Board member Jill Woolbright listens as fellow board member Cheryl Massaro speaks during a school board meeting on banning books. (Screenshot from FlaglerSchools.com)
PALM COAST, Fla. | Jill Woolbright, a retired school teacher, sought for the memoir “All Boys Aren’t Blue” to be removed from Flagler County public school libraries after she deemed the book to be inappropriate for students.
The memoir, written by journalist and LGBTQ activist George M. Johnson, recounts their life growing up queer and Black in America. The series of personal essays show readers Johnson’s life from adolescence to young adulthood as they cover topics like gender identity, toxic masculinity, sexual encounters and structural marginalization.
The book has been banned in several libraries in eight states across the U.S. and is now being challenged in Florida. The North Kansas City School District, which pulled the book from its school libraries, announced Nov. 22 that “All Boys Aren’t Blue” and “Fun House,” another LGBTQ book pulled, would be returned to library shelves after it was sent a letter by the American Civil Liberties Union demanding they do so.
At a Flagler County school board workshop meeting, Woolbright addressed the book with the Flagler’s superintendent and discussed the content of the material within the curriculum and a policy on banned books in schools.
In a 3-2 vote — in Woolbright’s favor — four copies of “All Boys Aren’t Blue” were removed pending review by the district.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the book was removed from circulation at Flagler-Palm Coast and Matanzas high schools, and a panel is being assembled to review its contents, said Jason Wheeler, a spokesperson for Flagler County Public Schools. The book was also briefly on the shelves at Buddy Taylor Middle School but was pulled following an internal review that predated Woolbright’s complaint filed with law enforcement, he said.
“We do not currently have a specific date as to when the review process will be complete,” Wheeler told the Sentinel. “All I can say is that a review team is in the process of being assembled and then they will begin their work.”
Woolbright filed a report with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office claiming the book went against Florida Statue 847.012 — obscene or harmful materials for sale or distributed to minors. Woolbright believes whoever was responsible for the circulation of the books should be punished for exposing children to explicit material.
The investigation revealed two other complaints filed by other Florida residents who believe the book should be taken out of circulation.
Some Flagler County students and parents have voiced their discontent with the removal of Johnson’s book saying the school district is making unjust decisions. Flagler Palm Coast High school student Jack Petocz organized and held a protest in regards to the district’s decision during a school board meeting Nov. 16.
In an interview with CNN, Petocz said books like Johnson’s provide LGBTQ visibility for many queer-questioning students.
“When I read that book, I identified a lot with Johnson’s struggles, constantly having that conversation brought up as a young kid — are you gay? and the fear of that resonated with it,” Petocz said.
The Sheriff’s Office concluded that after a thorough investigation — along with the assistance of General Counsel John Lemaster — the allegations of the memoir did not meet the legal requirements to be harmful to minors or any other criminal statute. They found that the case needs no further investigation and is closed due to lack of criminal activity.
This isn’t the first time Woolbright has taken on the LGBTQ community while serving on Flagler County’s school board. Last year, Woolbright and fellow board member Janet McDonald were the two votes against adding gender identity to the district’s nondiscrimination policy. The vote passed 3-2.
“All Boys Aren’t Blue” has been widely regarded as an enlightening and realistic guide for queer Black youth, even receiving praise and support from actress Gabrielle Union.
Union, an ally of the LGBTQ community, told People magazine why she felt this book should be adapted for TV audiences.
“What I love about this book is that it not only offers a space for queer kids of color to be seen and heard but it also offers those who see themselves outside of that standpoint to be held accountable and help them better understand what it takes to truly have acceptance with someone who is considered other.”
Union’s production company is working alongside Johnson to create a series adaption with Sony Pictures TV.
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