VBB 246: Laurin Mayeno — This Is Blatant Discrimination Under The Guise Of Concern For Children!

VIRGIN.BEAUTY.B!TCH

Laurin Mayeno is an equity and justice consultant and author of a banned children's book. Laurin grew up in a mixed-race environment with no books to help her understand her mixed-race identity. As a mother, she was doubly devastated when her nonbinary queer child had no resources to help them affirm who they were. Watching her child struggle with loneliness and isolation and being mistreated by other children and adults, Laurin wrote a story about a little boy wanting to dress up on Halloween as a princess. Shortly after "One of a Kind Like Me/Único como yo," was on bookshelves and gaining popularity, it made the front page in Columbus County, North Carolina. A local newspaper reported the book was being banned for being age-inappropriate. "When you ban my book, you say that a nonbinary queer child like mine doesn't belong in your schools or communities. My question is, what is the appropriate age for kids learning about love and acceptance?”