When you think of book bans in the 2020s, one of the books that immediately comes to mind is Gender Queer. Maia Kobabe’s memoir was published in the spring of 2019 to tremendous praise and acclaim. It earne an Alex Award, presented annually to books published for adult readers but with particular appeal to teen readers.

During this fall’s Banned Books Week, the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) released a list of the 150 most banned books in America since the OIF launched in 1967. Gender Queer tops the list.

• Perhaps what’s most remarkable during the nonstop, virulent attacks on Gender Queer—which by virtue of the comic being a memoir, are direct attacks on Kobabe eirself—is that Kobabe has not backed down.

• E has been a relentless advocate for other authors feeling the sting of book bans, pouring incredible time, energy, and effort into championing the work of other comics.

When Kobabe learned that Gender Queer was the most banned book during the life of the OIF, it’s no surprise e was highlighting a project that furthered the realities of contemporary literary censorship. Kobabe served as curator and editor for a potent project from Xtra Magazine, sharing a moving and insightful series of comics about the realities of book bans.

In this exclusive interview, Kobabe talks about eir experiences with censorship and where that’s helped eir commit to continuing to speak up and out, as well as amplify the array of queer comics publishing both online and in print.

“The challenges against Gender Queer really helped clarify the purpose of my work,” Kobabe explains. “I want to write books and tell stories which make it easier, safer, and more joyful for trans and nonbinary people to exist in this world.”

Read the full interview here. – KJ