Display Featuring 2 LGBTQ+ Books, Bible Removed At McLean Library

McLean VA

09 December, 2021

10:39 AM

Description

MCLEAN, VA — Two LBGTQ+ books that were the subject of scrutiny at public high schools were featured in a display with the Bible at McLean's Dolley Madison Library, according to media reports. As reported by the Associated Press, the display had the books "Lawn Boy" by Jonathan Evison and "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe as well as the Bible and troll dolls. The display has since been removed Tuesday, according to Fairfax County Public Library. In late November, FCPS announced it was returning the two books to high school libraries after review. The books had been removed as a result of public comments during a September Fairfax County School Board meeting claiming the books contained pedophilia and sexually explicit material. Both of the targeted books were then submitted to a book challenge under the county school system's process for challenging school materials. FCPS determined the challenge was "found to be without merit" due to books not including pedophilia or obscene material as defined by Virginia law. Dolley Madison Library's display was criticized by parent Stacy Langton, who had been vocal about the two books in Fairfax County Public Schools libraries at the FCPS board meeting and Fairfax City Council meeting in September. Langton told AP the display was a "dig at parents and a big dig at Christianity." A statement provided to AP from Fairfax County Public Library director Jessica Hudson said the display "was intended to highlight the freedom to read and the fact that many library patrons have more time during the holidays to do so" but not to be "construed as offensive." While the display is no longer up, a protest by parents is being planned Saturday outside Dolley Madison Library. SEE ALSO: Book Bans In VA, Across Nation Condemned By Authors, Publishers The Associated Press contributed to this report.