Barrington School District 220 Parents, County Commissioner Morrison Speak Out About Removing ‘Gender Queer’ Book From District Library Shelves

Dozens of concerned parents packed the Barrington School District 220 board meeting on July 12 demanding the removal of the book “Gender Queer” from the school’s digital and print library, calling it “pornographic” and inappropriate.

“We need to filter out obscene or pornographic media,” Jenna Shields told the board, suggesting a new protocol for book review.

Tuesday night’s school board meeting was the second in which 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 that “traces [the author’s] journey of self-identity,” according to book distributor Simon & Schuster.

Some board members at the meeting requested a discussion about how the district curates books, while others suggested waiting until this book is formally reviewed at the district level.

Shields told the board that 1,300 community members had signed a petition asking the district to opt out of Senate Bill 818 that provides new sex education curriculum. Hunt had announced during the meeting that the district chose not to pursue those suggestions. The petition, he said, also asked the district to reconsider what is promoted to students.

“We ask that an independent task force be developed that includes parent involvement and a rating system.”

Almost the entire audience rose in support.

There were some parents and other community stakeholders who called for requests to remove the book from the district’s shelves censorship and discrimination against the LGBTQ community in Barrington.

Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, whose 15th district includes Barrington Township, spoke during the meeting’s public comment position, saying he is the only openly gay commissioner on the county board. He said some opposing parents were targeting the LGBTQ community with dangerous language.

“I was once that queer kid in school who desperately wanted to not have to hide who I was through rejection, bullying or violence. Despite living in that closet, I experienced all of that,” Morrison said. “There are queer children inside[Schoold District] 220. Last year we saw a trans student on school property shot with a pellet gun. That is an unacceptable action.

“Having a curriculum that affirms the queer students who attend your schools is critical – they deserve to be seen and we deserve to support them,” Morrison said.

Another parent said that he is opposed to the future of the sex education initiative and is opposed to alternative lifestyles being exposed and pushed onto children.

Superintendent Robert Hunt told the audience that the district has a procedure for book reviews, which is posted on the district’s website, and that the school’s review was completed on “Gender Queer.”

He said the district-level review is ongoing and he anticipates it will be completed at the September school board meeting.

Some board members suggested changing the policy so there is more discussion about how the district selects books. Hunt said professional educators should be part of the process of evaluating books and determining what’s best for students.

Shannon Feineis, a physics teacher at Barrington High School who has two young children in the district, told the board that she was championing the opportunity for her children to have a choice of books they can check out from the school library.

“Censoring award-winning books because some people don’t agree with the content is a slippery slope,” Feineis said. “Choosing to censor, ban and remove books that represent the judgments of the LGBTQ teen community leads to further ignorance of a community that already feels misunderstood and marginalized.”

Another mother said that her daughter was part of the queer community and struggled. She said being able to read about similar people in similar situations can help gay teens feel normal.

Village manager Emily Young said she also agrees queer-specific books should be available.

“There are students in our community who are asking these questions and looking for resources to answer them,” Young said. “They can be a lifeline for queer youth.”

Signs held up in the audience read: “Our children need to be taught how to think, not what to think.”

Many speakers said they were not homophobic and had friends who were gay, but were focused on having age-appropriate material, not graphic porn, available to kids at school.

“It’s not about the fact that it’s LGBTQIA content,” said parent Gina Williams. “There are hundreds of books in our libraries about inclusion. This is about porn. They are accessible inappropriate graphics with a high school sign.

“Protect our children, protect their innocence, keep it out of the school library,” Williams said.

Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is self-employed.