sex acts, including masturbation, oral sex, sex toys.”

“Those are all things that just don’t belong in school, regardless of the sexual orientation of the book,” Hinga said, who has two kids in the district. “I have no problem with 95% or more of the book. It’s strictly those few images.”

Since other books are not being considered, banning just this book would send a dangerous message to the LGBTQIA community, others argued.

“We have several books in our library that are pretty explicit around all topics, including sex, race, gender and drugs. It’s a little sticky if we start with one,” said Theresa Shepherd, a special education teacher in the district.

Shepherd, who also has a grandchild in the district, said “books are supposed to be the window to the world. She, herself, has questioned whether certain National Geographic publications should be in the school library due to their images.

“In order to grow as people we need to face things that are uncomfortable,” she said.

Banning books will not ban LGBTQIA people, said Grace Gheen, director of communications with OutFront Kalamazoo.

“Banning books will encourage even more censorship in the public library space,” Gheen said. “Beyond this slippery slope is the bad messaging that LGBTQIA people are wrong.”

Gheen, an educator, is a parent of three sons, one who is transgender.

“Our job as parents and educated adults is to prepare our students for a world that includes all types of people,” she said. “If you are uncomfortable with the book, choose not to read it.”

Gheen said many people toss around words like “freedom,” but when they become uncomfortable by a book content and demand its removal, they are eliminating freedom and choice for others.

“My concern is that it doesn’t stop at this book,” said district resident Jennifer Zimmer, a librarian and parent of a graduate.

Zimmer pointed out the memoir is an award-winning book.

She has previously taught “Schindler’s List” to high school students. The film has nudity in it, but she felt the educational value of the film outweighed the nudity.

She asked that the board consider what’s more important.

“I want students to live,” Zimmer said. “Trans and nonbinary students have an exponentially increased risk for suicide. And to me the idea that a cartoon drawing could be more important than that is ....” She ended without finishing her sentence.

Books are how we can see ourselves and the world around us, said Tracy Hall, executive director of OutFront Kalamazoo.

“When I was growing up, as a Gen X-er, we didn’t have books about me, not even close,” Hall said. “But the straight ones did not make me straight.” Hall said that for queer students, books like “Gender Queer” validate their existence.

Jeff Lane, a grandparent of students in the district, asked the board keep things in perspective, pertaining to the book.

“I’ve read the book,” Lane said. “In my opinion, it’s pornographic.”

Lane said the district should look at all books, as well as magazines like National Geographic, that contain nudity.

“In my opinion, kids should learn about life from their parents and grandparents. ... I think there’s zillions of books that don’t involve critical race theory or transexual books of that nature, or anything to do with sex,” Lane said. “I think it’s our responsibility to teach our children about sex.”

District parent Heather Kasten agreed, also calling the book “pornographic” and pointing out “Gender Queer” is the “number one banned book in all of the United States.”

Book banning has become part of the culture war and emotional convictions are strong, Christine Babcock said. She grew up with conservative ministers as parents and they found out she was queer before she was ready to come out.

“Reading books with LGBTQ characters saved my life,” Babcock said. “Reading stories about people like me saved my life.”

Original link: https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2023/04/gender-queer-graphic-novel-may-be-removed-from-southwest-michigan-school-library.html