Virginia
Virginia mother declares 'victory' after school system quietly removes 'X-rated' LGBTQ graphic novel
A Virginia mother who publicly spoke out against the inclusion of an “adult-themed” LGBTQ graphic novel in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is declaring “victory” after the book was quietly removed from school libraries.
In emails obtained by Fox News Digital, FCPS told Stacy Langton, a mother of six, that “Queer: A Graphic History” by Meg-John Barker was removed by librarians “due to outdated terminology that is no longer used in the LGBTQ+ community.”
The school system told Langton the book was retired from most of their schools in June 2023 – after she had expressed concern about the book during school board meetings. Langton only learned about the decision in October 2024 correspondence with FCPS – and was surprised this information was not previously passed on to her and other parents.
“It’s not appropriate for minor children at all. It’s an adult-themed book. It shouldn’t be in any school library. I think they didn’t want me to know that they took it out because it’s a win for me, you know? I mean, let’s call it what it is. It’s a victory,” Langton told Fox News Digital, describing debate about age-appropriate books as a “political football.”
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A photo of “Queer: A Graphic History” displayed on a library shelf at a Fairfax, Virginia school. (Stacy Langton)
The FCPS Assistant Superintendent of the Instructional Services Department, Noel Klimenko, emailed Langton that her school board remarks likely prompted librarians to pull the book for review.
“As a nonfiction book on an evolving topic, it is critical that the book contains current information. It is within the responsibilities of the librarian to make these decisions. I did not direct any school to remove the book,” she said.
Klimenko noted that librarians determined other books in their collections provide more accurate, up-to-date information on LGBTQ sources that were “superior sources of information” on the topic.
She also revealed that the book was retired during a process known as weeding, wherein librarians commonly remove items to maintain a relevant, current and appealing collection.
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Stacy Langton says “Queer: A Graphic History” should never have been allowed in Fairfax schools. (Stacy Langton/IconBooks)
Klimenko also pushed back after Langton snapped a recent picture of the book in Fairfax High School’s library – suggesting that its presence was part of a display created by the Gay Student Alliance club to promote LGBTQ history month.
“This text is part of a large display in a locked cabinet that our clubs are allowed to sign up for and promote awareness, club activities, and inclusion,” she added.
Langton initially brought the book to the attention of school board members on May 11, 2023, when she printed out one of the graphic novel’s most shocking images – a naked man and woman engaging in a sexual position where the traditional gender roles are reversed.
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Stacy Langton poses for a portrait at her home on Monday March 28, 2022 in Fairfax, VA. She has been working to get two books banned from Fairfax County schools. ((Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images))
“There are many images, probably about half a dozen, that are completely X-rated depictions of sex acts,” Langton told Fox News Digital. “The worst one I printed out onto a board and I showed it at the meeting at the podium. I showed it to the board. And I remember thinking as I was looking at them their eyes were really wide. I think they were shocked at the nature of this material in particular. It was quite bad.”
Barker’s publisher did not return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Langton said she will continue to fight to get other adult-themed books, such as “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe, out of Fairfax schools.
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“Gender Queer” has reportedly been banned in more libraries in states than any other book. The author, Maia Kobabe, has defended the book’s sexually explicit images, describing them as “tame.”
“I honestly think the book is a lot less explicit than it could be,” Kobabe told “Morning Edition.”
FCPS did not return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia has plenty of state symbols, be it the black bear as the state animal, the cardinal as the state bird or the rhododendron as the state flower, but did you know that the Mountain State also has its own official gun?
The Hall Flintlock Model 1819 was first manufactured in Harpers Ferry by John H. Hall in 1811 and was adopted by the United States Army in 1819, making it the first breech-loading rifle ever adopted by a country’s military.
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Model 1819 Hall Breechloading Rifle presented by Congress to Gustavous A. Bird for his participation in the Battle of Plattsburgh 9/11/1814 by John C. Bird via the Smithsonian Institution -
Model 1819 Hall Breechloading Rifle presented by Congress to Gustavous A. Bird for his participation in the Battle of Plattsburgh 9/11/1814 by John C. Bird via the Smithsonian Institution
All of this information is listed in Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, which was introduced and passed during the 2013 West Virginia Legislative session, and officially recognizes the Model 1819 as the official firearm of the State of West Virginia.
On top of being created in West Virginia, the resolution also points out that the rifle saw use during the Civil War, an event that directly led to West Virginia’s statehood.
While having an officially recognized state firearm may seem far-fetched, West Virginia is not the only state that has one. As a matter of fact, a fifth of the states in the country have officially designated a state firearm, including West Virginia’s neighbors in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In this world of college football, with the transfer portal and recruiting battles, bad blood is present more than ever before between head coaches.
That’s not the case between the Virginia Tech head coach and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however. In fact, Franklin revealed at ACC Kickoff on Thursday that the two are actually close friends, dating back to their time at the Nike trip that various coaches take over the summer.
“Dabo’s my guy,” Franklin said on Thursday. “We go way back. We’ve been on the Nike trip for a long time. His wife and my wife are friends.”
The long-time Penn State head coach is making the move to the ACC after being fired from the Nittany Lions in October. 12 seasons of being with the program had Franklin hold a 44-21 record against top 10 opponents, an impressive record for a new conference foe of Swinney’s.
But when that trip comes around, there’s a camaraderie between Swinney and Franklin and both of their wives. In fact, the two hang out with each other instead of the other coaches at times. It simply comes to an “edgy” time in college athletics that raises tempers.
“I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily like the type of people that love a lot of other coaches and a lot of other programs,” Franklin said. “It’s hard when you just compete year-round.”
On Swinney’s end, there are a few who could immediately come to mind among Clemson fans. Perhaps the most recent would be Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who played the most significant role in the tampering of former linebacker Luke Ferrelli.
It’s a select list of coaches who make the good side of the Tigers’ head coach, and Franklin is certainly on that list. On the other hand, Hokies’ head coach has Swinney on his own shortlist.
“Obviously, tremendous respect for what he has built at Clemson and what he’s done at Clemson, and what he’s done for the ACC,” he said.
The two will see that close relationship face off at Memorial Stadium this upcoming season. Clemson will host the Hokies on Oct. 24 in what could be a potential title-eliminator for the ACC Championship.
Of course, the last game that we’ve seen the Tigers play in was against Franklin’s former team in Penn State at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. That game ended in a 22-10 contest that saw a foundation of Franklin players end Clemson’s season in disappointment.
Swinney will see many of those players once again in October, including starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in that contest. The anticipated Hokie starter recorded 260 yards and two passing touchdowns on the Tigers in the Bronx that day.
Although friends become foes, another ACC coach has given Swinney his flowers for what he’s been able to do for the conference. In the upcoming moments, Franklin will look to prepare his team to prove itself on one of the biggest stages in the ACC, while Swinney looks to put his team back at the top of a conference he’s dominated for over 15 years.
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Extreme drought conditions in parts of Virginia have prompted an emergency drought warning for a wide swath of the region, including Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties, along with the cities of Danville, Roanoke, Salem and Martinsville.
The governor has warned that if conditions worsen, she will activate mandatory nonessential water-use restrictions.
In Martinsville, city leaders have issued a voluntary water conservation notice and are urging residents and businesses to cut back where they can. The request comes as local businesses that rely heavily on water say the drought is already affecting day-to-day operations.
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John Hughes, owner of John’s Car Wash, said the dry conditions have hit his business hard in recent weeks. “For the last 3 weeks, it’s been hitting pretty hard. We done three yesterday and haven’t done anything today with the drought and hot weather. Yeah, I’m really concerned about it,” Hughes said.
Restaurants are also feeling the strain. David Kitzmiller, an owner of Be Wiched, said water is essential for routine tasks such as washing dishes and preparing some menu items.
“We use a lot of water for washing dishes and some of our recipes if they limit us in anyway defiently can’t produce and its a scary aspect,” Kitzmiller said.
Kitzmiller added that cutting back is not always realistic for businesses that must meet sanitation needs. “Not really feasible for a business that depends solely relies on water to wash their dishes, so that can’t definitely be an impact there,” he said.
City leaders emphasized that the conservation request is voluntary for now, but they are encouraging everyone to do their part by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when it is not in use, washing only full loads of laundry, and limiting outdoor watering whenever possible.
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