GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – Members of the Oshkosh community spoke out Wednesday at the Oshkosh School Board meeting where they voted to ban six books at the high school, following a council meeting two weeks earlier where controversy arose in discussion of the school district’s Title IX regulations.
The number of visitors was so large that the district had to set up additional rows of seats. Shortly after 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening, the board voted against the book ban by a majority.
The chairman of the board asked for a civil tone at the beginning of the meeting. Following a board meeting, a public discussion about the updated Title IX regulations took place, which caused high tensions for and against the regulations.
Community members spoke out about the fact that the books in question featured queer and trans characters, and claimed that removing them from school libraries would steal resources from LGBTQ+ students who may struggle to find resources that align with their identities. They also said that the books are resources for students of any orientation.
The books include:
1. “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe
2. “Milk & Honey” by Rupi Kaur
3. “Let’s Talk about It” by Erika Moen
4. “Fun Home” by Alison Beckdale
5. “Anatomy of a Boyfriend” by Daria Snadowsky
6. “Anatomy of a Single Girl” by Daria Snadowsky
“Without them, I would have continued to hide and withdraw, feeling ashamed and alone, and maybe not even be here,” said Brooke Berrens, a participant at the meeting. “It’s not just about books, it’s about saving lives.”
“Access to LGBTQ+ books in our public schools not only serves the well-being of LGBTQ+ students,” said TJ Hobbs, another attendee at the meeting. “These books provide valuable information and perspectives to all students while fostering empathy and understanding for people who are different from the reader.”
Board members said their decision to vote against the book bans was supported by community opinion as well as messages from students and parents about how valuable the books are to their growth and development. One board member said representation is important and students should not be denied the opportunity to read the proposed books.
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