Fairfax County Public Schools in Northern Virginia has discreetly removed the book Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker from their libraries following criticism from parents over its sexually explicit content. Parental outcry centered on the book’s graphic depiction of, in some cases, extreme sex acts, prompting questions regarding its suitability for young students.
Stacy Langton, a parent at Fairfax High School, expressed surprise at the quiet removal of the book. She noted that the action may influence upcoming elections, referencing President Donald J. Trump only narrowing trailing Vice President Kamala Harris in the state.
Virginia has been a focal point in discussions about parental influence in educational content since the 2021 gubernatorial race. Republican Glenn Youngkin‘s victory over former Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) was partly attributed to debates over parental rights, with McAuliffe’s remarks about parental involvement in school decisions stirring controversy.
Langton, who has been vocal in school board meetings, criticized Queer: A Graphic History for its depiction of sexual practices deemed inappropriate for school libraries. She also raised concerns about another book, Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe, for similar reasons.
According to Noël Klimenko from the school district’s Instructional Services Department, the decision to remove Barker’s book was due to outdated terminology rather than a formal challenge. FCPS libraries opted for resources offering more current perspectives on LGBTQ+ history.
Previously, FCPS temporarily removed Gender Queer and Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison but reinstated them after committee reviews. Despite the committees’ conclusions that these books did not constitute pornography, Langton plans to renew her challenge to Gender Queer.
The school district has not publicly commented on these developments. Langton insists that materials containing explicit content should not be in schools, citing federal obscenity laws.