Quebec MPs adopted a motion on Thursday to condemn the censorship of children’s books Pink, Blue and You! by Quebec author Élise Gravel in certain American schools, because it addresses gender stereotypes.
The motion carried by Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Manon Massé invited the National Assembly to recognize “that this censorship by American conservatives is unacceptable and has no place in art or in democracy”. The elected officials also recognized the “exceptional work” of the author and illustrator who has made it possible to better understand inclusion, tolerance and respect for the diversity of sexual orientations and gender.
In recent weeks, Ms Gravel said she had received several messages from American teachers and librarians lamenting the fact that she could not have her book read to their students. Published in 2022, the book deconstructs certain stereotypes by asking questions such as: “Should everyone have the right to cry? or “what does it really mean to be a girl or a boy?” “.
However, the state of Florida last year passed a law prohibiting teachers from discussing issues of sexual orientation and gender identity with their kindergarten through third-grade students.
A copy of the motion will be sent to the publishing house La courte Scale, which published the book in French, to the United States consuls in Montreal and Quebec City, as well as to the American ambassador to Canada and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
With Etienne Pare
Further details will follow.
To see in video