Rally at the Supreme Court to support inclusive education

On 4/22/25, I attended my first Supreme Court rally. In fact, though I’ve lived in the Washington DC area for 15 years, it may have been the first time I’d been in front of the Supreme Court.

Despite the impression that photo gives, the rally was well attended.

It coincided with oral arguments for Mahmoud vs. Taylor, a case about a Maryland school district policy that does not allow parents to opt their children out of educational experiences (in particular, picture books) that mention the existence of LGBTQ people. 

It happens to be my school district, Montgomery County. I am proud that MCPS enacted this policy and, frankly, furious that people who see the world as it is have to spend so much time (and money) trying to explain the basic principle of “live and let live” to people who expect schools to bend to their intolerant worldview.

Those protesting the policy carried signs reading “Let parents parent” and “Let kids be kids.” 

This policy does not prevent parents from parenting or kids from kidding. 

When I walked to the opposing side to be available for conversation (knowing no sign would change anyone’s mind), one man civilly engaged, though his position was savagely misguided. A rule he has for his kids: you cannot be gay. 

If only he’d learned in school that this is not how it works. Being gay is not a choice (or a performance/disease/brainwashing), as some conservatives believe. It’s simply what some people are.

A parent who has challenged the policy asked me to leave their area. When I politely declined, he tattled on me to a Supreme Court police officer, whose response was “Just don’t shout at them.” (No one was shouting at anyone. In other words, he knew I had every right to be where I was.)

NBC News asked me some questions. 

The short clip also includes someone who thinks he is protecting his grandkids from “values” he doesn’t agree with. Based on what we’ve widely seen from Generation Z, it seems likely that those grandkids will reject their grandfather’s repugnant stance.

Among the thousands of comments on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, ones disagreeing with me alternate between these points:

1. Check this guy’s hard drive.
2. People like you are why Trump won again.
3. So public schools can also teach the Bible?

(Sometimes this is expressed in language that is decisively not biblical.)

As for the Trump comment, it carries weight. But I’m not one to abandon my principles over an election, even one as ruinous as this one is. 

The commenters agreeing mostly echo the sign I held: education does not equal indoctrination.

It is illogical that some adults believe that a relationship between a man and a woman is an acceptable topic for kids but no other kinds of relationships are. 

It is illogical that some adults do not associate the mere mention of a straight relationship with sex but do associate the mere mention of a gay relationship with sex.

(It should go without saying, but since the anti-gay crowd brings it up incessantly, apparently this does need to be spelled out: in neither case are responsible adults talking to elementary kids about sex.)

Children who are not LGBTQ and learn that this community exists are not hurt by that knowledge.

Conversely, children who are LGBTQ—or who have LGBTQ families members—are hurt by policy that forbids that topic to even be mentioned. (And when disapproving adults do mention it, it’s to call gay people perverts and sinners, deepening the wound.)

We don’t hear about religious teens committing suicide because they know about gay people. 

We do hear about LGBTQ teens committing suicide because their community doesn’t want to know about gay people.

If the opponents to this policy truly cared about protecting kids, they’d switch sides.

Again, what kids learn in school—and in life—does not prevent parents from parenting. Unfortunately, some parenting prevents kids from learning.

Authors Against Banned Books panel on censorship

As part of the EveryLibrary Live! Banned Books Week series of virtual programs, fellow authors Shana Youngdahl, Michael Leali, and had a brief chat about censorship with Drinks in the Library's Gigi Howard.

We touched on what you can do to speak up for the freedom to read, in only seconds, from the comfort of your home/office/car/favorite coffee shop/local school board meeting.

For an author, a banned book is not a sales boost or badge of honor.

For a child, a banned book is not no big deal. It's a barrier to what could truly be a life-saving collection of words.

Northside ISD was WRONG to cancel author Marc Tyler Nobleman

Welcome school principals, school librarians, and PTA members!

If you are here because you searched “marc nobleman author visit” or “marc nobleman school visit” or “marc tyler nobleman author visit” or “marc tyler nobleman school visit,” your results probably also included a possibly paywalled article with this headline:

“Northside ISD was right to cancel author Marc Tyler Nobleman”

Northside ISD is a Texas school district.

The article was written by Nancy Preyor-Johnson and published on 10/6/23 in the San Antonio Express-News.

Nancy did not hear my talk.

The article is wrong.

Northside ISD was wrong to cancel my author visit. 

Rather than judge me based on only that one Texas headline, please read this (or at least skip to the Northside educator tweets at the end):

I went to do school visits in Northside ISD in good faith and treated all with respect, as I have at hundreds of other schools in 30+ states and almost 20 countries over the past 20 years.

I gave the same talk I’ve given hundreds of other times.

Three examples of the kind of reaction I typically get:

“In my almost three decades of teaching, I have heard a wide variety of internationally known authors, many of them award recipients. Marc was easily the most engaging and inspiring presenter I have ever heard. He held the rapt attention of the entire auditorium—students and staff alike. He is such a gift!”

—Adrienne DeMichele, Taipei American School, Taiwan

“My principal and almost every teacher said this was the best assembly they have ever attended. Educational value? 5 out of 5 stars. Entertainment value? 5 out of 5 stars. Marc’s amazing story kept an entire room of students and teachers enthralled for an hour with no special effects or tricks.”

—Jamie Harris, librarian, Smalley Elementary, Las Vegas, NV

“I have known Marc for eight years and I can tell you with complete honesty that he is the best, the very best, in inspiring children. He is able to empathize with them (and adults, also) to an incredible degree. As a matter of fact, he becomes a role model for many of them. One fifth grader wrote in his evaluations, ‘Mr. Nobleman’s name fits him. He is a noble man.’ His books have the same kind of integrity. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”

—Susie Mee, Director, Authors Read Aloud (a Learning Leaders program), New York, NY

My talk lasts 60 minutes.

In that talk, I say that someone was gay. One time.

I also refer to straight marriages. Multiple times.

I was scheduled to speak at Northside schools for 10 days. 

The first nine days went great. 

Except for the two parents who contacted their school because I said “gay.”

Neither had heard my talk, read my books, seen my documentary, or met me.

Yet their complaint pressured Northside into giving me a choice: leave out the word “gay” on day 10 or there is no day 10. 

Whether my presentation was censored or cancelled, it would shortchange the kids. Ultimately I felt that the best way to stand up for those kids would be to stick to my principles.

So there was no day 10.

The kids were disappointed. School staff was disappointed. I was heartbroken.

But the people who truly suffered were the LBGTQ members of the Northside ISD community. Northside ISD’s action signals to them that their very existence is taboo to mention. Northside ISD made them feel unwanted and unsafe.

Northside ISD was wrong to cancel my author visit. 

Northside ISD prioritized the ignorance of two adults over the enrichment of hundreds of kids.

Northside ISD was wrong to cancel my author visit. 

Because two adults thought kids should not hear the word “gay,” those kids also did not hear a jaw-dropping story of persistence. They did not hear about the adventure of primary research, the thrill of reading, the calling of speaking up for others, and the imperative to give credit where it’s due. 

Northside ISD was wrong to cancel my author visit. 

But hopefully a message from my story did trickle down to at least some NISD day 10 kids from enlightened NISD educators and parents: when you have to choose between siding with the tolerant or the intolerant, there is no choice. 

Northside ISD was wrong to cancel my author visit. 

In closing, here are reactions to my talks from NISD educators (i.e. people who did hear me present and who have the best interest of the kids at heart):

George Takei of "Star Trek" weighed in on Georgia schools censoring "gay"

I'm beaming this up a bit late, but it's lost none of its potency.

In August, elementary schools in Georgia gave me a choice: leave out the word "gay" from my author presentations or leave. I left. News coverage.

Outspoken and uncompromising Star Trek actor/activist George Takei took notice...and took no prisoners:

Note: I added George himself.

American Community School, Jordan—two days after Hamas attacked Israel

Part of a series: Middle East, October 2023:

• Jordan—American Community School, Amman
• Jordan—Jerash (Greco-Roman ruins)
• Jordan—Dead Sea
• Jordan—Petra (Nabataean Arab city/archaeological site)
• Jordan—Wadi Rum (desert)
• Oman—American International School of Muscat
• Oman—Wadi Shab (hike/swim)

Whew, what a year in school visits.

In Taiwan in March, a trip in the works since before the pandemic, two of my three librarian hosts were unable to be there for my school visit because of unexpected, 11th hour developments—one due to a family matter, the other because she got COVID.

In Georgia in August and Texas in September, schools canceled me when I refused to omit the word “gay” from talks to elementary students. 

Then came an issue even more personal for me.

I am sharing it here because I feel it has the potential to be insightful and inspiring, as it was for some people directly involved. For others, it may instead be infuriating. 

The month before an October trip to speak at an American school in both Jordan and Oman and a side trip to see Israel for the first time, parents at the Jordan school were in a “fervor” when they discovered that I am on the board of an Israeli organization.

Except I’m not.

But I am Jewish. 

The parents were referring to my time serving on the regional board of BBYO, a Jewish youth group—yes, when I was a teenager.

This somewhat fraught situation was about to get even more complicated. I departed for Jordan the evening of 10/6/23, and while I was on the plane, Hamas attacked Israel, murdering about 1,200 people (primarily civilians) in a day and seizing more than 200 hostages.

In the Middle East, the weekend is Friday and Saturday. I was scheduled to present for three days at the American Community School in Amman starting on Monday 10/10. This would include three assemblies (elementary, middle, and high), a professional development workshop, and writing/visual literacy workshops for smaller groups of high schoolers (meaning I would see every participating high schooler twice). 

The night before, I was asked to join a Zoom with heads of school, none of whom I’d been in touch with before. 

They wanted to check if I felt safe and wanted to update me on the rising tension at the school, which has a significant Palestinian population. They also—understandably—wanted to know if I planned to mention the geopolitical situation that had gotten even more volatile overnight. I said no. They asked how I would answer if a student asked me about it. I said I would say it’s a valid question, though not a topic I was there to discuss, nor one about which I have any authority.

I appreciated their sensitivity on both fronts.

Earlier that day, an administrative assistant, who is Palestinian, was asked to read several of my books to assess them for content that could be problematic for their population. (Page 1 of Bill the Boy Wonder mentions that Bill Finger was Jewish.) The assistant wondered if the mention of Hitler (in Boys of Steel) would upset their (few) Jewish students. Otherwise the assistant expressed no concerns.

That same Sunday night, more than one anonymous account posted “Free Palestine” or similar comments under my Instagram posts related to Judaism.

The following morning, my first at the school, the administration received a petition from 127 parents who did not want my visit to proceed. They had seen and disapproved of my Facebook post of 10/7.

(With great disappointment, I called off my trip to Israel.)

Head of school Joelle Basnight saw this as a chance for the school to live up to its stated commitment to inclusivity. 

Unlike Georgia and Texas, ACS did not cancel my visit—which would have been the path of least resistance. And the stakes in Jordan were serious on a whole other level. 

I, too, was eager to carry on and prepared to compartmentalize.

I applauded and thanked the school—not on my own behalf but rather for the kids. I told staff how much I appreciated their courage—which I would repeat numerous times over the next three days.

Before each assembly, school leaders reminded students how to treat a guest. At least one teacher cautioned against ad hominem. 

However…students were allowed to opt out of attending. I said that I am not in favor of opt-out options. I believe we should require students to attend all events within a safe space, even those that may be beyond their comfort zone. 

The world is challenging. We do students no favors by trying to shield them from this.  

The subsequent discussions with teachers and parents are fertile opportunities for growth.

But due to the fragility of the circumstances, I felt in this case it was acceptable to offer an opt-out (not that it was up to me). 

I was originally told that 30 high schoolers chose to skip my talk, but later learned it was more. A few tried to walk out during the assembly, but staff stopped them, saying “You already made your choice.”

Some kids wore the Arabic headdress called a keffiyeh or hattah and/or shirts referencing Palestine. I did not feel threatened, but did not feel welcomed by that segment. I was told that students did not wear keffiyehs on Sunday, the first day of school after the attack, and instead started on Monday—the day I arrived. So it was indeed a statement aimed at me.

Of course I am not an official ambassador of Israel or the Jewish people. That said, I understood—emotions were in overdrive and we all have the right to support our communities. Some students have family members in Gaza. (The following week, after the 10/17 explosion at a hospital in Gaza, ACS closed for three days of mourning.)

The high school audience was virtually nonreactive. Typical teen behavior? More protest? Likely some of both. I was told that they would not get a Q&A session.

(The middle and elementary audiences, however, let themselves enjoy the presentation. They laughed and applauded at the usual cues. And I was able to answer questions.)

The high school breakout sessions were more charged—at first. Fewer kids, smaller space, nowhere to hide for them or me. But the material is engaging, if I may say so, and my approach, as always, shows kids I respect their intelligence and value their opinion. They warmed to me. We got our Q&A. I felt I had a few breakthroughs with Palestinian students.

After one session, a senior asked my advice on his college application essay. After another, a high schooler walking out with his friends turned back to me and placed his hand on his heart. This silent gesture moved me deeply.

Throughout my time at the school, to my surprise, none of the Jewish staff or students approached me and identified themselves as such. Indifference? Fear? Likely some of both.

A central element of who I am combined with highly distressing current events meant my hosts had to contend with more than they signed up for. I was frequently asked if I was still comfortable. My hosts answered hard questions and sometimes had to be the bearer of bad news. They thought of everything. 

Example 1: my hosts suggested that the division heads hold their pre-assembly debrief with students before they enter the auditorium—in other words, before they see me. That probably wouldn’t have occurred to me but seemed like a good call. 

Example 2: I used the same laptop for every workshop and one night we left it out in the library overnight; the next morning, my hosts suggested that I check my presentations before starting in case anyone had modified it. (No one had.)

On my third and final day at the school, I was told that a high school student, the child of a prominent politician, had told a staff member that after hearing her friends discuss the assembly, she regretted that she had opted out of it.

Despite the underlying feeling of unease, I felt the visit went smoothly. I did not directly hear a single negative comment or see a single instance of inappropriate behavior. I realize I was not privy to all that happened behind the scenes, but that is all the more reason I hold this school in the highest regard. 

Despite intense objection and fear of reprisal, they forged ahead as planned because they felt that was in the best interest of their students—and in the spirit of the school. 

This was bravery. This was conviction. This was leadership. 

Thank you yet again to ACS for showing how it’s done. 

I echo the sentiments of some of your staff who told me they feel my visit will have positive ripple effects beyond any academic boost from my sessions.

A primary goal of my school visits is to inspire students to speak up for whatever cause is meaningful to them—even when that is difficult. 

A primary goal of this school visit was to connect with kids one human to another and embolden them to view others not as symbols but as individuals.

My first drag queen interview

That could be the title of a picture book! 

Or, these days, perhaps not.

First, an unfortunately familiar recap:

• In August, in Georgia, the Forsyth County School District asked me to omit the word “gay” from assemblies for elementary students in grades 3 and up or leave. I left.
• In September, on the eve of my tenth and final scheduled day of talks in Northside Independent School District (San Antonio), the same thing happened.

Intolerance does have an upside: it gets people talking (and, hopefully, reflecting). 

A drag queen named Amber LeMay invited me to discuss these incidents on her YouTube show.

I rarely do podcasts or other streaming interview shows, especially on a topic that the press has already widely covered, but couldn’t resist this. Amber was a gracious host and a savvy interviewer.

Thank you, Amber, for your compassion and time!

“San Antonio Express-News” says school district was right to cancel me

In August, in Georgia, the Forsyth County School District asked me to omit the word “gay” from assemblies for elementary students in grades 3 and up or leave. I left.

In September, on the eve of my tenth and final scheduled day of talks in Northside Independent School District (San Antonio), the same thing happened.

Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson, Deputy Editorial Board Editor & Columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, reached out multiple times for comment. I naively thought her take, like most of the other mainstream press coverage (from the New York Times to the Associated Press), would be in favor of treating all people with respect, as I did in her community, but I was wrong.

Excerpt of my reply to Nancy:

I find it unfortunate that, while you seem to agree with me, the headline (which is all many will read) gives no sign of that. It will fuel the hatefulness of the intolerant.

I also find it unfortunate that your article fails to explain WHY it would be inappropriate to say “gay” to 8-10-year-olds in the context I do. Just because a minority of parents do not like gay people does not mean that gay people do not exist or that it is fine to refer to straight people but not gay people in equally nonsexual terms.

I do appreciate you mentioning that members of the community DID see the value of my visit. 

She replied that she respects me and mostly agrees with me, but that younger students and their parents (emphasis mine) need to be treated differently in conservative states. 

My reply:

They don’t. Precisely my point. Who gay people love is not political to them, just like who you love is not political to you.

Your article could’ve done some good in a community that is not fully living in the 21st century, but instead it will embolden harmful prejudices and make LGBTQ people feel unsafe and unwanted in San Antonio.

By the by, here are reactions to my talks from NISD educators (i.e. people who heard me present and who have the best interest of the kids at heart):

3/12/24 addendum: Northside ISD was wrong to cancel me.

Stories of Hope: Kidlit Against Book Bans

Last year, I created a show called Stories of Hope: Kidlit for Ukraine and produced it with KidLit TV. It was an unprecedented and emotional benefit starring 28 kidlit authors that raised $15,000 (in a week!) for the children of Ukraine.

In August 2023, while speaking at elementary schools in Forsyth County, GA, administrators asked me to leave out the word “gay” from my presentations or leave. I left. This made national news including the New York Times, Newsweek (I wrote this one), Los Angeles Times, AP, and more.

I had already been intending to do a benefit to fight back against book bans and censorship, but this fast-tracked it. 

On 8/24/23, I asked Julie Gribble of KidLit TV, my partner for #KidlitForUkraine, if she was up for this spiritual sequel, including the tight deadline—aiming for Banned Book Weeks (first week of October). She said yes immediately. 

We chose PEN America as the organization to which we’d donate 100% of proceeds.

I tapped Lauren Castillo to design the luminescent logo (her graciousness also glowed!). It is the colorful image within this graphic:

I set out to follow the template of the first show but with an all-new group of 30 children’s authors and allies. Over the next couple of weeks, I lined up a cast that includes the following:

• the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
• a Newbery winner
• two Newbery honorees
• numerous other award winners
• a 30 Rock star

#KidlitAgainstBookBans stars the following:

Anika Aldamuy Denise

Lesa Cline-Ransome

Lisa Fipps

Daniel Handler

Kimberly Latrice Jones

Erin Entrada Kelly

Hena Khan

Adib Khorram

Jo Knowles

Gail Carson Levine

Alex London

Andrea Loney

Jessica Love

Yuyi Morales

Maulik Pancholy

Andrea Davis Pinkney

Toby Price (MI assistant principal fired for reading I Need a New Butt! to 2nd graders)

NoNieqa Ramos

Raul the Third

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Katie Rinderle (GA teacher fired for reading My Shadow Is Purple to 5th graders)

Alex Sanchez

Eliot Schrefer

Jon Scieszka

Laurel Snyder

Christina Soontornvat

Don Tate

Mychal Threets (CA supervising librarian and influencer)

Andrea Wang

Paul O. Zelinsky

Unlike the Ukraine benefit, this got no coverage in kidlit press.

The $4,000 we raised fell short of my goal to match the $15,000 for Ukraine, but I’m happy we were able to contribute something to the ongoing campaign.

I think it was easier to raise money for Ukraine at least in part because we announced that benefit soon after the war started, and it was not just any war—it was the first war in Europe in our lifetime. It was raw, scary, and making headlines daily. (So is book banning, but as we know, many don’t see fighting it as a priority...)

Among the ways I tried to boost the total:

• emailed the 300+ who donated to the Ukraine effort
• asked author/illustrator friends to hand out flyers promoting the benefit at the heavily attended Chappaqua Book Festival on 9/30/23
• because Star Trek actor George Takei posted about my Georgia fracas to his 1.4 million Instagram followers, I asked if he would spread word (if even 1% of his followers contributed, it would add 14,000 donors!)
• asked PEN if they’d ask big names who have supported them if they would plug it on social media 

Unfortunately, I thought of the Chappaqua idea the night before the book fest and the Takei/PEN ideas the day before the show premiered…in other words, too late. 

I hit other roadblocks—KidLit TV backed out a little over a week before the world premiere (so I switched from live streaming to posting the benefit as a video to be removed immediately after), the donation link on the platform I chose to host the fundraiser (Facebook) didn’t work for some people—but in the end, the show went on.

Thank you again to all who donated, spread word, helped behind the scenes, and, of course, told a story of hope.