Geography Club: BANNED!

Brent Hartinger's novel, titled Geography Club, has been banned. An article in the News Tribute reads:

Acting on a parent complaint, University Place schools Superintendent Patti Banks has removed a novel about gay teens from district library shelves.

Banks said her decision had nothing to do with the theme of homosexuality in "Geography Club." Instead, she was alarmed by the "romanticized" portrayal of a teen meeting a stranger at night in a park after connecting with that person - who turns out to be a gay classmate - through an Internet chat room.

Read Brent's Blog. I think his rebuttals explain the situation quite well. Better yet, read the book yourself. I have. It's excellent.

IMNSHO, this is homophobia, thinly veiled behind someone's alleged "good intentions". If you're concerned about the health and well-being of your teens, then talk to them. I'm sure they can explain everything to you.