In August 2024, the Brevard County College District in Florida determined to ban a number of books, together with the primary quantity of the manga Sasaki and Miyano by Sho Harusono.
The choice adopted the passage of Home Invoice 1069, which supplies college boards the flexibility to evaluate and presumably take away instructional supplies associated to gender and sexuality.
Regardless of the Florida Guide Evaluate Committee’s suggestion to maintain the manga in class libraries, the college board voted 3-2 to take away the manga.
The choice was prompted by objections to the depiction of a relationship between two male highschool college students, although the manga comprises no express content material.
One of many board members urged that the content material could possibly be dangerous to college students, saying that publicity to such materials may result in issues with their sexual identification, shallowness and relationships.
In addition they apprehensive that the manga would possibly encourage readers to embrace a selected sexual orientation.
The board member believed that discussions about homosexuality ought to be restricted to the house state of affairs and mustn’t happen in faculties.
The identical member made the case for Damsel by Elana Okay. Arnold, one other banned guide, which comprises express depictions of rape.
Brevard County College Board member Jennifer Jenkins strongly opposed the ban, expressing her considerations on social media, warning that the ban may set a harmful precedent for additional censorship.
She criticised the choice and highlighted the broader implications of such actions.
Apparently, the council urged quite a few various manga titles, together with Sailor Moon, which encompasses a lesbian romance, and Chainsaw Man, which is understood for its violent content material. This raised questions in regards to the consistency of their standards for what is taken into account applicable.
The manga Sasaki and Miyano, which depicts a delicate and non-explicit romance between two boys, is out there in English by way of Yen Press, whereas the anime adaptation and sequel may be streamed on platforms like Prime Video and Crunchyroll.
The ban has sparked discussions in regards to the rising pattern of limiting manga and different media in faculties, particularly in relation to LGBTQ+ content material.
