On December 8, a police officer entered an eighth-grade classroom in W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School to search for a copy of Maia Kobabe's book, 'Gender Queer.' The search occurred following a complaint about the book being sexually explicit. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) voiced concerns about the invasion of privacy of the students, especially if the use of a body camera was an appropriate law enforcement conduct.
The police officer notified the school and district administrators that they were coming to the classroom. Accompanied by the school principal, the officer failed to find the book but insisted that they were obligated to investigate because of the direct complaint sent to them.
The Berkshire District Attorney's Office, also notified about the search as mandated by departmental policies, subsequently concluded the investigation. The decision regarding the book's appropriateness now lies within the schools' jurisdiction.
'Gender Queer' by Kobabe is a coming-of-age memoir about dealing with uncertainty about gender identity and featuring sexually explicit illustrations and language. Many individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community argue that they perceive the censorship to be motivated by reasons other than purported concerns about obscenity. According to the American Library Association data, it is the number one most banned book of 2022.
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In Massachusetts, a material is considered obscene if it appeals to sexual interests, portrays or narrates sexual activities in a manner deemed highly offensive to the average resident of the county, and lacks any substantial literary, artistic, political, or scientific merit, as defined by state guidelines.
Ruth A. Bourquin, a senior managing attorney at the ACLU in Massachusetts, informed The Berkshire Eagle that their organization had sought the body-camera footage and intended to investigate the incident. Bourquin expressed her disbelief in the incident, stating that such conduct is an act of communism people hear about in China or Russia.
On December 19, Berkshire Hills Regional School Committee and Superintendent Peter Dillion issued an apology to the school community, acknowledging the mishandling of the situation. Dillion stated that the committee did not support book banning and expressed a commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students.
The school district officials penned a letter conveying the district's responsibility to utilize its policies for curriculum selection. The officials stated that the concern was the content and the process. The school district also indicated its intention to gather feedback, starting with organizing a community meeting scheduled for January 11.
Last Friday, LGBTQ+ students at Monument Mountain Regional High School organized a walkout to protest the police search and what seemed like a ban on the book and possibly other LGBTQ+-themed books. Over 100 students and staff joined the walkout.
Massachusetts' openly queer Democratic Governor, Maura Healey, voiced her disapproval on Monday regarding what seemed like an effort to prohibit and censor. The governor also expressed support for ensuring students have access to inclusive resources. Healey applauded the students' efforts in creating an inclusive environment.
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