Dupage Policy Journal

District 99 Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele is not backing off support of a book with illustrations of gay sex in the library at Downers Grove North and South High Schools.

In an email to Downers Grove 99 parent Terry Newsome after the dust-up, Thiele said he supports the book's inclusion in school district libraries.

“I believe the book Gender Queer does not fall under the legal definition of pornography,” Thiele told a parent in an email. “Our librarians should not be expected to comment or rule on this legal definition as librarians are not legal experts and should not be commenting on the legality of terms. The Board contracts with a team of attorneys to provide this expertise. Based on my conversations with the Board Attorneys, I do not believe the book qualifies as pornography. If it had, I would have removed it from the library immediately.”

The dictionary.com definition of “pornography” is “sexually explicit videos, photographs, writings, or the like, whose purpose is to elicit sexual arousal.”

Gender Queer is a graphic arts novel by Maia Kobabe.

The book — which includes illustrated scenes of graphic gay sex — has been the source of national fervor.

Concerned parents across the country have pointed to Kobabe’s work as gratuitously sexual and unnecessary for school children. Many communities, such as those concerned parents in Downers Grove 99, are questioning its place in school libraries.

Thiele said whether the book stays in the libraries or not will require further determination.

“That being said, the process has begun to determine if the book should remain in our collection and to determine the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use,” Thiele wrote. “With that process underway, it would be inappropriate for me to weigh in on this matter any further. I expect you will hear back shortly from Principal Schwartz and Dr. DeMent soon regarding the outcome of the recent conference about the book.  We will move forward from there.”

Newsome was incredulous in his response to Theile.

“Gender Queer absolutely falls under the definition of pornography,” Newsome said. “Where we challenge your ‘opinion’ is when you become so blinded by radical liberal retardation you can’t think clearly.  You falsely claim, in your 'opinion' that the author's intent is not to stimulate or arouse. How can you make such an outrageously inaccurate claim?"

"The author's so called 'comic sketch' depicts a young girl wearing a flesh colored cock strap-on with a young boy on his knees swallowing that cock down to his tonsils," Newsome said.

Newsome went on to say undeniably the illustration and others along with accompanying text, is pornography.

“[T]he preceding page leading up to this pornographic image, the author clearly states through the characters, having a sexually arousing francization about this graphic oral sexual images,” Newsome wrote to Theile. “The author goes on to say ‘you are going to look SO HOT’ and 'this is the most turned on I have ever been in my life. I am DYING.’  Now if that’s not a example of stimulating erotic emotional feelings I don’t know what is!”

Gender Queer was at the center of a scene at D99’s Nov. 15 school board meeting in which parents spoke out against the book.

A flyer depicting graphic oral sex as published in the book was printed prior to the meeting encouraging parents to protest.

The D99 Nov. 15 was regarded as a circus.

Police with riot shields posted up as far left and right demonstrators heckled speakers and traded barbs. Parents after the meeting reported Antifa members took photos of them which they posted online as well as the presence of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, a native of north suburban Lincolnwood, infamously asked the FBI to investigate “domestic terrorists” at school board meetings.

It was later revealed that not only had Garland helped the National School Board Association (NSBA) craft a memo to his agency requesting the assistance but that his son-in-law has contracts with school districts in Illinois and throughout the country to teach leftism in schools.

Subsequently, 17 state school board associations cut ties with the NSBA.

The Illinois Association of School Boards previously declined public comment on its status in the national organization.

In his closing response to Thiele, Newsome said he is dedicated to overturning a school culture where the presence of such graphic illustrated sex in the library’s books are at least open for debate.  

“You, and the Board are putting radical left wing politics before the well being of our children. You and the Board are prioritizing indoctrination, over education,” he said. “You, and the far left radical board are an embarrassment to the community and danger to our students. I, will do everything I’m my power to expose, remove, and replace all of you.”

In addition to being the superintendent at D99 Thiele, is a school board member in Roselle where he resides with his wife and two children.