Court orders review of Gender Queer book’s classification after challenge by Australian rightwing activist

Rightwing activist Bernard Gaynor appealed against the Australian Classification Review Board’s decision not to restrict Gender Queer, a graphic novel-style memoir about gender identity. Photograph: Rick Bowmer/AP

The Australian classifications review board has been ordered to review its assessment of the book Gender Queer, after the federal court found the board had ignored, overlooked or misunderstood public submissions for it to be censored.

Last year, the Classification Review Board rejected calls to restrict access to a memoir about gender identity that was the target of conservative campaigns to have it banned in the US, and found the content was appropriate for its intended audience.