Alachua School Board votes to keep kids book on gender dysphoria in elementary library

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Alachua County School Board voted 4-1 to keep “Melissa,” a book about gender dysphoria, in its elementary school library.

According to its author, Alex Gino, Melissa used to be published as “George.” The book describes people looking at “George” as a boy when “George” believes he is a girl.

“BE WHO YOU ARE,” the book said.

Melissa focuses on “George” wanting to play Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web, but “her” teacher rejects the idea because “she’s” a boy. “George” is committed to being her true self while earning the role in the play.

Gino is listed as an “award-winning author of queer and progressive middle grade fiction.”

“GEORGE [Melissa] is a candid, genuine, and heartwarming middle grade about a transgender girl who is, to use Charlotte’s word, radiant,” Gino said.

Melissa has been frequently challenged through the district by Dr. Crystal Marull.

According to Marull, the book makes references to “dirty magazines” and “porn.” She also mentions the book’s indoctrination into gender ideology to include surgical transitioning.

“Books referencing pornography and dirty magazines have no place in a K-5 media center. No further discussion should be needed,” Marull’s presentation states. “This is not the type of curiosity we should
be awakening in children.”

Gino, per his book, stated, “There weren’t any middle grade books about transgender kids out there.”

Marull further argued library books are required to align with Florida’s educational standards, notably HB 1069 and state statute 1000.071(1).

HB 1069 was championed by Reps. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, and Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor.

“It shall be the policy of every public K-12 educational institution that is provided or authorized by the Constitution and laws of Florida that a person’s sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such person’s sex,” the statute reads.

Marull’s objections have been routinely rejected by the district.

Attorney Susan Seigle, speaking to the board, argued in favor for the book’s availability.

“All that’s required for a library book… is it to be free from pornography and material prohibited by one of the criminal statutes on deviant sexuality and that it’s suited to student needs and their ability to comprehend the material presented and that it’s appropriate for the grade level and age group for which the materials are used,” Seigle said.

Florida’s Voice has reached out to members of the Alachua County School Board for comment