EdNews Virginia | December 14, 2023
Fairfax County School Board Member Karl Frisch was sworn in to a second term Wednesday night — with his hand on a stack of five highly controversial, ostensibly “banned” books. The five books were “LGBTQ-themed” in nature, according to Blue Virginia:
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
- Lawn Boy, by Jonathan Evison
- All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto, by George M. Johnson
- Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe
- Flamer, by Mike Curato
All five books are currently available from Amazon and other booksellers, notwithstanding claims they are “banned.”
“Fairfax County residents want safe and inclusive schools with exceptional, well-compensated educators and equitable access to the rigorous academic and enrichment opportunities every student needs to succeed,” Frisch said Wednesday night. “I am grateful for the trust Providence District families have placed in me, and with tonight’s Oath, I commit to standing strong for these values and advancing these priorities with my new and returning colleagues.”
While some activists hailed Frisch’s use of “banned” books for his swearing-in, others criticized the move. “Families wanting age-appropriate material in their children’s schools is NOT ‘book banning,’ it’s common sense,” Parents Defending Education‘s Nicki Neily posted on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday morning.
🚨Last night in Virginia, Fairfax County School Board member @KarlFrisch was sworn in on a stack “LGBTQ themed” books, including one that depicts naked teenage boys.
— Nicki Neily (@nickineily) December 14, 2023
Don't forget that the “book ban” narrative is part of a dishonest political campaign aimed at attacking parents.… pic.twitter.com/o2LcbkBQz0