Bid to ban two books, one by a Fil-Am, fails in Connecticut

“Flamer” is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel about a 14-year-old Filipino American boy who is  bullied and struggling with the fact that he’s gay. YOUTUBE

Two coming-of-age graphic novels, one by a Filipino American, will remain on the shelves of the Newton, Connecticut High School Library, after the local school board refused to ban them.

The Newtown Board of Education on Thursday, June 1 unanimously refused to ban “Flamer” by Mike Curato, a Filipino American,  and “Blankets” by Craig Thompson from circulation. Two Republicans previously resigned from the board.

“Flamer” is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel about a 14-year-old Filipino American boy who is  bullied and struggling with the fact that he’s gay. Author Curato was the subject of a “Banned in the USA Spotlight” on the website of PEN America.

According to the American Library Association, “Flamer” ranked fourth on its list of top 10 most challenged books of 2022.

“Blankets” is an award-winning autobiographical graphic novel about childhood sexual abuse of young man raised in an evangelical Christian family who experiences first love. It is also about adoption, mental health, religion and sexuality.

“Blankets” is an award-winning autobiographical graphic novel about childhood sexual abuse of young man raised in an evangelical Christian family who experiences first love.

Attempts to ban books in schools and public libraries in the United States set a record high in 2022, according to data from the American Library Association. In Connecticut, books have been challenged in Brookfield, Westport, Fairfield, Darien and other communities. 

You may also like: Ban Republiguns!

Despite the judgment of a special review committee (commissioned by the board) that the books should be kept on the shelves, some parents insisted on their removal, claiming they were pornographic. Other parents and many students spoke out against banning the books.

After public comment, the Board of Education approved Democratic board member Alison Plante’s motion to accept the review committee’s recommendation to keep “Flamer” and “Blankets” in circulation, provided school administrators design mechanisms that can “support a parent or guardian’s choices for their children,” according to a Connecticut Post report.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz sent the Newtown Democratic Town Committee a video: “Book banning is dangerous and anti-democratic. Books are a critical part of the way we learn about ourselves and the world around us at any age. Book banning has no place in Connecticut,” the Hartford Courant reported. Bysiewicz said that 41% of books targeted for bans are LGBTQ- oriented, and 40% had a protagonist of color.