Wake County librarians protest 'Gender Queer' book removal
Dozens of Wake County librarians are calling for the book Gender Queer - a graphic novel designed in comic-strip form about the author's journey to identifying as transgender - to be back on shelves.
Posted — UpdatedWake County spokeswoman Alice Avery said the book was removed after the library system received a complaint about it.
In a written statement, Avery said the library system "determined the book does contain explicit illustrations that do not align with the library's selection policy."
But one librarian, who asked not to be identified by WRAL News, said the book's removal sends the wrong message.
"I absolutely disagree," the Wake County librarian countered. "I've actually read the book. I would be OK with my 11 year old son reading the book. I would want to be with him to explain therein."
The librarian was one of 55 librarians who signed a letter from the group 'Wake County Free to Read.' The letter states that Wake County librarians should have been included in the library system's decision-making process to remove the book.
"We're a library. We're not supposed to be censoring other voices. That's antithetical to what we stand for," the librarian said.
"I knew the precedent that could be set for pulling titles like this," she added.
The librarian said that she wants to close the book on any such precedent.
"We give voice to everyone — whether we agree with them or not," she said.
In an email sent to library staff this week, selection manager Daniel Brooks said he's assembling a group of librarians to develop a new process for book selection and removal.
Lisa Behrens, who serves as chair of the Wake County Library Commission, which serves as an advisory panel to county commissioners sent WRAL News the following statement about the book's removal:
"We share concerns about the book removal process and we're actively listening to the public discussion on this. The library's book selection and reconsideration process needs to be transparent and inclusive."
Behren said this will be a key focus in their January meeting, but added that she does not have a position on any specific book.
"This book is important for people who are [transgender] or who feel they might but," said the librarian. "If we take this book off the shelves, we're telling them that their voices don't matter [and] that their voices are pornographic."
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