Mary Wears What She Wants by Keith Negley | Banned Book Project
Mary Wears What She Wants Synopsis:
Inspired by the true story of Mary Edwards Walker, a trailblazing doctor who bucked the gender expectations of her time, this is a fresh, charming picture book about a young girl who decides to wear what she wants: pants!
Once upon a time (but not too long ago), girls only wore dresses.
And only boys wore pants.
Until one day, a young girl named Mary had a bold idea: She would wear whatever she wanted. And she wanted to wear pants!
Inspired by the true story of Mary Edwards Walker, a trailblazing doctor who was arrested many times for wearing pants, this fresh, charming picture book encourages readers to think for themselves while gently challenging gender and societal norms.
Locations Challenged or Banned:
Cheyenne, Wyoming, 2021 – Enraged parents took several offending titles to the local police and filed an obscenity report. The police sided with the parent, and the titles are now on trial in a Wyoming court. The Friends of the Library have since purchased several of the titles objected to, and they are available on the library shelves. Mary Wears What She Wants underwent review by the library committee and was retained in the regular collection.
Reasons:
Promotes LGBTQIA+ issues
Sources:
Campbell County officials abet bullies in battle of radicals v. librarians. https://wyofile.com/campbell-county-officials-abet-bullies-in-battle-of-radicals-v-librarians/
Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ issues. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/wyoming-librarians-under-fire-books-about-sex-lgbtq-issues-n1280704
Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ. https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-lifestyle-business-wyoming-nonfiction-22b0a682cb5ba95de8eb3975d101228c
CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSION. CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 7/07/2021 AGENDA. WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021. 9:00 AM. https://play.champds.com/gillettewy/event/117?fbclid=IwAR18s3w0XBuAb18aCqKRDwFTcIyzxqDe-Z8Z5-ekEKxB9TOhksh3jufResM
Gillette grapples with anti-LGBTQ bigotry. https://wyofile.com/gillette-grapples-with-anti-lgbtq-bigotry/
Librarians in Wyoming face criminal ‘obscenity’ charges for stocking LGBT+ books in teen sections. https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/10/05/wyoming-campbell-county-library-lgbt-books/
LIBRARIANS FACE POSSIBLE CHARGES FOR CARRYING SEX EDUCATION BOOKS. https://bookriot.com/campbell-country-library-challenges/
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