Public commentary reached a fever pitch Tuesday night at a Roxbury Board of Education meeting where some 80 speakers signed up to debate banning books at the high school library. Protesters waved signs showing illustrations from LGBTQ-themed books, calling them pornographic and demanding the board order them off the shelves.
“Children’s books like ‘Gender Queer,’ ‘Blankets,’ ‘Let’s Talk About It’ and ‘Fun Home’ all have explicit cartoons and stomach-turning descriptions of minors engaging in oral sex, rape and kink,” one parent claimed.
But right-to-read advocates argued students need books that discuss more than one point of view. “Our kids need access, truth and support, not hate and denial. Please reject any proposal that would give them anything less. There is no LGBTQ agenda. There is no trans agenda other than keeping our children alive,” one told the board. Another parent said, “I implore the board to uphold the rights of families and students here in Roxbury and not to be bullied by a vocal minority.”
The six-hour hearing drew cheers, jeers and heckling from the emotionally-charged crowd, especially for Roxbury school librarian Roxana Russo Caivano, who fought to block books from being banned last fall. She has sued four parents for defamation over toxic exchanges. The librarian again defended her decision to keep books on the shelves. “That is what a school library is for: free access. The books are there so students can find complete information, not just one side of the story,” Caivano told the audience.
The board reported that a special committee has already decided to return one challenged book — “Gender Queer” — to library shelves. Another — “Let’s Talk About It” — is behind the librarian’s desk and requires parental permission for students to read. Meanwhile, the Library Committee is establishing a new policy based on literary merit to determine whether books can remain in circulation.
