Tag Archives: gender queer

Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir Gets an Annotated Edition from Oni Press in May 2026

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Oni Press will publish a special annotated hardcover edition of Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir. The cartoonist’s earnest, heartfelt, and intensely cathartic graphic memoir chronicling eir personal journey of self-identity has been widely heralded as one of the most important and influential graphic novels of the 21st century. Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition will feature all-new commentary from academic and creative communities to further shed light on the creation of Kobabe’s work, from exploring the technicalities of comic creation to highlighting personal anecdotes from a host of writers and artists discussing their own experiences growing up queer and genderqueer. The new hardcover edition will be published by Oni Press in May of 2026.  

Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition promises to be a wonderful educational tool for years to come. Along with commentary from Maia Kobabe, the new edition features annotations from fellow cartoonists Jadzia Axelrod and Ashley R. Guillory, cartoonist and editor Justin Hall, cartoonist and educator Kori Michele Handwerker, designer and animator Phoebe Kobabe, author Hal Schrieve, cartoonist and comics professor at California College of the Arts Rani Som, co-creator of Lumberjanes and editor Shannon Watters, as well as original acquiring editor Andrea Colvin. Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition also includes commentary by prestigious academic figures, including Dr. Sandra Cox, Ajuan Mance, Matthew Noe, and many more. 

In 2014, Maia Kobabe—who uses e/em/eir pronouns—thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Then e created Gender Queer: A Memoir. Maia’s autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fan fiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: It is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

Since its original publication in 2019, Gender Queer: A Memoir has been repeatedly cited as one the most banned books in the United States. It has also been widely heralded as one of the most important and influential graphic novels of the 21st century, earning near-universal critical acclaim as a seminal work of LGBTQIA+ nonfiction and ALA Alex and Stonewall Book Awards in the process. 

Oni Press launches new Gender Queer merch Fighting Censorship benefiting the CBLDF and Florida Freedom to Read Project

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In advance of this summer’s American Library Association (ALA) Conference in Philadelphia, PA, Oni Press has unveiled its next Pre-Order Exclusive Merch Collection celebrating the best-selling graphic novel Gender Queer and the work of cartoonist Maia Kobabe as part of the publisher’s ongoing Fight Censorship, Read Comics initiative.  A portion of all proceeds will benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) and the Florida Freedom to Read Project (FFTRP).

Oni’s new collection features more than 15 items and multiple all-new, never-before-seen pieces, including a brand-new Gender Queer t-shirt design by Kobabe, available in three distinct colorways curated by the artist (available in sizes in XS – XXXL) – each hand silkscreened in the United States on super-soft Comfort Colors shirts. The Fight Censorship, Read Comics Pre-Order Exclusive Merch Collection also features Gender Queer patches, enamel pins, and keychains, alongside limited-edition signed and numbered editions of the Gender Queer: Deluxe Edition hardcover bearing signatures by Kobabe and high-quality, 18×24” giclee prints featuring the artist’s powerful “Fight Censorship, Read Comics” artwork (available in both signed and unsigned editions).

Available exclusively online at OniPress.com, ardent fans and readers can place pre-orders beginning today through Friday, August 20th with fulfillment to begin in September. Oni will also be making select, advance editions for some items available for early sale at San Diego Comic-Con in July. 

Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer, while award winning and praised, has also been caught in the conflagration of unprecedented legal challenges to graphic novels and other forms of comic art across more than a dozen states. Kobabe’s work has repeatedly placed at the epicenter of many of these challenges at the state and local level and was previously the subject of a Virginia obscenity lawsuit, which was successfully defended by the CBLDF and ruled to be unconstitutional in 2022. Since that time, the Los Angeles Times has dubbed Gender Queer “the most banned book in American schools,” and in 2025, it was named by the American Library Association as the #2 most challenged title in library systems nationwide. 

Kobabe and Oni Press are reciprocating the CBLDF and FFTRP’s support at this critical time in the history of free speech for the comics medium. Later this month, Kobabe will be appearing as a Special Guest of Oni Press at the annual American Library Association (ALA) Conference in Philadelphia, PA from June 26–30, 2025, alongside half a dozen fellow writers and illustrators from Oni’s stable of award-winning creators. 

Alberta looks to Censor Books Looking to “Find the Line” for “Age-Appropriateness”

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Looks like the US is exporting something after all to Canada, book bans! Calgary‘s Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides made a surprise announcement for plans to “find the line” for age-appropriate books for schools. The announcement was a surprise to both the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) who are left scrambling after the decision. The books have been pulled from libraries in response to “review their content.”

Four graphic novels were referenced during the announcement. Nicolaides claims they contain mature contant such as depictions of sexual activity and nudity. The four graphic novels are Gender Queer, by Maia Kobabe; Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel; Blankets, by Craig Thompson; and Flamer, by Mike Curato. All of the graphic novels are regularly on “banned” lists in the United States.

On Amazon, Gender Queer is listed as 18 years and up on its “reading age” listing, Fun Home is 15 years and up, Blankets doesn’t have an age range listed, and Flamer is listed for ages 14 to 18 years old. Books are often listed with age ranges they’re meant for, this isn’t a new phenomenon.

Calgary is “consulting with parents” to create standards for what is and what isn’t appropriate for school libraries. So, make your voice heard to prevent the slippery slope these witch hunts turn in to.

While Nicolaides said:

I want to be clear right from the onset, this is not a question of banning specific books or specific titles, but rather, establishing clear policies and guidelines for all school divisions to follow.

We know that’s never the case and when given an inch, these sort of “think about the children” movements quickly slide into book bannings with fascist overtones.

Alberta doesn’t have a single provincewide standard to guide school boards leading to different approaches in what is chosen for school libraries.

Nicolaides’ press secretary said the books were found in 57 public schools across Calgary and Edmonton but didn’t disclose which ones with Nicolaides himself stating that ” many of these books exist in elementary schools.” As noted above, none of the books are listed as age appropriate for elementary schools.

The school boards, libraries, and Teacher’s Association said they were blindsided by the announcement and undermines the partnership they expect.

Feedback is being gathered through an online survey until June 6 and Albertans can provide input about what they believe is acceptable for school library collections. Really, the survey is open, so anyone can provide input… hint, hint.

The province doesn’t have the authority to “ban” books from school libraries and hopes to have new policies in effect by this September in time for the 2025-26 school year.

In the United States during 2023 and 2024, more than 10,000 book bans affecting more than 4,000 titles were put in place in the United States according to PEN America. In 2024, Canada saw 97 books challenged.

3 Graphic Novels make the top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023

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Gender Queer

Book challenges and book burnings are in vogue right now and being used in a culture war to shore up support for rightwing grifters who have little to go on for support beyond attacking others. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom each year compiles a list of the top 10 most challenged books. This year, three graphic novels made the list.

There were 4,240 unique books targeted for censorship in 2023 which as an increase of 65% from 2022. There were 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources. The number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year, accounting for about 46% of all book challenges in 2023.

All three graphic novels challenged contain LGBTQIA+ and were claimed to be “sexually explicit.”

Maia Kobabe‘s Gender Queer again topped the list with 106 challenges. The graphic novel has topped the list for the past three years. Mike Curato‘s Flamer was fifth with 67 challenges and Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan was ninth with 55 challenges.

You can see the full list here.

Police called and search school for Gender Queer

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In another example of attempted censorship gone too far, an officer from the Great Barrington Police Department was dispatched to W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School on December 8th to search for a copy of Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. The search took place after school and has caused an uproar in the community.

The Town Police Chief Paul Storti has since released an apology and stated it’s not the police’s “role to seek out, censor, or ‘ban books’ in our schools.” Except, it kind of is if you’re sending a police officer to do so. Attempting to cover their asses over charges of discrimination, the police have further stated the actions “were not meant to disenfranchise anyone or influence school curriculum.” Book bans have been challenged and overturned over the fact they discriminate against groups of individuals.

A citizen notified police about “explicit sexual material” in the book saying it was pornographic or obscene and sent police a picture of the book the classroom. Police, along with school officials, agreed a plainclothed officer would look for the book after school. The officer wore a body camera and that video and other records related to the complaint is currently being requested by the ACLU which has stepped in.

The book was not found. A week later, Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue, who was notified of the search, announced that there would be no investigation. Whether the book was appropriate will now be handled by the schools where these things are typically dealt with. The process through the school would reveal the identity of the person who makes it while a complaint to the police is anonymous.

The police and school’s response has not been enough and parents are angry about it. A meeting will be held January 11 where parents will be able to air their grievances and school officials will discuss why the police got involved. The inclusion of police goes around existing internal procedures by schools and libraries when concerns over a book are made.

The book is regularly available in stories and libraries and also in another classroom at the same school with the consent of parents.

Ruth A. Bourquin, senior and managing attorney for the ACLU of Massachusetts, stated:

That’s partly what is so concerning. Police going into schools and searching for books is the sort of thing you hear about in communist China and Russia. What are we doing.

Bourquin also stated state law is clear about police not having a role in this sort of situation making their inclusion more troubling. The ACLU has sent guides to to schools, including the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, noted that legally such book bans “may constitute unlawful discrimination.” Courts have recognized just because some parents do not want their children to read certain books, you can’t deprive other students their right to access.

The librarian at Du Bois middle school, Jennifer Guerin made it clearer. This situation isn’t about “forcing a book into students’ hands. It’s about the freedom to read. It’s about providing voluntary access to a well-written, highly acclaimed resource in a safe place for a teenager who might want or need it.”

In Massachusetts, if material is on interest sexually, depicts or describes sexual conduct “in a way that is patently offensive to an average citizen of this county,” and “has no serious value of a literary, artistic, political or scientific kind,” it can be deemed obscene. In Virginia, a challenge against the graphic novel resulted in not just the case being dismissed by Virginia’s obscenity laws being found to violate the First Amendment.

Gender Queer is not the former and has series literary and artistic value and has been found to have so in numerous court challenges. An award-winning book, Gender Queer is currently the most challenged book the United States.

(via Berkshire Eagle)

Around the Tubes

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Kamen Rider Zero One #1

It’s one of two new comic book days! What are you all getting? What are you excited for? Sound off in the comments below! While you decided on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.

The Beat – A Year of Free Comics: Read the complete ALL OF US ARE DEAD for free – Free comics!

CBLDF – WATCH NOW! Gender Queer in Virginia Beach: A Case Study – Interesting.

Kotaku – The Best New Marvel Game Makes Uncle Ben’s Death A Good Thing – Well ok then.

Reviews

CBR – Crashing #2
CBR – Kamen Rider Zero One #1
CBR – Vanish #2

Gender Queer Virginia Case is Officially Over

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In August, a Virginia judge dismissed the obscenity lawsuit against Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir and Sarah Maas’ A Court of Mist and Fury. Virginia Beach Circuit Court Judge Pamela Baskervill ruled that neither book meets the standard for obscenity under Virginia law and that the obscenity law itself was unconstitutional.

Though the case was dismissed there was still a chance the two individuals behind it, Republican State Delegate Tim Anderson and failed Republican congressional candidate Tommy Altman, could appeal and drag it out further. Anderson vowed the “fight would continue” and that Altman was reviewing the appeal options.

Now, with the deadline passed, the case is officially over. Neither Anderson or Altman have appealed the case which settles this particular flashpoint.

It’s a battle won within an ongoing culture war. Gender Queer is one of the most challenged books in the country and become a flashpoint being used in political elections as an attack point by the right.

Around the Tubes

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Star Trek: Lower Decks #1

The weekend is almost here! What geeky things are you all doing? Sound off in the comments below! While you wait for the weekday to end and the weekend to begin, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.

CBLDF – Virtual Event! Gender Queer in Virginia Beach: A Case Study Monday, September 19 – Check it out!

Book Riot – 8 Stunning YA Sci-Fi Comics and Graphic Novels – What would you include?

Reviews

Collected Editions – Black Manta
CBR – Midnight Suns #1
CBR – Revolvers #1
CBR – Samurai Doggy #2
CBR – Star Trek: Lower Decks #1

Virginia Judge Dismisses Gender Queer Book Ban lawsuit

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A Virginia judge has dismissed an obscenity lawsuit that put Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir and Sarah Maas’ A Court of Mist and Fury further in the spotlight and possibly restricted in the commonwealth. Following a hearing this Tuesday, Virginia Beach Circuit Court Judge Pamela Baskervill ruled that neither book meets the standard for obscenity under Virginia law and that the obscenity law itself was unconstitutional.

Republican State Delegate Tim Anderson and failed Republican congressional candidate Tommy Altman decided to abuse a little-used rule that allows indviduals to launch obscenity proceedings in the state. Both felt the material in the books were explicit and unsuitable for those under 18.

The lawsuit would have restrict not just the sale of the book but potentially even individuals sharing the books with each other.

Judge Pamela Baskervill dismissed the case stating that Altman and Anderson hadn’t provided substantial evidence the books were obscene and that Virginia’s laws around obscene books violated the First Amendment. You can read ruling 1 and ruling 2.

Losing attorney Anderson stated on Facebook the fight would continue and that Altman is reviewing the appeal options stating they feel the standard for obscenity for children should be different than for adults. Both we’re sure were very pro empowering parents in the most recent election but seem to not think parents can make those decisions for their kids. That makes them hypocrites.

Gender Queer has become a target in the national attacks on literature. It’s yet another example of the book banning that is being pushed by right-wing provocateurs to make gains politically by stoking “culture wars”.

As has been shown, a dark money network is funding campaigns against “Critical Race Theory”, something not being taught in schools. This book banning is an off-shoot of that showing these pushes are about as natural as an oral bowel movement. The “movement” is being used as a wedge issue to whip up voters by the right since they have nothing else to run on. It attempts to pit parents vs. bureaucrats (and teachers and librarians), a match that’s unfortunately pretty easy to get traction on. The movement has been working for decades and continues the right-wing push to take over at the local level, first at the state and now even lower to get their regressive agenda passed.

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