Washington, DC: Chapelle alma mater holds off on tribute
Reuters reported on November 12 that the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Northwest DC says it will delay renaming its theater after alumnus Dave Chappelle, in light of the controversy around the comedian's recent Netflix comedy special. Chapelle's The Closer has been criticized for what some argue is ridicule of Transgender people. Supporters have viewed the routine as a criticism of cancel culture. A representative of Netflix acknowledged Chapelle's provocative language, but said the service didn't believe it amounted to violence. The Duke Ellington School emphasized Chapelle's importance as a "thought leader" and generous donor.

South Carolina: Governor wants ban on Queer memoir, other books
NBC News reported on November 12 that South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster called for Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer: A Memoir to be banned from the state's public schools, after it had allegedly been found in a school library in Fort Mill. The award-winning book is being targeted for its illustrations of LGBTQ sexual experiences, which McMaster calls it "obscene and pornographic." "We're going to remove things that cause harm to our children or put obstacles in their path as they grow up," McMaster told reporters on WIS-TV. NBC noted that McMaster's actions are only the latest in a string of other states' efforts to limit access to race-related and LGBTQ content in schools.