OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Six controversial books will continue to sit on shelves within the Oshkosh Area School District.
Residents made their opinions heard during Wednesday’s school board meeting.
TJ Hobbs, co-founder and board member of Hope Fridge and Oshkosh Pride, expressed their opposition to the ban.
“Access to LGBTQ plus books in our schools is not just for the betterment of LGBTQ plus students,” they explained. “These books provide valuable information and perspectives to all students while building empathy and understanding for people who are different from the reader.”
The books in question include:
Gender Queer
Milk and Honey
Let’s Talk About It
Fun Home
Anatomy of a Boyfriend
Anatomy of a Single Girl
These books focus on gender identity, and are all available at Oshkosh West High School.
Those in support of banning the books were escorted out of the meeting before they could address the board.
Amanda Kramp, who was against the ban, told the Board it’s important for all students to have representation in school.
“The books that are under attack tonight all contain queer and or trans characters and people,” she said. “Do you really think there are not queer and trans kids in Oshkosh Area schools? Don’t those kids deserve to read about people like them?”
A proposal to remove the books was originally brought to the principal at Oshkosh West in February. The Principal declined to hear the ban, and the books remained in the library. A second call to ban the book was made to the assistant superintendent in May.
This was the first time the proposal made its way to the board, with them deciding in favor of keeping them on library shelves.
Board President Beth Wyman said it wouldn’t stop at these books. “My issue with the books is, which next six books? And that’s why I will be voting no,” she said.
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