Commonwealth Policy Center

Jefferson County Public School libraries are being pressured to drop the controversial book, “Gender Queer.” Parents believe the book should be banned for its graphic and obscene content. However, some teachers and administrators believe the book should remain in libraries. They say it’s important to carry books with LGBTQ characters. This story raises an important question: can we no longer agree that some material simply does not belong in public schools? Administrators claim that not having this material in schools will stir up division and hatred. They also point to the suicide rates among LGBTQ youth. But Miranda Stovall, one of the parents fighting to get the book banned, said it best, “Accepting and loving children does not mean putting pornography in their hands.”