Concerned parents packed the room at the July 12, 2022 meeting of the Barrington School District Board of Education, with some calling for removal of the book “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe from the district. Others said removing the book would amount to censorship. (Barrington School District / HANDOUT)
Dozens of concerned parents crowded the July 12 Barrington School District 220 board meeting demanding the removal of the book “Gender Queer” from the school print and digital library, calling it “porn” and inappropriate.
“We need to filter obscene or pornographic media,” Jenna Shields told the board, and suggested a new protocol for book review.
The Tuesday night school board meeting was the second one where some parents shared their outrage over this book and others, along with the district’s book review process.
“Gender Queer” is author Maia Kobabe’s “intensely cathartic autobiography” graphic novel which “charts [the author’s] journey of self-identity,” according to book distributor Simon & Schuster.
Some board members at the meeting requested a discussion on the way the district curates books while others suggested waiting until this book is formally reviewed at the district level.
Shields told the board a petition had been signed by 1,300 community members asking the district to opt out of Senate Bill 818 which offers new sex education curriculum. Hunt had announced during the meeting that the district chose not to follow those suggestions. The petition, she said, also asked the district to reconsider what is promoted to students.
“We ask for an independent task force that includes parent participation be developed and a ratings system.”
Almost all of the audience stood in support.
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