Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

High Schoolers Expertly Call Out Hypocrisy Of 'Free Speech' Trumpers Trying To Ban Queer Book

High Schoolers Expertly Call Out Hypocrisy Of 'Free Speech' Trumpers Trying To Ban Queer Book
csd99media/YouTube

A high school board meeting in Chicago, Illinois became a lightning rod for the current culture war. Some parents and other area residents attended a board meeting for Community High School District 99.

The protesters carried signs that said, "NO PORN" and claimed that their children were being exposed to homoerotic language and images. And at the center of all this is an autobiographical memoir titled Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe.


The board meeting was recorded and uploaded to YouTube.

www.youtube.com

The protest was organized by the far-right, Trump supporting, SPLC designated hate group, The Proud Boys. Because of their postings on social media, many parents and protesters came thinking their children were being indoctrinated with gay pornography.

But the book is far from it. While the book does contain some discussion and depiction of sexual acts, most of the book is about the author's self-discovery in their own identity.

The book isn't required reading for any class, yet that didn't stop protesters from claiming that it's:

"liberal code for teaching children how to perform oral sex, anal sex, wear strap-on dildos."

The same protester who said this, also said:

"It's not your right to decide if our minor children should have access to pornography."

Some other parents were questioned about the book with one father claiming it made him sick. When questioned further, he said he hadn't read it, but just watched a YouTube video about it.

As you can expect, their claims were taken with a grain of salt.


 


 


 


 


 


More importantly, the students refused to be left out of the conversation. Many had their own opinions on the controversy surrounding the book.

Lauren Pierret, a senior at the school, said:

"Let's not present getting rid of Gender Queer as censoring our children from sex. It's homophobia."

She also pointed out that other books with graphic sex scenes like The Handmaid's Tale are still available in the library, and the parents aren't protesting those.

Another senior, Josiah Poynter said:

"Inclusion matters to young people. This is why we must have this book in our school's library... It brings comfort to people who feel unsolved and cast out."

The student's counter protest fairly successfully defended the book.


 


 


 


 


 

The superintendent said they would review the book's availability due to the two formal complaints, but it met the standards for inclusion in the school library.

The meeting wasn't even intended to discuss the book, but was forced on the meeting by the small band of protesters. It isn't part of any required curriculum, and only one copy of the book was available for check out at each library at the two high schools.

Elsewhere Gender Queer has been successfully banned by similar protest tactics. Virginia's largest school district removed the book earlier this year due to "parents' concerns."

More from Trending

Country Singer Gavin Adcock went on a drunken rant over Beyonce's "Cowboy Carter" success.
Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Country singer rants over Beyoncé album

Country singer Gavin Adcock became the title of his next album, “Own Worst Enemy,” after going on an unhinged rant about the legitimacy of Beyoncé's Grammy-winning and record-breaking Cowboy Carter in the country music genre.

Adcock, whose upcoming album is set for release next month, was filmed during a live performance last weekend, complaining that Beyoncé and her album are not “country music.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Dionne Warwick; Tiny Chef
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images; @ToonHive/X

Dionne Warwick Is Ready To Go To War With Nickelodeon Over 'Tiny Chef' Cancellation

You know your campaign against a show's cancellation is achieving widespread attention when you get people like venerated singer Dionne Warwick advocating for you.

Nickelodeon's The Tiny Chef Show was recently cancelled, much to the dismay of its viewers and creators. It was also a genuinely surprising decision, since the show has won an Emmy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Woman relaxing in sunhat and sunglasses
Photo by Jordan Bauer on Unsplash

People Explain Which 'Small Luxuries' They Can't Live Without

Many of us have committed to being fairly financially frugal and not overspending on silly, unnecessary things.

That is to say, sometimes, it's fun to splurge on something one time to see what it's like to experience that small luxury.

Keep ReadingShow less
two women in emotional distress seated on couch
Ben White on Unsplash

People Who've Experienced Grief Share The Most Tone-Deaf Things They've Heard

Grief, loss, trauma are all part of life. But for most people, the emotions and reactions that go with them are difficult to witness.

So they rely on platitudes to fill any holes in conversation. That's rarely a good idea.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Mehmet Eser/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Demands 'Boss Of AT&T' Fix Equipment After Failed Conference Call In Bizarre Meltdown

When most of us have technical difficulties, we contact tech support or customer service.

But if you're President of the United States, just ranting on social media—then having your White House Press Secretary post a screenshot of your post on a social media platform people actually use—is apparently the answer.

Keep ReadingShow less