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The Harlem School District 122 Board of Education voted to remove the book “Gender Queer: A Memoir” from the high school library in a 5 to 2 vote on Monday.
NBC affiliate WREX reported that a parent had challenged eight books in the school library in December. A committee of teachers and librarians reviewed the books and recommended that all be kept on the shelves. However, the school board decided to remove one.
All of the books focused on marginalized communities.
“We are not telling students their identity is inappropriate. We are saying the images in the book are too obscene for our school,” said Board Vice President Jill Berogan at Monday night’s meeting, according to the TV station.
Harlem High School Librarian Leah Krippner told WREX that “Gender Queer” has been listed as a nominee for the Abraham Lincoln Reader’s Choice Award for Illinois for the 2022-2023 school year.