My name is Sage Cunningham. I am a Senior at Medomak Valley High School. It has been brought to my attention that there is currently an attempt to ban the book “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe, a story of self-discovery and the journey of understanding one’s own gender identity, from the MVHS library. I do not think this book should be banned; banning this book will erase a story that a transgender student such as myself could relate to. 
I understand this book is under review, allegedly for its sexual content. I can understand the concerns around the sexual content in the book, but sex can actually play a large role in someone's gender identity discovery–while sexuality and gender identity are not directly coordinated, the role someone might play in a sexual relationship can help someone understand what gender they align more with. Banning or even attempting to ban a book like this will, and already has, made more students read it, which I am assuming was the opposite goal of those calling for its expulsion. The plot of this book is not meant to be sexual, so to ban it for that reason seems unfair. 

After reading the book and coming to a conclusion that I do not think this book should be banned, I decided to create this petition. Every person who signs has agreed that this book should be kept in the MVHS library because any book that is worth banning is a book worth reading.

Please sign this petition asking the Maine RSU 40 School Board to keep "Gender Queer" in the library!