Gender Queer

For the gender identity, see Genderqueer.

Gender Queer: A Memoir
1st Edition cover art illustrated by Maia Kobabe.
DateMay 28, 2019
PublisherLion Forge Comics
Oni Press
Creative team
WritersMaia Kobabe
ArtistsMaia Kobabe
ColoristsPhoebe Kobabe

Gender Queer: A Memoir is a 2019 graphic memoir written and illustrated by Maia Kobabe. It recounts Kobabe's journey from adolescence to adulthood and the author's exploration of gender identity and sexuality, ultimately identifying as being outside of the gender binary.

Gender Queer tackles topics such as gender euphoria, gender dysphoria, and asexuality using both narrative and illustrations. They begin telling their story from childhood to the present day and include many monumental experiences in their life: their first period, learning about what it means to be transgender, first relationship, and numerous others.

Gender Queer initially received a small printing and was marketed toward older teens and adults.[1] It increasingly entered the collections of high school and middle school libraries after receiving an Alex Award in 2020, an award given by the American Library Association to "books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults ages 12 through 18."[1] Since 2021, its inclusion in American libraries, particularly school libraries, has been frequently challenged, based on the presence of sexually explicit illustrations. The American Library Association ranked it as the most challenged book in 2021,[2] 2022,[3][4] and 2023.[5][6]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference alter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference nyt-bans was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Italie, Hillel (2023-04-24). "Books with LGBTQ themes the most likely targets of bans, report finds". AP News. Archived from the original on 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  4. ^ Albanese, Andrew (2023-04-24). "ALA Releases Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  5. ^ "Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023". American Library Association. ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  6. ^ Harris, Elizabeth (8 April 2024). "Here Are the Most Targeted Books of 2023". New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2024.