LGBTQ+ memoir ‘Gender Queer’ to stay in Hudson High library

After months of discussion and debate, the Hudson City Schools Board of Education has decided to keep a popular LGBTQ+ book on the library shelves.

Hudson students, parents and community members attended Monday night's meeting. As Interim-superintendent Steven Farnsworth said he would like “Gender Queer” to remain on the shelves at Hudson High School, most of the crowd broke out into applause. And even more applauded as the board agreed.

“Every student deserves and receives the best we have to offer and that includes learning resources designed to meet each child's individual needs,” Farnsworth said.

After meeting with guidance counselors, media professionals and social workers, Farnsworth's said the book, written by Maia Kobabe, is important to students and community members identifying within LGBTQ+.

“According to our professionals, this book allows our students to relate to the [author's] struggles and helps them better understand what is happening in their own lives,” he said.

“Gender Queer,” was pulled off shelves in the fall after a parent brought up concerns to the board, alleging the book was pornographic and inappropriate for students.

During Monday's meeting, a Hudson resident spoke to the board urging them to keep the book out of the school district. He also said the book is inappropriate, with a political mission that “normalizes transgenderism and pedophilia.”

“Is this really an appropriate educational objective?” he said. “Are our teachers now to become life coaches? Should parents be concerned? Yes.”

The board unanimously agreed with Farnsworth to retain “Gender Queer” under several conditions; a pamphlet with further resources would be included inside the book and parents of students under the age of 18 would be able to review what books their children check out of the library.

Assistant Superintendent Doreen Osum said “Gender Queer” will return to the Hudson High School library shelves by the end of the week, after a system in set in place for parents to view what their child checks out. With help from a library coordinator, parents will receive a link with a Google Doc with more information on how to sign up for access to the system.

The board was originally expected to decide on whether to keep the memoir on the high school's shelves during a regular meeting in April, but a parent wanted to have further discussion to provide more resources for consideration on why the book should be removed.

“Gender Queer” was one of the top 10 banned books of 2021, according to the American Library Association.

Reporter Molly Walsh can be reached at mwalsh@gannett.com