Maine is an fascinating case research in ebook banning. Ranked in the highest 10 least populated states in the U.S., it has additionally been among the many states seeing massive leaps in inhabitants because the starting of the pandemic — 20,000 new residents moved to Maine between 2020 and 2022.
Since mid-2022, the state has seen a number of ebook challenges occurring in school districts. Many got here on the heels of a $600,000 advert purchase from Maine Families First, a conservative political motion group, who poured that cash into a marketing campaign towards the reelection of state governor Janet Mills, a democrat. Maine Families First’s 30-second tv business juxtaposed falling check scores throughout the state with the inclusion of books like Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer being made obtainable in faculty libraries. The suggestion, after all, was that Mills spent extra money on making an attempt to “indoctrinate” younger folks than guarantee they excelled at standardized testing. The funding got here from GOP donors outdoors of the state with ties to the Claremont Institute.
The boogeyman marketing campaign was a well timed alternative to grab on the lead speaking factors of right-wing Christian nationalists, suggesting that educators and academics are indoctrinating their college students moderately than instructing the fundamentals of studying, writing, and math.
Maine retains biannual information concerning the younger folks dwelling in their state. In 2021, the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey discovered that 28% of excessive schoolers recognized as queer — the majority of these bisexual — whereas for center schoolers, the quantity averaged round 21%, with female-identifying center schoolers more likely to self-identify as members of the LGBTQ+ group.
Even earlier than the assault marketing campaign, Maine residents have been in Gender Queer. This is in half because of the ebook’s explosion in challenges and bans throughout the nation, in addition to in half resulting from native faculty districts debating whether or not or not it was applicable to incorporate in their collections. In August final yr, there have been prolonged waitlists for the title in public libraries state-wide. A search of MaineCat in May 2023 exhibits still-lengthy wait instances in some communities, with most copies of the award-winning graphic memoir being checked out.
Eight faculty districts in the state have obtained challenges to Gender Queer since August 2022. Of these eight challenges, although, seven have been unsuccessful. Those seven faculty districts elected to maintain the title on cabinets and accessible to college students, regardless of disaster performing from inside and outdoors the group; they did so regardless of the spate of commercials pushing the ebook as a part of a right-wing agenda; and so they did it regardless of the very fact the ebook has been banned again and again elsewhere all through the states.
What’s made the distinction?
All of the knowledge under is what has been found by search and compilation of knowledge over the previous two years. This doesn’t account for colleges that haven’t reported ebook bans, media that has did not cowl ebook bans, nor educators/librarians who’ve elected to take part in quiet/smooth censorship in their services.
Challenges to Gender Queer in Maine
RSU 40, Serving Union, Friendship, Waldoboro, Warren, and Washington
Date of first problem: October 2021
Date of attraction: June 2022
Status: Book Retained, May 2021 and Book Retained, October 2022
RSU 40 dealt with a number of challenges for greater than a yr over Gender Queer. After the preliminary problem in October 2021, they district adopted their coverage and created a committee to overview the ebook. After the committee learn the ebook, they elected to maintain it on cabinets. Note that the ebook had solely been checked out as soon as previous to the formal problem.
In June 2022, the ebook was challenged once more. This time, the varsity board was charged with making a choice, so your entire board learn the ebook and scheduled the ultimate choice assembly for October. Over 100 folks confirmed up in individual and over 70 nearly to weigh in on whether or not or not the ebook was pornographic.
The board elected after two hours of public remark to make use of their experiences studying the ebook to maintain it on cabinets.
A key remark from a guardian and principal in the district, as reported by the Lincoln County News:
“Parents like Scott White, principal of Union Elementary School, admitted that some pictures and content in the book made them uncomfortable, but said they understood more of and felt more empathetic to the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth after reading. White and other speakers urged the board to consider the images in context.”
Regional School Unit 56, serving Dixfield, Maine
Date of problem: June 2022
Status: Book Retained, June 2022; Book Banned, August 2022
RSU 56 is the one faculty district in Maine to ban the ebook Gender Queer so far.
But this story shouldn’t be as easy because it might sound. The ebook, initially challenged by three ladies in the district, went by the method set forth by the varsity for formal overview. It handed — certainly, Gender Queer mirrored the varsity’s instructional wants and was extremely reviewed and regarded and age applicable for the highschool. You can learn your entire choice right here.
Days later, the identical three complainants selected attraction the choice and the August 2022 board assembly grew to become a possibility for them and their “parental rights” advocate companions to point out up and hog the highlight. At that assembly, the Board members have been now in the place to make the choice concerning the ebook. You can learn by their reasoning, and also you’ll see one thing fascinating — the one who proposed the removing did so not on the grounds of the pictures of the ebook, which have been the central focus of the ebook banners, however as a substitute on the grounds of “health.” From the minutes, Marianne Young acknowledged the next, as summarized:
“There’s so much bad advice and things that are not said that is concerning. It’s the harmful behavior that is exhibited with no repercussions, with no idea how to deal with that. It has nothing to do with gender dysphoria. It wasn’t the book she expected it to be. She doesn’t object to most things that most people object to. Speaking broadly, her concern is the health and safety and what is not said.”
Young’s Facebook web page is peppered in “Blue Lives Matter” propaganda and exhibits no indication of her background in adolescent improvement, queer id, nor in medication, well being, or security. She likes Fox News and Fox News Updates.
The RSU 56 is our outlier case in Maine. But it’s not essentially an outlier in phrases of the broader nation. Instead, the argument made in favor of banning had “nothing” to do with the pictures and as a substitute, a bogus declare over the well being and security of scholars. This, regardless of the very fact the Board members acknowledge most individuals didn’t even know the ebook was in the highschool library. The ebook proceeded by the district’s problem coverage appropriately, as the choice made in the primary committee was appealed and went earlier than the Board.
All Board members in attendance learn the ebook, regardless that their capability to know it was actually coloured by their perception in themselves as consultants on literacy, library collections, and, it appears, teen well being. The Board believed they knew greater than those that labored with younger folks each single day.
But your takeaway right here is that this: the pictures ebook banners introduced and used as scare ways and “proof” of porn and obscenity have been not the rationale the ebook was eliminated.
Let’s transfer to the remainder of the Maine challenges of Gender Queer, although.
RSU 58, Serving Phillips, Avon, Kingfield, and Strong
Date of Challenge: August 2022
Status: The ebook was by no means really in the varsity district
State Representative Mike Soboleski, who was simply elected into his place. determined to point out as much as the varsity board and demand to have extra time than public feedback are allotted. What did he do together with his time? He demanded to know what content material was in the varsity libraries and mentioned that there shouldn’t solely be a score system, however Gender Queer and another books (not named, after all) shouldn’t be in the gathering. There’s a bonus rant about transgender athletes as nicely.
The ebook was not eliminated as a result of the ebook shouldn’t be in the gathering. But a politician thought he’d small authorities sufficient to be above the foundations and never do the work to see if the ebook was in the district.
RSU 73 Serving Spruce Mountain
Date of Challenge: September 2022
Status: Book retained, November 2022
A five-member committee was appointed as quickly because the ebook was formally challenged in September, and it included a pupil consultant. The dialogue of the ebook on the board assembly introduced in the complainants, however a number of in opposition to banning the ebook got here as nicely. A doctor pushed again on claims the ebook was obscene and violated authorized definitions of obscenity, noting that if that have been the case, each well being ebook used in the district would should be banned as nicely.
Most members of the board and committee decided the ebook (together with White Fragility) was applicable for the library. The remaining feedback from the superintendent actually spotlight one thing lacking in so many of those discussions–he learn the ebook and received it.
“While I was reading this book it pulled at my heartstrings knowing we have students who are struggling with their identity,” mentioned Superintendent Albert, based on the Sun Journal. “If having this book can help them, then I am for it. Individual parents have the right to not allow their child to take out this book. If not given this option, I might feel differently.”
The faculty adopted their coverage, appointed a overview committee, and everybody concerned in the choice making course of learn the ebook cowl to cowl. This, regardless of the ebook disaster actor who wore a shirt with pictures from the ebook to “prove” them pornographic.
MSAD 6, Bonny Eagle District, Serving Buxton, Hollis, Standish, Limington, and Frye Island
Date of Challenge: August 2022
Status: Retained in October 2022
Only one of many 10 members concerned in the choice over Gender Queer voted towards retaining the title in the MSAD 6 faculty district. The group exhibiting on the assembly was comparatively low, with about 20 in attendance. One board member remarked that due to worry of harassment, a number of adults and college students in the LGBTQ+ group elected to not come.
Although many board members discovered the ebook tough to learn, they discovered the expertise worthwhile. Erika Creutz mentioned in the event that they have been to take away the ebook for the rationale of nudity, so, too, would they should take away dozens of different related books, together with Stephen King’s It. One board member acknowledged this whole dialogue was pointless, as dad and mom have already got the rights to find out books their college students can’t entry, and nonetheless one other talked about how tough a journey Kobabe shared in eir ebook, then famous it doesn’t meet the usual of pornography.
The single board member who rejected the ebook in the course of the vote was Julia Anderson. Anderson additionally rejected preserving It’s Perfectly Normal a month earlier. Of curiosity is the truth that Anderson herself donated a few books to the district following the choice, believing she wanted to “balance out” the gender books in the gathering. One of the books she donated, Irreversible Damage was deemed inappropriate for the varsity assortment — and never due to its theme however as a result of it isn’t a ebook of curiosity or relevance to youngsters in the district.
Maine School Administrative District 52, Serving Turner, Greene, and Leeds
Date of Challenge: November 2022, Decision Appealed December 2022
Status: Book Retained November 2022, Book Retained January 2023
The preliminary overview committee discovered the ebook to be completely applicable at the highschool degree, noting that it could not be made obtainable to these under ninth grade and that at no time, would the ebook be required studying. The findings weren’t ok for Tara Sue Levesque, who appealed the choice, bringing it to the total faculty board committee.
Some of the board felt uncomfortable with some pictures, however in addition they acknowledged they noticed the worth for highschool college students in studying the ebook. More, the varsity’s opt-out insurance policies made it so dad and mom who didn’t need their youngsters to have entry may guarantee they didn’t get it.
The pupil committee member famous that regardless that it was not a ebook she’d select to learn, she did and believes it has worth to many others.
The choice to maintain the ebook was met with deep enthusiasm by the varsity librarian who, in addition to the library, oversees the varsity’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance. She famous because the ebook started to trigger controversy amongst some dad and mom, it became quite popular in the library.
RSU 24, Serving Eastbrook, Franklin, Gouldsboro, Mariaville, Steuben, Sorrento, Sullivan, Waltham and Winter Harbor
Date of Challenge: January 2023
Status: Book Retained March 2023
Following the preliminary problem of Gender Queer (together with Queer: The Ultimate Guide for LGBT Teens), a district committee was fashioned to make a choice. The make-up of that committee isn’t solely clear, however they elected to maintain the books with restricted entry. The choice was appealed, bringing it to the total faculty board to resolve.
Several board members famous feeling uncomfortable with the ebook, however they made the choice to maintain the ebook. Again, with restrictions.
“I believe that there is definitely material in both of these books that people have a right to feel is challenging, especially for middle schoolers,” mentioned Board of Directors Chairperson Roy Gott, based on Ellsworth American. “I believe that the overarching message information contained in them is more valuable than any negative aspects that might come from the more controversial pieces.”
The difficult a part of this story comes right here: the varsity doesn’t have a librarian proper now, and thus, separating out books applicable for top schoolers and people for center schoolers shouldn’t be precisely straightforward. This will apparently be one of many first duties the librarian takes on, every time they resolve to rent one. In the interim between the preliminary criticism and board choice, the books have been stored in the steerage counselor’s workplace.
More, this assembly led to a proposal to vary their assortment insurance policies and the way people can problem materials. According to this text, that introduced extra consternation from attendees than the ebook ban choices. Why? Because the brand new coverage requires complainants to learn your entire ebook they’re difficult.
RSU 14, Serving Windham and Raymond
Date of Challenge: February 2023, Appealed April 2023
Status: Retained April 2023, Retained May 2023
This district’s problem of Gender Queer got here with a batch of different challenges, and this one made waves amongst right-wing information websites for the ebook disaster performing carried out by an 11-year-old who learn from the ebook throughout public remark. Allegedly, a minimum of — you by no means see the proof of that on respectable web sites.
The preliminary ebook overview committee for Gender Queer elected to maintain the ebook on highschool cabinets in April. At that assembly, the board had but to obtain an attraction, but it surely got here shortly after. Upon attraction, the district’s board learn and mentioned the ebook and elected to maintain it in the highschool.
Throughout the method, the district has stored folks abreast of the standing of ebook challenges and laid out clearly the method for problem and overview. They have adopted their tips precisely.
You can watch the board assembly dialogue for the ultimate choice right here, together with how they did their analysis on figuring out equitable entry to materials in colleges and for LGBTQ+ college students. Imagine: professionals doing their analysis by precise informational assets and presenting it to right-wing “parental rights” of us simply attempting to ban books (the instigator in this incident, Courtney Edwards, is an lively member of a “Maine Parental Rights” and gleefully exhibits off her satisfaction in “not coparenting with the government” — she doesn’t consider she’s banning books, by the by).
Why are Maine colleges preserving Gender Queer when challenged?
There are two massive causes that emerge simply in studying the tales above as to why challenges to Gender Queer in Maine finish unsuccessfully for “parental rights” activists.
First, each faculty adopted its personal reconsideration coverage. This sounds fairly easy, however there are nonetheless far too many faculties and libraries missing a problem coverage — not to mention a robust one — and as we’ve seen all through the nation, many books get pulled as a result of the choice makers aren’t bothering to comply with the insurance policies (see why Escambia County in Florida is at present being sued). Each utilized a committee of college workers in step one of many course of, then allowed the challenger to attraction that call. Once appealed, the choice on the ebook went to the varsity board.
That’s the place the second purpose for profitable retention of Gender Queer comes in.
Every member of the varsity boards learn the ebook. With the singular exception, each board determined to maintain the ebook in the gathering as a result of even when they themselves didn’t benefit from the story nor see themselves choosing it up on their very own, by studying the ebook in its entirety, they developed an understanding of its goal and have been thus not swayed by a few cherry picked pictures that ebook banners have been utilizing as “proof” of obscenity. Indeed, board members articulated that the ebook’s pictures weren’t obscene and have been a part of Kobabe’s understanding of eir id. In a minimum of one case, the board members articulated their choice based mostly on the ebook and on further analysis they did on “obscenity” and “pornography.”
The takeaway right here is easy. Books don’t get banned when districts have a well-written coverage, after they comply with the coverage, and when those that make the ultimate choices learn the ebook.
Indeed, it’s maybe the ultimate piece price reiterating. Once the directors and board members learn the ebook, they developed a sense of empathy and understanding not just for Kobabe, however for different gender queer younger folks rising up at present itching to seek out the form of mirrors that didn’t exist even a decade in the past.
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