Catholic school tells Kostakis his book is ‘not appropriate’ for promotion

A Sydney Catholic school has told YA author Will Kostakis ‘it might not be appropriate’ for him to promote his new book The Sidekicks (Penguin) at a forthcoming school visit, after the author recently came out as gay on his blog.

Kostakis, who was due to visit the school in late March, has since cancelled his speaking visit. Fairfax is reporting the school is De La Salle College in Revesby Heights.

In a blog post, Kostakis reproduces an email from a staff member at the school stating that ‘we have a concern about promoting your new book at our school as it is a Catholic school. We were reading over your blog and I think it might not be appropriate, and parents might not be happy.’

The email continues: ‘If you want to promote The First Third on March 20, you are more than welcome however … I understand this isn’t in your best interest so we can cancel the meet and greet.’

In his reply, Kostakis points out that his previous book The First Third ‘dealt with queerness only slightly less than The Sidekicks … The First Third was acceptable, but now I have a blog post saying I like men, The Sidekicks is not’.

Kostakis said the plotline of The Sidekicks isn’t for Catholic schools or parents. ‘It was for students, students like me, who felt less than adequate because they loved someone “they weren’t supposed to”.’

Category: Junior Local news