It’s about empathy and making kids’ lives less painful, sometimes to the point of saving them. Because, in truth, this controversy is about more than free speech principles. The National Coalition Against Censorship, which advocates for kids’ right to read, calls this “viewpoint discrimination.” And the collateral damage of this discrimination is borne not by the parents but by the children. The current controversy over including LGBTQ+ stories in classroom libraries in Loudoun County schools comes down to an attempt by some parents to impose their personal viewpoints on the entire school district. NCAC collaborated with celebrated author David Levithan on an op-ed for local Loudoun County newspaper, The Loudoun Times-Mirror, writing, It appears that at least one title has been removed from classrooms, against district policy, before the official review is complete. Less than 5% of the new titles tell LGBTQ stories, yet those are the titles that have caused controversy. The Loudoun County schools implemented the diverse classroom libraries program earlier this year, adding titles relating to diverse race, culture, language, religion, ability and LGBTQ identities. The challenged books range from titles to young children, like Prince and Knight and My Princess Boy, to young adult books in high schools, including Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out. All of the books under review tell LGBTQ stories or center LGBTQ characters. Originally published : The School Board of Loudoun County Public Schools in Loudoun County, Virginia, is reviewing challenges to several books added to classrooms by an initiative to diversify classroom libraries. NCAC will continue to monitor, advocate and update. However My Princess Boy has been removed from Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms and retained in 2nd grade classrooms. It appears that thus far Heather Has Two Mommies has been reviewed and retained in classroom libraries. UPDATE : The list of challenged books is being considered title-by-title.
Prince & Knight has been retained in elementary school classroom libraries. According to a school district spokesman, four books have been removed from elementary school classrooms and releveled to middle and high schools: Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender, So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez, The Pants Project by Cat Clarke and Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel by Dianna Lopez. UPDATE : Books continue to be reviewed individually.
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