Despite complaint, 3 LGBTQ books to remain at libraries across Orange County high schools

The Orange County Board of Education voted on Monday night to keep three LGBTQ books in high school libraries.

A complaint, which occurred at Cedar Ridge High School, about the books Gender Queer, Out of Darkness and Lawn Boy was received by Orange County Schools in October. Following an appeal of the decision by a school review committee and a district review committee, the school board voted unanimously for the books to stay on the shelves.

In a statement, school board members said while some people could find parts of the books problematic, each book "had artistic merit, spoke to the stories of marginalized groups that are either LGBTQ+, racial minorities or both and carried moving and important message."

"Each board member spoke to trusting and respecting the professional expertise of our school librarians and media specialists who had initially selected the books and decided to keep them upon review, our school review committee, as well as trusting our district review committee and final decision by our superintendent," the school board said in a statement.

But, school leaders said if a parent doesn't want their child to have access to the book, the school will honor and prevent the child from accessing it.

The books are not used in classroom instruction, but rather are available to be checked out.

Complaints over Gender Queer have also been received by Wake County Public Libraries and Wake County Public School System.