Australian children's author and illustrator Scott Stuart has pushed back after U.S. President Donald Trump accused one of his books of promoting "radical gender ideology" during a Religious Liberty Commission event.
Trump introduced a 12-year-old who told the gathering he had been asked to read Stuart's book "My Shadow Is Pink" to a younger child in fifth grade and persuaded the audience that the classroom incident forced him to confront teachings that conflicted with his Christian faith. "The school treated us badly, and kids started bullying me and my brother because of our faith, and the school did nothing to stop it," the boy told the crowd. "I believe kids like me should be able to live our faith at school without being forced to go against what we believe."
In a video posted to his Instagram account, which has about 242,000 followers, Stuart said Trump was using his work to further a political agenda and described the boy who spoke at the hearing as a "pawn." "Donald Trump is now using my book for his political agenda," Stuart said. "The irony here is that they want acceptance for their beliefs, but not to extend that acceptance onto others." He added that the My Shadow books are intended to help children be themselves without prejudice and are not intended as part of a culture war.
A U.S. religious-freedom legal group that has represented the boy praised him online following the hearing. The group posted a message saying it was proud of the youth for standing up for his faith and indicated it would continue to pursue related legal claims.
Stuart said that his inbox had been filled with hostile messages since the event. He has previously faced both praise and controversy over the My Shadow series, which challenges gender-based expectations for children. One book in the series, "My Shadow Is Purple," was banned by Malaysian authorities in January after officials said it "may be harmful to morals." The story uses colour metaphors to explore nonconforming gender identity; one passage reads, "My Dad has a shadow that's blue as a berry, and my Mum's is as pink as a blossoming cherry.... There's only those choices, a 2 or a 1. But mine is quite different, it's both and it's none."
"My Shadow Is Purple" was published in 2022, and a teacher in Georgia in the United States was dismissed the following year after reading it to fifth-grade students, an episode that drew national attention and debate about classroom reading choices.
Stuart first came to widespread public attention when he and his son Colin were photographed together after they dressed in matching Elsa costumes. Stuart said the decision followed bullying his son experienced at daycare after other children told him "dolls are for girls, not for boys." Stuart has described his writing as an attempt to change conversations around gender-based norms and to encourage acceptance; the Elsa photo prompted supportive messages from many parents who praised his approach.
The dispute is the latest flashpoint in broader international debates about children's books that address gender identity and expression. Supporters of such books argue they offer representation and support for children who do not conform to traditional gender norms, while opponents say the material can conflict with religious or cultural beliefs and have sought restrictions in schools and libraries.
Stuart reiterated in his statement that his work seeks to encourage empathy and allow children space to be themselves. "My Shadow books are not about culture wars," he said, adding that the controversy had diverted attention from the books' intended purpose of reducing prejudice among young readers.
The Religious Liberty Commission event where the boy spoke has become a venue for advocates to discuss faith-based objections to certain school practices; organizers and participants framed the appearance as an example of parental and religious concerns about classroom instruction. Legal groups and education advocates continue to monitor and contest measures involving curricula and reading materials as similar disputes unfold in multiple countries.