'Gender Queer' returns to Wake County Public Libraries while book removal policy goes through revision
"Gender Queer," a comic strip about an author's journey to identifying as transgender, is returning to Wake County Public Libraries while the library system updates its policy for permanently removing books.
The county's library managers pulled the book in December after some parents said it contained pornography. But, others, including Wake County librarians, pushed back on the removal.
During a Wake County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, library officials shared the steps being taken to update the removal process, a press release from the library system said.
"Using this knowledge, staff is revising Wake County's process to make it more transparent and offer more opportunities for diverse input before making a decision," the library system said in a statement.
Once the revision is finished, library officials said it will have to be approved by library administration, the Community Services Department and the Wake County Manager's Office.
Since "Gender Queer" was removed using the original removal policy, library officials said the book would return to shelves for now.
Once the removal policy is updated, "Gender Queer" and "Lawn Boy," another LGBTQ graphic novel, will be re-evaluated using the new policy.
"Lawn Boy" had previously been reviewed using the old removal policy and deemed able to stay in circulation, library officials said.
