To the Editor:

When the prospect of banning a handful of books with LGBTQ and Inclusivity themes entered the Newtown public discourse, a special committee was formed to help our Board of Education decide if a ban should take place. This group of teachers, librarians, and educational leaders recommended unanimously against the banning. At the May 2nd Board of Education meeting, our district superintendent, as well as the assistant superintendent, gave impassioned speeches against the banning.

Students, including several in the LGBTQ community, spoke in favor of keeping the books in our schools, noting the books’ importance, including one student who stated how books like these could save a life. So when the BoE votes on this pending book ban at the May 16th meeting, the decision seems obvious, right?

Not so fast.

Our Board of Education has made it clear that towing the party line is more important than serving the community in the roles to which they were elected. Emboldened by a minority of vocal parents and a push by the Right to silence and ostracize our LGBTQ neighbors, a vote to remove these important books from our libraries would be in direct opposition to overwhelming pushback from local teachers, educational leaders, parents, and students.

It is no coincidence that these books being banned mirror those in Ron DeSantis’ list and the hateful rhetoric pushing the ban is the same. The only surprise is how blatant it will be if our elected officials look at the massive local momentum against the ban, shrug their collective shoulders, and vote how they (and their party leaders) want.

I will happily eat my words if the Board of Ed votes against the slippery slope of book banning — but I’m not going to hold my breath.

A vote against the committee is a vote against the specialists — and a vote against our educators.

Chris McGrady

Sandy Hook