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Illinois School Officials Cancel Canadian Author’s Visit

In early October 2019, school officials in Illinois cancelled the scheduled visit of a Canadian author because stories about “gender identity” in her non-fiction children’s book “caused concern.”

Officials in Community Unit School District 200, which serves the towns of Wheaton and Warrenville near Chicago, cancelled Robin Stevenson’s visit to Longfellow Elementary School. Her book Kid Activists: True Tales of Childhood from Champions of Change includes stories about Harvey Milk and Janet Mock.

 

REPORTAGE

In Chicago’s Daily Herald, Katlyn Smith reports:

https://www.dailyherald.com/amp-article/20191113/news/191119682/

 

In The Advocate, Kat Jercich reports:

https://www.advocate.com/news/2019/11/08/queer-author-says-school-canceled-her-visit-over-harvey-milk-mention

 

In Quill & Quire, Shanda Deziel reports:

https://quillandquire.com/omni/kidlit-author-robin-stevenson-uninvited-to-illinois-school-after-parent-complains-about-lgbtq-content/

 

In Chicago’s Daily Herald, Katlyn Smith reports:

https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20191106/author-believes-dist-200-canceled-wheaton-school-visit-due-to-lgbtq-content-officials-cite-procedural-issue

 

COMMENTARY

Robin Stevenson writes an open letter to school officials:

https://robinstevenson.com/an-open-letter-to-school-district-200/

 

In the Chicago Tribune, Heidi Stevens writes:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/heidi-stevens/ct-heidi-stevens-monday-robin-stevenson-wheaton-canceled-talk-1111-20191111-hyt4bnmvlfgpnlfstnnqmi6uba-story.html

 

Kirkus reviews Kid Activists:

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/robin-stevenson/kid-activists/