Fairfax schools pulls two LGBTQ+ books with graphic sex from high school libraries

FALLS CHURCH. Va. (7News/AP) — Fairfax County Public Schools removed two books from its high schools' libraries after community members complained about graphic sex depicted between two males in the books at a school board meeting Thursday. One book was an illustrated memoir that contains explicit illustrations of sexual encounters involving children.

" I am here to protest the use of Fairfax taxpayers' money in a campaign to normalize homoerotic material with minors," Adrienne Henzel, a former county public school teacher, said.

She said a Fairfax high school library promoted an array of LGBTQ books in a prominent display. One book, Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, includes two high schoolers acting out oral sex. The book is a memoir of a person questioning their sexuality and gender.

Another book, Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison, also contains graphic material, the women said.

Henzel also took issue with a drag story hour recently promoted at the McLean branch of the public library.

Stacy Langton, a parent in the Fairfax County school system, questioned the school board at a public meeting Thursday about the books' availability in high school libraries.

As she quoted from explicit passages in the book, a school board member interrupted her and chastised her for using explicit language. Langston continued to speak despite being interrupted.

"Do not interrupt my time," Langston said. Eventually, Langston's microphone was cut off and they had to clear the room.

The school system said Friday the books have been removed immediately pending a more detailed review.

The publisher of one of the books called the decision “short-sighted and reactionary.”

WATCH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING BELOW