Library Board Members in Garnett voted unanimously last week to keep a controversial and graphically illustrated transgender account in the library’s Adult Non-Fiction Section, over objections from opponents of the book who argued it is pornographic.
“Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe, who identifies herself as “non-Binary”, meaning neither male or female, has been sparking controversy for similar criticism across the country and has been banned in a number of public and school libraries. The book chronicles Kobabe’s adolescent progression to determining she had no identity as male or female and uses cartooned, graphic illustrations to strengthen her narrative.
Adult Services Coordinator, Tegan Modica, told the Board that the book was held in the Adult Non-Fiction section and said parents concerned about their children’s reading materials should exercise their own judgement and oversight, but that right didn’t extend to other children and other homes.
