Support for gay author Green after Catholic school talk cancelled

A talk YA author Simon James Green was scheduled to give at a school was cancelled at the last minute on the grounds that the subject matter “fell outside the scope of what is permissible in a Catholic school”.

Heralded by W H Smith as “one of the UK’s leading writers of LGBTQ+ teen fiction”, Green’s books, published by Scholastic, include You’re the One That I Want, Heartbreak Boys and Noah Can’t Even. 

On 7th March he was due to visit John Fisher School in Purley, Croydon, for a talk and book signing to commemorate World Book Day. However the Education Commission of Southwark Archdiocese intervened to prevent the event from taking place. 

The school’s senior leadership team initially gave the talk the green light, however after a number of the school’s governors backed the decision, the diocese intervened to prevent the talk. It also removed several governors.

In a statement, the religious body said: "From time to time, materials or events emerge for consideration that fall outside the scope of what is permissible in a Catholic school." It added: "In such circumstances, we have no alternative but to affirm our unequivocal and well-known theological and moral precepts and to act in accordance with them.”

An email was also sent to parents by the school’s chaplain, Father James Clark, stating that Green’s books were “not in line with Catholic education and are contrary to the ethos of our school and to the teachings of the Church”.

In the days leading up to the talk, the website Catholic Truth also launched a campaign calling for its cancellation, and many of the subsequent comments received were, in Green’s words, “some of the most horrible (and ignorant) I’ve ever seen".

He told The Bookseller: “I’m so angry that a tiny minority of people feel they have the power to put a stop to an event which would have been so much fun, and so valuable, to so many students at the school. It sends the most appalling message, especially to LGBT students. It’s hard enough being a teenager anyway, but growing up LGBT, or just questioning your sexuality or identity, adds a whole extra layer of difficulty to that. 

“This ban tells those kids they’re right to be scared. It tells them who they are is seen as ‘wrong’ and ‘inappropriate’. Talking about LGBT issues isn’t harmful to young people. What’s harmful is not talking. It’s shame and ignorance that hurts young people, not knowledge, empathy and understanding. School should be a place where young people feel safe and accepted. They shouldn’t have to hide and live in fear.”

Green added, however, that he has received an outpouring of love and support from teachers at the school, parents and others on social media, and would still be willing to hold the talk if the ban is reversed. 

The School Library Association expressed its solidarity with Green, sharing a statement saying: “We stand with the school’s senior leaders, governing body and staff in believing the visit should go ahead.”

A Scholastic spokesperson commented: “Scholastic supports and celebrates LGBTQ authors and illustrators and their works and we stand with Scholastic author Simon James Green and his beautiful stories full of warmth, humour and authenticity. Simon’s many successful appearances in schools have resonated with children and teachers alike, encouraging reflection on acting with tolerance and acceptance, as well as giving a voice to children who may feel like they do not have one.”

Green said: “From the authors who need to be brave enough to tell these stories, to the agents who take them on, the editors who acquire them, publishers who back them, bookshops that stock them, and the teachers, librarians, bloggers and reviewers who champion them, we cannot be quiet.” 

The Bookseller has contacted the school and diocese for a comment.

A school spokesperson told the i paper: “Our students are preparing for forthcoming mock examinations and we would kindly request that you now give us an opportunity to concentrate on our key role, which is educating the children we serve.” 

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Southwark directed the newpaper to its initial statement, saying “at this time, the diocese does not have any further information to add to the statement”.