‘Porn’ comic book off Logan library shelves after conservative lobbyist Bernard Gaynor lodges complaint with police, classification board

A southside council will review its library policy after complaints were lodged about an allegedly inappropriate comic book which refers to a number of sexual topics.

Protesters outside Logan City Council chambers.

Logan City Council will review its library policy after complaints were lodged about an allegedly inappropriate comic book which refers to masturbation, gay porn, blow jobs while driving and vagina slime.

Gender Queer: A Memoir, a book which details sexual topics that may affect young people, is aimed at helping them understand their sexuality.

It was taken off Logan City Council library shelves this month following a complaint from conservative political activist Bernard Gaynor.

According to the book’s author Maia Kobabe, Gender Queer: A Memoir, came about after their own experiences searching for answers to questions about nonbinary identities.

“I started questioning these topics when I was like 12, 13 years old, and then didn’t come out as nonbinary until I was 25,” Kobabe said on a podcast with US-based group GLAAD last year.

“Having a book like this, or any book that explored nonbinary identity, would have probably taken 10 years of confusion and uncertainty out of my life,” Kobabe said.

After Mr Gaynor alerted police, QPS referred the book to the Australian Classification Board, which will review the matter and determine what action to take.

Mr Gaynor, who wants the book permanently removed from library shelves, launched a protest outside the council’s Wembley Rd offices.

It is unknown whether all copies have been removed while the council investigation is under way.

A page from the book, which has been removed from library shelves.

Since the initial complaint on March 4, four others books have been targeted.

Logan City councillor Karen Murphy said the council review had already started.

“This review will be undertaken with reference to council’s Library Collection Development Policy,” Ms Murphy said online.

“This policy is consistent with national public library standards and guidelines.

“Council will make no further comment until the review is completed.”

Mr Gaynor said Logan council should not be loaning out the books to children but he was glad it had been removed from library shelves.

More images from the book.

However, he said the council was still keeping Gender Queer and would make it available, upon request, even to children.

“As far as I know, it is the first time this book has been challenged successfully anywhere in Australia,” he said.

“There is a reason these books are written and published and placed on shelves ... in public libraries – none of this is an accident. It happens by design.”

Mr Gaynor said he was determined to see the book banned permanently and said Logan City Council staff had refused to meet with him, telling him there was nothing wrong with Gender Queer.

The classification board, which can censor, restrict or ban content, said it was yet to classify Gender Queer and had not had any requests to do so until recently.

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Originally published as ‘Porn’ comic book off Logan library shelves after conservative lobbyist Bernard Gaynor lodges complaint with police, classification board