Julianne Moore ‘shocked’ after book ban by Trump
Actor Julianne Moore is in “great shock” after claiming her book has been banned by the Trump administration.
The Oscar-winning actress published the children’s book Freckleface Strawberry almost 20 years ago.
She said it was “galling” the book would no longer be allowed in schools run by the US Department of Defence, especially given her military background.
Last week, the Defence Department revealed it was reviewing library books “potentially related to gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology topics”.
All library books were suspended for a week and a “small number” were kept for further examination.
You might like
Julianne Moore took to social media to express her shock. Photo: Instagram
“It is a great shock for me to learn that my first book, Freckleface Strawberry, has been banned by the Trump administration from schools run by the Department of Defence,” Moore wrote on Instagram.
“Freckleface Strawberry is a semi-autobiographical story about a seven-year-old girl who dislikes her freckles but eventually learns to live with them when she realises that she is different ‘just like everybody else’.”
“It is a book I wrote for my children and for other kids to remind them that we all struggle, but are united by our humanity and our community.
Stay informed, daily
“I am particularly stunned because I am a proud graduate of Frankfurt American High School a #DOD school that once operated in Frankfurt, Germany.
“I grew up with a father who is a Vietnam veteran and spent his career in the #USArmy. I could not be prouder of him and his service to our country.
“It is galling for me to realise that kids like me, growing up with a parent in the service and attending a @dodea_edu school will not have access to a book written by someone whose life experience is so similar to their own.
The Still Alice star — who has Caleb, 27, and 22-year-old Liv with husband Bart Freundlich — said she didn’t understand what was so controversial about the book and was “truly saddened” by the ban.
Since taking office a month ago, President Donald Trump has sought to rid the US government of “diversity” programs.
He signed an order ending all federal offices and jobs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and took aim at transgender troops.
One of the executive orders signed by Trump said that expressing a “gender identity” different from an individual’s sex at birth did not meet military standards.
Moore won Oscar and Golden Globe awards for Best Actress in 2015 for her role in Still Alice about a professor diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
– with AAP
