School Board’s Removal of Lesbian Young Adult Novel for “Offensive Language” Leads to Accusations of Censorship
The Cape Henlopen School Board has recently voted in a 6-1 decision to remove the novel The Miseducation of Cameron Post from its summer reading list for its “inappropriate language.” (Dr. Roni Posner was the lone no vote.) The book is one of ten novels selected for the Blue Hen Reading List, compiled by the Delaware Library Association and consisting of acclaimed young adult novels given to honors and college prep students. Other novels on the list include The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, and Butter by Erin Jade Lange.
Following a parent complaint, board president Spencer Brittingham glanced through the novel and determined “in less than three minutes” that the book was unsuitable. Member Sandi Minard further noted that there were “pages and pages” of the f-word. There has been no indication thus far that the board has read The Miseducation of Cameron Post, or, for that matter, any of the books on the list. A review of the entirety of the Blue Hen list shows that fully half of them contain this particular word, and all of them contain instances of other language that can be construed as offensive and obscene.
The difference between The Miseducation of Cameron Post and the remainder of the list is that Cameron Post is a novel about a young lesbian coming to terms with her sexuality in rural Montana. One of the central plot points of the novel is the protagonist’s experiences at a camp that provides “conversion therapy” to its members. The novel has been heavily praised and was a finalist for the William C. Morris Young Adult Debut Award and a Lambda Literary Award.
The book’s removal has generated significant national attention. LGBT website After Ellen has mounted a writing campaign to the board, and the story has been picked up by a number of anti-censorship websites. Browseabout Books, in collaboration with After Ellen, is sponsoring a program where copies of the book can be donated to local high school students who wish to read it. Cameron Post’s author Emily Danforth is also sponsoring a giveaway of all ten of the books of the list.
The board has steadily maintained that their decision is based entirely on language and not homophobia. The fact that several other books on the list contain offensive language is a matter that the board “will address in the future” according to Minard.
Removal of additional books on the list hardly seems to be a good solution, though. Several of the other books have faced challenges and controversy in other school districts. It would be a disturbing move to exclude further books or discard the list entirely under the auspices of avoiding “offensive language,” as they as a group cover such important issues as mental illness, civil rights, racism, suicide, bullying, body image, illness, death of loved ones, imperialism, and not fitting in.
Surely the Cape Henlopen board members are all aware of the importance of representation. It has been demonstrated that people who are aware of the existence of LGBT people, even if it is only in media representations, are generally more tolerant and accepting of their LGBT peers. Some of those incoming freshman are themselves LGBT and they are being sent a powerful message by this removal. So, too, are their peers, whose decision to accept or bully the gay kid may be significantly impacted by books such as The Miseducation of Cameron Post. Whether motivated by homophobia or not, its exclusion is deeply troubling.
The next Cape Henlopen board meeting is on July 10 (the day before this issue is released) at Cape Henlopen High School. The reading list is not an agenda item, however it may be addressed during community comments. The board’s actions and the continuing discussion on this issue will have significant impact on the community and the nationwide debate on censorship.
Kristen Minor is the former youth columnist for Letters.