3 Graphic Novels Banned At Radnor High School

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA — An ad hoc committee in the Radnor Township School District voted 5-1 to ban three graphic novels that were in the Radnor High School library, deeming them not age-appropriate for students.

According to the district, the banned publications are "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe, "Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic" by Alison Bechdel, and "Blankets" by Craig Thompson.

They were removed from the school's library Feb. 28.

The bans came after a parent in the district submitted a challenge to these graphic novels. The district said the parent filed a Citizen's Request for Re-evaluation of Material's form, pursuant to Policy 144.1.

The submitting parent levied nearly the same complaints against all three graphic novels, alleging they could cause "childhood trauma, willingness to be sexually exploited, enabling sexual groomers and acceptance of pedophilia."

The complaint form asks, "is there anything of value in this material," to which the parent responded with, "Perhaps. However child pornography disqualifies the entire book" for all three graphic novels.

In "Fun Home," the parent called out underage girls performing oral sex, sexual abuse of a child by an adult and child pornography in "Blankets," and child pornography, sex toys, and prohibited sex acts in "Gender Queer."

District policy does not include an appeals process for banned materials, officials said.

"There is no age or grade level which is legally allowed to possess child pornography," the parent wrote on the complaints.

They recommended on all three complaints that the district dispose of the graphic novels and "mandate training of child abuse laws for Radnor librarians."