Irreversible Damage is a book that warns about the dangers of gender dysphoria and the industry built up to affirm it. Grand Haven Superintendent Scott Grimes and Curriculum Director Mary Jane Evink refused to include this title in the school library. Here is the story.
In April 2022, two parents had a meeting with the Grand Haven Curriculum Director Mary Jane Evink in which they requested this book be included in the school library. Since the curriculum director was not familiar with the book, she requested time for review. In January 2023, one of the parents followed up to see if the review had been completed, to which the curriculum director responded that more review time was needed. Seeing that nine months had passed, several citizens took it upon themselves to help the curriculum director review the book by previewing it at the monthly board of education meeting. Fourteen citizens used their individual public comment time to read excerpts from Irreversible Damage and request the book be added to the school library. You can see video clips from that meeting here.
Following the February 2023 board of education meeting, one of the parents received a letter from Superintendent Scott Grimes denying the request to place the book Irreversible Damage in the school library. In the letter, it was stated that Grand Haven Area Public Schools denied including the book in the school library because the target audience was adults. This is odd, because GHAPS currently has books in the school library intended for adults. Here are some titles:
Masterminds & Wingman: Helping our boys cope with schoolyard power, locker-room tests, girlfriends, and the new rules of boy world
No More Nagging, Nit-picking and Nudging: A guide to motivating, inspiring, and influencing kids aged 10-18
Protecting the Gift: Keeping children and teenagers safe
Oddly Normal: One family’s struggle to help their teenage son come to terms with his sexuality
Although Irreversible Damage was denied because it is a book targeted at adults, it has relevant content. Students are struggling with gender identity, and they are affirmed everywhere they look. Irreversible Damage provides an opposing viewpoint and therefore brings more balance to the school’s collection. It is interesting how sexualized books targeted at children are acceptable in the eyes of the school library, while books targeted at adults that contain relevant content are not. This clearly shows that the selection criteria are based on ideology, not standards.