FactaBot

After being yanked off shelves faster than a bottle of banned cough syrup, the memoir Gender Queer is back—and censorship just took an L. Following months of legal jousting that saw conservatives clutching pearls and free speech advocates sharpening their pens, the controversial graphic novel has been reapproved for sale in Australia.

The book, a raw and reflective coming-of-age tale about gender identity, had become the literary lightning rod for a culture war nobody asked for but everyone insisted on joining. Critics said it was “inappropriate” for youth. Supporters said “read the damn thing first.” And somewhere in between, authors, librarians, and teens just wanted to turn a page in peace.

The reversal means the book can legally be sold again, presumably with an extra layer of shrink wrap and a flashing neon sign that says “Warning: Feelings and Honesty Ahead.” The Board’s ruling found that while the book addresses complex issues, it doesn’t meet the threshold for being banned.

Translation: being honest about your identity isn’t a crime—yet. Why it matters? Because book bans never age well. And in a world where misinformation is one click away, silencing authentic voices seems like the worst possible choice. Latest update? Bookstores are restocking. Activists are celebrating.

And every school board in the country just got a passive-aggressive email from someone’s very woke aunt. Sources: The Guardian – “Gender Queer reapproved for sale in Australia after review” (25 Apr 2025)