Wake County Public Libraries removes LGBTQ book from circulation after complaint
An LGBTQ book criticized by some parents and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has been pulled from circulation by Wake County Public Libraries.
The book, “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, was removed after the county got a complaint about it.
“WCPL is committed to thoroughly reviewing titles when we receive a formal request from the community,” said Alice Avery, spokesperson for Wake County. “After the review, WCPL determined that the book does contain explicit illustrations that do not align with WCPL’s selection policy. This is the only book that WCPL has pulled in the 2021 calendar year.”
Gender Queer is a graphic novel, or story in comic-strip format, about the author’s journey of identifying as nonbinary and asexual. An analysis by The News & Observer found “a few sexual scenes in this book, as well as a few illustrations involving nudity and erotic scenarios.”
Wake County originally had 19 copies of the book, but some were lost or weren’t returned.
The seven copies on the shelves this year had been checked out 61 times before they were removed, Avery said. More than 30 people were on the waitlist to read the graphic novel.
Dolph Goldenburg, interim executive director of the LGBT Center of Raleigh, said the center wasn’t asked about how removing the book might impact LGBTQ residents.
“While I have not read the book ‘Gender Queer,’ and can’t comment on its content, we believe that all libraries should offer easily-accessible LGBTQ+ affirming and supportive titles,” Goldenburg said in a statement. “Since the library system has determined that ‘Gender Queer’ isn’t consistent with its selection policy, we are offering to provide WCPL 25 queer affirming titles for every copy of ‘Gender Queer’ that has been removed from circulation.”
Complaint process
When the county receives a formal complaint, the book is reviewed by the senior library manager with consultation from other top library staff, Avery said.
“This is a very established process,” said Wake County Commissioner Chair Sig Hutchinson. “Patrons can bring forward books that they feel are too explicit. And the process is staff will read the book and then discuss it. And if they feel that it is too explicit, then they can remove the book. The process is working exactly as it should.”
Wake County also received a complaint about “Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison, but the library system decided to keep the book in circulation, Avery said.
These two books and others have been criticized locally and nationally for their graphic language and sexual images.
Nine criminal complaints, targeting “Gender Queer: A Memoir” and “Lawn Boy” and others, were filed in early December with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office is in communication with the DA’s Office but had no update Wednesday, said Eric Curry, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
The complaints accuse the Wake County Public School System of distributing obscene and pornographic material. Some parents have also read excerpts of the books at Wake County school board meetings.
Lisa Luten, spokesperson for the school system, said some parents have formally objected to the books in the school libraries, triggering a review process now underway. It includes the creation of a committee made up of parents and teachers to look over the books.
Copies of the graphic novel are available at other area public libraries including Chapel Hill, Durham and Orange County.
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 3:18 PM.
